My Most Recent Ride 2012 (Part V in a series)

ok i got a ride in with my bro david to day we were in the forge today it was a great day for riding i say it was about 65 deg here to day we got 30 miles in

 

Nice day for a ride..

 

3.02 miles and I did it with Loke. It took us almost an hour, but not because of the furry one, precisely. I was determined that he was going to go for a WALK and with my back killing me, I couldn't walk with him very well. So, we went out with the trike and crawled along at 4 mph, about Jens' walking speeding. I kept getting dirty looks from Loke even when he was limping.

But we got out into the pretty weather for a bit any way.

Terii

 

I got a 20.8 mile ride in with the Wheelmen Retired Riders. Very nice day although it was really windy

20.8
12.9 Avg
1400 feet of climbing

I was really happy with one area. I use Strava and like seeing if I can compete with the DF riders on some of the hill climbs. I blasted up one today at 15.1 MPH

http://app.strava.com/activities/4669733#88522742

Give somthing for those wedgies to work for...lol

 

That is so funny! Hard to imagine sometimes that a critter can get miffed too huh?

 

got a ride today me and a friend gene went to greenville to ride withe buddy and the his group we went 13.37 miles it was a great day of rideing sky was blue SUN was out about 73 deg. today and some winds but still a good ride

 

Oh, you should hear him SIGH. We pull into a parking lot and he knows he's going to be left in the car and you hear this deep, beleaguered *siiiiighhhh* from the back.

Jens says he gets it from me.

Terii

 

OK. I "officially" took my shortest career ride yesterday.

I was so excited. Sunny. Warm (64 degrees). Light wind. I had 2 hours between appointments so I go dressed and out the door.

I took my V Rex because I was going on greenways. Got 1.4 miles and I heard a hissing sound from the back tire. Got off, turned the bike upside down and spun the wheel until the sound got the loudest. There it was, a small hole in the tire and the hissing sound was coming through it. I ran over something sharp which went through my Marothon tire (not an easy stunt since these tire have really thick tread on them). But the sharp object must have been ejected because I couldn't see anything in the tire.

Took the back tire off and removed the tube. Ran my hand around the inside of the tire to make sure the sharp object wasn't INSIDE the tire. Nothing there. Then I paused.

After the repair discussion Dave recently started on RRI, I was going to repair the tube instead of replacing it. But when I took the tube out, I remembered something. I had new Velocity wheels put on my V Rex last year. After about 2 months I had a flat in the front tire. When I changed it, I realized I didn't have any rim tape in it. So I put rim tape in the front wheel, put in a NEW tube and inflated it. Haven't had a problem with the front tire since.

I told myself I needed to put rim tape on the back wheel as well but I decided to do it later. Well guess what I forgot to do. That's right, rim tape the back wheel. So when I pulled out the tube, I had a string of what looked like "blisters" all around the inside of the tube. Since I was going to take my V Rex to Florida in 3 weeks I decided to put a new tube in it. Then I turned around (making this a 2.8 mile ride) and headed back to my office.

Once there, I removed the back tire, tube and install the rim tape I had bought for it a year earlier. Put the NEW tube back in it and inflated it. Looks great and now I have finished my maintenance tasks. While I was at it, I wiped down the bent, oiled the chain and adjusted the derailleur. Works great now.

I am planning to ride it several time again before I head to Florida because I don't want to have something break in the middle of one of the Rails-To-Trails I am going to ride.

So even though I didn't get many miles in yesterday, I did do a lot a annual maintenance to the V Rex and she is ready to go I hope.

Oh yes, I also ordered a new repair kit. My glue is a year old and want fresh new stuff in case I need any this year. And yes, I plan to repair my tube instead of replacing to see how well it works. (I have repaired tubes before but not often.)

 

I discovered something this morning. Though I started out the year enthusiastic with my rides even on the 'hamster wheel loops', the last two rides attempts at longer rides resulting in failure between the spill and the derailleur melt-down has left me apathetic around riding close to home. I guess it's the feeling the loops are cursed! Cursed I tell you!

Today dawned gorgeously clear and my husband threatened to drag me out for a walk with the dog. Given that particular choice, I went out with the trike. Just a short 4 miles.

I did let Loke go a bit faster, around 6 mph and no wild charges down the hill to the river or the like. The skin is healing, but he still limps from time to time so no long runs for him for another few days at least. Just get him out to do his business and burn a little energy. He's still wandering around the apartment looking bored. 4 miles is nothing to him even with a sore foot. Not much to me either, but it was lovely out with the blue sky, soft winds and 41 F.

Terii

 

A short ride is desired more than no ride. Health needs a ride a day. Here
in Greene County Tn., we have a good thing going. We have a 10-20 mile
ride on schedule four days a week and 30 or more miles for special rides.
It is doing well and the secret is, ride your bike and be nice. Don't
aposilitize......ride a DF when called for and ride a recumbent when
needed. Everyone will need a special ride, if life is that long.

 

March. In Like a Lion.

Everything lined up for my first ride:
-weather in the low 70's Fahrenheit and,
-time to ride while the Winter Sun was high (minimising glare).
My Sofrider V1 did a great job keeping me in shape during the cold months,
while it was mounted on the trainer.
The only wrinkle to riding on the trainer is that now, it seems strange
to me to read and breathe normally!
I'd read while putting out watts on the trainer, you see:
reading and huffing!
So, I topped up the air pressure in the tyres, checked the fasteners,
turned on the flashing lights, applied sunscreen and pedalled off
onto the local roads... for a quick spin around the block (at least).
The first road-mile was wobbly.
Not scary-wobbly, but funny-wobbly.
The last 12 road-miles were smooth... fast and smooth.
A kid yelled, "Hey! Mister! I ain't seen a bike like that!"

A car cut me off.
A few roadbikes were passed.
You know, normal stuff: I was back, riding on the local roads.


All in all, a very pleasant, warm, Winter ride!
Thirteen miles, three stop signs (all full-stops) traffic and hills.
My average speed was 17.2 miles per hour...

a new personal best for the first ride of the season.

 

Two comments: unless your tires are pristine, air escaping a tire hole does not necessarily line up with a hole in the tube. Some tire punctures are almost invisible & self sealing. Also do not recommend using one's bare finger to feel for embedded debris in the tire casing. Glass, or worse, radial tire steel belt pieces can rip your hide. Better to use a cloth or sleeve over finger.

 

Good points.

 

Nice ride

Rode Greene County Bridge Burner solo. OK, but much more fun
with friends. Comfortable 49 degree, 20 miles. The Bacchetta Agio
is a delight. Mark tuned it last week.....perfection.

 

nice ride buddy sorry i didnt make it today but me and gene will be there on monday see you then