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

Took the trike out today. Sadly, I missed the hour of so of blue skies and sunshine. My husband made such a big deal about making sure Loke got some exercise, it seemed silly to take him less than an hour after Jens finished walking him for 4 miles. Better to break the exercise up.

The skies went gray again, threatening to drizzle by the time I decided it was late enough for Loke's 2nd outing of the day. Around 58 F, humid. Bleah. At least it wasn't precipitating!

We just did a brisk 7.01 mile loop. My gears which were feeling a little sloppy even before I bent the teeth on the center chain ring are now shifting silky smooth again.

The cost of the repair was only 300 kr (45 USD). Needless to say when I discovered they'd changed my 26 ring, I was shocked it had been so cheap! Given that such rings run 20+ USD, I'm wondering if they forgot to charge for it? Generally the bill has been in the 300 kr range for straight, no-parts-needed work.

I'll admit, my conscience wants me to ask rather than keep my mouth shut so I get the free part. Jens would probably sulk at me if I did that.

Oh! I e-mailed the guys at ICE to see if they're still nice enough to let people come try their trikes at their fabrication site. They are. I think I'm going to aim to fly over the 2nd week next month! *fingers crossed*

Terii

 

As I bemoaned earlier, I am on a 10 day business trip so no riding. I am in Sonoma California (wine country) and just left San Francisco. What really gets my attention is all the bike trails they have here. Many of the bike lanes are simply the right lane of multiple lane roads. But you can see stenciled on the asphalt a bicycle rider and 3 arrows in front of and behind showing this lane of traffic is designated for bicyclers. And it is in the middle of the lane to make sure you see it!!!!

Could you imagine Knoxville, TN doing such a thing??? I doubt it. Just a whole different mind set here.

 

One thing I miss about the land of fruits and nuts is pedestrian rights. Here, when
I step into a cross-walk I become a target and may need to quicken the pace
to save my life. It's not so much the fruits and nuts are nice, it's the penalty
for hitting a cross-walk occupant that is the deterrent for poor behavior.

 

I was a kid on my Sears ten-speed, in the late Sixties, when I
was in Southern California.
I'm sure that there were other vehicles sharing the road with me
-but I don't remember them.
I do remember the fantastic weather!

Another illegal, close pass by a school bus.
More razzing.

I wonder why?
Does this current nasty political climate bleed over into other areas of peoples' lives, I wonder?

Hmmm....
Anyway, I've begun to respond with waving enthusiastically.
While grinning like I'm a few cards short of a full deck.
Muahahahaaa!

Bee-you-tee-full weather;
no wabbits to chase;
20 miles at an average pace of 17.4

 

Loke and I went for a quick River Loop sans extension today. It was miserable. It's been rain, rain and more rain of late. The ground beneath the grass of the lawn at the back of our apartment is so saturated the roots can't hold the muck. Makes walking back there something like squishy ice, the mud just ready to slip out from under foot as if the grass wasn't even there.

Still, Jens had to leave at 6 am this morning so Loke's morning walk was replaced with the run. We went out in 54F, lead skies and a 'drizzle' so light my clothes wouldn't get wet but I could still feel the microscopic touch of droplets on my face and my glasses misted up with it. I didn't bother with wool and even if the clothes didn't feel wet, the chill still wiggled its way in.

At least all I had to towel off on Loke was his legs and belly. Most days the past 2 weeks he's been suffering with a 'doggie robe' I've started inflicting him with. A towel held in place beneath his collar with a couple of the really big black paper clamps made for holding entire book manuscripts or the like. That way he can shake all he likes and NOT splatter the apartment. Just as well I came up with it since 20 minutes of vigorous rubbing with a towel doesn't seem to dry him off at all.

In other news, it looks like in 2 weeks I'll be in Falmouth, England. Going to ICE to test ride a new trike. Making plans for flights, trains and hotels now.

Terii

 

Another ride today! This one over 14 miles. I'd hoped to get pictures of a runestone and stone ship, but alas it was not meant to be.

The SUN was actually playing peekaboo with the clouds as I got ready to go. At 55 F, I decided to pull on a wool top at least, but ended up wearing just the wool when it felt quite warm as I hitched Loke. With the wind from the rolling, it was just right.

