EPIC Recumbent Rides Reports

Great write up!!! I can't believe how fast you go on your bent!!! :

 

My M5 climbs better than my NoCom, but unfortunately the NoCom has the triple cranks; so that's what I took to Tennessee. It was a good thing, too; because I needed all my gears on a regular basis! But it occurred to me more than once that my good hill-climber should have the triple and my flatland bullet should have the double. I can't even use low gear on the NoCom because I can't balance it that slow! So I think I'll be re-working some drive trains this winter.

 

I can't believe nobody has posted here in a month! This is really, really overdue, but I finally finished up my ride report for DALMAC, from back at the beginning of September. In between I had a couple of computer failures and now a new computer. I even lost all my pics at one point, but luckily I fround some back-ups.

Anyway, here it is:
http://www.biketcba.org/TRICORR/rides/dalmac2011/dalmac2011.html

I really have to get me a backup drive! This stuff won't all fit on a CD anymore.

 

Great write up John. I for one only manage one epic ride a year. This year and next year will the the Erie Canal. I rode about 1/3 of it this year. Next year I am going to jump a bunch of the middle which is much more road riding than Erie Canal trail riding and finish up in Albany.

But don't worry, I plan to have my video camera and take lots of video and picture at the Smoky Mountain Recumbent Rally (SMRR) in May.

Hope you can join us!!!

 

I should point out that I've sized the pictures in my reports. If you want to see an 800x600 version, you can. In Firefox, right click on the pic and select 'view.' Internet Exploder isn't so friendly; it requires you to right click on the pic, select "copy" then open a picture-viewing program like irfanview or paint, and paste it there (for me, Control-V is the easiest way to paste.)

 

Good, I was wondering who would do that or if I should pay someone. I doubt I will have the time...Got to keep all you "weird bike riders" in line.

 

Isn't that sort of like herding cats?

 

haha maybe...not all that easy I am sure, but if ya'll want the nice tasty dinner I have in mind I think you will behave.

 

You are shameless....She sure knows how to get a guy there.....

 

Shameless??? Who me?:angel: I am just offering simple words of encouragement :lildevil:hahaha Besides, you know what they say...or at least what they used to say: "The easiest way to get to a man is through his stomach"... I am sure after all the riding that will be going on you'll be quite anxious for dinner.

 

A Ride Report..... of Sorts

I like that.

I just completed The BRAG, Spring Tune Up ride out of Madison GA. this weekend. I have an old 2004/5 (?) Burley D'Jango recumbent bought off of E-Bay. Prior to this ride I rode mostly on the Rails-To-Trails pathways in my home town and up on the Silver Comet. I have to admit that on the pathway's I also average about 10-12mph if I push it. I did not feel confident taking it out on the road untill I had at least some 500+ miles in experience. My ride on the Silver Comet, putting in at the Silver Comet Depot and heading to Rockmart for the SBL meet & greet gave me the confidence that I could take it out on the road for some real road experience.
On Friday the 20th of Apr. I rode some 39 miles South out of Madison Ga., meandering through Buckhead Ga., around the Lake Oconee region and back into Madison from Buckhead. Some pretty high rolling hills and moderate traffic. Very Doo-able Average speed going up the hills was about 4mph going down was about 35mph. Verrfied by my riding partner. Cool!
After getting back to camp and getting my Mirror replaced (forgot it) and having the on site bike mechanic look at my Odo getting it fixed as well... OK, so now I am psyched up for the next day's ride which had the option of doing a 101miles . I have done Century rides before and am a BRAG Centurion, so I am no novice at this and wanted to make my own comparison between my DF bike and the Recumbent. The weather cooperated for the most part and helped with a cool, overcast, and some times windy day. This time we rode North West out of Madison departing at 08:30am I know that's a late start for a Century ride sill I had lingered over long at breakfast. So I skipped the first rest stop and continued to the second just as it was closing up I picked up the last two PBJ sandwiches and as the truck took off into the distance A young lady from Florida came into the RS riding on a Brachetta CA 2.0 looking a little "peeved". I gave her my 2nd PBJ sandwich made sure she had some water and she took off just a little ahead of me. This was the only Rest Stop I made on time. The rest of the day consisted of store stops, I anticipated this and was resigned to my fate . I traveled in a big loop around, through Rehobeth, Good Hope (neat little town), this was the half way mark and I don't know how I passed the lady on the Bachetta but she appeared out of no-where and we had a quick snack (pizza & Starbucks Mocha Coffee) while she called for a pick up. I next traveled through Social Circle (Red Solo Cup factory is here), onto Rutledge, then went south over I-20 and "wondered into the wilderness" and some monster hills. It might have been because of the fatigue of the ride I was at about mile 85 or so but I just could not make it up that hill on Reese Rd. This is the only one on the whole ride that "I cross trained" a little bit and walked it up. I made it back into Madison at 7:30 PM after 11 hours on the road. WooHoo!
Other then being tired and having some muscle fatigue I felt fine and very very hungry. No aches and pain anywhere else which I absolutely loved. The BRAG people had 115 Century riders and I was the 115th rider. Somehow I can live with that.
Sunday, I had to take my bike back to the on-site Bike Mechanic I think it was on that hill on Reese road that did it, but I had busted the Steering Arm Stop Bolt(?) that kept the Boom up and away from the body as you pedal. He performed some magic and got the rest of the bolt out, and had a replacement for it and in no time I was back in Business. I tried to pay him but he wouldn't accept any money. Man I love BRAG Rides. So I went on a shake down ride of 19 miles just a quick town ride. Seriously I don't think I could have done much more. That's my story.
Here is a link to check out my Pics:

 

on your first long Bent Ride. I love the part where you said you were tired but didn't hurt. That is EXACTLY why I ride a bent. I have never hurt while doing a Century but I am tired!!!

I would love to see the pictures. If you have trouble with the link, you can email to me at RRI*fastmail.fm and I will put it in your post for you!

Again, thanks for a GREAT write up!

 

Congrats & Koodos! Also, I agree your write up was good.

 

A Ride Report...update

It was a great ride a real eye opener especially for me. That hill on Rese Rd that gave me so much trouble apparently gave a lot of people trouble, the chat rooms were abuzzn'. It reportedly had an 11% grade for over 750ft. of rise. So I don't feel so bad. BTW there were a lot of Bents' at this years STU.
I really have the feeling that I could be doing better performance wise on my Burley I'm hoping to make it up there for the RMRR just to talk to the Edge people.

 

Update to the Update

One more time:

Here is my link to the Pics:

https://picasaweb.google.com/115522431896009364508/BRAGSTU2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCOL_zMqg7LGA2QE#