1:28 / 11.6 miles
I got on the road at 0530 and rode around the neighborhood and got home before it started getting too blasted hot.
After getting dehydrated last week, I made sure to drink a lot of water and Gatorade. Of course, if you drink more, you have to make more "pit stops." It makes it real easy to find a secluded spot when you have no choice! It's not like there's a rest room on every corner out here in the desert, ya know?
I was approaching a ranch that was all fenced off with several dogs in the yard. When they saw me, they came charging up to the fence and followed me along the fence line, barking all the way.
When I saw the gate across the driveway was closed, I just laughed at them as I rode past.
BUT...
Right past that property was a big, empty field with shrubbery along the road. There was a big hole in the shrubbery right after I passed the gate. And through that hole came bounding out a BIG, Black Lab!
I was right in front of him when he jumped out and I thought he was going to land in my lap. I just yelled at him and kept pedaling. He looked like a big, happy puppy, and didn't look too scary, but he sure did startle me.
I went down a few new roads and saw lots of other dogs. Most of them were fenced in and the dogs that weren't just stood and stared as I went by.
Nothing real exciting and only a couple of pictures, but it was some good exercise.
It's getting hotter a lot earlier, so I'll be lucky if I can get in an hour or so each morning until Summer is over and it cools off. Riding in 100+ degree heat is NOT my idea of fun.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
A Long, HOT Ride!
I thought I'd try doing a Half-Century Ride (50 miles) this morning, but things didn't work out exactly as planned.
After having a big cheese omelet for breakfast, I left around 0530 and was going to combine two shorter trips I've already done into one bigger ride and then add on a few more twists and turns.
It was overcast and cloudy with a nice cool breeze. A perfect day for a long ride!
Or so I thought.
After getting out on the main road, I was riding past a convenience store. I thought it might be a good idea to stop and get something to eat for later, since I was going to be on the road for several hours.
Or so I thought.
When I was locking up my trike, two guys came out of the store and were looking at my trike.
One of them said "That looks like a lot of fun." I said "Yeah, and it's pretty comfortable, too."
I picked up an energy drink and some trail mix and got back on the road.
I drank the energy drink while cruising down the shoulder for a few miles. A guy on a racing bike approached from the other direction, and as we passed, I waved to him. At first I thought he was ignoring me, but then I noticed he was staring at me like he had never seen a recumbent trike before.
He slowly raised his hand and waved back like he was staring at a two-headed monster or something.
In order to conserve energy for the longer trip, or so I thought, I decided I would just take it slow and easy and wouldn't be doing any sprinting like I do once or twice while out on a ride.
I rode for about 90 minutes and pulled into a local park to use the restroom at the ballpark.
I was unlocking my trike and was getting ready to leave when a County Cleanup Crew came in to clean the park. It was a couple County workers and a couple County inmates wearing their orange clothes.
One of the inmates said he liked my "bike". I told him not to use it to try to escape. He just laughed and said he had 2.5 months left on his sentence, so he wasn't going to escape. As I went back on the bike path, I saw another inmate getting out of the truck. He just stared at me just like the guy on the bike had done earlier.
After coming to the end of the bike path, I decided to start riding down some new roads as I continued on my long road trip.
Or so I thought.
During the trip, I would pull over whenever I was lucky enough to find a large shade tree on those long, flat, desert country roads.
I pulled under a big shade tree and decided it was time for some more water and that trail mix. As I was sitting there, I could hear several birds in the tree chirping and singing.
After a while it dawned on me...Birds ABOVE and me BELOW equals the possibility of me getting hit with a load of bird poo! I finished the trail mix and continued on my long road trip.
Or so I thought.
A few miles later, I noticed my sunscreen was wearing off because my shins started to feel like a giant chicken leg that was in the oven and they just changed the setting from BAKE to FRY!
They say "Discretion is the better part of valor" and it was at this point I decided it would be a good idea to cut the trip short and head for home since I didn't have any more sunscreen with me.
I was about 9 miles from home, so I reluctantly turned and headed that way. A mile or so later, I saw a horse ranch with a beautiful paint horse in the pasture.
My wife, Alice, loves paint horses and use to have one for several years. The horse ranch had a shaded, tree-lined driveway, so I pulled over under a tree and took a few pictures to post out here.
I kept drinking water as I pedaled down what is now a road out in sun with no shade for the rest of the trip.
Except for feeling a little sunburned on my legs, I felt pretty good. I pulled in our driveway and rode around back to put my trike in the storage shed.
Usually, the end of my little road trips are pretty uneventful.
Or so I thought.