Loke was feeling kinda 'ho-hum' as we started out, but once we took the turn onto Gamla Börje Road, he perked up. It was wonderful! Nice smooth pavement. Even up that first steep hill, I felt like I was gliding. Certainly much nicer than the teeth rattling from overlapping patch works. All the places where the ground beneath the road had subsided were leveled too so no more uncomfortable angles.

I was disappointed at the lack of vivid colors in the countryside. Just a few clumps of trees here and there which barely edged into the orange side of humdrum yellow. I didn't see any intense oranges and reds until I was back in fringes of Uppsala.

I crossed the 55 for the dirt road leading to the spot with the stones and stopped at the parking area for the burial ground. Fortunately, Loke inadvertently warned me before I left the nice gravel surface for the 200 yard walk. There isn't really much of a path there so he started out along the line of trampled grass and immediately sank up past his dew claws. His feet ended up coated in a thick mud that reminded me of the clay slip used in ceramic making, only darker. No way I was going to wade through that!

So, it was back across the 55 and past the shopping center. As I came out of the cycle paths into a residential area, I met Atlas and his owner. Atlas is HUGE. Granted all Great Danes are big, but he takes it well beyond big. 40 inches at the shoulders at least. He could easy look over my head (helmet included) while I was sitting in the trike without lifting his.

My trike made him nervous and of course, Loke's boorish behavior put him
off.

A half mile later, I met another two dogs. A very fat and older black lab and a young husky/golden mix. The mix was very very sweet. She smooshed her nose into my face in a doggie kiss before greeting Loke. Her owner and I chatted for a while as Loke boxed with her.

After that, it was just a quick roll home. Somewhere between meeting Atlas and talking with the husky/golden's owner, the fluffy clouds turned into a lead gray sheet. The first few tiny drops of rain hit my hands as I parked outside the apartment. So, we got home just in time!

Terii

 

Hallelujah!!!

After a two week hiatus, I finally got to ride today. Rode real fast for 15 miles and then my body cramped up to show me what a bonehead I am.

Plan to ride again tomorrow but will keep a slow steady pace so I don't cramp up again!!

Still, there is a smile on my face because I got to ride. Bent riding is addictive indeed!!!!

 

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
--- Lance Armstrong

"Pain is weakness leaving the body"
--- Marine Drill Instructor

 

Bonehead +1.....ugly too

 

Another ride!

Just a quick 5 miles around the Riverloop with a few wiggles. But we had sunshine!

A bit nippy at 49 and breezy. Definitely needed my jacket and the sheepskin on the seat.

Terii

 

Yet another ride!

Woke this morning to 37 F but absolutely clear. Had Jens drive me out into the countryside.

I enjoyed the gorgeous if chilly weather and took lots of pictures of the golds of autumn.

Loke started limping around 18 miles, but it seemed to be one of his socks. I still called it quits after just 20.5 miles when I reached an old burial ground

Terii

 

Post of yesterday's ride on my blog! Long ride description including the meeting the couple on TerraTrike machines. The woman's had an electric assist motor to help her up hills because she had a prosthetic leg. Wonderful attitude that impressed me to no end.

Pictures of the stunning autumn scenery too.

Terii

 

No color changes here yet, but the Cheetah is starting to put on a show as I get more used to her. I also mounted the Tailbox.

Caught up to two riders on high end TT bikes. Laid back a bit, caught my breath and passed them on a 5% grade. Dropped em and then stopped to take off my long sleeves and they passed me

So of course I had to pass them again. This time on the flat with a bit of a headwind. I can't push the speeds on the WC I could with the Sea Dragon but I was holding 21.8 as I went by.

A down and out route with a few good climbs after about 20 miles. I was a bit worried they might catch me But they didn't! Turned around at the end of the road quickly and headed back, they were about 1.5 miles behind.

Wind started really picking up and I fought a pretty brutal headwind for the final 20 or so miles. Stopped at Subway for their version of a MacMiffin and some yogurt before bring it home with just over 52 miles 3 hours 8 minutes ride time
With a 16.7 mph average.

 

Ward, that is impressive that you can average that type of speed for 52 miles on ANY trike!
I can do that on my Corsa,(on a good day) but not on my trike!

 

Recycling haul, flat tire, walk home.