Planning an Epic Trike ride

After my CABG surgery I began looking for something to help motivate my recovery. I have learned I need an impressive goal looming before me to keep me pushing, especially during the winter months.

The Natchez Trace is a 444 mile National Scenic Parkway with limited access and a 45 mph speed limit. Predominantly flat, there are some long 1-2% grades but no real climbs. This looked perfect for my plan.

Now to be considered EPIC it has to be something only a few had done. It seems many bikers have traveled the parkway. So, how to make it EPIC.

How about 888 miles, (probably will become 1000 ) down and back on a Trike!
What about riding it in 10 days? Now its starting to look EPIC.

More to come.

 

I have ridden on my bent and trike the Natchez Trace outside of Nashville and I can tell you IT AIN'T FLAT!! But that won't stop an epic rider like yourself!

 

Flatter than my usual rides. The farther south the more it flattens out.

 

planning for October 2022, plenty of time for you to get ready A.D.

 

Beginning the mental and physical preparation for this ride. Rode 50 miles Saturday working hard just to spin with little pressure on the pedals. My cadence was fairly high averaged about 95, on the small climbs carefully modulating the gears to keep the pedals turning fast and light. Finished with a moving average of 13.2

The plan is to ride smart. We will try and divide the day into two metrics with a total time of close to 5 hours. In between a siesta o at least two hours to eat and nap. Hopefully this will allow the legs to recop before the second metric. Being able to hold 13 to 14 mph is the plan. Short quick stops and fueling while riding will give us more time to recover in the middle.

 

WOW!

 

Ward, you are the only person I know that would even attempt such a one-way trek in 10 days, much less round trip. Far be it from me, slug that I now am, to discourage any such ambition. But to add my own opinion, I have ridden some of northern part of the Trace. I have driven much of the entire Trace. Frankly, I don't think I could take the sheer boredom of that wide-open, shadeless ribbon of pavement with traffic at my elbow for even a few days. And, as is most places, the 45mph posted speed limit is only a suggestion. Whatever you do at whatever speed, be safe.

 

Well, I was looking for something to motivate me over the winter. I know me, if I dont have a big goal I will stagnant once it gets cold.

This will have me riding a metric each weekend or close to it. The trike came with the front fairing and I'm interested to see how well it works keeping my feet warm.

There is a custom auto shop here that does LED lighting. I'm thinking about talking to them about turning this Cheetah into a moving light show. More to come on that.

Now I'm thinking about finding a Sherpa. Someone to drive the van, scout ahead, carry supplies etc. Anyone interested?

 

I have done the Natchez trace a couple of times. Once as a SAG driver for Willie G when we first got into recumbent riding. He and his buddies did it in 7 days. They were. Doing so many miles per day it was unbelievable but it was only one way too.Crazy for sure. Second time was still only one way but I rode at that time. Beautiful and a test of ones determination for sure. It had some really nice flats but some serious hills too. Is love to do the trace again...but don't think I could ride very long. Are you going to document your ride? Take photos? Be nice to see if anything had changed.

 

I'm not the greatest at pictorial documentation but I will try my best.
The struggle (if and when my fitness gets there) will be nutrition and hydration.

Yesterday rode an easy 62 miles, half of what we plan for each day. At 40 miles stopped at a pizza place and had sweet tea and cheezy bread. I felt well hydrated and had some trail mix along the way as well. Still managed to lose 4 LBS of what had to be mostly water loss.
Fortunately the plan is for October and not July. Heat shouldn't be as much of an isssue.

Of course, we are accepting applications for a Sherpa.

 

I'd love to do the trace in OCt. I've seen it in the spring and in the summer. Spring was best because it was cool, the summer was brutal! Way too hot! Hydration would definitely be a necessity. October would be just the ticket, colorful and cool. Nice.

 

So my Windcheetah came with front and rear fairing. Its seems a pretty easy and logical move to have someone make a sock. Attaching it with velcro to the fairings I think would work and I have a friend that sews...

I couldn't switch out the crankset, old style square taoer BB. So, my LBS guy cleaned it up and I'm going with a MTB 22/32/42 setup. That with the 10speed 11-28 on the back should get me up anything.

The next step is lighting. Part of me wants to find the right light, put a small hole in the nose of the fairing and mount it there.

Suggestions and input welcome.

 

Now you've got my attention. Send a picture once you get the lights worked out. Thanks!