When I got off my trike, I started feeling pretty woozy. I put the trike in the shed and headed for the back door of our home. I knocked on the door and heard my wife coming to unlock it.
I had to sit down on the back steps in the shade because I felt like I was going to pass out.
Besides having a slight case of sunburn, I was also suffering from heatstroke.
I scared the crap out of my wife! I was sitting on the steps with my head in my hands. I wanted to stand up to go into the house, but I was feeling too dizzy.
I could hear my wife above and behind me and she was tugging on my shoulder and quietly calling my name.
As it turns out, I was nearly passed out and she was yanking on my t-shirt to keep me from falling off the steps. She said she was screaming for help at the top of her lungs. She also said my eyes were rolled back in my head and all she could see were the whites of my eyes.
We live in the country, and she said none of our neighbors heard her or even looked out their windows.
After a few minutes, I was able to stand up and get inside to the cool AC and my favorite recliner.
I drank a big glass of iced tea and a couple Diet Pepsi's.
I'm definitely getting better sunscreen and drinking more water from now on!
I'll wait until Fall before attempting those long rides in the Arizona sun.
Except for feeling like my sunscreen was wearing off, I felt fine right up until I got off my trike.
The heatstroke hit me like a ton of bricks! And I know all about hydrating, sunscreen, etc after having Uncle Sam beat it into my head for 20 years. I checked my blood pressure and it was all good.
Be careful out there and don't think it can't happen to you. It can!
As for me, I'm taking a few days off from riding and will be enjoying the AC for a while.
I'll also limit my riding time between 5 - 9 a.m. After that, it OBVIOUSLY gets too dang hot to be out riding. I'll wait until the cooler Fall weather gets here before trying another long ride.
A short while after getting in the house, my wife informed me it was 107 degrees in the shade!
It wasn't even Noon, yet!
It heated up a lot faster today than it normally does. I really wanted to do a Half-Century Ride today.
Or so I thought.
BTW, my trip lasted for 3:46 and I went 30 miles.
After having a big cheese omelet for breakfast, I left around 0530 and was going to combine two shorter trips I've already done into one bigger ride and then add on a few more twists and turns.
It was overcast and cloudy with a nice cool breeze. A perfect day for a long ride!
Or so I thought.
After getting out on the main road, I was riding past a convenience store. I thought it might be a good idea to stop and get something to eat for later, since I was going to be on the road for several hours.
Or so I thought.
When I was locking up my trike, two guys came out of the store and were looking at my trike.
One of them said "That looks like a lot of fun." I said "Yeah, and it's pretty comfortable, too."
I picked up an energy drink and some trail mix and got back on the road.
I drank the energy drink while cruising down the shoulder for a few miles. A guy on a racing bike approached from the other direction, and as we passed, I waved to him. At first I thought he was ignoring me, but then I noticed he was staring at me like he had never seen a recumbent trike before.
He slowly raised his hand and waved back like he was staring at a two-headed monster or something.
In order to conserve energy for the longer trip, or so I thought, I decided I would just take it slow and easy and wouldn't be doing any sprinting like I do once or twice while out on a ride.
I rode for about 90 minutes and pulled into a local park to use the restroom at the ballpark.
I was unlocking my trike and was getting ready to leave when a County Cleanup Crew came in to clean the park. It was a couple County workers and a couple County inmates wearing their orange clothes.
One of the inmates said he liked my "bike". I told him not to use it to try to escape. He just laughed and said he had 2.5 months left on his sentence, so he wasn't going to escape. As I went back on the bike path, I saw another inmate getting out of the truck. He just stared at me just like the guy on the bike had done earlier.
After coming to the end of the bike path, I decided to start riding down some new roads as I continued on my long road trip.
Or so I thought.
During the trip, I would pull over whenever I was lucky enough to find a large shade tree on those long, flat, desert country roads.
I pulled under a big shade tree and decided it was time for some more water and that trail mix. As I was sitting there, I could hear several birds in the tree chirping and singing.
After a while it dawned on me...Birds ABOVE and me BELOW equals the possibility of me getting hit with a load of bird poo! I finished the trail mix and continued on my long road trip.
Or so I thought.
A few miles later, I noticed my sunscreen was wearing off because my shins started to feel like a giant chicken leg that was in the oven and they just changed the setting from BAKE to FRY!
They say "Discretion is the better part of valor" and it was at this point I decided it would be a good idea to cut the trip short and head for home since I didn't have any more sunscreen with me.
I was about 9 miles from home, so I reluctantly turned and headed that way. A mile or so later, I saw a horse ranch with a beautiful paint horse in the pasture.
