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

It was supposed to gray and rain all day, but after a difficult night of sleep thanks to an overly talkative duck whose loud vocalizations were 'megaphoned' up to our window by the stone/brick buildings along the canals, it turned out blue skies with puffy clouds and about 50 when I went out to the car to about 58 sometime during the ride.

Roughly 17 miles covered today. It is HARD to navigate in the old center of Bruges! I probably did an extra mile and a half just trying to figure out where I was in relation to the sites I'd mapped to see! Cobblestones over most of the roads which rattled my gears loose I swear since they suddenly began twitching and jumping from time to time.

Finally won out into the country side. Lovely cool. About 7 miles Into The Ride, the winds came screaming out of the west. Seriously worried about getting limbs down on me as pedalled along a tree-lined canal. Lots of horses and flat scenery with a mix of fields and trees. Saw quite a few Belgian Blue cattle. Freakish things with a lot more muscle mass than any other cattle type. Even the females look like overly enthusiastic body-builders and the bulls are like body-builders on over-doses of steroids. None of them were cooperating for photos though.

Had a Belgian waffle in a pretty little village called Damme. I had to lock my trike up out of sight of the only open cafe. Was a bit worried about someone riffling through my stuff. Instead, I found a random act of kindness done by someone unknown. I'd dropped my hat when walking away from the trike it seems. Someone had nicely picked it up and put it under one of the straps of my podbags across my seat so it wouldn't blow away.

While doing the cycle path along the main canal surrounding Bruges' old centre, I saw the city's eccentric character. I heard a bike bell from ahead and on some old moped that putted along very quietly, was a man (I think). He wore an American football helmet, some kind of homemade padded vest. His moped was absolutely COVERED in fake flowers and had two huge pinwheels on the front. There was even a wire form of a child seat on the back with more red flowers filling out the general shape of it. He made a peace sign to everyone he passed.

In spite of the pretty day even if with crazy winds, I felt vaguely aggravated all day. The Da Brim was a huge pain thanks to said winds. The gears mostly behaved outside of town, but made me crazy in Bruges. Still, in hindsight, I recognize it was a good ride.

Terii

 

Absolutely a GORGEOUS day today. 70 degrees, no humidity and clear. Early fall is in the air.

Got out and rode 16.7 miles around my loop. Before I got started a guy on a DF bike was just coming into the parking area. He stopped and asked me about my recumbent. The best part of the conversation was, "I tried to catch up to you while you were riding but could never do it!" I said "I am old, but I don't like to get passed."

Anyway, I put this ride in Bike Journal and low and behold AD's name popped up at the #6 position normally held by Terii. I see what retirement did for him. He is piling on the miles. No way I will be able to keep up with him next year.

This weekend I am speaking in Atlanta so I am meeting my Beach Daughter (a good friend of my daughter and family who used to go to the beach with us.) We are going to ride a good part of the Silver Comet on Saturday. Weather is supposed to be equally as beautiful. Can't wait!!!

 

First ride since the Bruges ride. Loke was raring to go. I toyed with the idea of doing a longer ride once returning home with the furball, but it was too COLD! I needed wool leggings, gloves and sheepskin seat cover to even think about it. I have the gloves and leggings, but I threw away my old, ratty sheepskin when the weather warmed up this last spring.

Getting rained on didn't help either. So, just 4.02 miles. Let's see if Loke starts acting arthritic again. He's been fine, bouncy and hyper since we got home.

Terii

 

Second serious ride in 2 years, since the ride on the Tellico. I just couldn't help myself....I HAD to ride, but I knew it would have to be an easy one. So Willie G and me took off Sat and rode the Virginia Creeper. The first 2/3 of the trail was awesome. Hard packed pea gravel and beautiful scenery. I thought I was smart and brought a KMX trike. Everything was going great and I was flying down the mountainside etc. Then the path went from relatively smooth to outright dangerous. There were massive ruts and washed out areas from a storm. No longer smooth pea gravel, but large chunks of ROCK were exposed and it was dodging a minefield. On a trike I was getting brains, teeth and bones jarred so much I started getting a headache. If it was wash board path it was smushy soft dirt. I was glad I was on a kmx...that is what they are designed for. The wheels did an excellent job and held up under all the stresses.

Had to make a quick pit stop, since there were no rest stops at the point where I was at. On my way back to the trike I passed two guys coming onto the Appalachian trail. Talk about a close call. Anyway, I don't know if I bonked, if my nerves had given out or what, but when I got back to my trike I could barely walk! I went from cruising to crawling. I was disgusted and when I pulled into Damascus I was feeling so down I just went to be alone. I pulled against a fence row to have help getting up, but rather just sat there trying to cool down. Kind of petty probably but oh well such as it was.

Regardless, all in all it was a good day and I can't wait to ride again.

 

Glad to hear you got out for a ride, though sorry you slammed into the 'The Wall'. I'll keep my fingers crossed your next ride goes better!

