My Most Recent Ride 2008 (Part I of series)

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Curtis,

Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.

And your ride your recumbent on those narrow paths??? :

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Man, I like the looks of that bike!

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Wife and I went to King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks three years ago. Some of the most breath-taking scenery anywhere! Glad I was driving a rental. The climb is probably murder on transmissions. Didn't do any cycling there, but now you've given me the bug to go out onto the trails. Same goes for Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton Nat'l Parks last year.

Dave

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Hi Jon! Yes, I do ride my bike on the “narrow paths”, you just need to remember if you’re going to lose balance, to go for the uphill side of the trail. I had ridden this same section last year on my Sun EZ-1, which did a good job, but was just too heavy. The Linear is probably a good 10 pounds lighter. BTW, I took these pictures on the third time of riding the Linear off road, so I had already had a good idea of how it handled. My first ride was from the campground, dropping down to Hume Lake, then around Hume Lake (lots of tight turns, especially below the dam as you cross the stream) back to the campsite. I wanted to make certain everything was working right before heading out into “back country” so I wouldn’t have to worry about break downs or bad handling characteristics.

Ward, the Linear rides a lot better than it looks. I was able to have a fairly cushioned ride although I wasn’t trying to go fast over anything. It did everything I asked of it. It was pretty stable even at about 2 mph, which I did several times while climbing grades around Hume Lake. It also was rock steady at almost 30 mph on a down hill section that was paved. It could have gone a lot faster, but I’m still getting used to the way the bike handles.

Dave, I’m trying to figure out how to be able to take my bike places easier. I like being off road, but I’m really not into riding DFs anymore. From the time I got my Sun EZ-1 I no longer enjoy being on a DF. I guess I’m just a very confirmed bent rider. The Linear is a folding version, so I can get it much smaller by taking the wheels and handlebars loose and folding the front and rear forks under. Since the area I was riding is bear country, I did watch the trails for signs, just so I didn’t run up on a bear using the trail at the same time I was. I don’t think it’s good for either of us to get excited. One really nice thing about riding a bike off road is that you’re not making much noise so you can enjoy the flora and fauna without scaring all the critters off. The bike does make noise, but no more than a normal person walking would.

Curtis

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Well aint thais sweet! I finally get to start riding again, AND , get a p.c. to use and you guys have quit talking about your rides. I was really looking forward to hearing about your latest adventures.
I had the honor of taking a short jaunt with Buddy a couple weeks ago. That was my first ride since June 7th, so soon as i got to my sisters in Ohio i grabbed "Jezabel" and headed down the tow path. 24.6 miles the first day,August 10 and have been putting in 12 miles at least once a day since then; usually twice unless sis wants to ride also then that ride will be farther.
Do not know actual total since on some days when Sis wants to ride and we just go to whatever destination she wants to see or do. And of course my "blankity blankity#$*%^%^$#!*#%^ cateye computer the third piece of crap i have bought just went south on me. It will be a cold day in the Bahamas before i buy another cateye product.Well a computer anyway..I will try anything three times. Too bad cycle parts and acessory manufacturers don't make products for people to actually use on a regular basis.
Any way the reason i got on here was to let y'all know i just got back from an awsome ride,( night ride ) almost 60 miles, had to leave after dark because of other business. Had only planned to do the usual 12 mile loop on my sisters street but ended up needing to buy a cold drink when a dog (black lab ) surprised me on a dark stretch of road and caused me to nearly jump out of the seat and thus lost my water bottle.After i found a store i took an alternate route back and came to a cross road where it seemed i could see all the way to Tennessee down an arrow straight road. So being not quite as smart as Buddy claims to be ,I took it.
So now here i am at 3:14 am, sweaty and too tired to get out of my clamy spandex, and don;t even think about running a shower,but so pumped from the ride i probably won't be able to sleep for the next 16 hours.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

thats great Gene, you see we were waiting for you to start posting your rides again. I am riding another century this weekend so hopefully I will have something to post.

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I am riding a Century in 3 weeks. I will write (along with other RRI members) and take pictures. Right now my bike seat is in the shop and if you have seen a V Rex, you wouldn't want to ride it without its seat. Man that would hurt!!!

Oh yes... unlike other RRI members I only can afford ONE recumbent. So I am out of commission right now.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

And I rode a century last week.

Funny, Jon's having a problem with his seat and so was I. When I bought the Bacchetta I got the recurve seat. The other one (euromesh) looks nicer and sporty and is lighter but the recurve works better for touring or should I say for hanging panniers.

The more I read about the euromesh, I just had to have one. So, I bought one....and can't seem to ride it without my back hurting like crazy. I tried riding just a few miles at a time last spring; it didn't work. So now after riding over 2,000 miles I though maybe it would work; it didn't. Yesterday after getting back home, I immediately changed seats. I'll see how it rides today, that is, if I can again ride without the hurting back.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Dennis,

I also thought the Euromesh seat look pretty cool. didn't work for me either. Do you ride it with a pad over it? I had the usual open cell filter type pad and it didn't work for me at all.

Jon,

don't get your pants in a wad I am sure your seat will be ready for your upcoming ride

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

So I have been meeting, the last couple of Wed's, with a couple of my MTB buddies who have gotten new road bikes. They usually pull out around 5:15 and I sent a text message telling them I would be late. The text came back "well, you will just have to catch us then!"