My wife, Alice, loves paint horses and use to have one for several years. The horse ranch had a shaded, tree-lined driveway, so I pulled over under a tree and took a few pictures to post out here.
I kept drinking water as I pedaled down what is now a road out in sun with no shade for the rest of the trip.
Except for feeling a little sunburned on my legs, I felt pretty good. I pulled in our driveway and rode around back to put my trike in the storage shed.
Usually, the end of my little road trips are pretty uneventful.
Or so I thought.
When I got off my trike, I started feeling pretty woozy. I put the trike in the shed and headed for the back door of our home. I knocked on the door and heard my wife coming to unlock it.
I had to sit down on the back steps in the shade because I felt like I was going to pass out.
Besides having a slight case of sunburn, I was also suffering from heatstroke.
I scared the crap out of my wife! I was sitting on the steps with my head in my hands. I wanted to stand up to go into the house, but I was feeling too dizzy.
I could hear my wife above and behind me and she was tugging on my shoulder and quietly calling my name.
As it turns out, I was nearly passed out and she was yanking on my t-shirt to keep me from falling off the steps. She said she was screaming for help at the top of her lungs. She also said my eyes were rolled back in my head and all she could see were the whites of my eyes.
We live in the country, and she said none of our neighbors heard her or even looked out their windows.
After a few minutes, I was able to stand up and get inside to the cool AC and my favorite recliner.
I drank a big glass of iced tea and a couple Diet Pepsi's.
I'm definitely getting better sunscreen and drinking more water from now on!
I'll wait until Fall before attempting those long rides in the Arizona sun.
Except for feeling like my sunscreen was wearing off, I felt fine right up until I got off my trike.
The heatstroke hit me like a ton of bricks! And I know all about hydrating, sunscreen, etc after having Uncle Sam beat it into my head for 20 years. I checked my blood pressure and it was all good.
Be careful out there and don't think it can't happen to you. It can!
As for me, I'm taking a few days off from riding and will be enjoying the AC for a while.
I'll also limit my riding time between 5 - 9 a.m. After that, it OBVIOUSLY gets too dang hot to be out riding. I'll wait until the cooler Fall weather gets here before trying another long ride.
A short while after getting in the house, my wife informed me it was 107 degrees in the shade!
It wasn't even Noon, yet!
It heated up a lot faster today than it normally does. I really wanted to do a Half-Century Ride today.
Or so I thought.
BTW, my trip lasted for 3:46 and I went 30 miles.
Rest Stop For Non-Recumbent Riders
This has to be a rest stop for those folks that ride mountain bikes and road bikes.
Recumbent bikes and trikes already come with a comfy seat to sit on!
I like old trucks, so I went across the road to take this picture.
I was on the dirt shoulder of the road.
When I got back on the road, I started hearing a "thumping" sound on the left tire.
I thought it was just a piece of gravel stuck in the tread.
It turned out to be about a dozen thorns imbedded in the tire.
Each thorn was about 1/4 inch long.
I pulled each one out and had no punctures to the inner tube!
They say the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires with thorn-resistant tubes are pretty good.
I think I just proved it!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wanted Posters, Helicopters and Wheat Fields
Wanted For Unlicensed Blogging
Do Not Attempt To Apprehend!
2 hours 2 minutes / 16.8 miles. Started at 0520.
I decided to go down a familiar road and then take a side road I've never been on. Unfortunately, when I got on that side road, it turned out to be a dead end. Why don't they post signs at the beginning of the road to tell you that kind of stuff?
So I turned around and went back to the main road and continued on familiar ground for a few more miles. When that road ended, I turned right instead of left like I usually do.
I was now on one of the main roads in the area. Of course, when you live in a rural area, a main road is just a two lane road with traffic from the country folks driving to and from the city!
The road had wide shoulders that were partly smooth and bumpy. I saw a couple guys on regular bikes and encountered my first jogger coming from the opposite direction. By the pained look and sweat on his face, it made me glad I was riding my comfortable trike. I was exercising, as well, but he didn't look like he was having as much fun as I was!
When I was headed back toward home, I was on road with a smooth shoulder, so I decided to sprint for a while just to burn a few extra calories. I shifted into high gear and started pounding the pedals. I got the trike up to 19 mph and kept it there for a few minutes and then sat back and cruised down the road.
After that, it was a short jaunt down a few side roads and then I was home again.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Sweet Smell of the Country
Time - 1:32 Distance 12.6 miles
When I was riding last week, I rode past a side road and decided I would come back some day to see where that road went. Today was "some day".
I left the house around 0520 and headed down the road for a few miles to the side road.
