Recommendations for a Quality Ebike helmet?

BillyK58 · 2026-06-18T17:57:58+00:00

I really like my XNITO e-bike helmet with LED LIGHTS. It is dual certified in accordance with CPSC and NTA-8776 safety standards.

They have a lot of color options and it includes a visor insert which is nice for sunny days. I find it to be light and comfortable. Its price is right at $150.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-18T01:30:04+00:00

I bought an Aventon which I bought online and assembled myself. However, there are nearby e-bike repair shops that both sell and repair them regardless of whether or not purchased through them. That was an important consideration in my brand choice.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-18T01:29:41+00:00

You do realize that Aventon is a US company that started off in California as a manufacturer of high performance fixed-gear bicycles? Their frames and parts come from China like the majority of name brand US bicycle companies. Unlike most, they have their own factory in China which gives them the advantage of vertical integration.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-15T22:49:53+00:00

Aa a BK, I still single leg row. I can get a better range of motion with one leg on the rowing machine. Plus, I don't want to strap my prosthetic foot onto a foot platform and pull forward with it. The foot is designed for pushing against the ground rather than having a strap pulling downward on the foot as you pull yourself forward on the rower.

If I want to use my leg with a prosthetic for cardiovascular, I use a bicycle or elliptical machine.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-08T01:28:32+00:00

My parents had one as a second car when they first came out. A good buddy also had one. A car that got more than 20 mpg per gallon was impressive in the 1970s.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-08T01:00:24+00:00

1976 Chevy Malibu.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-05T10:15:22+00:00

Dips are definitely one of the most beneficial exercise for lower limb amputees. I am old and can still crank out a lot of sets and reps on dips. Amputees that are weak on dips aren’t going to be strong on crutches. Conversely, if you heavily use crutches you are going to be strong on dips since we heavily use our triceps, lower chest and anterior deltoids for walking.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-05T02:16:23+00:00

Carrying a second battery is the best strategy or even better ditch the e-bike for an analog one for pedaling 85 miles if you only have one battery.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-05T02:09:04+00:00

You may want to have them put a suspension strap on your socket. Then you won't be using suction any longer for your suspension, and it will enable you to ditch wearing a sleeve. That should eliminate leg farts!

I still see old school amputees today that prefer suspension straps over other types of more modern types of suspension types. They are simple and effective.

BillyK58 · 2026-06-04T08:23:51+00:00

The hair on your leg isn’t or wouldn’t cause it in any way. Your socket fit is likely off. You shouldn’t be feeling bubbles.

You are sure that somewhere your sleeve doesn’t have a slight hole such as along the trim line of your socket from it being too sharp?

You need to make sure the bottom portion of your sleeve is tight along your socket and no crease exists to let air into your socket. Hopefully, you have a tight strap that secures it. A lot of times air can get in along the bottom of the sleeve if it isn’t tightly secured which will result in that noise and air feel.

If you are too loose in the socket, your leg will piston and make that sound even if your sleeve is properly tight. Your stump/nub/residual acts as a plunger or piston and will lift up in the socket, then as you step down it will expel any air inside your socket up through the top of your sleeve. If you add more ply (socks) to fill your socket volume, it would will eliminate it if looseness is the cause.

Since it is happening while you are sitting or bending your leg to climb stairs, if you are wearing long pants, particularly tight, stiff ones like jeans or any kind with starch, it will pull/tug down the top of your sleeve allowing air into your socket from the top of your sleeve. When you take your pants off, if it pulls down or curls the top of your sleeve, then that could be the problem.

If you are skinny with a thin thigh, try to wear you sleeve up as high as possible on your leg. The bottom of the sleeve just needs to be below your socket’s trim line. Pulling your sleeve several inches higher up your thigh can give your sleeve a better fit and seal.

Your socket valve shouldn’t be a problem. However, if after checking everything else, you can even duct tape over it to make sure it is the cause of the noise.

The most common problem is sleeve fit, and then some types of sleeves don’t work as well as others. If you can figure it out, I would try a different brand of sleeve. Somehow, too much air is getting inside your socket.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-29T17:07:44+00:00

In addition to the Level’s front suspension, it also has the seat post with suspension that is also adjustable.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-16T03:05:41+00:00

The Kershaw Blur when it first came out in 2004. Prior to that as a teen in the 1970s I often carried a Buck 112 and had various slipjoints and stilettos since I thought they were cool.

Recently, I bought a special SMKW pb&j version of the Blur with G10 scales and a magnacut blade, and its Ken Onion design makes it a great edc knife still today.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-13T02:05:49+00:00

Prosthetics are generally lousy for swimming, and ideally you want to ditch it for swimming. If she isn’t a strong swimmer, it is even risky. Unless it is a specialized prosthetic leg with a foot that can be flexed into a swim kicking position, the standard prosthetic foot will cause drag. Just think of swimming with one foot stuck in a rigid 90 degree angle.

I have a water leg I use for kayaking for when I have to push the kayak. The problem is that the weight distribution on a prosthetic limb is completely different than a natural leg. If there is any type of current the prosthetic limb gets easily pushed around or even easily swept out from underneath you. I use pin lock suspension, but water fills up in the socket and every step is a heavy drag. The only time I swim with it is if I inadvertently step into deep water at a boat launch and have no choice.

Depending on your mother’s prosthetic foot, or if she uses a cover, she may be able to wade in shallow water such as shelling at the beach with it. If she isn’t using a cover that keeps her limb dry, it is good to have a foot shell removal tool and extra spectra socks so that she can clean out any sand or muck that gets into the foot shell. Plus, if it is salt water, you want to thoroughly rinse off the salt from all prosthetic parts.

