My Most Recent Ride 2011 (Part IV of the series)

Let me get this straight, am I to understand correctly that you were riding a mountain bike??? And had an accident...and cracked a rib or two??? Ward how could you do such a thing? I am devastated! I can't bear to read any more...to go back to a pain machine...even for such a simple little trial... I just... what were you thinking??? Why are you trying to deprive me of reading your "dust the DF" stories? Oh the trauma, the agony...

Are you feeling guilty yet? No? Oh well, I tried. Seriously, I hope that you are ok. Broken/cracked ribs are never fun. I've not had any broke ones, but I did have two ribs get dislocated from my sternum after falling down some stairs one time. Was it weird being high again? On the bike I mean.

 

Ward, go to this web site and take a look, you can have your mountain bike and a bent at the same time. http://www.elmtreedental.com/AR Recumbent 05.html

It was after looking at this that I made the modifications to the Linear I had. Currently I have 2 sets of tires for my RANS V2 so I can either road or trail ride with just a tire change. The V2 isn't the greatest off road, but it does OK. The bike that Richard rides is a far better machine than either my Linear or Rans are. I've also thought about the Lightfoot Ranger, which appears to be a decent trail bike.

Hope you're feeling better soon, broken ribs are no fun. I haven't had any, but from friends I've heard they are extremely painful. And there is no way around breathing!!!

Curtis

 

Finally got back on my bent. Rode 15.4 miles with the SUN and 55 degrees. Can tell I am getting my wind and legs back as I can now get up any hill on my rides without dying!!!!

Oh and Curtis, I am ahead of you by 8 miles right now!!

 

Ok Serenity, I am properly chastised for riding the Mtb and yes it was weird being so high. Curtis I have been trying to figure out just how and what I am going to do about an offroad bent for some time now. I have been following a few threads on BROL and there seems to be several new options.

I wish I had seen what that guy was going to do with his ti-Aero before I sold it. Man, thats cool! The Metaphysic too.

But anyway, this thread is supposed to be about riding and thats what I did. I decided if I was going to hurt I might as well hurt a lot I took off hard and fast and road the first 8 miles with an 18 mph average which ain't too shabby on the Venom. Scaled it back a bit to catch my breath then set a goal to keep my pace above 16. Had a nice tailwind on a long slight downhill and kept that speed around 21-22, but paid the price on the way back.

Finished with 36 miles and a 16.2 average and not too much pain. God I love Endorphins!

Oh Jon, glad you are getting some ride time in.

 

Ok, (sniff) that was little better... I was beginning to wonder there for a moment. Whew, now that it's over I can relax and prepare for more DTDF (dust the Diamond Frame) stories from you and some of the others that cruise in the high numbers.

Endorphins are a neat little "gift" I like to think. It really is cool to feel the affect at they flood your blood stream. Glad to know you are getting back to normal, honestly though I hope you are feeling better.

 

thanks Serenity, it gets just a little bit better each day. While I'm off my game I'm having the Dragon tuned up. The Rotor cranks have gone to a fella that specializes in polishing them up and replacing the bearings with high speed replacements. The boom has been shipped back to Bent Up Cycles to replace the front end cap and fix the Bottom Bracket sleeve that somehow had become a little loose.

So in the meantime I'm pounding the miles out on the Venom and considering just where the Dragon will strike.

 

Never hurts to keep ones ride in peak condition for optimum performance. I am just dying myself, since I don't have a bike at the moment I am just gnashing my teeth...I look outside my window and see the soft wind blowing through the hay fields...all the beautiful golden sunshine and black asphalt and I sigh at the memories. Haha, I was informed last night that we are going to start building EDGE SWB bike very soon, and of course one of them will be mine. Then I will ride...:s5:

 

Another windy chilly day. I just went out for a quick ride 11.3 miles. IT started raining as soon as I pulled in the driveway.

 

Went for a ride today, all I can really say good about the weather was that it didn't rain. It was chilly (OK, by So Cal standards, air temp was 55) and quite windy, with the wind changing virtually everytime I changed direction so that I could constantly be riding into it.

For those familiar with So Cal areas, I went south on the San Gabriel River to Pacific Coast Highway, then went north on the Santa Ana River for a while. Covered 61.3 miles, almost all of them into the wind. I think I just might be ready for the Solvang Century.

