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

Don't know yet. Tomorrow I will find out. :

 

I finialy get to ride with Larry Varny from BROL and that bunch. Can't wait another cold and rainy Ohio fall. Can't wait will post when I get home. I'm totally excited can't wait. Like I said I'll post picture and that all on face book AD you know.

 

Rims look fine. Whew!!!

 

LOck tite

Absolutely correct. Mark trued a wheel for me last week and put
a drop of locktite on each spoke nipple. He always tells me to
bring it back for a check-up and further adjustment after a few rides.
Cables stretch and bolts can work lose. That's bad news, Jon.

 

For some reason my post got dropped so here is my horrible ride yesterday and my good ride today.
Yesterday approximately 33 miles took about 14 weeks average speed was probably 2.2 hours per mile. With 4 hours rest stop.
Today was a bit better. 89.4 miles "0" zero rest stops and average speed 12.2 mph.

 

You've gotta be kidding, or training for RAAM. That's over 7 hours without stopping?

 

I had a horrible ride yesterday- My first ever Crash!

I signed up for the Valley Rally-A boys scout benefit ride- The weather was only calling for a few sprinkles and it was rather chilly at 45 deg at the 7 am start. There were only 7 of us that started the Century portion at 7am. Me and 6 other DF bikes. Well it wasn't to far out that it started sprinkling but the skys ahead looked like it was clearing so we pushed on. We hit the first rest stop at 12.8 miles with no major issues.

After leaving I took off and left the other DF in the dust. I was having a good time. On our que sheet it had a VERY steep hill marked with a very sharp turn at the bottom. I went down this hill riding my brakes because the roads were wet. I made the sharp right turn and then up an incline to a one lane bridge that had a sharp left turn. I leaned the bike slightly into the turn and BAM! I was on the ground sliding to the edge of the road. No warning no, slipping prior, i was just on the ground. (my GPS shows me doing around 12-14 mph before going down.)

I landed fully on my left forearm and thought I broke my arm. I also broke the left mirror on the Rex. My yellow long sleeve shirt was black from sliding on the road for several feet. After a few choice cuss words I jumped back on my bike (i didn't want to be passed by the DF bikers,lol) I did slow my pace down a bit and was eventually passed by all of them and didn't catch up to them until mile 27 rest stop. By then it was pouring down the rain and all of us agreed that we were just doing the first 50 mile loop and not doing the full century. At this stop I finally pulled up my sleeve and looked at my arm which wasn't to bad. A very large knot and some road rash.

A couples left before the 5 of us, but the remainder of our small group left together. We road together till Ranson, WVA, where we caught up to the other two who left before us. We saw a police car and Ambulance up head. We spoke to the male rider who said his wife had crashed crossing some railroad tracks and she hit her head on the road knocking her out. They were transporting her to the local hospital. At that point we decided to all stick together in case something else happened to one of us.

My arm still hurt, i was cussing because I was freezing and wet and did i mention the wind was blowing at 20? Mostly headwinds. I couldn't see with my glasses on because of the rain and i couldt ride well because rain was in my eyes. and we still had 20 miles to finish.

In the end we all limped into the finish. I changed clothes, got some hot coffee and packed up my gear. This was NOT a fun ride. The bad part was the second 50 was the mostly flat part.

51.1 miles
1100 feet of climbing
14.5 Average MPH-Not bad considering..lol

This morning it feels a little better, but is bruised from my elbow to my wrist.

Here is a shot I took Yesterday

 

Well, bad that you wrecked, BUT consider this... your recumbent may have saved your life. For had you been on a DF like that woman you may have wound up in the hospital or worse...instead, you only received a bump and some road rash. Both of which is a lot less expensive and will heal quickly.

 

I agree with that 100%. I did not have far to fall at all

 

No better than RAAM. "Ride For A Breast!" 38 miles, but i was skeered cuz i ain't really rid none since June 09. Tried that high cadence stiff first and got killed so i was worrying if i could even do the 11 mile loop.

 

I guess thats the secret. My watch stopped at 0915 so i kept thinking it was still morning till i got back and looked at the clock on the micro wave....

 

Nice photo, Bakrauf.

You're braver than I am, for sure.
Not only are you willing to ride in the rain,
but you're also willing to share your crashes!

You'll heal well... except for a shiny little scar that'll
fade with time.
Your bike now, that's different.
I hope it's just the mirror...
you'd better check everything else out really thoroughly.
Crashes are funny like that.

I hope the concussed female DF rider is fine.


---

I once passed some teenagers on a dirt back road,
while putting some hard miles on the shop motorcycle.
They were tooling along in their Jeep and I flew by
them, standing on the footpegs.

I jumped the cattle guard... only to land in the deep, wide
mud puddle on the other side.

No traction (street tires!) in the mud... so I had a very
gentle, very slow... wet ... filthy crash.

Right as I shut the engine off, the Jeep I'd passed idled
to a stop. Right beside me. On the dry shoulder.
"You O.K.?"
-The driver asked.
"Yup."

It really sucks when you have an accident.
It totally sucks when there are witnesses!

 

Ok , I think i may be ready to Ride For A Breast!
Todays ride at this point is 88.7 miles. Probably have 2 more miles by the time i go back to get my dog toy, and then make it home. Average speed approximately 11mph. Actual trip time about 9.5 hours at this point. I stopped at Dunk'n donut and had a couple (ok a few) cream filled iced donuts for breakfast. Ate most on the road. Man that was good cycling. Stopped at a bike shop, a motorcycle shop;(if i can find a Harley Sportster that looks like a stripped down KLR650, i may give up recumbent touring); a tire shop, an alignment shop, and two junk yards; then dropped Jacob at the groomers along the way. At the moment i am at Mickey D's killing some time so the groomer can clean up my dog toy.

 

Rode 18.3 miles yesterday on the Knoxville Will Skelton Greenway. Tried the video feature on my cell phone. It turned out good. Only problem is HOLDING the cell phone while riding. My right hand was in an awkward position to hold the cell phone and be able to turn the video on and off. Another issue is my mike gets a lot of wind noise. That is why I removed the audio and put in the sound track instead. Check out my IllumiNITE riding pants!!!

OK - Who can tell me who is singing this???

Brian, This video is for you!!!! This is what it will look like riding your new Strada or Corsa!!! Of course you will be going twice as fast as me!!!

 

Nice video and Nice pants!

song by E.W.G.