I rode at a slow speed because of the rough road, but it smoothed out after a while. As I cruised down the road, I started getting a slight whiff of something in the air.
I was pedaling into a slight headwind and the further I rode, the stronger the smell became. The smell became VERY strong and I finally realized what it was.
It was the distinct smell of a very big dairy farm! If you've ever lived on or have visited a dairy farm, you never forget that smell. I visited my aunt and uncle's dairy farm in upstate New York nearly 44 years ago and that smell made a lasting memory for me.
I soon came to the entrance of the farm and saw all those cows off in the distance. I can handle the smell of horse manure, but the smell of those cow pies baking in the morning sun is nothing but NASTY!
I continued down the road and came upon what seemed like a endless field of corn. I kept pedalling and pedaling and pedaling and the cornfield just kept going.
I came near the end of the field and pulled over to take a break and some more photos.
I finally reached the end of this long road and turned right and rode for a little longer and then headed toward home.
When I came up to an intersection, I needed to turn left, so I came off the shoulder of the road and got in the middle of my lane. There wasn't any traffic behind me as I stopped to make the turn.
There were a few pickup trucks coming from left side, so I patiently waited. One of the trucks went straight and two of them turned right and went past me. The occupants of all three trucks slowed down and looked down at me as they passed by.
They looked at me as if to say "What the heck kind of contraption is that Big Bubba sitting on?"
That look always makes me smile! I kept going and arrived back home a short time later.
I'm glad I went back and ventured down that side road. It was a good ride with good weather and I got some good exercise.
BTW, Happy First Day of Summer!
When I was riding last week, I rode past a side road and decided I would come back some day to see where that road went. Today was "some day".
I left the house around 0520 and headed down the road for a few miles to the side road.
I rode at a slow speed because of the rough road, but it smoothed out after a while. As I cruised down the road, I started getting a slight whiff of something in the air.
I was pedaling into a slight headwind and the further I rode, the stronger the smell became. The smell became VERY strong and I finally realized what it was.
It was the distinct smell of a very big dairy farm! If you've ever lived on or have visited a dairy farm, you never forget that smell. I visited my aunt and uncle's dairy farm in upstate New York nearly 44 years ago and that smell made a lasting memory for me.
I soon came to the entrance of the farm and saw all those cows off in the distance. I can handle the smell of horse manure, but the smell of those cow pies baking in the morning sun is nothing but NASTY!
I continued down the road and came upon what seemed like a endless field of corn. I kept pedalling and pedaling and pedaling and the cornfield just kept going.
I came near the end of the field and pulled over to take a break and some more photos.
I finally reached the end of this long road and turned right and rode for a little longer and then headed toward home.
When I came up to an intersection, I needed to turn left, so I came off the shoulder of the road and got in the middle of my lane. There wasn't any traffic behind me as I stopped to make the turn.
There were a few pickup trucks coming from left side, so I patiently waited. One of the trucks went straight and two of them turned right and went past me. The occupants of all three trucks slowed down and looked down at me as they passed by.
They looked at me as if to say "What the heck kind of contraption is that Big Bubba sitting on?"
That look always makes me smile! I kept going and arrived back home a short time later.
I'm glad I went back and ventured down that side road. It was a good ride with good weather and I got some good exercise.
BTW, Happy First Day of Summer!
Good Morning Sunshine!
I love being out on the road early in the morning and watching the sunrise as I cruise down the road.
Corn Country
This is the road near the end of a HUGE cornfield.
It was a few miles long on this road, but I don't know how big the entire field is.
Roadside Rest
I stopped for a break at the end of the cornfield.
This is the view opposite of that in the picture above this one.
THE END
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Short Ride
Today I only rode for 1:16 and covered 10.7 miles.
Although it was only 1/3 of the distance I've been doing, I got a pretty good workout and I'm not too tired, so I can get other things done besides sitting here playing on my computer.
I rode in a big square route around my neighborhood. I didn't take any pictures. There were a couple of things I was going to photograph, but to be totally honest, I was just enjoying the ride and didn't feel like stopping.
There were only a few cars on the road for the entire time I was out. I didn't see any pedestrians or other cyclists. No dogs chased me. Other than getting some exercise, it was a rather uneventful ride.
When I came home and rode into my driveway, I discovered I need to even out the gravel just a little bit.
As I was pedaling OVER the gravel, I suddenly hit a spot where the gravel was a little deeper. I was suddenly pedaling IN the gravel and it got so deep all I could do was sit there and pedal, but my tires just kept spinning. I dismounted and rolled the trike the rest of the way around the house to the storage shed. Yes, I did feel rather silly as I sat there pedaling but going nowhere!
