Jon's Rides

Keila is right. Those bikes are sorta ours and sorta not.

Frame is old stock but essentially the same as ours. Components are a mix of old stock we had and some new parts.

The seat system is all Burley though we are considering using their track system. We have the new seat and seat mounting system designed but are still rolling it around whether to use the Burley track system since it really is an 'elegant' solution. However, everyone that has seen our seat mounting system thinks it is better.

I would post something but the fact is, until I send test bikes to BROL I really don't want anyone to see what we are doing.

Local ROCKET Riders will be testing the new seats so they will be the first to see these. Really cool features: Our bikes will use our seats or any Volae seat with no special kit required. And our seats can be retrofitted to old Burleys. Our seat is steel but weighs the same as a Volae seat with sprint braces even though Volae seats are all aluminum.
Our seats can be adjusted over a range of 15 degrees and do not require seat struts....but are designed to take the Volae seat strut assembly if you really want struts.
The seat angle rotates around your hip joint so when you adjust the tilt you don't have to adjust the X-seam.
I am picking up sample seat kits tomorrow and will have a seat welded up ready for test in about a week. Production of seat bending starts next week.

Well, so much for news. Not there yet, but lots happening now.

Bill

 

Hi Everyone,

I am in Florida for a week riding every day. Rode 2 different trails. Will write about them soon. Have lots of pictures. Get ready for a big write up later this week!!! It is warm and sunny. Don't you wish you are here????

 

You need to HUSH:shocked: We have some SUN...but still a little chilly. OH I wish it were warmer. I'll be glad to read your report. You could send some pics though...just a few to whet our appetite.

 

Santa Rosa Ride

I have been in Florida this week. In four days I have ridden 3 times. (Today cloudy and rainy. )

This is the 10th year we have come down here. I love it because we are right on the beach and there is an incredible bike path that goes 28 miles (there and back) from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Florida. The bike path parallels the road.

When I checked into the condo, an announcement said the road was supposed to be ready by April. I was very excited because that means it is still closed to traffic yet the road should be almost done. (This road has been torn up for 2 years after the last hurricane destruction.)

Well I have ridden the road twice and let me tell you, there is NO WAY that road will be ready by next month. They have a long way to go. In addition, they are NOT REBUILDING the bike path. They are putting those narrow bike lane on the outside of the regular road. Not nearly as nice.

Anyway, I rode the path and it is beautiful. This road goes through the Santa Rosa Gulf Park. No houses, just beach. I love riding this ride. It is like heaven!!!

In this case, pictures tell the story much better. You will see a picture of me getting ready to ride, the sign depicting the park, the road in various states of repair and HellBent (my V Rex).

One last point, the second day I rode, I had to come back against winds gusting up to 40 mph. I c r a w l e d back. I was exhausted!!! :s4: I am watching the wind speed now before I ride again!

 

I thought Fl was warm??? What are you doing in leggings and a jacket? I guess the gulfside is a bit cooler than the peninsula eh?

 

Jon, I'll post about my first ride this year....sometime. I picked up some oil for the chain today and told Judy that it was just in case I might get to ride that thing before Christmas. Geez... Does this stuff ever disappear? Well, it is going. Out in the open most of the snow is gone except for the banks that were made from plowing the stuff. Back here in the Woods, we still have plenty. I can't even get to my wood splitting pile yet because the snow is still almost knee deep. And now the mud season is beginning. Have fun in Florida but send up some warmth.

 

My Dept. Mgr. and I are driving to Jacksonville, FL to attend a huge Energy Congress April 7-8. We hope to leave on Saturday. Then he plays a golf tournament on Sunday and I get to ride the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/jacksonville_baldwin.htm

and maybe more. Long range forecast is for temps in mid 70s.

At least that's the plan. If it doesn't work out I'll just lounge on the beach and watch the after-Easter bunnies hop by...

Dave

 

Dennise in case you are cornfused, that is SAND no SNOW I am taking pictures of!!!!!

 

It is warmer than Knoxville. Gets up to 70 but when I am riding it is between high 50's and low 60's. I am wearing a long biking pants, short sleeve bike shirt, a wind breaker, my cotton glove liners and bicycle gloves. I wear a Sweathead hat under my biking helmet to keep the sun out of my eyes. I am very comfortable. Usually I ride half way with my jacket then take the jacket off. Rode one day with regular bicycle shorts but all rest rest of the days with my long pants on. Layering is the secret!!!