So exactly at 5:30 I pulled out and right away I hit the afterburner. I had no way of knowing just how far ahead they were so I wanted to see just what I could do. I knew the route, down the Riverwalk and then onto Fort Benning. The Riverwalk was almost empty which helped as I wound up the speed into the low 20's. I saw Carter sitting on his usual shady bench and gave him a quick wave as I blew by. Through the covered bridge then I was at the Marina. No boats coming up the ramp to slow me down and I sped thru the S-curve and into the long straight-a-way which ended in the first real climb.

I topped the 5% grade still moving at 18 and punched it back up to 21 as I passed a couple of full-figured gals (dainty southern flowers) strolling down the path. Right then coming towards me were two of the guys I thought I was chasing. "Cliff is just up ahead, you need to pick it up some."

So it would take me a little over 16 miles to catch them and I recorded my fastest time of 21.1 mph. On the return trip we took it easy and I ended the ride with a 19.0 mph with 35.5 total miles. Oh, and Carter was still on his bench when we came back by.

Tomorrow the Weisel rides again

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

So Ward, did you have the carbon seat on the Bacchetta?

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Carbon, started out with the open cell air filter type pad then switched to the Ventisit which I liked a lot more.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

My last several rides have not gotten me much in the way of miles, but I have spent a lot of time talking with people about bents. About a week ago, I was riding my modified Linear, making some adjustments because the rear derailleur adjuster had broken and I had just replaced it. I had about 45 minutes to ride, but only got about 2 miles of riding in. I spent most of the time talking to 2 different people regarding bents. 1 guy was a gentleman about my age (mid-50s) who was asking about my Linear, he is in the market for a tadpole trike. The other person was a young man on a mountain bike who tried out the Linear, he’s now trying to figure how to come up with the money to purchase a bent of some sort, preferably a SWB type.

Yesterday, I was riding and had 2 mid-teens ask about my ActionBent Jetstream. I ended up talking with them about 10 or 15 minutes, and one of them got on the bike just to see what it felt like. For this ride, I at least got to put in 10 miles, so I was at least able to warm up and enjoy riding the Jetstream.

The conversations I had were beyond “cool bike”, but rather were showing actual interest. So, it’s possible we may pick up a few more bent riders in Southern California!

Curtis

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I ride in downtown Knoxville and the best comments, grins and "thumbs up" come from the homeless. They just LOVE my bike!!!

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

The Tristates 100 in Dothan is a fund raiser for the Childrens Hospital there. Looked like a pretty bent friendly course as it stayed in south Al, Ga, and the panhandle of Fl. Things didn't start well as I was only able to get about 2 hours sleep the night before but I had committed to riding.

Fairly cool to start and a little overcast, there was a front with some rain that was going to be close to the route but other than that a typical southern day with highs in the low 90's. I met up with Troy on a Carbon Aero 1.0 and Marshall who rides a Corsa. There was also a beautiful carbon VK highracer and a RANS Screamer. The plan was for the three of us to ride a 20-22 mph paceline and finish around 5 hours.

Things didn't go as planned. Marshall took off with the lead group and I tried to hodl his wheel. Troy was hanging back with his friend on the VK. After about 3 miles Troy passed me on his way to the front of the pack and shortly after that I knew I had to back it down. We were heading up a 2 or 3 % grade at 27-28 mph and my HR was 169 so I pulled the plug and dropped out. I let my HR return to normal, brought my speed back up to 21 and went on at my own pace.

Over the next 20 miles I would pass 12 others that dropped off the front group. The 13th rider was young and seemed pretty strong so I decided to see if I could work with him for a while. I pulled for him for a while and soon we were joined by an older guy on a tri bike. The three of us picked it up and soon were rocking along at 23-24 with a nice tailwind. The tri rider would pick up a few others and they pulled away from us as the young guy and I went back to a more reasonable pace of about 21. We would hold a good pace until we stopped at the 53 mile rest in 2 hours 24 minutes.

So far so good, however, the first part of the ride is a gradual downhill with some rolling hills and we had a tailwind for a large part of it. So, as we left that rest stop we ran into a headwind. Now the young guy couldn't run faster than about 17 without his HR spiking, so I pulled for the next 18 miles into the wind and we pulled into the next rest area at 71 miles with 3 hours 36 minutes.

Still pretty good but now we began to hit hills, the road surface became horrible chip seal and we still had the headwind. We hooked up with three other riders but they didn't want to work well with a bent and I we dropped one fella on a hill around mile 80. About mile 84 climbing a 5 or 6% grade sudddenlly I was in the granny doing 7 mph and my hr wouldn't get above 140 I knew the next 20 miles were going to be rough.

The young guy held back and helped work with me to get me in. We stopped for along time at the 93 mile rest stop then we slogged on in.
So 103.4 miles in 5:56:38 total time for an adverage of 17.4. Off the bike was 49 minutes giving me a riding adverage of 20.2. The really good news was this was by far the fastest ride for the young guy. He has riden 3 other centuries this year but not faster than 7 hours.

Things I did wrong...Not enough sleep the night before, I didn't hydrate well enough or eat enough during the first half of the ride, and I probably pushed too hard the first half.

Good luck to everyone on their Sunrise ride

Ward