Yesterday, I received an e-mail from a total stranger. He wrote to tell me how much he enjoys reading this blog and seeing the pix I post. He's in Australia and likes to see what other countries look like.
I thought it was pretty nice for him to take the time to let me know that. So, just let me say...
G'day Ricky!
And I'd also like to say hello to my other foreign friend, Nick, who lives in England. I appreciate all of you that stop by to read what I write and to comment on my blog.
Sorry there aren't any pix or more to write about today, but that's how it goes sometimes. I'll try to be not quite so lazy and stop to take some pix the next time.
THE END
Although it was only 1/3 of the distance I've been doing, I got a pretty good workout and I'm not too tired, so I can get other things done besides sitting here playing on my computer.
I rode in a big square route around my neighborhood. I didn't take any pictures. There were a couple of things I was going to photograph, but to be totally honest, I was just enjoying the ride and didn't feel like stopping.
There were only a few cars on the road for the entire time I was out. I didn't see any pedestrians or other cyclists. No dogs chased me. Other than getting some exercise, it was a rather uneventful ride.
When I came home and rode into my driveway, I discovered I need to even out the gravel just a little bit.
As I was pedaling OVER the gravel, I suddenly hit a spot where the gravel was a little deeper. I was suddenly pedaling IN the gravel and it got so deep all I could do was sit there and pedal, but my tires just kept spinning. I dismounted and rolled the trike the rest of the way around the house to the storage shed. Yes, I did feel rather silly as I sat there pedaling but going nowhere!
Yesterday, I received an e-mail from a total stranger. He wrote to tell me how much he enjoys reading this blog and seeing the pix I post. He's in Australia and likes to see what other countries look like.
I thought it was pretty nice for him to take the time to let me know that. So, just let me say...
G'day Ricky!
And I'd also like to say hello to my other foreign friend, Nick, who lives in England. I appreciate all of you that stop by to read what I write and to comment on my blog.
Sorry there aren't any pix or more to write about today, but that's how it goes sometimes. I'll try to be not quite so lazy and stop to take some pix the next time.
THE END
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Blue Skies and Free Showers
Today's ride was 3 hours and 38 minutes / 33 miles.
I set a new personal speed record when I reached 21 mph on a flat, open road with no traffic.
I went back to the same area I rode in the other day. And, once again, I found another bike path!
This one was in a community park next to a new housing area.
As I pedaled around under clear blue skies, I was enjoying the quietness, the smooth trail and the lush, green grass all around
A lady was walking toward me and as I got closer, I was getting ready to greet her, when she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and just stood there.
That was when I saw it. A lawn sprinkler heading right for me! The sprinkler was set to go in a big circle and I was just a few feet from it. I didn't have time to back up or enough room to go around it.
I just looked at the lady and said "I guess I'm going to get wet!" I pedaled right through it and was sprayed from my knees up to my face. That cold water felt pretty good after riding for more than an hour.
I rode around the park for 30 minutes or so and then headed back to the longer path I rode the other day.
I finished the path and turned and headed for home.
The ride home was uneventful and since I was on the same road a couple days ago, I didn't take any more pictures after I left the park.
It's starting to get warmer earlier in the morning, so I think I'll cut my riding time down to 2 hours per day.
I've posted a few pix below.
I set a new personal speed record when I reached 21 mph on a flat, open road with no traffic.
I went back to the same area I rode in the other day. And, once again, I found another bike path!
This one was in a community park next to a new housing area.
As I pedaled around under clear blue skies, I was enjoying the quietness, the smooth trail and the lush, green grass all around
A lady was walking toward me and as I got closer, I was getting ready to greet her, when she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and just stood there.
That was when I saw it. A lawn sprinkler heading right for me! The sprinkler was set to go in a big circle and I was just a few feet from it. I didn't have time to back up or enough room to go around it.
I just looked at the lady and said "I guess I'm going to get wet!" I pedaled right through it and was sprayed from my knees up to my face. That cold water felt pretty good after riding for more than an hour.
I rode around the park for 30 minutes or so and then headed back to the longer path I rode the other day.
I finished the path and turned and headed for home.
The ride home was uneventful and since I was on the same road a couple days ago, I didn't take any more pictures after I left the park.
It's starting to get warmer earlier in the morning, so I think I'll cut my riding time down to 2 hours per day.
I've posted a few pix below.
RC Plane
I stopped at a ball park to take a break.
There was a guy flying his radio-controlled airplane.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wheels are Wresting.
After 36 miles yesterday, I decided to let the wheels rest today.
I'll be back on the road early tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Tuesday Morning Fun!
