My Most Recent Ride 2014 (Part VII in a series)

Commute

Put my RANS V2 in the Prius the other day and dropped it off at work. Today I rode into work with a coworker that lives near me and rode the bent home. Why not ride both ways? I hear some of you muttering to yourselves. 41 miles one way is plenty for one day thank you very much. Riding both ways would make me a very smelly and sleep deprived coworker! My expected cross wind turned into a bit more of a headwind during large sections of the ride and dropped me below my 15 mph target. This was also my first ride where I attempted to spin and not mash. Old habits die hard. I think it is going to take me quite a few more miles to ride smarter and not harder.

 

Good job on your ride. 41 miles is a good start,a bit much if you aren't used to it. Once you do it often enough those 41 miles will seem like nothing at all. People ride different lengths for different reasons and they're ok with it. Do what makes you happy.

 

I like this idea Buddy, I am supposed to have some rest days this long weekend, but I am aiming to take on your idea written here

 

Well, we all ride for different reasons. If I rode only for exercise, I'd just plop the trike down in front of the TV on most days. I want to explore my adopted country and take photos. I've already photographed the area around my apartment in SUN, snow, rain, spring, summer autumn and winter.

As for fast miles, nope. I was perfectly fine doing less than 30 miles in roughly 8 hours. I stopped to read while listening to birdsong and gurgling water. I wandered around church yards or through the pasture land around what was once the site of a medieval fortress. Our speed was less than 8 mph and with all the stops and enjoying the day stuff, we averaged less than 4 miles in any given hour. We got exercise of both sorts and I stayed well hydrated and yet dropped a pound between the time we left and when we got back home.

I do want distance and more stamina because I want to cycle tour, but speed I'm not so worried about. So, I'm aiming for slow and steady increase. I would love to go back to the same area with more time to explore the area using the rail-trail as the main travel line while running off onto the roads from time to time to chase down runestones, churches, castles and the like.

Jens has offered to drive me there if I promise to stay out for a minimum of 3 days.

Any-hoo! Here's the link for the post! Lots of photos. Gorgeous scenery, churches, ruins, stone circle monument (I think) and just a babbling description of what was an awesome day for me and Loke.

http://terii.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/rail-to-trail-fun/

Now, out on another ride! This one just to downtown where I'm going to chase down a building where a significant meeting of Swedish religious leaders and scholars was held in 1593. It shaped the history of Sweden! Gonna get a photo and research that meeting more in depth! Pre-Industrial History and cycling! Yay!

Terii

 

Beautiful pictures!
Thanks for taking us along on the ride.

 

Training

Getting ready for Ride the Fault coming up later this month!! 41 miles will seem like nothing after that!

 

Looks like a great tour, might need to look into that one. Your 41 mile commute to work seems to be begging for a Velomobile, have you thought about or considered that?

 

7.75 miles today. Headed downtown in search of a historical building where a meeting happened in 1593 that was pivotal to Swedish history in regards to the ban of all Christian denominations other than Lutheran. Sweden became 'One man, a country bound by one God and one religion'

Couldn't quite track it down though. Only had a general location near the Cathedral and no photo of it. I think it's still standing. Most of that part of town was hit by a huge fire in 1702 (I think) and there was mention of it being damaged, but repaired and put into use for something.

In spite of not finding it, I still enjoyed it. It was warm with sun occasionally. Took Loke with me and he moved just fine. Got a bit over warm a few times, but nothing that some water and 5 minutes in a patch of shade didn't fix.

Thought I lost my wallet at one point. Discovered it was missing when I stopped in the American Food store. Left Loke with the store owner's (Charles) daughter (Amanda) so I could more easily back track to the fruit stand in hopes of finding it. No luck. Back at the food store, I was digging in my handlebar bag when Charles came up with a huge grin. 'How much do you love me?'

He'd found it! He guessed I was in such a panic over the loss that maybe I'd missed seeing it in my pod bags, so he went to look. Sure enough! It was tucked way back in one of them. He saved the day from having a really crummy finish!

Terii

 

$$$$$

I have not. I still catch grief from my wife on how expensive this hobby is anyway. Not sure I could scrape her off of the floor after that sales pitch!

 

Trust me, I understand. My plan is to talk her into wanting one. I actually had her test ride one and she liked it. Maybe the bug will stick.

 

7.19 miles today. Jens bugged me to take Loke out to spare him going for a long walk with the fuzzy. I wish he would have mentioned it earlier. It was a bit warm for a critter still wearing a parka, even if it's thinner than his winter coat. 5 am would be better.

At least it was a tiny bit cooler than yesterday with a smidge less humidity. A gusty breeze helped too. Headed out toward the grave mounds and tacked on half a River Loop.

Definitely a record for most miles in a week for 2014.

Terii

 

Yesterday rain was forecast but we decided to try anyway. Pulled out about 6:20am on the Venom. It was a cool 72 degrees with cloudy skies. The route is a very old chip seal road that existed before Ft Benning heads East towards Buena Vista, Ga.

The plan was a constant output of power, so we didn't kill it on the hills but just kept out cadence nice and steady. The road deteroiorates more and more and by mile 20 or so there are places the pavement is completely broken apart and the two wheeled riders had to dismount a few times. A few miles farther we went around (or under in my case) and we were out of the Fort. It would be another 10 miles before we reached Buena Vista for our first stop. A V8 and an Almond Joy candy bar and we were back moving.

One of the guys had never been 80 miles before so we headed towards Tazwell Ga which was about 8 miles away. Beautiful vistas from each ridge line we crested...but we had to crest them. The good news was we all were still feeling pretty good and it still wasn't very hot.

We turned around at 40 after a quick nature break, immediately realizing that we now had a head wind. It wasn't too bad but would build up a bit before we finished. Lots of climbing, retracing our steps on those rough roads and wondering what in the hell we were thinking by taking this route. When suddenly I realized that we were almost back. The last five miles the sun finally burned off the clouds and it got HOT, but by then we could smell the barn you might say.

Finished the day with 79.9 miles in 5:55 ride time 6:15 total time and 4900 feet of elevation gain with a 13.5 mph moving average.

 

Good job sounds like a nice ride anyway.

 

Sounds to me the V8 was in your leg power!!!

 

3.95 miles this morning. Jens had to wake early and rush out the door to be at a doctor's appointment by 8 am in Stockholm. Between that and the fact it's his birthday, I decided to give Loke his morning outing before it warmed up.

I'd planned to do a 12+ mile loop, but he was so draggy (bored I think) I decided to cut it short. I'll take him out again for another short one later and then Jens and I will go out for his birthday dinner.

The only thing of interest on the ride was one man was absolutely enchanted with the trike. Gave me a the biggest grin of childlike wonder. Might have been the idea of such stability appealed to him since I could imagine riding a bike, especially one with gears, might be difficult with one arm.

Update - 4 pm

Out for a second time. Had to be sure Loke had plenty of time to work things out since Jens and I are going to his favourite restaurant for his birthday. 2.95 miles.

Terii