Today has been a trial of patience. I was delighted to be able to pick up my trike after being without it for over a week. I was eager to get to Jack's as early as possible today (they open at 10:00) to pick up the trike, get it back to Ann Arbor, and do a good ride. But, first I was delayed in leaving Ann Arbor when Michelle got going rather late, so that by the time I dropped her off at school (for another day of readying her room for the new year) and got on the road to Dearborn it was 11:00.
Then, at Jack's, because I asked them to address another issue, I was in for quite a wait while they got to that. (When I had bought it back in May, I bought a rear rack and bags (pouches) in which I could carry my laptop if I needed to transport it. However, in order to fold it and fit it into the car to bring it home, Richard had to remove the rack. And I could not figure out how to reattach it (nor could Michelle). So I had him reattach it today, and show me what was needed.
At any rate, it was about 1:30 by the time I finally left there. And when I got home, assembling it in the tremendous heat of the day (mid-eighties and very humid), the challenge of putting the rack on for my first time, plus assembling everything else, meant that I was not done until nearly 3:00. And by that time I was so hot, tired, and discouraged, that I decided to wait until 8:00 p.m. (when it would be more tolerable) and ride.
At 8:00, I set off. But further problems assailed me immediately—when transferring old components to the new frame, Richard had not tightened the pedal assembly sufficiently, so that it rotated on the main tube of the cycle as I pedaled. Nevertheless, I decided I'd try to push on with and see how I could do. But after I hit a mild bump, the pouch on the rear (which was, fortunately, empty and not carrying my laptop) flew off. Stopping on the hill where I was, I went back and found the pouch, but then decided to get turned around and head back. On the way back, the pouch flew off once more, confirming the wisdom of this decision, and also my water bottle fell out of the carrier and rolled back down the hill. But anyway, I finally made it back, completing a ride of only 1.1 miles in 9 minutes. (I was so happy to be able to exceed 400 miles in July, but fell short of even 300 for August, due to all the mechanical complications.) And I'll try my best to figure out how to tighten that pedal assembly before I set off in the morning.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
News on the trike - 8/25/2015
On Saturday, after my ride with Debbie and David Carew in Kalamazoo, when I returned to Ann Arbor, I was unable to fold the trike out to reassemble it. So, after consulting with Michelle, I took it back to the dealer where I bought it, Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn. My friend Richard there looked it over, and told me he'd have to contact the manufacturer, TerraTrike, on Monday, and would supply them also with pictures of the damage, to see what they'd say, and then he'd call me late Monday.
I awaited that call anxiously yesterday, but I never heard from him. So I decided to call this morning. I felt a little badly about him having to try to decipher my garbled voice, but I felt worse about not knowing what was going on! One of the things he had said on Saturday was that they might have to replace the whole rear end of the cycle, and, at the price I paid for it, that could have easily run to over $1000, so I was quite concerned about the prospect of having to give up cycling altogether.
Anyway, when I called this morning, Richard said that the pictures had persuaded TerraTrike to send out a whole new frame ... and that the entire expense would be covered under warranty! (I had only bought it in early May, after all.) It should be ready for me sometime late this week. And when I asked Richard what the problem was, he said, "Hard to say—maybe something as basic as a bad weld."
When I texted Michelle about this, she exclaimed how happy she was for me, and then quickly added, "God is so good!"—to which I could only think, "AMEN!"
I also texted my former student Debbie about this, and she replied (quoting a recent Discover it card commercial), "AWESOME SAUCE!" This cracked me up, because I had been saying it throughout our recent trip to Colorado, to the point where Michelle and Christy no doubt tired of it.
I awaited that call anxiously yesterday, but I never heard from him. So I decided to call this morning. I felt a little badly about him having to try to decipher my garbled voice, but I felt worse about not knowing what was going on! One of the things he had said on Saturday was that they might have to replace the whole rear end of the cycle, and, at the price I paid for it, that could have easily run to over $1000, so I was quite concerned about the prospect of having to give up cycling altogether.
Anyway, when I called this morning, Richard said that the pictures had persuaded TerraTrike to send out a whole new frame ... and that the entire expense would be covered under warranty! (I had only bought it in early May, after all.) It should be ready for me sometime late this week. And when I asked Richard what the problem was, he said, "Hard to say—maybe something as basic as a bad weld."
When I texted Michelle about this, she exclaimed how happy she was for me, and then quickly added, "God is so good!"—to which I could only think, "AMEN!"
