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

Day 1 C &O Canal towpath bike trail.

We have been visiting family in PA on the way to ride the C & O canal bike trail. I will write up a complete report later but just rode 39 miles through MUDDY WET trail. Very hard. Very muddy. Thank goodness I had fenders put on my V Rex in January. They are caked with mud and I am NOT!!!!

Having terrible thunder storms in area so trails become wet mud. Not much fun to ride in, but scenery and history are grand.

Rode through 3 states today.

Riding tomorrow but my 3rd day looks like a wash out so I will cancel last riding day.

Complete report later.

 

What makes it hard...the water or the mud? I know sand doesn't like me very much, but I hadn't gave water/mud much thought.

 

C&O Day 2. More hard riding. It is the muddy trails that make biking so hard. I have very sore legs and can only sustain about 8 mph working hard. Wouldn't recommend this trail if there has been rain in the last week.

Today I bagged it. Got up and it was pouring. So will take day off and call it quits.

I was planning to do the other half next year but right now I doubt it because of poor trail conditions.

 

Well that is too bad. I was hoping to read about some more of your nice adventures. I hope you get to do some good riding somewhere anyway.

 

A more positive note. I talked to the Park Ranger in Cumberland where the C & O met the GAP (Great Appalachian Passage) and found out GAP has a much better riding surface than the C & O. So I put it back on my bucket list.

 

June 8 th

Completed my 5 th 100 mile ride on the track.

http://s256.photobucket.com/user/10wheels/slideshow/2013 INDY TDC

 

Yeah...congratulations, that is pretty

 

2nd ride with Betty on her new Serian. We rode 27 mile route she has done on all of her recumbents. She likes it's stability with the longer wheelbase but she said it felt slower than the Fujin.

Well she was wrong! She was .4 mph faster. Still hasn't clipped in yet, but says she might be comfortable enough to try soon.

I rode the Cheetah and there were a few times when I thought she was going to drop me. I will see about getting a photo up soon.

 

Wow, that is pretty cool. If /when she tries clipless, let us know how she likes it.

Willie G has not been posting his rides, but he has been riding with his buddy Rob on Sat afternoons and he has ridden his original USS SWB and the new Edge Hi-Racer. He said the Hi-Racer is at least 3mph faster than his USS and is rock solid. That is good to hear. Perhaps when he gets a chance he will post a few comments of his own.

 

I finished up my C&O Bike ride report. I rode it last week.

Click here to read it. (It is the attached PDF file which you need to download.)

 

Still scarce I know, but I have been riding off and on. Finally managed a 30+ mile ride to the south, doing a loop with a castle, lovely wooden buildings of an old town, church ruin and runestones. Just finished the blog post.

Back more when I get my Apple!

Terii

 

Well I have sort of take over the Fujin SLII. First ride was a bit of a nightmare. I couldn't seem to get my pedals set right for the shoes and clips I was wearing. Then adding to that the chain kept slipping off one of the idlers (I have learned this is a common problem and I will be addressing it). The superman handlebars are WAAAAY to long for my monkey arms so they are going to get a trim.

But, I could see the speed potential. As light as the Sea Dragon and with the right components could possibly be a bit lighter. I like the seating position and of course it has my favorite Velokraft carbon seat.

I only took her out for about 9 miles with some pretty good hills. The compact gearing might need to go as well. Needs more highs and lows for around here (but pretty much every bent I have had has needed that). My fractured ribs are better but they reminded me that they wern't quite healed.

The second ride was better. I had tweaked the chainline a bit and still jumped off twice but it's getting there. The cleat I repositioned and the pedals were adjusted so no more issues with that. 14 miles with the first 9 being at about an 18mph average.

More coming soon.

 

First ride for about three weeks today. Fate seems to be conspiring to keep me off the bike ! Still lovely day, sunny and warm, went for a gentle ride up to London with my friend Graham. The roads near Buckingham Palace, were closed to traffic as they were about to change the guard, but the police let us through so couldn't resist a quick picture.



That's the palace in the background, the Queen wasn't in , guess she is on her summer holidays in the country, but they still do a formal changing of the guard every day at 1100.

 

Finally got my new Apple! Yay!

Glad to see people riding. My riding has been infrequent and short. Just starting to feel frustrated by Loke's lack of stamina which is keeping me from touring. Thinking of taking a tour later this month as Jens will be home for 3 weeks. Love him, but he'd drive me bonkers being home that long. Not to mention, he can come fetch Loke before his feet get blisters from the socks.

What rides I've been doing since the 34 mile Mariefred loop to the south have been glorified River Loops around here, mostly for Loke's exercise. Today was 6+ miles.

Went to see the new litter of puppies last week. Too cute! Also Loke turned 8 years old yesterday.

In other news, planning a vacation in the last half of September. Jens and I (sans Loke) will be taking a European road trip. We still haven't decided if we're going to spend most of the time in France or in Italy. I'm kinda leaning toward France, Jens would like Italy. I will be taking the trike and going on day rides to explore the countryside and villages. That much is certain at least.

Terii

 

Go for France. Italian drivers are nuts!

Road trips are great. Just did 4 national parks & 2000 miles in Washington & Oregon.