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

I tried out a new route to work, A little bit shorter but far less hilly, turns out I can do more days riding with less fatigue, so I have been working hard to make up for my sick week in January. Now I'm back on track for 2000 km by end of February.
First cool morning yesterday in a long time. Reminds me I have to get more thermal wear this year. Try to avoid getting sick like last year . If I can also not break any major Trike parts - might be able to get closer to the 12000 km for the year.
Cheers Glenn.

 

Am really struggling with pacing myself. Had some very nice tail winds this week. I just Love winding up the big gears when the wind is pushing me. One section which is just after a downhill, I was doing 48 km/hr , a car came alongside on the roadway doing his 50km/hr speed limit. I changed down a gear and pulled away from him at 53km/hr. this is on a cycle way, so not sure if the roadway limit would strictly apply to me Needless to say it puffs me out, and I think - I was supposed to be taking it easy.

 

haha

 

8.16 miles.

I'm a little disappointed that the timing didn't work out for this to be the first week of riding a minimum of every other day as I hoped. Skipped riding yesterday because I had an appointment at the local health ward followed by an appointment with Loke at the groomers.

I have to say that Loke looked FABULOUS when I went to pick him up. Shining white and fluffy in a smooth sort of way. Almost as soft as when he was a puppy. Most surprising, he had free run of the salon and wasn't harassing any of the dogs. I guess the obnoxious in him got washed down the drain with the dirt.

Makes me feel a little guilty that we'd not done this sooner.

Then I went and 'ruined' the grooming by taking him for a run today. The past 2 days have been in the 50's F. One night we had a fairly steady rain which means most of the snow has been washed a way. Tuesday's ride, there was still about 6 - 8 inches of hard packed, crunch snow on the drive of the garage. Today, completely gone. Made getting the trike in and out a snap.

Again, I'd planned to do the Läby loop, but along with the gray skies and 48 F temps, was a crazy wind whipping out of the west. 15-18 mph. I didn't really feel like tackling that distance with not a tree or building as a wind break. Just 100's of yards of open ground. So, I aimed for the toodle through Uppsala with a stop at the American Food store.

Not a bad ride. A wind driven drizzle spit on us a few times, but nothing heavier. Some of the cycle paths were a little unpleasant thanks to 2 inches of gravel laid down when they'd been covered with snow. Loke got to meet a little terrier type puppy, 12 weeks old and was surprisingly careful and nice.

As I stopped at a light near the hospital, I tried to unclip. I just about had to twist in my seat to do it. I knew what that meant and a glance at the bottom of my right shoe confirmed it... I'd lost a screw in the cleat.

I could have easily pushed on home, but still needed that screw replaced before my twisting around to unclip loosed the other one. Next to the American Food store is a cycle shop. I've never really cared for it thanks to the last time when I went in to look for 20" inch 'road' tires for the Trice only to have one of the staff tell me to get a 'real bike'.

I walked in and everything's completely changed. They used to sell skis in the winter, but this was all bikes and the interior's been completely changed. A lean, athletic woman who's muscle tone just screamed 'hardcore cyclist' gave me a big smile and asked if I needed anything. I explained and she led me back to their tiny little work room to see if they had any spare screws. Yep! She grabbed some allen wrenches, and while I sat in the shoe section, she fixed me all up. Didn't charge me either.

Turns out the shop has changed hands. Honestly, for the better. All of the staff seem very cheerful and not at all contemptible about my recumbent. Far nicer than the brooding, sullen sorts who used to be there.

They won't be working on my trike though. Their tiny little work area has barely enough space for a standard bike so the place south of Stockholm is still my go-to for that.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Loke went from white to gray on the lower legs and belly. His top half still looks all pretty, plush and bright though.

Terii

 

Have not ridden in just over a year. Looked in the mirror and saw this fat old man looking back at me; so i decided since i just remarried, and to a much younger lady i owed it to her to get back in shape. Pulled out Jezebel pumped up the tires climbed in went about fifty yards to the front gate realized i cannot breath in the recumbent position. So i decided i would start walking for a month or two to get started then try the trike. Walked 7/8 of a mile to brkfst then back. Next day the knees were the size of a small watermelon and a good sized punkin respectively. Haven't been able to walk without a brace and cane since. And that was before xmas. however being a vet the VA is right on it. I have an appointment March 5th to make an appointment to see what happened to my brand new knee and my chest. Hopefully i will have some milage to post by next xmas.

 

Calboy, surprised that you had the initial problem with the trike and breathing. I thought that the recumbent position would be an advantage for breathing. I'll just have to make sure I don't stay off mine too long. Had a good rest this weekend. So should be set for a big week .

 

The problem isn't the trike, the problem is a repaired hernia coming unrepaired. Hard to eat sitting down and after a few bites am so utterly full i can barely breath till i walk around for about 15 minutes.

 

Hah! Take that wall! (as in the one cyclists and runners hit)

Headed out today around 10 am. It was gray with the dusting of snow we'd gotten overnight slowly turning to slush.

