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

Brian, I think you are going to catch me at this rate. I dropped the MTB last Monday so I have not been on the bike or trike since. Maybe by next weekend I'll feel up to it.

 

I did a nice leisurely 25.5 Miles today. I had a problem today going up a fairly steep incline I down shifted the front to the smallest ring and the chain popped off. I fell over in slow motion and caught my self with my right hand. I picked myself up got on the bike and then fell over to the left side because my shoe got locked in lol...So two falls for the price of one!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/170018

 

Precisely why I always wear fingerless gloves, or with fingers when it's cold. They saved shredding my hands twice since first impulse is to put down your hand to break a fall. Shouldn't fall on hands, but we do it anyway.

Brian, your picture looks a lot like God's Thumbprint, correctly known as Burke's Garden near Tazewell, VA. A gorgeous place. One of the prettiest and relatively flat 15 mile rides you can do. Even the last 5 miles getting there is fun.

 

Got 16.4 miles in today at lunch. It is 50 degrees in Knoxville!!!

 

bakrauf, why is the land colored so different there than it is here? All we see is white!

 

It just melted! you can still see some white along the ridge line..lol

 

I've noticed that here in TN, the grass doesn't wait to go through various shades of color. It simply goes from green to a tanish color real fast once the colors leave the trees. My yard is more of a yellow brown color right now. And absolutely soggy to the max. All this rain is keeping it drenched. It is like living on the top of a giant sponge.

 

That sounds unpleasant, Serenity.

I'm currently living on a giant ice rink. It is melting at the edges though they're prediciting more snow that will pack down into another layer of ice.

It is kind of pretty in a fashion (when I'm not stressing about busting my rump). Yesterday while skidding along with the dog, I noticed you could see the ground in places under 4 inches or so of ice. I could see the grass and a few fallen leaves. Even the graveled ice is kinda cool looking with the pebbles suspended in different layers.

Boy, talk about being desperate for a silver lining.

Terii

 

You need a sled for that dog Terii or just put skids on the trike

 

Or, since most of the ice is smooth, a new rear wheel with a studded tire. It's just hard to convince myself to spend the cash on it.

Terii

 

It was hovering around 40 today so I hit the road for a 30 mile ride. I am only & behind 7 now..lol

I do have a question if you all will answer. I feel like a slug with a average of 12.7 on today's ride and that about matches what I have been doing this entire year on the Rex. Is this slow? Or is it because of the hilly area i am in? I feel like i am always going up and not very fast.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/172452

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

Brian, the V-Rex is not really a speed demon, more like a comfort upright bike. The mesh seat has some built in suspension which really steals power on climbs if you are a masher like me. Its also not the lightest bike and the extra weight will come into play the more hills you climb.

I guess it really depends upon what you are looking for. If you want pure blinding speed there are faster recumbents out there. However, if you are looking for a good workout a heavy bike will work just as well as a light one, you just don't go as far when you ride.

For me, there is nothing more fun than passing a long pace-line of DF's struggling into the wind...but thats just me

 

I was just wondering if I was in the ball park because I see people posting 17-18 mph average speed and I am saying "wow". I have never seen that unless I am on a completely flat road. Which there are not many around here.

 

I ride a V Rex and I average about 14 MPH consistently even on a century ride. I have a cadence I stick with and just shift gears a lot to keep my power output (puny as it may be) the same.

Ward is right. The V Rex is a great all around bike but it is not a speed demon. However, you won't see me on a speed demon because you are more reclined with your feet up high. I just don't like that position and I am in no hurry. I ride for fun and usually are in the middle of the pack in a century with is fine with me.

 

There are a few "greyhound brains", but you won't see all that many 17-18 mph averages. Hilly here in E.Tn, but for me to average more than 12.5mph for 30 miles is unusual (or mostly downhill).