My Most Recent Ride 2008 (Part I of series)

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I haven't cycled in over a month. It's not so much the temperature. It's the fact that everything except the very busy roads are coated in rock hard ice. Even my studs don't get a good grip. It's a wierd feeling to just be walking the dog for his business and look down and realise you're inches off the pavement, seeing through 2 inches or more of crystal clear ice. It's supposed to get above freezing today, but that will just rut the ice which means I'd be risking deraillieur damage.

I was apparently getting so grouchy from lack of decent exercise that my husband has now practically thrown a trainer with a small wheel adaptor at me and told me to use it. So much for waiting for a bit to buy it because we just recently spent so much on a new computer for me since my old one had a CPU death.

Sad to say, but I'm actually feeling a bit giddy at the idea of the trainer arriving and starting to get my stamina back. Now... just need a treadmill for the dog so he can build stamina with me.

And Honeybee, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you'll get back on the road soon. The strength that you show in what you're having to endure is inspiring.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Terri, there are plenty of us in the same boat with the ice and snow. We are supposed to get above freezing tomorrow for the first time since in December. They say we may even see 40 a couple days this coming week before getting back to reality. However, I doubt I'll be on the road. Under the snow pack on our road there is about 3" of very hard ice. I could go out to some other roads but where they are clear enough to ride, they are white with salt. Yuck! No, some warmer weather gets the blood going and we want to get out there, but no doubt we'll have to wait at least another month and perhaps two. Last year I hit the road for the first time on Arpil 2. Some years we get to ride a few days in March but we never count on it.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Since things have been warmer than usual here, I'm still kind of hoping that March will be clear enough that I can get some trailer dragging stamina up by April. My husband is leaving for a week and a half on a business trip around the middle of April. I would just LOVE to be able to take my first tour with the dog then, but would need at least a few weeks in March to see if I can drag the trailer for a couple days in a row.

Hmm... then again. Do I really want to camp when the nights are probably still dropping into freezing?

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

You'll be surprised at how soon you'll forget the trailer's back there. Yeah, the weight's there, but it's a smooth ride. By evening your legs may remind you, so a few training rides help.

With your friend along, camping might not be so bad as long as its just a One Dog Night.

Dave

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I just completed a 25.9 mile loop in south knox county. I started at 1:10 and finished at 4:10 so I will not break any spead records. I stopped a lot to look at my map and drink water. It was a nice ride except for the two boxers on Tarklin Valley Rd . The owner did not have control over them and one of them nipped me. I did not know they had broken the skin until later.

Other then that I had one crazy driver driving too fast in the wrong lane (mine). No other car incidents so that is pretty good for that long.

Scenery in South Knox is very pretty and generally the traffic is very mild.

Hope you guys got out and rode it was fantastic weather.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Terri, load that trailer up with rocks and go for it! Seriously, it doesn't hurt to train with the trailer for a bit before going and if you then put more weight in it than you plan on carrying on your trip, your legs will do well on the trip.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Sally, that is terrible with the dogs. There is no excuse for anyone to have dogs do that.

I had it happen to me a couple years ago and it was a dog that knew me! Surprised the heck out of me. Because it broke the skin I did call the county animal control. They had the people keep the dog restrained for a week. It didn't help as they just let it out again. The county asked me if I could get a picture of the dog in the road. If so, with the picture they would put a big time fine on the people. Well, my preference is still SSS. I know I'll probably catch all sorts of bad things for that, but it is the way we do things out here and I still believe it is right.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Dennis not sure exactly what SSS is but I can imagine things to fill in the blanks. Next time I will just spray the dogs in the face with pepper spray before they can get near me.
I called animal control but they need an exact address to act. I did not have paper and pencil and I do not even remember a mail box with a handy address on it. I will try and go out in a car tomorrow afternoon to pin point the location so I can call it in and have them watch the dog for 10 days.

The animals are pure bred (so they cost money) and they were in very good condition (I had an up close view) so I tend to believe the owner when he says the shots are up to date. No collar however which is why the owner could not pull them back.
None the less I will get the address and report it in case these beasts are making a habit of going after bicyclists and pedestrians.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

That's pretty much what I plan to do. Or maybe soda bottles full of water. Just have to wait for the road conditions to be workable. Mother nature keeps teasing me here.

I have to say in sympathy with Sally, loose dogs are aweful. Throw in a male husky running with you and they can be even worse. Though at least they aren't going for me. Poor Loke's taken the brunt a few times. The worst thing is, he wants to do the submissive 'Don't HURT ME!' thing, but being attached to the trike means he can't. No room to manuever. Thankfully with his thick fur, there's been no blood drawn.

If there's any concern I have with the idea of touring with Loke, it's the fact that in the country side around here, there are loose dogs. Worse, country dogs aren't socialized like city dogs. If they go after another animal, they are MUCH more serious. Fortunately, all dogs in this country pretty much seem to ignore cyclists.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

FREE AT LAST!!!

Yesterday was sunny and warm (68 degrees) in Knoxville. Even though I teach on Mondays (which puts a big time consumption hole in my consulting day) I couldn't stand it any longer. After class I swapped clothes and went on a glorious 18 mile ride on the Knoxville Greenway. Rode it in 1 hour 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, every runner, walker, dog walker and baby stroller pusher were on the trails also. I couldn't believe the congestion. I guess it is good that the greenways are used. It is bad when I am trying to ride my bent through there. And what I love most is when a dog walker is on the right side of the trail and their leased dog is on the left side of the trail. Talk about getting clothes lined!!! But most folks are nice and if I yell "passing", they gather up their dogs and let me pass. Or you get the baby stroller armada which completely flanks the trail while going 3 miles an hour and the Mom's yakking and paying no attention to see if anyone else might want to get by to pass. Geezzzzz!!!!

Speaking of passing, I bet I passed 8 bicyclers yesterday (going the other way of course). Lots of folks out enjoying the day.

Today though cloudy with a chance of rain, I am going to ride the Will Skelton trail which is much less crowded, if weather permits. Sometimes I see deer. I am taking by cell phone with a camera in case I get lucky today.

Can't wait. With warmer weather I am FREE AT LAST!!!

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

WOW! that is amazing...good for you!

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Well, I just wish I could inspire myself ...I am at the point now that I am practically afraid to get out and ride. I mean what if I start and then have a heart attack or a stroke of some kind??? I know I NEED to get out and ride for sanity's sake but it has been so long and I just don't know if I can do it any more. And that is just terrible...

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Honeybee
This weekend I have a dance festival to go to but if you want to go for a short ride to build up some strength, just let me know and I will ride with you.
I am only available on weekends unfortunately.
Sometimes you just need company if you are starting over.
The bike paths are nice or we could just ride on some easier roads somewhere to get you back up to your old strength.
Wishing you well.

Sally

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Honeybee, if possible, ride a mile. If you feel okay, then ride another. Sometimes you just have to do whatever you can. So don't dwell on what you can't do, just get out and do what you can, even if for only 100 yards. You'll feel better if nothing else.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

BREAKING NEWS!!!! The Backwoods Savage rode his bike for the first time in 132 days today!

No, it wasn't far; 10.5 miles. It was quite windy but the temperature was a record breaking 58 degrees in Saginaw. No doubt many places set records today.

I wasn't what you would call strong nor fast by any means. I just wanted to get out there and ride. So I did. That meant I had to put the bike in the car and drive out to a paved road. A couple roads I had to bypass because of so much water from melting snow and frost coming out. I really could see no good reason for getting all wet.

I also put a new seat on the bike today and it surely made the ride different. I think I'm going to like it.

Now the big question: when will I get to ride again? Any guesses?