My Most Recent Ride 2008 (Part I of series)

Re: My Most Recent Ride

How great though to have Loki for a companion. There is a fella I was mtb riding with who had beagle that would keep right up with us. Six years old and he was good for about 10 miles of singletrack. You had to be careful of him at times when the undergrowth is thick he will run right beside you and you will hit him in the head with your cranks

I am walking stronger today. I think the cane is already a thing of the past. I havn't ventured upstairs to try the treadmill yet but have been making lots of trips around the main floor of the house.

Terii, when you are riding in the cold how do you dress to stay warm? Do you use a face/neck gaiter. Gloves or mittens? Wool vs polyester?

Buddy, the nice thing about where I live is I do get to see lots of wildliife. We have about 10 deer that live around my house including an old buck with a big old J Lo butt. He likes to come close to the fence and taunt the dogs. He might not be so willing to irritate them if the Greyhounds ever decide to go over the fence. I am sure my male could clear that 4 ft fence easily and then he just might give the old boy a run for his money. We also have a flock of turkeys that adverages about a dozen. A family of foxes lives right over the hill, they had five kittens last spring and sure was fun to watch them grow up. I stopped in the driveway one morning to watch two of the teenagers play when one decided to come over and check the car out. She got so close I could tell it was a girl.

Yep 25 days until I see the Doc and maybe get an okay to begin to ride.

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Glad to hear you're recovering at a nice clip, Ward. That makes what? 3 days, 4 days from wheel chair to cane-less?

As for Loke, that's one of the main reasons I got a husky. I wanted a cycling companion who could cover the distances I might want to do, especially if I decide to start touring. Huskies might not be the fastest runners, but they do have loads of stamina. During the summer, Loke would run 25 miles, sleep for a couple hours and be ready to do it again. It's a bit of a pain trying to keep him from overheating during the warmer temps, but workable until it starts hitting upper 80's or warmer.

As for dressing for the cold, it's just layers, layers and more layers. I'll mix and match both polyester and wool. Legs this mornig were a pair of thin marino wool thermals, with a polyester thermal set that has a wind resistant lining over the front of the thighs and shins and then drag on my spandex cycle tights that I used all through the summer.

I've found that my upper body suffers the cold more than my legs since it's just a passive passenger, so I put on 2 marino wool thermal tops, the matching top of the polyester wind resistant thermal legs, a compression shirt and then my soft-shell wind breaker.

I also wore my shoe covers. If I could find some decent cycle shoes that would FIT here in Sweden, I could probably do away with the shoe covers, but I have to wear ultra-thin socks or lose circulation in my toes. Swedes appear to have insanely narrow feet and I've discovered that Native Americans have wider feet, especially through the instep area. So, it was a two month ordeal just to find some shoes that would work even with thin socks. Can't get the shoes in larger sizes for the extra width, otherwise the cleats are too far forward.

Gloves are just plain sport gloves. Not even special for cycling and they're fine as long as it's dry.

For the head, I just have a knit cap with ear flaps. It was unpleasant today for my chin and cheeks, but the baklavah (sp?) I bought just doesn't fit well enough to be useable.

Ooh, it sounds like you're in a nice area, Ward. I love seeing wild animals. The one that most took my breath away here in Sweden, was having some kind of large owl sweep down out of trees on one side of the road to the other side, crossing only about 10 yards in front me.

The hares really drive Loke crazy because they often run down the road or the cycle path for quite a few yards before cutting off into the bushes. It's like they're mocking him... and frighteningly enough, they still can out run us though when Loke really goes for it, he can break 20 mph.

Terii

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Terii,

I completely failed to mention the birdlife. The owls have been going crazy lately. They sort of make this loud cooing/trilling noise that goes up and down the scale. We also have a falcon that is amazing to watch hunt.

We dont have many rabbits or hares anymore since the fox family grew so much.

When riding in the cold I really like my neoprene face and neck gaiter. I had bought it for snow skiing years ago. Its easy to pull down below my nose or mouth as I get warm, I can also pull it off one handed if need be. I wear oversized sunglasses that have sort of seal around the eyes and keep the cold out but they let enough air in to rarely fog.

Yep I like the layers also, and I agree with the upper body gettig colder. Thats part of the recumbent thing I think, with the chest being in the wind.

Have you checked out the www.bentrideronline.com website? Lots of interesting stuff about trikes on there.

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Well, I'm riding everyday. Plan to this day between showers.
It is pretty hot though...in the 50's. Fenders are nice on these
wet roads.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Buddy,

You are my hero. I have only ridden ONCE in the past two weeks and that was this Past Tuesday. Rode 24 miles at lunch. Felt GREAT!!!!

Now I am just sitting around and getting fat....

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Thanks for the kind words Jon.

You know, there are pictures of Dave dressed for cold weather
and out on his Rocket. I just wonder if he is getting wimpish
in his aging process. Or do you think he can slow the process
with a little attitude adjustment? Just an observation.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

well I walked almost a mile yesterday and it didn't feel so great but I was glad that I could. The Sea Dragon is here, just took it and the Aero to the
LBS to start switching components around.

19 days to freedom

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Fingers crossed for you, Ward!

And congratulations on the mile.

