My Most Recent Ride 2013 (Part VI in a series)

Hi Terii,
Glad to see you're getting out a lot. I hope the snows cleared around Uppsala, I was there a couple of weeks ago and took the DF bike out for a spin, out towards Borlinge and back via Ulva Kvarn. It was really beautiful by the mill there, but a bit cold ! Loved the pic of the Trike of Wiks castle, looks a bit like the Adam's Family house ! Next time I'm over I'm going o take a cycle out there, but on an upright I'm afraid.
Adrian

 

The snows are gone now, not even lingering the deep shadows of trees on the ride yesterday. I only found one chunk of it, clinging desperately on in Märsta by a light pole where a big pile must have been a month or so ago. It was all covered in rocks and melting fast.

Flowers are starting to pop up even faster. Last ride all I could find were crocus and a few blue-stars (not sure what they're called in English). Now there are snow drops and several others. Even a few pastures are starting to look a little green.

Terii

 

Out again!

I saw I needed another 30 miles to hit/break my April goal of 125 miles. That is unless I've messed up my math somewhere. I debated this morning heading south of Stockholm to a castle, but since I'd originally planned the trip with my sister-in-law I didn't want to take it alone, depriving her of the chance to go.

Finally I just decided to do the Börje loop which would net me around 18 miles. I threw in one of the River Loop extensions and finished the ride with 21.96 miles.

It started off mostly sunny with big fluffy clouds. 51 F and quite breezy. After about 10 miles, 'breezy' turned into 'd*mn windy'. Sustained around 20-22 mph with a lot of gusts. After the way my knee hurt at the start of yesterday's ride, I'm surprised it didn't break down entirely. I arrived home just as a cloud cover rushed in to hide the SUN.

I also played 'leap Frog' with a group of 3 men on hybrid uprights. I first passed them at Börje Church and they said 'Hej' and waved. After that every time we saw each other was more waving or they'd ring their bells when passing me during picture taking or a water break.

I stopped at the cafe at Ulva mill and they were resting there too. One of them came over and asked me lots of details about the trike with more than cursory interest. He even had me write down what to Google to research more about recumbents on his own. Could there be another convert?

As for the Da Brim, it was a bit of a pain after the winds picked up from 15 mph to the 20's. I did take it off for a short bit, but having the sun in my face, no way to carry the brim and the fact that even my ball cap's brim was causing problems, I just put the Da Brim back on and dealt with it. So with moderate winds, even cycling at speed, it wasn't a problem. I still count it worth the tugging around on my helmet for the shade even during the latter part of the ride.

Now all I need is the River Loop with all extensions and I'll still have April's goal in the bag!

Terii

 

Oops. Double posted. Thank goodness for edit.

 

Adrian, I want to ride with you! Man, that's the way to go. I think you probably ate more than you burned but who cares. I really likes rides where I go out to a place to eat, enjoy a nice lunch, and then ride back. I don't get to ride like that often though.

Last weekend a nice 62 mile ride. Met a friend from Macon who rides a nice CA2 Aero Bacchetta. Country roads with Pecan and Peach trees everywhere you looked. Not much traffic, rolling hills and a nice strong 10-15 mph headwind on the last 12 mile leg. Lunch after the ride was just a grilled chicken/apple /cranberry wrap from BK.

 

Out again today. I'm not sure how I made it (migraine complete with nausea), but I did.

I had been hoping for 8 miles, but only did 5.89. Loke's feet were tender and he started getting slower and slower. At about mile 3, he gave a brief limp so I brought him straight home.

Once I got back home, I just couldn't face going back out for the last 2 miles, especially not with the horrendous wind that's roaring, howling and whistling around out there. Worse than yesterday's ride. Either I'll just have to be 2 miles short of the goal or I'll try to get out for it tomorrow in spite of laundry.

Terii

 

Well, it took me 3 days, but I have the post from Saturday's ride on the blog now. Lots and lots of runestones with a few nice pictures scattered in.

Now on to Sunday and Monday's rides. Much shorter, so even with me restricting how much time I spend on the computer, it hopefully won't take me a week.

Terii

 

Rode yesterday. 20 miles. 77 degrees. Beautiful sunny weather.

I was getting ready to turn on my last lap which is my "cool down" lap.

But what to my wonderous eyes should appear...
but two DF riders onto my road would steer.
Both dropped down on their handlebars and gave me a grin
So my ears perked up and I said let the race begin!!!
I turned the corner and upped my gears
And I had the wind whistling in my ears.
As I got closer, shaved legs did I see.
So I ramped up my speed and my heart was full of glee.
On red bachetta, go forward with a bound.
To a long straight stretch of road that angles down.
Went to the the large chain ring and my smallest cog
and passed the DF riders, rang my bell and gave a nod.
I glanced down at my instruments and what did I see
By gosh these old legs were going 27.3!!!

Great day!!!!

 

Attaboy Jon!

Out on the Cheetah yesterday. Met up with a three other DF riders, one the new owner of my favorite LBS. I hit them hard right out of the gate on a section of rollers. Then we. Headed towards a a more sustained climb. I was sure I would get dropped there but I was waiting for them at the top. That was followed by a nice long mostly downhill run that is smooth and fun. I let them take the lead and just stayed a bit off their tail.

Finally some flat and I pushed them hard, I think I irritated one of the a bit . My big boned friend was starting to fall behind so I drifted back and let the other two go. A fun ride.

http://app.strava.com/activities/51615338

 

5 something miles, battling against those nasty winds again. I would have done more, but it was just killing my knees even in the lowest gears.

Terii

 

Wanted to invite everyone to the Knoxville Bike Festival this Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 PM at Market Square. As long as it is not raining, I will be there with an RRI booth. Come by and say "HI!"

There is a neighborhood ride starting at 2:30 so bring your bents and let's show folks what "purdy" bikes look like!!!

More information here:

http://www.recumbentriders.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7807

http://www.knoxtrans.org/bikemonth/events.htm

 

Riding Rhyms

Sounds awesome! And you got some good rhyming going on there too. Good job.

 

sounds like some underlying glee going on there my friend be careful...out might hurt their feelings.

 

William will be there too...maybe you guys can get some good pictures of the festivities.

 

Well Sunday was a washout. Continuous rain. Kelley cancelled the Bike Ride that day and I cancelled the RRI booth at Bike Fest. I was looking forward to that!

Knoxville hosted a triathlon on Sunday. Rain didn't stop people from riding their bicycling right by my subdivision. They looked cold and wet. What fun??????

I decided a long time ago I am a fair weather rider. Thus I haven't ridden much lately. Knoxville is over 12 inches of rain ABOVE normal right now.