Today's ride was for 3 hours and 50 minutes. A total of 36 miles. That's the most I've done in one day, so far. The clear blue skies and the cool morning air at 0515 made it a great day for a ride.
I knew which way I was going to go this morning. I wanted to go over to an area that I knew had a nice, smooth path. Little did I know I would find an even better bike path!
I had to ride for about an hour or so before I got there, but it was well worth the ride.
The path was so nice, I did it twice!
I saw a jogger that stopped and put a leash on her dog when I was approaching.
I asked her if the dog would bite me. She said "No, but he might lick you."
I saw a lady walking down the path with headphones on, so she didn't hear me approaching. I slowed down as I started to pass her. She finally noticed me and I think I scared the crap out of her!
I followed the path until it ended. It's a really nice trail with a lot of curves and zig-zags.
I was able to get up to 19 mph on the straightaways, my fastest speed, so far, but I had to slow down for the curves. :(
It was the first time I've been able to ride on a bike path. It was SO nice to ride with no vehicle traffic around and a smooooooth road to ride on. That's one of the reasons I was riding for almost 4 hours. I was having a blast and didn't want to go home!
On the way back I finally saw a fellow recumbent rider for the first time in my one week of owning a trike! He was coming toward me riding a SUN HD delta trike. As he passed me he smiled and gave me a big HELLO.
It wasn't until he had passed me that I realized who he was. He was the guy I met at the LBS a couple weeks ago when I was still trying to decide which trike to buy. No wonder he looked so familiar!
I've even chatted with him via e-mail and we have been talking about riding together.
I was having such a good time, I was just flying along and not paying attention to anyone else.
I left the park and got back on the road and headed for home. It was after 0900 by this time, and it still wasn't very hot. I just did a slow, steady cruise all the way. Although I had a blast, I was glad to get home get off the trike. Once I stopped riding, I could really feel the heat and my legs definitely had a good workout!
Not sure if I'm going to ride tomorrow. I'll wait and see how I feel when 0430 rolls around.
That's what I did today. How about you?
I knew which way I was going to go this morning. I wanted to go over to an area that I knew had a nice, smooth path. Little did I know I would find an even better bike path!
I had to ride for about an hour or so before I got there, but it was well worth the ride.
The path was so nice, I did it twice!
I saw a jogger that stopped and put a leash on her dog when I was approaching.
I asked her if the dog would bite me. She said "No, but he might lick you."
I saw a lady walking down the path with headphones on, so she didn't hear me approaching. I slowed down as I started to pass her. She finally noticed me and I think I scared the crap out of her!
I followed the path until it ended. It's a really nice trail with a lot of curves and zig-zags.
I was able to get up to 19 mph on the straightaways, my fastest speed, so far, but I had to slow down for the curves. :(
It was the first time I've been able to ride on a bike path. It was SO nice to ride with no vehicle traffic around and a smooooooth road to ride on. That's one of the reasons I was riding for almost 4 hours. I was having a blast and didn't want to go home!
On the way back I finally saw a fellow recumbent rider for the first time in my one week of owning a trike! He was coming toward me riding a SUN HD delta trike. As he passed me he smiled and gave me a big HELLO.
It wasn't until he had passed me that I realized who he was. He was the guy I met at the LBS a couple weeks ago when I was still trying to decide which trike to buy. No wonder he looked so familiar!
I've even chatted with him via e-mail and we have been talking about riding together.
I was having such a good time, I was just flying along and not paying attention to anyone else.
I left the park and got back on the road and headed for home. It was after 0900 by this time, and it still wasn't very hot. I just did a slow, steady cruise all the way. Although I had a blast, I was glad to get home get off the trike. Once I stopped riding, I could really feel the heat and my legs definitely had a good workout!
Not sure if I'm going to ride tomorrow. I'll wait and see how I feel when 0430 rolls around.
That's what I did today. How about you?
This guy...AGAIN?
I really need to start hanging out with better looking people.
I'm tired of looking at this guy's mug every morning!
Smooth Sailing Ahead
In the 6 weeks I've lived here, I've never seen anyone on this path.
I just had to try it out!
I had no idea it would lead to an even better bike path.
Farmer's Market
On the entire ride, I only took one 10 minute break in the shade of the Farmer's Market.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Repaired and Ready To Roll!
I took my trike to the bike shop this morning and they had it fixed in just a few minutes!
A minor adjustment of the brake rotors and that annoying rubbing sound was gone.
Ajo Bikes in Tucson, AZ provides GREAT service and I highly reccomend them to anyone.