In the spirit of being bored with the River Loop, I headed off toward the Granby Mall area. My plan was to stop by a little shopping complex about a mile from the mall to buy new hose clamps to replace the ones holding Loke's running bar to the trike seat. Those seem to have stretched a bit and can't be further tightened. It's unnerving to have the bar wobbling around.

Loke was thrilled once we left the familiar paths and roads behind, as was I. We rolled up to the shop I needed only to find it closed on Sundays. From there, we scooted through a round-a-bout to get to a little cycle path that has been pricking my curiosity for a few years.

It's not paved and hadn't been plowed over night, but there was less than 2 inches of snow and it felt firm beneath. The fact Loke was pulling like a dog in a dragging contest (doggie version of tractor pull), it was easy going. The path ended in a T-intersection. I tried the snowier looking right first. It pretty much became a narrow foot path and the snow got deeper until progress stalled with a spinning rear tire.

After a few attempts to push on, I gave up. Back at the intersection I tried the left direction. I went off through a dense grove of conifers with very little snow having reached the ground. When it opened back up, there was a little pond with a couple of picnic tables beside it. Finally, we came out along a section of road.

I pedalled us onward through the 4H area near the mall and ended up criss-crossing and doubling back on the start of the route a bit. When it looked like I was going to end up with about 8.(something) miles, again, I dug deep and added a few more turns to tip the total to 9.2 miles.

That's officially my longest ride since the stroke. I was running on fumes to make it, but I pushed through. That 8 mile wall was starting to bug me.

Oh, and the SUN came out as the sky turned into pretty blue with puffy clouds! Temps ranged between 31.5 and 36 F according to my Garmin. Loke was a very muddy husky when it was all over. So much for his grooming.

Terii

 

Yeah, Gene, I've been wondering why people simply drop off the face of the earth and where they go. Now we know. Actually knew where U were a little while back since your sister moved back to Dandridge & we were talking to her & J. at the new church. Good to hear from you after a very long time.

I am a living example of how easy it is to say screw it & let myself go. I can give a list of excuses pages long. But that's all they are: excuses. So I'm working on ridding them two and three at a time. Weather is one, but if Terii can get out routinely in subfreezing wet weather after her medical issues, who am I to sit on my fat arse in 45 deg. dry weather? Attitude is another. And knee joints... well they are what they are. But the biggest is simply to realize the condition I'm in and do something about it; sounds like we're both at that point. Keep posting. Even without cycling miles you can be an inspiration and motivation to us all.

 

Funny Dave how easy it is to get out of the routine. Good to hear from you Gene, hope you get yourself sorted out in time for the good weather. I have been riding, just not bents and not as much as I would like.

Terii, having a friendly bike shop near by is a god send. I would try and give them as much business as I could. Also, you might be surprised, they might be able to find creative ways to work on your trike if you are a good regular customer.

 

Well don't feel bad Ronin used to do that all the time. Dogs love getting clean. However, they love getting dirty just as much. I guess its in their nature.

 

Well, fortunately Dave, the excruciating muscle burn that tormented me seems to be fading. That actually stopped me a lot more than cold did. 20 day stretch here, week there. At times, except for loss of fitness, I feel almost normal at times. Walking is about the only time I feel it in my shoulders and arms.

So, now it's just back to fighting the weather.

Terii

 

4.4 miles today. 38 F under sunny skies and moderate winds. So, not too bad. Just did the River Loop.

I'll admit to feeling a bit frustrated. Just felt hard, like I'd already done a long ride and was going again after a 2 hour rest or something. Creeping along...

I'm still determined to get a ride in every other day for this week. Thursday and Saturday to go....

Terii

 

4.4 miles under very pretty skies. Temperatures were between 38 and 42 F and light winds.

In spite of the lovely weather, it was frustrating more than anything. I just don't feel there's been any improvement. I can't remember having so much trouble building endurance. If anything, it's feeling harder than last month. The ride from Uppsala to Storvreta at 8+ miles felt easier than the ride today.

Still determined to make it through this week with a ride every other day.

Jens has been offering pep talks and suggestions. Maybe I need two days in a row recovery. I've been eating light on protein, maybe I need to boost that.

So, trying to boost the protein and after Saturday, I will take two days rest before doing another sequence of rides. I am determined to have at least one week with rides every other day. I desperately want to build up so I can stand a chance at touring this year.

Terii

 

I set my Goal to get to 2000 km { 1242 mi } by the end of Feb.... Should have thought about it - because Feb is a shorter Month, it has made it so much harder.
Well I grit my teeth and Pushed through two 80 km days { 49 mi } [ to and from Work ] .
So all that remains is a 50km ride { 31 mi } tomorrow with the Bike Club [ WSCN ] which is easily achievable, then I will have made my Goal.!
Im a bit Tired now though. I just want to have a nap and its only 6pm in the evening.