My Most Recent Ride 2014 (Part VII in a series)

Awesome, Glenn! I especially like the country cycle path. Reminds me a little of the Klarälvbanan (Clear Stream Track) a few hours west of here by car. 60+ miles of a repurposed rail-track. Did 40+ miles on it in a mad dash a couple years ago. Had a blast.

I actually made it out the door for the first ride of the year. Stepped out to take Limpin' Loke for his morning walk and found 42 F, blue skies and red-gold sunshine paining the tops of the buildings and trees. I hustled the furry one around the mile walk, came inside to tear around the apartment in search of cycle clothes. Gave Loke a kibble filled ball to distract him before bolting out the door and... gray, gray, gray. In just 15 min all traces of blue and SUN had vanished.

I still put the trike together and went out, just grateful that it wasn't raining for a change. Can tell I've had too little exercise the past few months and waaaay too much bad food over the duration of Jens' holiday vacation which ran from December 22 to January 6th. 6.7 miles and my thighs HATE me right now. Granted, since it was a solo ride, I really spun and pushed faster than I do with Loke, but still.

Felt great to get out even if my legs feel like burning noodles. Pitiful start for 2014 though. Doubt I can top last year's January mileage. The bad weather is slated to continue.

Oh and it too freaky to be riding around in January and seeing drown worms on the pavement.

Terii

 

Ticked off the Strava challenge - Gran Fondo 1 yesterday. Managed to squeeze out 134.1 km (83 miles) before calling in the SAG wagon.

I had expected a coastal sea breeze to kick in in the last stages of the ride which would have given a tailwind and a drop in temperatures. It didn't arrive

So my average temperature for the ride was 34 C (93 F) with a max of 46 C (115 F) and those 40 C+ temperatures where there for most of the last couple of hours of the ride.

Glad I completed the Challenge. I will think twice next time but.

LoGo Lightning P-38 at Nambeelup Brook - Ngaa-Bilyapp Bilya (my halfway point)



Andrew

 

After 4 weeks of not getting on a recumbent, finally managed my first ride of the year, piloting my friends GTT tandem around London. 46 miles on the clock, boy was it hard, I'd forgotten how much effort the GTT takes - it's OK on a run once you have the momentum, but stop start around town really takes it out of you. Aching a bit this morning, which isn't what you really expect after a recumbent ride !

 

Wow Andrew, great Bent, wonderful scenery, and scary temperature.

 

Okay, finally found time and felt good enough to ride. We had an unusually warm day (upper 50's low 60's) and there was a schedualed ride. The Elvis birthday anniversary ride in Greenville, Ga. Beautiful countryside that I have not been on in a year or two. I chose the Windcheetah with its newly painted tailbox. I felt that the Cheetah print was very appropriate.

The organizers had 18,35' and 50 mile options. I chose the 35 and boy was I glad. With only three rides since labor day my legs have deserted me. By mile 10 I knew I was in trouble. By mile 20 I was climbing 1 % grades in my granny gear. Mke 30 found me taking my hands off the joystick and using my arms to propel my legs up the hills. ( worked very well I might add.).

Still managed a 15.3 mph moving average but only because there was a tailwind for the last few miles.

Time for me to get busy!

 

Ouch! Definitely can relate to the loss of the legs. Suffered it myself on the last few rides. I really should get the rear tire swapped to studded so I can put some miles in. We finally have snow instead of rain which means I could be riding, but for the tires.

Terii

 

Forced myself to get back out today. Only 13 miles but did some HIIT training while I was at it. The legs were toast again when I finished.

 

On schedule

We are managing to stay on the schedule....well almost. We ride after showers, before snow, and showers. I've got over a hundred miles and starting to get the legs back in shape. Yes 74 year old legs can make a come-back again.

 

Pretty happy with my progress this week. Now ticked off my second goal for the month, completing the Strava Prove It challenge ... 600 km in January.



Oh and my AngleTech AeroTruck III tail-box arrived today ... new addition to the LoGo Lightning P-38 coming up

Andrew

 

Buddy, you are the gold standard! Andrew, pretty freakin awesome!

 

Go! Go! Go!

Terii

 

My AeroTrunk III from Angletech is now fitted to my LoGo P-38. Yet to get a feel for the performance increases but this is how it looks







Andrew

 

Only 22 miles today, but really good fun. Managed to ride 4 different recumbents. I've been dying to try out a two wheeled recumbent and a friend who I meet on some local rides offered for me to come over and try his bikes. So GTT tandem to his house, and then played on a almost brand new Bachetta Bella, which he picked up as part of another purchase of bike gear and wants to sell, a 1990's Peer Gynt (also a LWB) and a low racer which I didn't catch the name of. It was just like a kid trying to ride a bike for the first time I should have had stabilisers !
After a few runs got the hang of riding the Bachetta and the Peer Gynt, although starting in a straight line is still a problem, the low racer I really couldn't get comfortable with. I have a sneaking feeling that my next post on here will be to say I've bought the Bachetta, really liked it, no doubt not the fastest but really comfortable

 

The Bella is like a Lincoln Town Car. Who needs to go fast when you are riding something that comfortable.

26 miles today on the VKhi. Beautiful day, about 57 degrees with 8-10 mph winds. Not a cloud in the sky. I started on the Rail trail and had to contend with a lot of foot traffic for the first two miles. Set a PR on a segment almost 2 mph faster than the Windcheetah. Can't wait to see how fast once my legs are back.
17 mph average and my legs were pretty tired at the end.
http://app.strava.com/activities/107611518

 

Nice effort.

Andrew