Thanks to Frank, Leo, Brad, Bill and Noe for taking care of me!
So, The Jolly Roger is fixed and ready for another early morning voyage tomorrow!
It was so nice when I took the trike for a test drive around the parking lot at the bike shop and all I could hear was the sound of the tires on the road and the gentle "whirring" of the chain. Music to my ears!
AARGH! Beware Ye Landlubbers and Scalliwags!
The Jolly Roger is setting sail and if there be booty to be plundered, it shall be mine!
Ye Have Been Warned!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Today was a TOTAL bust!
I got up at 0400 and was out the door at 0435. I didn't know how long it would take to get to the park to meet the other riders, so I gave myself plenty of time.
I got to the park at 0530. Thirty minutes to spare! So I sat there and waited...and waited...and waited.
I was at the right place at the right time, but no one else was there.
I came home and decided to take another ride in the local area. After I got on the road and started cruising, I started hearing a strange scraping/rubbing sound from the right wheel.
I took it home and sprayed the whole wheel with some pressurized air. We had a short dust storm blow through the area yesterday, so I thought it just might be some dust on the brakes.
I took the trike for another ride and the same funky sound was still there. Took it home and got the garden hose and sprayed down both front wheels. Still the same!
I checked my e-mail and got a message from one of the guys I was supposed to ride with. They were at the park at the same time I was, but they weren't in the place given in the directions.
What we have here is failure to communicate. Oh well. Better luck next time.
It's getting a little too warm to ride very far, so I'm hanging it up for the rest of the day.
No pix today. An empty parking lot isn't much to look at.
I got to the park at 0530. Thirty minutes to spare! So I sat there and waited...and waited...and waited.
I was at the right place at the right time, but no one else was there.
I came home and decided to take another ride in the local area. After I got on the road and started cruising, I started hearing a strange scraping/rubbing sound from the right wheel.
I took it home and sprayed the whole wheel with some pressurized air. We had a short dust storm blow through the area yesterday, so I thought it just might be some dust on the brakes.
I took the trike for another ride and the same funky sound was still there. Took it home and got the garden hose and sprayed down both front wheels. Still the same!
I checked my e-mail and got a message from one of the guys I was supposed to ride with. They were at the park at the same time I was, but they weren't in the place given in the directions.
What we have here is failure to communicate. Oh well. Better luck next time.
It's getting a little too warm to ride very far, so I'm hanging it up for the rest of the day.
No pix today. An empty parking lot isn't much to look at.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
For the past week or so, the temperatures have been between 100 and 110. The weatherman said today and tomorrow were supposed to be a lot cooler. Guess what? They were right!
I started riding at 0520 and came home at 0755. I would've stayed out longer due to the great weather, but I came home to have some breakfast. Note to self; pack a lunch next time!
Today's ride was the best one I've had so far. It was nice and cool. Clear blue skies, a cool, gentle breeze and the sun coming up. It doesn't get much better than that!
The wind went from gentle to moderate. Nothing really annoying, at all. There wasn't much traffic and all the motorists gave me plenty of room as they went around. In a 5 mile stretch, I saw 4 patrol cars sitting on the side of the road with their radar guns. The first one was a young female cop on my side of the road. As I approached, I waved to her and said "Am I speeding?" She just laughed and said "Only a little bit."
The roads were a combination of very smooth to pretty darn bumpy! Mostly smooth, so it wasn't bad at all.
I turned right when I came to the end of the first road and went a couple more miles. It was then I saw the signs that gave me two options. I could either get on the interstate and head east or head west. I didn't like those choices, so I turned around and went back the way I had just come.
There's an Army National Guard unit near where I was. As I approached the intersection to turn toward home, an SUV pulled over on the other side of the road. A young soldier in shorts and a t-shirt got out on the passenger's side and a soldier in full camo uniform got out on the driver's side. It looked like someone was getting ready to take a Physical Fitness Test by running down the road for a couple of miles. It reminded me of my days in the military and made me glad I was retired!
As I was crossing a small bridge, I looked to the left and thought I saw a smooth, dirt road running along the side of the river. I slowed down and looked again, and sure enough, I was right! I kept going and thought to myself, "Ill have to go back and check it out someday." I went a little further down the road and decided I wanted to check it out NOW! So I did.
I cruised on back to the house, had some breakfast, checked some e-mails, etc, and decided to see if I could get the computer on my trike to work.
The darn thing hasn't worked since I bought the trike last Monday. All I could do was to get the computer to turn on, but it wouldn't register the mph's, time or distance as I rode. After a few minutes, it just shut off.
My friend, John and I put the trike in the back of his truck and headed to the LBS (that's Local Bike Shop for you non-cycling types out there).
