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

I was reading my Erie Canal Bicycle Map & Guidebook and finally figured out I would be riding mostly on hard packed aggregate. Now I have ridden on aggregate before on the KATY trail when I had my trike with fat tires and Virginia Creeper trail which was no problem for my comfort bike with fat tires. However, I had narrow Durano tires on my old V Rex. That would not work. So I called Mark at Power On Cycling to see if he could set me up and he could.

I went there yesterday. Mark had a 20 and 26 inch Marathon tires IN STOCK with tubes to match. Bought 2 tires and 4 tubes.

I found out Power On Cycling is becoming a hangout for RRI members. Last time I talked to Mark, he said he was lucky to get 1 customer per week. I pull into his shop and there was Paul and his friend shooting the breeze with Mark. Paul's friend was having the front wheels of his trike aligned.

Mark said Buddy, Dave, Don and other RRI members have been in there. He is also talking to Bill about their new venture.

Anyway, got home, changed out my narrow Durano with my 1 1/2 inch Marathons and I am ready for my trip.

 

Ready for BikeVa

My wife was going to a dance class out of town so I hit the trail early to ride. The Venom was ready to go after a recent tune-up and my legs were feeling great after one day off. We picked a mostly shady route since the temps were still in the 90's (as usual) and were moving along right about 16 mph.

Mile 30 we ran into more road work on post which meant about a mile of gravel/packed dirt riding and that killed the average. The good news was we now had the wind at our backs for the return trip and more downhill than up.

Mile 40 I spotted a rider about .3 or .4 miles up ahead so I decided to see how the legs would do. It was a very long almost perfectly flat run for the next few miles and I wanted to try and catch him before it ran out. I found myself running between 22 and 24 mph and he began to grow larger in my sights. We came to a 90 degree turn and he looked over his shoulder and spotted me. I could see the determination in his eyes as he downshifted and sput rapidly through the corner. I wasn't going to let him get away though. A series of short straights with curves and as I came around each one I would gain ground but the road was running out. I gave it everything I had pushing the trike up to 25 and reeled him in.

I gave him a howdy as I pulled up beside him, "hi" was all I got back. I would have expected at least a bit of surprise at being caught by a trike while riding an expensive all carbon Specialized with deep carbon rims and wearing a race team kit.

Since he wasn't into conversation I picked it back up and keep the power on until the flat section ran out and I was a good 50 yards or so ahead of him. I then turned around and as he came buy me I said "well, I guess I'll go find my friend".

A great ride and the legs are feeling really strong. 53 miles with a 15.4 moving average.

 

Aaaah...that is what I like to hear. Especially after my little stunt today on one of our rental trikes. I have never riddena trike so I thought I would give it a whirl today...just went a few blocks. I haven't ridden alone in almost 1½ years so this was definitely a shake down. Ugh...lungs and legs burned and I was all noodles by the time I got back in the shop. I know one thing for sure, I don't like the way trikes handle....or at least the ones we have. I was not impressed enough to say that it was a good idea.

 

I've ridden Buddy's trikes a couple of times. I, too, have reservations about riding one very much. They are different, much in good ways. I had trouble compensating for the higher weight. It's neat to stop anywhere and just sit. Sitting on the ground takes some getting used to the looking-up perspective. Never did get comfortable with left and right front-only brakes. My biggest problem was trying to balance left foot and right foot to minimize pedal-steer. Then there was the time that, on a blind uphill, the boom came loose and rotated the crank a full 90 degrees. Stuck in the middle of a blind hill road; can't get out; can't pedal; ditches on both sides. Scary until Buddy came back to rescue me.

 

In all due fairness, much improvement has been made since the 2004
that I had. The boom can no longer rotate and the steering has been
much improved. I like the big Lightfoot trike because it has the big
26" wheels and sits high. If you want to go fast, get a Tadpole.
Go try them, Mark has them on display.

 

On a trike. Are you kidding me??? Ward, you are a MACHINE!!!!

 

Trikes do handle differently, but that isn't necessarily bad. You just have to get used to them, just like you did when learning to ride you first recumbent.

My first 50 miles on my V Rex were SCARY but I persisted. Now riding my V Rex is second nature to me. In fact, two years ago when I rode a hybrid DF bike on the American Trail in California, it took a while to get used to riding a DF bike again. I had to retrain myself.

So give the trike 50 miles over time then let us know how you like it. Remember, you need to convince your customers trikes are the way to enjoy the Townsend bike path!!! They certainly were the hit at the Knoxville Bicycle Festival!!!

 

Glad you got out for a ride Serenity, keep at it. The easiest way to get used to a trike is to play in a big parking lot that isn't completely flat. Then just play. Practice swerving and turning and just have fun.

 

got to ride about 10 miles to night it was still hot but i got it in been to hot to ride

 

I havn't yet this summer, but I love to ride after dark when is nice and cool.

 

I'm afraid the bears will get little Buddy. You need to watch for big
cats there in GA. Paul has lots of bears and they can outrun his
Tricycle.

 

I am here in Buffalo NY. Went on the Maid of the Mist to see Niagra Falls. Terrific event if you have never done that. Found out Niagra Falls was the FIRST Federal National Park.

Tomorrow I ride from Buffalo to Medina. My wife, Denise, will meet me at the B&B we have booked in Medina tomorrow night.

Weather is cool, cloudy and spitting rain. Not the best, but definately NOT going to keep me from riding.

Will post pictures when done. I am soooo excited.

 

Fred's 71st Birthday 71 miler.

I met Fred at the W&OD parking lot on Rt 28 Dulles Airport for his 71 Mile 71 Birthday ride. It was a great ride since i have never been on some of the trails in and around Arlington and Alexandria VA.

Here we are at the top of Woodrow Wilson Bridge.








I saw a few recumbents but did not get a chance to video them. One was a fully fared Gold Rush in stars and striped.

I also thought I saw Buddy! I was like what is he doing up here all the way from Tennessee? I tried to catch up to him and didn't smell an petrol, hear any engine buzz or see any middle fingers, So i knew it couldn't be Buddy. he is on the last 22 second of the video i took. I wasn't going to add it because the camera shook so much but I just had to!

Overall it was very beautiful and It was fun riding with a Vet!

 

Good to see some of ya'll getting out for rides. It's just been so WARM here. I feel sick and overheated just from a 20 min walk with Loke. A ride in the blazing SUN would probably kill both me and the dog! It's too early for this kind of weather and it's lasting too long!

This morning, we had a thunderstorm roll through and cool things. Once it passed, I went to rush out the door to ride at least a river loop. Dug the trike out... and FLAT TIRE.

I have a feeling by the time I get the &)(#"/U* thing fixed it will be too warm for us since the skies are now perfectly clear and the sun hammering down.

The weather here has been weird. One place in Sweden recorded a new high. WAY up north above the arctic circle. The really freaky thing was, it was the hottest place in Europe at for that moment. Hotter even than southern Spain or Greece!

I guess I'm setting my trike up on the trainer just to get some exercise. I am NOT happy.

Terii

 

Terii,

Now I fully know this is a no-no, but I've found after all these years
of trying to fit in, I can't. So, "Power Assist" is the only way for me.

How cool it is after a long crank up the side of a mountain to just
let the Assist take over and let the cool evaporative winds prevent
heat exhaustion or worse, heat stroke. Besides all that, I can this
summer, ride a hundred miles under the hot summer sun.

That's just the way it is.