My Most Recent Ride 2014 (Part VII in a series)

We know something about it. I'm riding it daily and "love" it. I'm going to start an ICE thread and present Larry's review.

 

Ice cream ride ya baby

OK folks Sunday I went for my first ride last Sunday man oh man was it windy. But had fun planning on doing it again Saturday but my inner tube gave up the ghost.

 

Dragged myself out for a ride in spite of the most recently pulled tooth giving me an unpleasant jab. Sunny and mild with hardly any wind at the moment. Hard to believe this is the first ride of April and the month is almost over. I've just had no motivation to get out.

Loke was thrilled to go. He yodelled like he's not done in years, hopping around at the end of the tether like a crazed dog. He didn't give the least little limp or arthritic hop either. He did run out of steam pretty quick though which might have been because he was a bit warm and I didn't bring water or he was bored... or both. Maybe he'll quit harassing Jens and I for a day or so though. He's been a bossy PITA for the past 3 or 4 days.

I felt surprisingly good for how little I've ridden of late. Also saw the first hedgehog of the year, squished unfortunately. Also a squirrel hopped across the road as Loke and I made the approach to the parking lot. I've not seen squirrels in this area more than 5 or 6 times in the past 10 years. Probably not more than 20 of them in all of Sweden in that time.

Felt kinda good to get out though, even if tedious to do the River Loop again.

Terii

 

Way to go Terii

I've lost 15 LBS and all I've done is ride my 10 miles or so every day.
Been trying to ride 7 days every week, but my Mary has to get away
from the house now and then and often wants me to go with her.

 

Way to go on the weight loss! I should do anywhere near so well. Next time Mary wants to get away, sit her down in the Little Red Wagon you tied to the ICE Q and pull her to the local < put restaurant name here>.

 

Applebees

Crispy orange chicken at Applebees. Said she didn't want to be the laughing
stock of Highway 11E.

 

Did 15 miles of mostly flat Silver Comet trail today. Nothing spectacular speed wise, but considering last month I couldn't walk for a week with a severely sprained petellar tendon (don't ask - I did it working on my wifes car) , and I haven't ridden a recumbent over 8 miles in over year, I was happy. I'll see how the knee feels tomorrow. The Doc said it was OK to ride the recumbent, but not to do any 80 milers or hit any hills hard. Feels great to be getting back in the saddle

 

OK. Cheating a little bit, because I made this video a few years ago. But, I did the same ride today on my red Tailwind, instead of the old blue Wave. Yehah!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPnbZa1GqiE

 

Went for a ride today. Because Jens was a bit of a bully, it was even off the River Loop for once.

Jens wanted to wash the car so told me to plot something, anything, in the area. So, leaving from the carwash, I plotted about 7.5 miles along the latter half of the Vaksala Loop which I've not done in a while. The last time I rode that stretch was the disaster when I spooked a pasture of horses so badly, they broke the fence and escaped.

I'd found a few runestones in the area to chase down to give it a bit of interest and off we went. Loke was thrilled to be starting out from the car wash and wanted to run. He settled fairly quickly as we hit the big road for a long coast.

The day was about as close to perfect as it could be. Warm enough that I didn't need an extra layer, but cool enough that I wasn't running with sweat either. It was the ideal and absolutely comfortable temperature of about 62-65 F. Sunny skies and winds of 5 mph or less.

Loke ticked along pretty good. Didn't notice any limping or hopping which I tend to watch for. I had a bit of an oopsie when I came to the first turn. The cycle path along that first major east-west road used to run for most of the way on the south-side of the, but then near the mall, it inexplicably cut diagonally across the busy traffic, NOT at an intersection, to the north side for about 100 yards. There one could cross back to the south side at a crossing or travel north on a path to other places.

So, I came to the turn, went left and abruptly realized the path was gone and I was riding the wrong way into heavy traffic. I swerved off, nearly rolling into a ditch and a few nervous moments where I wrestled husky and trike around to head back to the crossing to go over to the new and MUCH more sensible section of cycle path.

I'm glad to say the rest of the ride was less eventful... except for the hornet that hit me in the face. How I escaped a sting, I haven't a clue but am grateful for the miracle.

