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

OK can't stand it anymore!!! I couldn't ride yesterday because I had too much to do at work. But TODAY I have the morning open so I am going riding at 9:00 AM before it gets way to miserable out.

I am also giving Mark at Power On Cycling a call today to have him bring his Bachetta Corsa to his bike shop on Thursday so I can give it a test ride to see how they handle. I will be in Newport anyway because my son works for TDOT in Newport and my wife and I are having lunch with him. So I will let you know how that goes later this week. I plan to take some pictures and post them if Mark will let me.

 

Lazy day float n'ride

Disclaimer: This post is intended to help you get thru whatever issues you are facing, weather related or otherwise. Besides, there might even be a few ideas tossed your way for the taking. Enjoy.

It's not everyday when the weather pretty much dictates your outdoor agenda, but on this Sunday it was just too irresistible. The temperature here in E. Tennessee (and a lot of other places I understand) combined with the humidity has brought attention to taking it easy while out of doors. With the daytime conditions simply not comfortable for cycling, it was time to mix in some water play.

The 'tour' starts at a small 6-acre lake where I own a waterfront lot in Wears Valley. It's gated, quiet and the spring-fed water comes right out of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park which boarders the small development near Metcalf Bottoms, 15-miles from home. The water is deep (50'), clean and very refreshing to be on or in, not to mention that the Bass & Bluegill make a fine meal. So even if you work up a sweat, a quick splash erases any notion of 'real-world' temperature issues. The few fish I managed to catch were all released, seems I forgot about fish also looking for comfort by going deeper! Introducing my........... recumbent kayak!



I had showered early in the morning, and after some fishing then returning home, time for shower #2 before deciding whether or not to take to the river for a kayak 'float'. Because traffic around here very congested on a Sunday, I was forced to take some back roads which also happened to........skirt the river and allowed some condition scouting. With the kayak already loaded, well.........., let's ride!



While on the Little Pigeon River float, I was wondering whether or not to ride the recumbent trike later. So when Paul called and expressed an interest in an evening ride, the day just seemed to fall together thus far so the answer to that question became very obvious. All I had to do was make it home in time to clean up the equipment, ride my bike back to the truck at the put-in point in Pigeon Forge, return home, shower 'again' (#3), load the trike and head over to PF for the scheduled 7:00PM ride where we managed about 15-miles (followed by shower #4!).



The tag at the end was shot on Monday after the river had swollen from area rains Sunday evening.

 

Nice one Eddie.

 

Nice videos!

I dint post this Sunday but one of the Bike Members had a birthday party and we did a birthday ride of 32 miles.

 

I think we are going to have to start calling you Mountain Man Ed!!!!

Great write up and video of your trip. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Can't compete with that but I rode 23.1 miles today. Here is a picture I took along the way.



And since Ed got in "recumbent" Kayaking; here is a picture of me getting ready to go "recumbent" Ziplining in the Smokies on Saturday. I mean my feet were forward and I was leaning back. That counts doesn't it???



Had a blast.

Here are some videos of my vacation daughter AJ ziplining here that I took.

Take off



Landing

 

Witness

Jon, I noticed that the zip line when loaded was ............ 'bent'; so you're in! I enjoyed your post. Don't consider myself a 'mountain man', but I do take pride on fun & comfort and even enjoy a detour in getting there!

Gravity is cool............, my trike concurs!

 

Fun videos: thank you for sharing, everyone.

-----

My daily ride was a bit of a bummer, relatively speaking.

The big, black Mercedes sedan crept through the stop sign;
the male 'driving' the car was intent on his 'cell.
I bravely took my right-of-way and held my hand up
in the universally-understood, "Wait/Stop" sign.
Thankfully, the car stopped for me...
and the dam-fool waved back at me.

-WhatEVER.-




Cars, vans, cars/trailers: all hooked me today.
Many buzzed by me, within the new 3'-law.
Was I really pedaling along so quickly?
Nah: it's hot out.




