My Most Recent Ride 2015 (Part VIII in a series)

Rode on the Road

Waved at bicyclists going the other way & we all smiled.
Beautiful weather.

 

OBSERVATION

We moved to southern Arizona over 15 years ago. At that time, I noted only ONE recumbent rider in town. Even I had not started riding one. Therefore it made me laugh when I got a bent trike about a year and a half ago and noted that many more people in town were enjoying bents. I pulled up to a four way stop one day, and in three different directions, the vehicle was a bent.

 

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Three posts relating to last month's credit card tour. The day we arrived in Helsingborg and drove around. My first day of riding when Jens left for home and the second day of riding.

Some nice photos to go with my usual rambling ride description.

https://terii.wordpress.com/2015/08/

Terii

 

Bike Ride on Sunday

Beautiful weather!

Set some personal-best records and had enough energy left
to both bake bread and mow the lawn.

Hope you had time to ride today too!

 

I was all excited. I was going to ride in the Smoky Mountains which is my FAVORITE ride. I decided to be a good little biker and ride on the concrete shoulder instead of on the road through Townsend. Big mistake!!! 10.6 miles into a 33 mile ride I got a flat on my Corsa. And of course it was the back (PITA to change) tire.

No big deal. Before I left home I checked my bag and had a complete new tire still in the box, tire levers, disposable gloves, patches plus air pump. I usually just put on a new tube instead of patching the old one because it is faster and easier. I only have about 2 flats a year so I just buy 2 new tubes and move on.

Well, after I removed the tire and tube I opened up the box of my new tube and this GIGANTIC TUBE popped out. Whaaaaat???? I looked at the box and realized I had a tire for my V Rex which sports 26 x 1.5 tires. So the tube was waaaay too big.

Oh well, I will just patch the old tube. Found the hole. Patched it. Put it back in the tire and started pumping. It was not holding pressure. Whaaaat????

Took the tire off and examined it. I had a snake bite where I pinched the tire putting it back in. Grrr. Patched it. Put it back in the tire and started pumping. No pressure. Whaaaat????

Pulled it off and I had another side hole in the tire. Patched it. Started pumping. No pressure.

OK. The tire gods are against me. I just put the tire back on and started walking back to the car. Luckily someone came along and had pity on me and gave me a ride back to the car.

Got home. Pulled the tire and put in a new properly sized tube and it pumped up just fine.

Lessons learned.

1. Make sure your spare tube is the right size.
2. Pack baby powder. I have a small can of baby powder on my other bent. Didn't on this one. I usually smear powder on the tube before I insert it in the tire. That way it seats beautifully. I know if I had used it, I would have avoided the pinched tire holes on my second try.
3. Pack more than 1 set of disposable rubber gloves. Mine were all torn after 3 attempts of fixing the tire so my fingers got all greasy put the tire back on the back. They are light, cheap and small so now I pack 3 sets of rubber gloves.

Even though today was one of the WORSE days of riding I have had, I must remember, the worse day of riding is still better than the best day of working.

I am ready to try this ride again (after I get my new tubes and better tires I just ordered.) The other benefit is I am getting darn good at changing tires!!!

 

I've never had a day quite that bad, but fully understand how frustrating it can be. Been lucky. Only once in 12 years and 30,000 miles have I had to call to be picked up. Now that I have 3 bikes I havta keep reminding myself to check that I have the bag of patches & levers and the tire pump along for the ride. Need to splurge and put all on each bike. Sooner or later...

 

Ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

Just had a great ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC close to Mt. Mitchell.

 

Beautiful scene. Nothing like the mountains.

 

Jim,

My hat is off to you. :worship: I used to ride the Blue Ridge parkway on a 1964 BMW motorcycle. That bike didn't have much power and many was the time I had to gear down from 4th to 3rd and even sometimes 2nd gear. Can't image you riding it on your Bacchetta. Your engine is much stronger than mine. That grin on your face is well deserved!!!

 

Two good things happened to me today.

1. No flat tires.
2. It tried to rain on me but I got back inside before it caught me!

 

You were lucker than me.

On my side of the mountain we got a light sprinkle - just enough to trash my bike after our 35 mile - 2500 ft. of climbing ride. Thanks weatherman for your prediction of NO RAIN in the morning.
Well the good thing is my Bacchetta 2.0 looks like new after 1 1/2 hr. cleaning. The only way to clean my recumbent is I hang it 3 point style from a tree.
Rocketman - where do you live in Tenn. ? Are there many recumbent bikes ? Do you ever get to ride over on my side of the mountain ? I live outside of Burnsville. We have some really safe riding roads here - flat - rolling & mountain climbs - moderate & steep.

 

I live in Knoxville. There are several recumbent riders around here. We don't get together that often but stay in touch through this website. And we attend SMRR.

According to your profile you live in Florida, but are you speaking of Burnsville NC?

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 RIDE INVITATION

I am going to be riding the Coulter Bridge to Tremont and back ride. Total round trip is 33 miles. 2 big hills rest is easy.

If anyone wants to join me, meet me there ready to ride at 8:30 AM. Call my cell if you are running a little late. (865.310.7151)

It is supposed to be a beautiful day and I plan to have NO FLATS this time. If I do, I am ready for them!!! (I'll swap bents!)

 

I am with you in spirit Jon...gazing longingly out my office window...

 

6 months in Fl & 6 in NC

Rocketman,

We live in SW Florida - Punta Gorda from Nov. to the end of April
then we come up to the beautiful mountains of NW North Carolina outside of Burnsville - Green Mountain from May to the end of Oct.

I love the rides in NC the best -- but you can not beat the winters in Fl. Our home is an hr. north of the Everglades on the Gulf side.

Do you ever get a chance to ride on my side of the mountain?

Are there other organized rides for recumbents during the months of June - Oct. in this area ?