I also texted my former student Debbie about this, and she replied (quoting a recent Discover it card commercial), "AWESOME SAUCE!" This cracked me up, because I had been saying it throughout our recent trip to Colorado, to the point where Michelle and Christy no doubt tired of it.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
94th ride - 8/22/2015
An eventful day today! This morning I went to Kalamazoo, and rode on the Kal-Haven Trail with my friends and former students David and Debbie (Remington) Carew. I had learned the trail was "crushed limestone," which concerned me some—but this turned out to be no problem at all. It was very finely crushed, and so ended up being close to a paved surface in many points. Just before we set out, Debbie used the timer on her camera to get a fine shot of the three of us.
Most of the ride out was a steady (though gentle) downhill, so this concerned me about the return trip, and accordingly we cut it much shorter than we had considered. We had talked about trying to ride to Gobles, which would have been 13 miles, before turning around—but instead, we doubled back just after six miles in, for a total ride of 12.4 miles, in 1:37. (Additionally, today's ride pushed me over 1300 miles for the year.) And Debbie took this picture of me riding at one point on the return.
After I got back to Ann Arbor, though, early this afternoon, I went to remove the trike from the car and reassemble it so I'd be ready to go for tomorrow—but the center joint would not fold out. After consulting with Michelle, who could see no apparent cause for it either, I went back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn (where I bought the trike back in May, and, according to one friend, is like the bar Cheers—"where everybody knows your name!"). After looking it over thoroughly, my friend Richard told me that the joint is "broken"—I'm assuming this must have happened when I folded the trike up to load it in the car in Kalamazoo, as it was fine up till then—and he'd have to call TerraTrike on Monday and then call me with the verdict. So, best case, I won't be riding tomorrow, and Monday not until a possible evening ride. But, going by Murphy's Law, I'm assuming I may not get it back until Tuesday or Wednesday (if not later in the week).
Most of the ride out was a steady (though gentle) downhill, so this concerned me about the return trip, and accordingly we cut it much shorter than we had considered. We had talked about trying to ride to Gobles, which would have been 13 miles, before turning around—but instead, we doubled back just after six miles in, for a total ride of 12.4 miles, in 1:37. (Additionally, today's ride pushed me over 1300 miles for the year.) And Debbie took this picture of me riding at one point on the return.
After I got back to Ann Arbor, though, early this afternoon, I went to remove the trike from the car and reassemble it so I'd be ready to go for tomorrow—but the center joint would not fold out. After consulting with Michelle, who could see no apparent cause for it either, I went back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn (where I bought the trike back in May, and, according to one friend, is like the bar Cheers—"where everybody knows your name!"). After looking it over thoroughly, my friend Richard told me that the joint is "broken"—I'm assuming this must have happened when I folded the trike up to load it in the car in Kalamazoo, as it was fine up till then—and he'd have to call TerraTrike on Monday and then call me with the verdict. So, best case, I won't be riding tomorrow, and Monday not until a possible evening ride. But, going by Murphy's Law, I'm assuming I may not get it back until Tuesday or Wednesday (if not later in the week).
Thursday, August 20, 2015
93rd ride - 8/20/2015
Today, like yesterday, I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park. I ran until December 2011, when arthritis forced me to stop. But while I was still running (or, as my friend Tom Brown called my efforts, "running", I was familiar with a mode of training that runners call LSD—for Long, Slow Distance. Well, today was an LSR ... doing 17.5 miles in 2 hours and 17 minutes ... except it was not even very L!
In the early part of the ride, I was happy to see again my friend and fellow rider Ron. And I was also delighted to observe that a weather front had clearly rolled through last night. We got significant rain overnight, and it was much cooler today and better riding conditions.
In the early part of the ride, I was happy to see again my friend and fellow rider Ron. And I was also delighted to observe that a weather front had clearly rolled through last night. We got significant rain overnight, and it was much cooler today and better riding conditions.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
92nd ride - 8/19/2015
This morning I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (17.5 miles) in 2 hours 8 minutes. I was trying to play mind games with myself, and demand that if I wanted to do that 40-mile ride in New York City next spring (the Five Boro Tour, an annual event since 1977, where they close the roads off in the city to allow 32,000 cyclists to ride through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx, and finish on Staten Island) with my friends Eric and Mari Veenstra, I had to keep building up my stamina, and I had to do three round trips today. But in the end, I caved in to the heat that is still with us (79° currently, and humid)
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
91st ride - 8/18/2015
I left just past 8:00 a.m. today, and rode a good, long ride—out to Baker Rd. (Dexter), which I am able to do wholly on walks. (There is a good long walk, never used by anyone, that runs on the south side of Jackson Rd. It must have been installed for the use of us old folks!) This gave me a ride of 20.7 miles, which I did in a slow 2 hours and 45 minutes. Normally I'd have been closer to 2 and a half hours, but today I wasn't pushing at all for speed or time ... just puttering along, enjoying the summer sunshine (and thinking how it'll soon be gone).