Jon, you might want to check the numbers now, I believe they're a little bit different since I recorded my ride.

Over all the day was a good day to ride (means it wasn't raining or snowing) but the wind is diffently in my "I don't like it" file now. of the 61 miles, probably about 50 of them was into the wind.

Curtis

 

Man you are KILLING ME!!! Weather has been bad and I have been too busy at work to ride at lunch!!! I will not admit defeat yet, but you have a big lead on me!!!

 

Turn loose the Greyhounds

A beautiful afternoon for a ride sunny and just about 70 degrees. Started out slow on the Riverwalk with lots of walkers, dogs, kids, even rollerbladers. About 3 miles Into The Ride I saw a rider coming up fast behind us so I thought "hmm, why not play a bit".

I picked it up and he was on my tail at 23 mph when we came down a short hill to a 90 degree turn. As I slowed he passed me right before the turn which REALLY ****ed me off as it could have been a big problem if there had been oncoming traffic.

Sooo, I jumped on it and was right on his tail as we came around a large family taking up most of the trail. Nice thing about smaller wheels is they spin up faster and that big ones and I passed him quickly giving him a snotty "On your left". I could see him get out of the saddle immediately but I had a good jump on him and held a nice 30-40 yard lead for about a half a mile. As we came to a Y intersection in the trail I turned completely around and as he passed me I said "I was a little disappointed you couldn't do better than that". He sputtered "ah ah Thats all you got" I just grinned and went back to join my friend.

We continued on and noticed that he was only a few hundred yards ahead. We decided to put the heat on him and see what happened. Pushing the speed up into the low 20's we began closing the gap and we could see him working harder to increase his as well. Turning the screws more and more we were soon running at about 24 mph and I was feeling those broken ribs as I sucked in air as fast as I could. Fortunately he couldn't see my distress, all he could see was that bright green TRIKE for gods sake staying right on his tail.

We came to another intersection and he turned the less traveled direction. We followed, I saw him look over his shoulder and saw the distressed look in his eyes. He was blown already and was looking for a way out. Another intersection came and he yet again turned the onto the lesser used path and we decided we had had our fun and turned back towards out chosen path for the day.

Dialing it back we caught our breath and had a bit of a grin at his expense. Low and behold, I looked in my mirror and here he came. We decided to put him away and put the hammer down for about a mile to where we came to a rest area on the trail. There wasn't really anywhere for him to turn off and yet he never passed us at the railhead. Oh well.

We ended up with 50.8 miles with a 17.2 moving speed for a personal best on the Venom. There were a couple of times I had to back it down a bit due to my ribs but once my breathing slowed some I would be okay.

I tell you guys, I am really enjoying the Venom, but I am missing the Dragon. With the weather being so nice its a real target rich environment.

 

Hi Jon, I have to get up some numbers as I have a century in 2 weeks. I don't like to ride in the rain, even though I have, so I haven't had my normal after work and before Bible study rides on Tuesday evenings. You'll catch up once I stop trying to get in shape for the Solvang Century ride.

Ward, I've been thinking about a trike just for fun, from your write ups, it sure sounds like fun to ride one. A couple of weeks ago I was out on a training ride with a friend and I came across a couple who were riding trikes and talked to them about them. They also let me get into them, the Pocket Trike the guy was riding was OK, but the Greenspeed his wife was riding was super comfortable.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Curtis

 

Curtis, I think you are going to do well on that century. Just remember the golden rule, don't go out too fast! Then let me know how you were able not too .

Take your time before you jump on a trike. Lots of good deals on crazedlist.org which lets you look at lots of Craigslist at one time. I spent too much money for mine because I wanted certain things the Venom offered and I couldn't find a used one.

 

Great ride report!
Sounds like everyone had a good workout... and your ribs seem to be working.

 

You guys are really making me feel terrible. You are out riding bikes and I am out plowing snow. Had another 6" I had to shove around today and more is on the way for tonight and maybe even some freezing rain with it. Nasty stuff.

I was able to get on the trainer one day this week. It hurt at first and I only lasted 25 minutes and got my cadence up to 60. That doesn't sound like much but I feel okay with it while I'm still in recovery. I really would like some spring weather though. It is hard enough even walking on our roads here so no biking outside is being done.