BTW, maybe you could ask your PT about walking with trekking (Nordic walking) poles? When I was seeing a PT, she recommended walking with them over walking without them for strengthening my back.

http://www.leki.com/NordicWalking/Products.aspx

The link is just an example of poles. You can find them much cheaper, I'm sure.

If walking more than 30 minutes or so didn't just wreck my ankles and feet, it would be what I would do when I can't trike. When I could walk without killing those body parts, I would often go out for an hour and a half with poles like these as part of my therapy for my back. I walked farther and faster and _longer_ with them than I could without them.

It also gives a slight increase to cardio since you're working your upper body and it gives the muscles a good workout. Quite a few times, if I tackled a very hilly area which generally would kill my back, not only could I make it fairly okay up the hills with no back pain, but the next day the muscles across my arms, back and shoulders would let me know they'd been used. I'm a big fan of muscles going 'Oooh, I did something yesterday' slight aches.

Just a thought, though hopefully redundant in 19 days. :goodluck:

Terii

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I got poles from

www.sierratradingpost.com

They were only $40 for a pair. You have to watch for them as they only sell close outs.

Here is a set for under $40.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/...Trekking-Poles-Paired-Extended-Cork-Grip.html

I have had mine for 9 years and they have held up great. I bought them to go back packing at Philmont with my son 9 years ago.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I use mine every time I know I'm going to be walking for more than 20 minutes or so. They're extremely common here. Adults of all ages and fitness use them on pretty much any kind of surface.

Now, if I could just train Loke to not stop so much for peeing and sniffing which tangles him in the poles...

Terii

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

thanks for the idea about the hiking poles I will certainly ask my PT guy when I see him. Every day gets better now I am starting to really have to concentrate on not bending/stretching/lifting etc.

I hope somebody is riding because its beautiful here in Columbus, Ga.

55 degrees and sunny

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

I went for a 15 mile ride yesterday. The weather here was absolutely horrible, low 70s, just a very slight breeze, clear skies. One of the nice things about living in Southern California is the weather. The number of cars and people leaves a lot to be desired.

I rode in the Santa Fe Dam area in the city of Irwindale. It has one of the local regional parks which is located on the Santa Fe Dam flood plain. This area has quite a bit of bike and walking trails. And except for the man made lake area is in the original flora and fauna for the area. In short, plants which thrive in extremely dry areas.

I hope all of you who are dealing with weather which is really cold (not our 55 degrees and I’m freezing cold) understand that you have some really great areas to ride with far fewer cars to deal with than we do here on the west coast.

Curtis

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Curtis,

My usual ride starts on the Riverwalk here in Columbus, Ga on the mighty Chattahoochee River. For about 8 miles it follows the river with the only downside being it goes right by the water treatment plant.

The trail then crosses onto Ft. Benning the largest infantry base in the US. The trail ends and I enter onto about 1.5 miles of fairly congested roads (not what you are used to though) before I reach the airfield on base and then I am again following the Chattahoochee as it meanders through the base.

The road is called Sunshine and traffic is almost nil though it is increasing as they are building stuff out there. I have seen lots of deer and wild boar and the base a few years ago issued warnings about Florida Cougars though I havn't seen one of them yet:wideeyed:

Anyway that road runs about 10 miles out into the base so if I ride the Riverwalk with the entire Sunshine road it comes out to be a nice 50 miles ride. There is an extension I can add to that crossing over the Chattahoochee into Alabama which adds about 14 more miles of smooth empty roadway.

The other nice thing about this ride is all of the roadies use it too and it give me lots of rabbits to chase.

Ward

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

Glad to see some others are getting out, though I have to say I'm envious of the 70 F and clear skies. I'm starting to forget what the SUN looks like again. I don't think I've seen it in over 3 weeks and I'm fairly sure that's not an exaggeration.

I just got back from a 24+ mile ride. 3 miles with the husky and 21+ solo. This has to be said... I _miss_ my Marathon Slicks. I wonder if I can wrangle a 2nd set of wheels and tires without my husband sulking at me over the expense. One set for touring with the Marathon Plus, and the other for just around here rides with my slicks.

The reason I say this is my last ride of 17+ miles was a breeze, even though I had to rush home the last 2 miles because of the slow leak. No problems. No muscle aches, nothing.

About 10 miles into this solo ride, my legs were screaming, knees aching and my average MPH dropped to about 7.1 from 9.5. It wasn't that long ago since the 17 mile run, so I doubt it's loss of that much stamina. Almost no wind, so can't blame that either. The only difference is the tires. :

I guess I can just suck it up and tell myself 'Think of how much more exercise you're getting for the same distance'

Other than that it was a nice ride. Clouds, but with a few tiny patches of blue here and there. None of them seemed to let sun through though. The temp was around 37. In spite of the screaming legs, it felt good to get out and even a bigger sense of accomplishment that I didn't sniffle for my husband to come rescue me from the torment of my legs.

Now I need to go track down a hearty early supper.

 

Re: My Most Recent Ride

my wife has the marathon plus tires on her Streetmachine and they really are dogs. The good news is you shouldn't have to worry about flats. In the winter I would rather be alittle bit slower and not have to stop and fix a tire.

Think of them as training tires and in the spring switch them out for some slicks