 

Met a guy on a Catrike Road today. He and his wife are from Wisconsin. Here in Florida for two weeks getting some miles in before Spring. He rides and camps also. Only bent I saw in 5 days.

 

The last day I rode, I met Dan. Dan used to weight over 600 LBS before gastric bypass surgery. That shrunk him down to 350 pounds. Now he weights 185 and credits taking up bicycling (albeit a DF biker) and riding 3 times a week for losing the last 165 pounds. What an inspirational story!!!

He is from Dayton and we are going to try to get together when I go to Xenia for the Green Trail ride this summer. I have already posted info on this ride if anyone else is interested in going.

 

Blackwater Heritage State Trail

I mentioned I rode another Rails-To-Trails ride while in Florida last week. That was the Blackwater Heritage State Trail. I found out about it last year and rode it. Rode it again this year (though as you can tell from the pictures, it was dark and cool riding).

Here is the description from a pamphlet I got while riding the trail.


"The Blackwater Heritage State Trail is the westernmost rail-trail in Florida. It extends north 8.1 miles from the town of Milton to the Whiting Field Naval Air Station Trailhead. Another 9/10 of a mile extends south of US 90."

"The trail follows the path of the former Florida and Alabama Railroad which was owned and operated by Bagdad Land and Lumber Company. Built in the early 1900s, it extended from the lumber mill in Bagdad to Whitley, Alabama. The F&ARR supported the timber and lumber business in Bagdad from 1830 to 1939, at which time the line was closed. With the coming of WWII and the establishment of Whiting Field Naval Air Station, the rail line was rebuilt in the early 1940s to supply aviation fuel to the base."

"The trail is mostly rural, but there are numerous town street crossings. (Reminded me on a small scale of the Silver Comet coming out of Atlanta.) Along the way, you will pass the Milton Fire Station, Milton City Hall and the trail visitor center. (Opened 1 1/2 days a week. Closed when I was there.) There are also nine bridges that cross various sized streams along the trail."

I found the trail fun, fairly flat and vacant. It is also paved with 12 foot wide path. I enjoyed it and will plan to do it again next year. The Milton trailhead is right next to a bike shop but I didn't have time to go in it. Plan to visit it next year.

Question - Can anyone guess what is in the tree in the first picture???? Second picture is sign showing the Trail. Next picture is Visitor Center. Next two pictures show the trail then the Milton City Hall and finally the bike shop Truly Spoken. I like the name!

 

Spring in Knoxville...

Rode Hellbent before the typhoons hit Knoxville the last two days. Spring is here.

If you haven't been able to get out and enjoy your bent or the spring days, here are some pictures to motivate you to get those wheels turning and feet pumping.

 

Wow Jon. You are more than a month ahead of us. That really looks nice.

We just pruned our fruit trees and berries a few days ago and we can also still take pictures of snow. But thankfully, most of the snow and ice is now gone so if we get some sunshine it will be warming up soon. Forecast says it will too.

 

Turning Black riding pants Brown!!!

Well today was a sunny albeit cold day. I left work around 11:30 am and the temperature was 48. COLD!!! I had to dig out my winter riding gear so I wouldn’t turn into a popsicle!!!

I picked a ride that was mostly in the sun since it was so cold. I choose going down Gay street through downtown Knoxville then over the South Knoxville bridge to Island Homes and then over to Ijams Park and finally to Will Skelton Greenway. Wonderful ride!!!

As I rode through downtown Knoxville I spotted two Knoxville policemen on bicycles. They had their winter garb on also. I shouted, “It is not too cold to ride” and they said “that’s right!”

Anyway coming back from Ijams, I cut though a neighborhood and the excitement started. I turned a corner and right in front of me was a power line resting on the road!!!! Scared the cra* out of me. Thus the title of this story!!!

Well I hit both brakes. The tires screeched, but stopped right before the line. I breathed a sigh of relief. But I forgot my feet were still locked into my pedals. When the bent started tilting to the left, my relief turned to anxiety and I struggled to get out of my EggBeaters. Too late!! I fell over on my left side onto the asphalt. OUCH!!! It hurt.

I stayed on the ground about 30 seconds then tried to unclipped. My left shoulder hurt and I strained my left leg. It HURT!!!

So my hot tub tonight was a God sent tonight. But I will have to get some heavy duty laundry detergent for my pants!!!! It was a great ride except for that!!!