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

Camping with Trike

Been a while since I posted, so reckon you're overdue for a report from the UK. A friend persuaded me to go camping for four days with the trike, I've been camping earlier this year, but took all the gear and trike in the car. This time it was all human power, so 25kgs of stuff on the bike, that includes all the usual rubbish I carry, plus camping gear and food and water. My friend Barry choose to put all his gear on a trailer rather than the bike, I'm not convinced which is the better set up, the trailer obviously is a bit more cumbersome, but it does reduce the weight and stress on the back wheel.

I was dreading the ride with gear, but in the end on the flats I didn't notice much difference, downhills were a breeze, uphills more challenging, but I find the trike pretty slow up hill anyway, so it wasn't that much worse.

We didn't do huge distances by touring standards 40 or some miles to the campsite in Essesx (East of London)on Sat and return on Tuesday a leisurely day with about 25 miles of unladen cycling on Sunday, where apart from going out to stock up on food and have lunch , we also took the opportunity to visit an old windmill. When I say old, it was built in 1806 and is of quite peculiar design, in that the whole mill pivots on the base, rather than just the top pivoting. Its all supported on a huge wooden beam, wonderful engineering as are all the wheels and gears which had hand cut wooden teeth. Monday was another days unladen riding, out to the coast, via another younger windmill, (we just happened to pass it) , this time of more conventional design with rotating top. Quick look around the quayside at the coast where there were some old barges and tugs and then we rode back. Around 50 miles total.

All in all it was a great 4 days. I'd previously assumed that Essex was flat, in fact flat roads were the one thing it didn't have ! It was quite hilly and challenging on the days we were carrying gear. I clearly need to get some more miles in before I attempt anything more adventurous !

I've posted a link view pics (only I phone) of laden bike, camping set up and windmills etc if you're interested.

http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=G5HVqwSu&a_id=6678866

Adrian

 

Those were quite nice photos actually. I really liked the second windmill that was conicl shaped and the shattered blades. Looked like you guys were loaded to the hilt...

So now that you have went self supported on a camping trip think you'd do it again? Willie G and I have toured a couple of times self supported, I like it pretty well.

 

Nice Adrian, I have enjoyed a few self supported tours as well. Never on a trike, I just might have to add that to my list of things to do.

 

It looks worse than it is, some of the kit is quite high volume but not that heavy. That said I've just been through my packing list and taken out five or 6 small items that i just didn't use. I weighed them and was quite surprised when they came it at 3Kg (6lbs), so that's a 10%+ weight saving for next time. I have to admit I'm a bit of a "just in case packer" so I need to adopt a more disciplined attitude. It's fine carrying an extra or bigger bag on a plane, where you only have to move it from the taxi to check in - bit different when it''s sitting on the back of the trike. I could do the whole thing more lightweight, but sacrifice comfort, so for instance I've got a 2 man tent with an extended porch which weighs in around 2.3 kg (5lbs) , but it was really nice to have lots of space.

I'll certainly do more self supported camping, I'd like to do on my two wheeler as well, but would definitely need to keep everything more compact then, so may need to get a small lightweight tent etc for that.

 

Ha, when going self supported weight means a lot. After our first self supported trip, Willie G and I really trimmed down. Light weight tent, light weight sleeping bags, tiny stove, tiny fuel, tiny towels etc. Life and the trips became SO much more enjoyable.

 

Two days, two rides.

The first on was in Ystad which was pretty. Did somewhere between 7 or 8 miles which took me through the pretty old part of town around our hotel. The building it was in was built in 1793.

Leaving Ystad and heading out to a ruined manor house took me up and up and up and up. Not surprising since most castles/manors tend to be on high ground and I was pedalling inland. Had a hard time leaving the manor as the road was loose gravel with a 12% or steeper grade. Started having problems with the trike too.

Went out today and it was even slower and more climbing than yesterday. Found out what was causing problems with the trike and hope to have it taken care of before rolling out tomorrow. A lot of the towns on the island are built up and down. A few of them so steep bikes are banned on some of their narrow, twisty, streets.

Only 4.6 miles today and that took 2 hours. The climbing doesn't kill me, but if the hills are steep enough it still takes me forever. Also managed to pedal most of the way up to a castle high on a peak overlooking the sea. What I didn't pedal, I pushed the trike up. Very striking. On the way back down I spotted a sign banning bikes on the path up. Oops.