The mechanic looked at it and couldn't figure out the problem at first, but then discovered the computer's sensor, which is mounted on one of the wheels, didn't work. Pretty bad considering this is a brand new computer.
They took the bike into the shop and put a new sensor on it and it FINALLY worked like it was supposed to...I hope.
After we got back home, it was around 1315 and it still wasn't very hot, SO...
...I decided to go out for another ride! I needed to test the computer to make sure it worked properly, didn't I?
So off I went for another voyage. I just went up and down the neighborhood roads and streets and had no planned route. I ended being gone for 1 hour, 24 minutes and 38 seconds and did a grand total of 11.35 miles. I can give you that info because the computer does work! Not a blistering pace, to say the least, but I was just out cruising around and having a good time.
I took a few pictures on the morning run, but none on the afternoon trip. As usual, the pictures are posted below. I had a great day on the trike and I'm looking forward to getting up tomorrow at 0400 to go do a 4 hour group ride with 5 or 6 other guys. It should be a lot of fun and I will take lots of photos for your viewing pleasure.
Come back tomorrow and read all about it!
I started riding at 0520 and came home at 0755. I would've stayed out longer due to the great weather, but I came home to have some breakfast. Note to self; pack a lunch next time!
Today's ride was the best one I've had so far. It was nice and cool. Clear blue skies, a cool, gentle breeze and the sun coming up. It doesn't get much better than that!
The wind went from gentle to moderate. Nothing really annoying, at all. There wasn't much traffic and all the motorists gave me plenty of room as they went around. In a 5 mile stretch, I saw 4 patrol cars sitting on the side of the road with their radar guns. The first one was a young female cop on my side of the road. As I approached, I waved to her and said "Am I speeding?" She just laughed and said "Only a little bit."
The roads were a combination of very smooth to pretty darn bumpy! Mostly smooth, so it wasn't bad at all.
I turned right when I came to the end of the first road and went a couple more miles. It was then I saw the signs that gave me two options. I could either get on the interstate and head east or head west. I didn't like those choices, so I turned around and went back the way I had just come.
There's an Army National Guard unit near where I was. As I approached the intersection to turn toward home, an SUV pulled over on the other side of the road. A young soldier in shorts and a t-shirt got out on the passenger's side and a soldier in full camo uniform got out on the driver's side. It looked like someone was getting ready to take a Physical Fitness Test by running down the road for a couple of miles. It reminded me of my days in the military and made me glad I was retired!
As I was crossing a small bridge, I looked to the left and thought I saw a smooth, dirt road running along the side of the river. I slowed down and looked again, and sure enough, I was right! I kept going and thought to myself, "Ill have to go back and check it out someday." I went a little further down the road and decided I wanted to check it out NOW! So I did.
I cruised on back to the house, had some breakfast, checked some e-mails, etc, and decided to see if I could get the computer on my trike to work.
The darn thing hasn't worked since I bought the trike last Monday. All I could do was to get the computer to turn on, but it wouldn't register the mph's, time or distance as I rode. After a few minutes, it just shut off.
My friend, John and I put the trike in the back of his truck and headed to the LBS (that's Local Bike Shop for you non-cycling types out there).
The mechanic looked at it and couldn't figure out the problem at first, but then discovered the computer's sensor, which is mounted on one of the wheels, didn't work. Pretty bad considering this is a brand new computer.
They took the bike into the shop and put a new sensor on it and it FINALLY worked like it was supposed to...I hope.
After we got back home, it was around 1315 and it still wasn't very hot, SO...
...I decided to go out for another ride! I needed to test the computer to make sure it worked properly, didn't I?
So off I went for another voyage. I just went up and down the neighborhood roads and streets and had no planned route. I ended being gone for 1 hour, 24 minutes and 38 seconds and did a grand total of 11.35 miles. I can give you that info because the computer does work! Not a blistering pace, to say the least, but I was just out cruising around and having a good time.
I took a few pictures on the morning run, but none on the afternoon trip. As usual, the pictures are posted below. I had a great day on the trike and I'm looking forward to getting up tomorrow at 0400 to go do a 4 hour group ride with 5 or 6 other guys. It should be a lot of fun and I will take lots of photos for your viewing pleasure.
Come back tomorrow and read all about it!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Do all of my friends go to Kansas?
This is Tim and Spike in Kansas last year.
This is Ken and Jen jumping for joy in Kansas on their recumbent trike journey just a few days ago. They were happy to be out of the hills and on flat land for a change.
I guess I'll have to go to Kansas and get my picture taken one of these days.
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