Terii

 

The Creeper always has spots that rattle my teeth while on the Rocket. Imagine it's even worse with three wide wheels. May have just done too much too soon. Enjoy the scenery in more, shorter chunks. The leaf peeping crowd shows up soon too. Weekdays will be better.

 

It was a BEAUTIFUL fall weekend. Clear, sunny mid 70s and low humidity and slight wind. It just doesn't get better than this!!!

I was in Atlanta this weekend giving a presentation on Sunday. But my Saturday was free. So I hooked up with my "Beach Daughter". Kendra is one of my daughter's good friends. When they were growing up, we invited Kendra when we went to the beach each year. That way my daughter had someone to have fun with her own age. And Kendra loved the beach.

Anyway Kendra graduated from Rose Hulman in Optical Engineering (i.e. laser stuff). She is very smart. (I'm sure all the engineers on this board could tell that by the school and degree she got! She has an usual combination of smarts, good looks and athletic ability. Right now while working full time at Georgia Tech, she is training to run her first marathon AND working on her MBA. Like I said, a smart kid.

So I asked her if she would like to ride the Silver Comet with me? She said yes. She has a nice bike but prefers running to riding. Anyway she met me at the hotel at 9:00 AM and I loaded my Bacchetta on the back of her car bike rack and wave good bye to my wife who was going shopping for the day.

Got to the Florence Road parking area. I knew I wanted to take Kendra to Frankies for lunch in Rockmart. So I gave her 3 different length riding options using different starting points. She chose the longest offering at 52 miles. She had never done 52 miles (38 miles was her longest ride) before and was worried because she knew I rode a lot and brought my fast bike.

We had a great time. Didn't break any speed records but averaged 12 MPH for the whole trip. Starting far enough outside of Atlanta avoided a lot of the pedestrian traffic. We had the Lance Armstrong guys flying by us, but most of the time we had the trail to ourselves.

We talked probably 3 of the 4 hours we rode. I don't get to see her much anymore. Found out one of her dreams is riding a Century, so I told her my strategy for doing them. (I set my GPS to ring every 10 miles. I stop. Stand up. Take a couple of drinks. Stretch, then get back on the bent and say, "I only have 10 more miles to ride before another break". So my century is ten 10 miles rides in a row. Makes it easy. I also stop at all the rest stops and eat and drink.)

We ended up with 52.5 miles and it was one of the best rides I have done in a long time. It was nice reconnecting with my 25 year old "Beach Daughter" again. Most of my rides are solo...

 

You didn't say if you got to Frankie's. I understand she has sold the restaurant (tho it retains the original motif) and she is doing some traveling. Very spry at her age.

The Comet is a perfect place to do a first century. Only a few places that could be considered hills. If all you want is 100 miles, then you could even avoid the hills by starting in the right place for an out-and-back on the 62 mile trail.

I could tell Kendra must be related by adoption. She's cute <zing>

 

Man am I jealous of you guys. Perfect weather and here I sit. Glad you got to ride Serenity!

 

Sorry. Yes we made it to Frankies. You are probably right that she sold it. I saw an older oriental guy working his tail off in the kitchen. Bet he is the new owner.

Food is still outstanding. There were at least 40 bikes parked in front when we got there. I had the lasagna (OF COURSE) and Kendra had Noodles Alfredo. She wolfed down 4 bread sticks before we got our food. She has a hummingbird metabolism. She needs to eat about every 2 hours. Not much, but some.

Great weekend. I hadn't thought of telling her to do the century on the Silver Comet. I suggested an organized ride. That way there will be other doing the same thing and stocked rest stops along the way. But good idea Dave.

 

Shoot, I like your idea Jon of how to do a century in ten mile segments. That might be something I might attempt someday if my stamina and energy levels hold out. At least something to think about.

 

It really works for me. If I started out and thought "Geesh, I have 100 miles to go." I would be really apprehensive. It is just a HUGE number. But 10 miles, well that is a walk in the park. Works for me!

 

The Clarksville Sunrise Century follows that general rule: rest stops every 15-20 miles, but it's flat out there. Shorter distance in hilly East TN better.

"How do you eat an elephant?"
"One bite at a time."

 

Terii, great pictures and blog as always.

If y'all are looking for a nice easy flat ride with great SAG
Stops keep Cruisin in the Country next month in mind.
Its not too cold down here in south Ga so usually you
Start with tights and a jacket and take off the jacket along
Way.

 

It doesn't get better than this.

High 60s
Sunny
We had a cool front move in so it is
Crystal clear

I think between 60 - 70 degrees is the perfect riding weather. It feels cool when you start but after 10 minutes it is perfect. And I don't end up sweating up a storm.

Today was one of those days. 20.1 miles. I grinned the whole time because it was so B E A U T I F U L!!!!

Passed my Pastor who rides a titanium bike and is very fit. Told him he needed to pedal faster...

(Of course I was in my car going back to work after my ride.)