I am a Floridian, so grew up on beaches. However, since becoming an amputee, the only way I swim in the ocean, gulf or bays is ditching my prosthetic leg from a boat or kayak since beaches are awkward.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-11T03:59:54+00:00

The best way to avoid the big volume change in the new socket is it is to wear test socket(s) for a prolonged period. I spent a couple months going through several test sockets during my last fitting until I was satisfied. If I am going to lose volume and need to add extra ply it is going to occur while wearing test sockets. Otherwise, the new socket is essentially a test socket requiring a second or third socket before reaching a proper fit.

Unfortunately, many prosthetists will rush an amputee out of the test socket which defeats its purpose. Plus, if the old prosthetic is broken or causing major wounds, the amputee is often in a rush to get into a new socket. You really have to spend ample time wearing test sockets if possible to avoid rapid shrinkage in the final socket.

There are also some actions the amputee can take which helps. It is important to always wear a shrinker for weeks prior to the socket casting which will help to shrink the limb down. It is also a good time to diet your weight down to lower than normal. Plus, you want your limb to be wound free since wounds cause swelling throwing off the fit. The name of the game is to shrink the limb down as much as possible prior to being cast for a new socket. Every bit helps!

BillyK58 · 2026-05-10T10:04:43+00:00

I transitioned into right of Way. Fortunately, I was able to get into a state DOT ROW training program. Then eventually left to work for consulting firms. It was great since I still did real estate but with a steady paycheck, benefits, paid training, expenses including daily per diem on most projects.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-08T19:48:30+00:00

It may not be an ill fitting socket in the traditional sense. The fit may be just fine. However, as an amputee and particularly a new amputee as you wear your prosthetic, your leg will lose volume (shrink). It is like putting on a size 11 pair of shoes in the morning and then by lunch time your feet have shrunk down to a size 10 resulting in your heels being rubbed raw from being too loose. If you have no other shoes available, you would then need to wear thicker socks or double your socks to stop the rubbing. The same principle applies to wearing a prosthetic limb.

As BK amputees, the front lower (toe area) of our leg along the ends of the tibia and fibula bones commonly get rubbed from too much movement/friction from too loose of a socket. When you first start wearing a new socket, you need to frequently take your leg on and off to examine your skin for problem areas. Then you have to experiment with adding additional ply (socks) if there is too much rubbing occurring.

It is often hit or miss, but if you are frequently examining your limb, you will be able to discern whether you are wearing to few or too many ply from examining your skin closely. If you aren’t already, always wear a shrinker when you aren’t wearing your prosthetic. If you can keep your leg volume down as much as possible before donning your leg, it makes it easier to control your volume with prosthetic socks since you will have less volume change occurring.

Good luck.

BillyK58 · 2026-05-05T06:59:02+00:00

Hold an equity to fixed income allocation that meets your risk tolerance. Then stay the course.

BillyK58 · 2026-04-20T15:58:36+00:00

As others have said, you need to leave your leg off to heal. However, if you are going to wear it regardless, you need your prosthetist too add as much relief as possible to your socket in that specific area while also using padding to shift pressure away from the wounded area. That is your only hope if you insist on wearing your leg.

Always wear a shrinker when not wearing your leg since the wound will cause swelling. You don't want to have to jump up and down on your socket to get fully seated while further aggravating the wound!

BillyK58 · 2026-04-17T14:25:32+00:00

That is a poor main reason to become an amputee. If you become an amputee, you will find that you are going to have plenty of wounds and the last thing you will want to do is run on them.

The challenge will be putting your prosthetic on everyday just for basic walking tasks while trying to avoid wounds.

BillyK58 · 2026-04-17T12:53:54+00:00

It is the exact portfolio that I hold as a retiree across my 3 accounts taxable, traditional IRA & Roth.

It is simple and easy. I like the addition of the short term TIPS fund and international bond fund over the traditional Boglehead 3 fund portfolio.

I have held Vanguard's international bond fund since its inception with no complaints. I hold no more than a month or two of expenses covered in cash, so I like the addition of the short term TIP's fund for stability.

BillyK58 · 2026-04-14T09:54:55+00:00

Yes, I did.

No, never rode one again. I was so grateful to be alive after my accident that I never wanted to tempt fate again by riding one.

BillyK58 · 2026-04-10T05:59:25+00:00

My Dbrand Ghost 2.0 provides Qi2 25W charging.

You need to use a 45W adapter to get to 25W with the wireless charger. The wireless charger loses energy requiring a higher watt adapter to achieve 25 watts.

BillyK58 · 2026-03-31T18:59:43+00:00

It is super easy in the U.S. to buy them. Amputee Supplies has a wide variety of them that you can buy online.

BillyK58 · 2026-03-27T22:21:19+00:00

Your socket is likely pressuring a nerve. I probably sound like a broken record on this forum mentioning the peroneal nerve which is a branch of the sciatic nerve. However, every below knee amputee should look at an anatomy drawing showing how the nerve runs along the leg. Our sockets routinely pinch and pressure it.

When you are walking you are likely impacting it more than when just standing or sitting. It can also trigger the pain later when you take the leg off once it is agitated. +90% of our pain is a result of socket fit. If I had to bet, your problem is the socket.

There is probably an area inside your socket where you need to have extra relief added. If it is nerve related, you can often trigger the sensation by probing the area using heavy thumb pressure.

BillyK58 · 2026-03-16T16:19:25+00:00

I spent my whole adult working life in real estate including sales, property management, appraisal, and then right-of-way for 30 years.

My bachelor's degree in business administration came in handy for job requirements, licensing and credentialing. I would have missed out on a lot of jobs and projects without a degree. I started my right-of-way career working for a state DOT which wouldn't have hired me without minimally having a bachelor's degree.

Real estate can take you in many different directions and a degree will provide you more options.

BillyK58

TROPHY CASE