By the time I got down from the castle, I was just soooo wiped and feeling frustrated at the lack of progress. I expected hills, just though I'd be able to handle them better. I guess technically I _am_ better, but not quite good enough.

Found out the interior of the island is a little flatter in most places, so will aim for that tomorrow. Did I mention the island is beautiful?

Terii

 

Was in both states. Didn't take my TWIG. I still need to have it fitted. I know. Sloooow progress.

 

Loved Adrian's pictures. The windmill reminded me when I was in Kinderdjick Netherlands. What I didn't realize was there are cloth sails that go over the wooden arms which propel the windmill. When they want the windmill to slow down or stop, they furl the sails back. Simple and effective! This windmill had the sails rolled back so the arms would not move.

 

One other point I found out is that the end of the sail arm travel at over 100 mph!!! Don't want to be hit by that!!!

 

Sounds more like decapitation...

 

Today was a good day! Never mind the gray skies that drizzled and dripped on us. Had Jens drop me off at a little village where a rail-trial started. We went to look at the local church and set off in earnest.

The rail trail ended after just a few short miles, but the rest of the way was mostly on the island's larger roads, always with a cycle way designated on the edges if not a separate path running parallel. Traffic was never too bad. The hills were a little steeper off the rail-trail, but still easily manageable. I climbed most at about 5-6 mph which is pretty good for me.

Churches, runestones, a ruined passage grave were some of the things I made my way to.

A funny incident happened while I was toodling around. There have been rooks all over the fields around here. I found out today what they were doing. Hunting snails. I found this out when I actually spotted a few of them dropping the snails on the road where cars would crush them. On one of the smaller roads I went down, traffic was very light. Some of the rooks actually started trying to drop their snails in front of my trike. One missed spectacularly and the snail dropped through the vents on my helm. I had to take it off and pull the critter out of my hair.

Loke (aka unstoppable machine) and I had right at 20 miles pass beneath paws and tires. We both had more in us, but hunger was becoming an issue since breakfast had been at 6 am and it was coming up on 4 pm with nothing in between. And it was our longest outing since June and Loke's last mystery limp incident so it seemed as good a time as any to call it a day.

Still, definitely much better today and I wore a smile for most of it. Even when I was rained on.

Terii

 

Sounds like an incredible day. Good job.

 

Got out today. Had a time crunch but it was beautiful weather. Rode an hour and did 13.3 miles on the greenway. Rode my trusty V Rex.

Great to get back in the saddle again!!!!

How are the rest of you doing???

 

7 days, 5 rides.

Took two rest days in a row on the island after the 20 mile ride because I was just so incredibly wiped. I think it might actually have been a lack of protein hindering recovery as Jens and I were eating mostly fruits, veggies with a heaping of simpler carbs. Jens found me a lovely T-bone steak and the next day I felt great.

Went for a ride yesterday before we were due to catch the ferry. 3 miles of steady climbing, which I did in less than an hour. Then it was a bit of up with mostly down which improved our time. Jens called around 11 am to arrange for pick up. We finished with 8 something miles. Loke and I both still felt really good. If we'd had the time I'm sure we could have made it to the ferry terminal.

Loke impressed the h*ll out of me on this trip. He was my furry freight engine. Every chance he had(read on the flats and downs), he ticked along at 8 or 9+ mph. When he wasn't running like a horse in a sulky race, he was full on in the harness pulling like a champion to help me up the hill. No limping, hobbling or weird wobbles. Except for the fact I wouldn't let him run, I might has well have had my 4 year old husky back!

According to my Garmin software, Loke and I did right at 40 miles for the entire trip. Probably closer to 41.5 or 42 thanks to my bad habit of forgetting to restart the GPS after exploring churches and such.

Then out again today. Jens wheedled me into riding the trike to the garage. I decided to go to the American Food Store too. It came to about 5.4 miles. My legs felt really weak and a little sore. I think I need another good protein meal and a day or two of rest.

Did a post and with a handful of photos on the blog. More coming...

http://terii.wordpress.com/2014/10/04/and-so-it-began/

Terii

 

http://terii.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/ystad-and-the-manor/

There's the next post with my ride to an old abandoned manor house and through Ystad. Not so many photos, but a few nice ones in amongst the rambling ride description.

Terii