Many of the fields are just moist dirt thanks to recent plowing, but others are a bright emerald green that lifts the spirits. Larks serenaded me most of the way, butterflies abounded in search of blue-stars, 'vit-sippa' (some kind of white flower) and the first dandelions. Saw a jackdaw that is clearly feeding young already, it's crop bulging with a good haul of food.

Loke finished his outing with about 8.5 miles. I didn't want to push him since we've been going so rarely and less than 5 miles for most of it. His longest before today was in the neighborhood of 6 miles. So, I figured 2 miles better was enough until I'm sure how he reacts to it. We met Jens at the mall and he went home in the car.

I pushed on toward home. My speed about doubled. I did a smidge under 3 miles in less than 12 minutes which is pretty good for me on the slower Sprint. I finished the day with just a bit less than 12 miles and a brighter mood!

Terii

 

Planned on taking Catrike 700 to the Silver Comet this past weekend. But Easter and the weather conspired against me. The first time I see 3 days with little chance of rain and +70 deg., I'm there. Usually spend first night in Rockmart after riding to The Depot & back. Then ride west from Rockmart toward Anniston, but have never been able to get there and back in one day. So, often a second night in Rockmart then drive to some point westward and put in to do the Chief Ladiga.

 

I like this a lot....
10 miles [ or 16 km ] each day, to not only keep the weight off but lose more
seems quite achievable.
I had a break over Easter, with too much chocolate / yeasty bread and no Triking led to 4 lbs gain in weight in four days - how much better I would be if I just rode 10 miles each day [ and maybe a bit less chocolate ] .
-
So to make up for my indulgences, I had to slog out 50 miles today .
-
My 30 mile home trip takes me through what I call the " enchanted Bell Bird Forest " , I really have to get a video of this section of Cycleway. It is Purely beautiful. I ring my Tricycle bell and pretend that I am singing to the Bell Birds, they generously sound back in their bell tone voice, it is Lovely.
Here is link to You tube recorded sound [ 100 miles north of where I hear them ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_72WGRT0mJw

[ I am scared to find out more about them - as I fear the Bell cry is an alarm cry and I am probably stressing the little birds out ]

 

Park on my long way home

Link to a quad copter view of the cycleway leading to the Bell Bird Forest !
The only bit to watch is from 1:30 to 1:48 on the video. This shows the cycleway , the rest of the footage just just meandering about the pedestrian part of the park [ read BORING ] .


I should note ; this park was a Track of land set aside to protect some natural bush [ Australian Forest ] from the Urban sprawl - the spread of suburbs .

 

Another outing today to try the gears after last night's fiddle at the workshop.

It's gorgeous weather again, cooler than last time. Hardly any wind. Leaves are starting to pop out on the trees. Unlike last year though, they seem to be more staggered. A few here, a few there and others that don't look like they'll be leafing until next week at earliest.

I'd planned to add the paths through the grave mounds to the River Loop, but within the first quarter mile or so, the gears were acting a little sloppy. So, I settled for just the River Loop. Oddly, they seemed to mostly settle by about mile 2. If they're still twitchy the next couple rides I'll have to figure something out.

I might have taken it a little further than the River Loop except Loke limped a lot. A few times he went along for yards at a stretch almost 'peg-legged' on his right hind. So frustrating since he did so well on Monday. It bummed me so I just eased him home at a pokey 5 mph and parked the trike under the balcony and came in.

Loke's curled on his pillow with a dose of anti-inflammatory medication. Hopefully he'll feel better next ride.

Oh, 3.15 miles.

Terii

 

Guess it had to happen some time

riding home this afternoon, strange noise. I stopped to check it out - could not find any thing wrong - so continued. Noise kept on, so stopped again and discovered the front right wheel was loose [ I wish that was all ].
A friend was nearby so called in and asked to borrow a spanner to tighten axle nut... Axle snapped and wheel fell off.

Well at least I have lightened the trike a little.
-
My friend says " at least it didnt happen while you were riding " , I agreed but I still feel so Despondant.
Its a public holiday tomorrow so cant do anything.

 

Eeep! Yes, good thing it didn't happen while you were moving. Especially downhill at high speed.

Hope you can get it fixed soon!

Terii