I stopped very short of a stop sign, because I saw
an SUV approach the intersection carrying too much speed.
She braked as I approached the intersection and, of course,
there was no indication of an intent to turn.
(No turn signal.)
She (while intently listening to her 'cell) mouthed,
"I'm sorry" while her SUV rolled over the spot my bike
would have occupied.

Grr.
GRRRrrrr.
Grrr.

----

On the other hand, I did have the pleasure of exchanging,
"Good morning!" Greetings with two neighbourhood cyclists,
who were out enjoying the relatively cool morning air.

Ride safe, everyone.
I try!

 

Well my ride today made it to Channel 10 news. You have to look fast. I am on the screen for a whole 2 seconds at the beginning.

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1080774455001&odyssey=mod|tvideo|article

 

Got out late today started riding at 7pm and it was still in the low 90s. 22 miles in 1 hour 7 with 1100 feet of climbing. I am riding a century this weekend and it has much the same type of terrain. Short steep climb after short steep climb, so this was a good trial.

Brian, I'm starting to pull away from you man.

 

Ward,

You need to STOP riding and give us Part 2 of your Bike VA ride report!!!!! Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

 

Ward I am doing a Century this Saturday too. I am just trying to hang on..lol. As soon as the Fall Rando series starts up again, I will be logging some more 200k, 300k and maybe another 400 and try a 600k.

 

Today showed me the advantages of riding a bike instead of driving. First I was riding back and saw a gentlemen that looked like Stan Brock. I turned around introduced myself and it was Stan Brock.

Here is a 60 minutes special about him.



For those of you who don't know who Stan Brock is click here. I knew of him through RAM which is headquartered here in Knoxville. He asked me about my bent as we rode to his plane which was getting some mechanical work done.

I also saw a guy who I recognized from the paper today.



I remembered his name was Chris and I introduced myself to him also. He asked me all sorts of questions about my recumbent and was thrilled anyone who saw the picture would remember it was him. To see the article with Chris in it click here.

Now if I drove the same path today, I wouldn't have met either of these people. Bents put you in touch with life!

 

Thanks from all of us

Jon, I just wanted to say, "Thanks"! Thanks for taking the time to put this post together. I could see that the material organization and collection of links that helped tell the story was neatly packed, not to mention the very fact that you took the time to stop and say hi to these gentlemen in the first place.

We've all heard that, "A picture is worth a thousand words", but the collage of information that painted your 'picture' here was much appreciated by this reader and I'm sure by others as well.

One other note: To a giving person like Stan, there is no finer gift to give them than recognition and as a fellow recumbent rider I feel somewhat honored that you took the time to say hi and I'm certain he felt a great sense of worth because of that.

You represented us well.

 

Thanks Ed. I don't know what to say!!!! And as most of you know, that doesn't happen often!!!

 

For all you religious people you will get the next sentence..

Forgive me Father for I have sinned......

Yes.... I sent this to the RANS God....

Today I went to Power On Cycling and tried out a Bachetta Strada. Now many of you know I ONLY ride a Rans V Rex now. (I have TWO of them!)

But I wanted to think outside the box. Don Sullivan (who I respect on recumbent choices) has a V-Rex (first one I every saw) and has a Bachetta Corsa too.

So, I thought let's try this.

Well I went to Power On Cycling in Newport and talked to Mark Power the owner. I told him ahead of time I wanted to try a couple of Bachettas and he had a Strata and Corsa ready for me to ride.

He explained the main difference was the frame material, the shifters and the width of the tweener bars. He started me out on the Strata because they have wider tweener bars. I rode it for a couple of miles and really liked it.

He told me when he switched from a V Rex to a Strada he gained 4 MPH. Wow. This old engine can get faster with mechanics????? I am all for it!!!

So, I rode the Strada and LOVE IT!!! (Forgive me Rans God!!!!) I didn't have a cyclometer telling me how fast I was going, but I "felt" like I was going faster.

I was surpised that my legs hurt now. I am more reclined on the Strada and my upper quads are doing more work. Mark already knew that when I told him. WOW!!!!

So this Christmas, I see a Strada besides the Christmas treee.

If any other RRI members ride a Strada, please give me you comments. I will be very interested in them!!! Dennis what do you think???