When I got to my halfway point and turned around, I texted Michelle, John and Christy, and Marianne to let them know how I was doing. I got a couple of quick replies, and it felt nice to be connected in this way.
When I was riding my bike back in 2013, Doug advised me to get a bell so I could warn pedestrians I might approach from behind. I made sure to get one with the trike, too—but it didn't help me a great deal today! As I was about halfway through the second half of the ride, I came up behind a great, lumbering bear of a man, who I'm sure had to weigh at least 350 pounds, sauntering along down the middle of the sidewalk, swinging his arms—and unresponsive to my bell, as he was listening to music on headphones! The walk was narrow there, but I slowed almost to a stop, and made my way around him carefully and without incident.
When I got to my halfway point and turned around, I texted Michelle, John and Christy, and Marianne to let them know how I was doing. I got a couple of quick replies, and it felt nice to be connected in this way.
When I was riding my bike back in 2013, Doug advised me to get a bell so I could warn pedestrians I might approach from behind. I made sure to get one with the trike, too—but it didn't help me a great deal today! As I was about halfway through the second half of the ride, I came up behind a great, lumbering bear of a man, who I'm sure had to weigh at least 350 pounds, sauntering along down the middle of the sidewalk, swinging his arms—and unresponsive to my bell, as he was listening to music on headphones! The walk was narrow there, but I slowed almost to a stop, and made my way around him carefully and without incident.
Monday, August 17, 2015
90th ride - 8/17/2015
This morning I rode a round trip to Marsh Park in a relatively slow time of 1 hour and 11 minutes. It was already 80°, and I got a good workout! I wanted to do a longer ride, but as the sweat rolled down my face, I was reminded of words from a couple of weeks ago, when a former teacher (from high school in the early seventies, JLR!) with whom I am friends on Facebook advised me that I need to spend time on my talents. And we both agreed that my talent is music, not riding! So I was encouraged to return home and work on a choral piece I just began Saturday night, and on which I am making good progress.
I'd like to tack on another ride late afternoon, but am not necessarily sanguine about that prospect, as it is supposed to be a scorcher of a day, with temperatures reaching the upper eighties.
I'd like to tack on another ride late afternoon, but am not necessarily sanguine about that prospect, as it is supposed to be a scorcher of a day, with temperatures reaching the upper eighties.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
89th ride - 8/16/2015
I had a nice ride early this Sunday morning, highlighted by seeing two friends. I left at 6:30 and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (17.5 miles, 2 hours and 8 minutes). As I was just setting out, at the north end of the Lohr-Textile Greenway, I passed Bob Hufnagel, a friend from my former church. Bob is an ultra distance runner, who has done races of up to 100 miles (I believe, but am not completely positive about the distance). So it was a pleasant surprise, but hardly shocking, to see him clipping lightly along many miles from his home a little past 6:30 a.m. on a summer Sunday!
Then, during my second ride to Marsh Park, I paused at the park to take a brief break before starting back home. And as I was just ready to set out again, I heard, "Allen!" It was my friend Ron whom I had met yesterday after having passed him on the trail several times previously. He told me his last name (Cundiff), and his email address, and that he is a retired AAA agent with many years of service for them. He also returned to me the article I gave him yesterday (as he said he would), having made a copy of it. We had a nice (though limited, of course) brief chat.
So, all in all, I'm feeling very happy now to have gotten a good ride in at the start of the day—"the best time of the day," as Dad always said, though relatives to whom I am married or a sibling dispute that!
Then, during my second ride to Marsh Park, I paused at the park to take a brief break before starting back home. And as I was just ready to set out again, I heard, "Allen!" It was my friend Ron whom I had met yesterday after having passed him on the trail several times previously. He told me his last name (Cundiff), and his email address, and that he is a retired AAA agent with many years of service for them. He also returned to me the article I gave him yesterday (as he said he would), having made a copy of it. We had a nice (though limited, of course) brief chat.
So, all in all, I'm feeling very happy now to have gotten a good ride in at the start of the day—"the best time of the day," as Dad always said, though relatives to whom I am married or a sibling dispute that!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
88th ride - 8/15/2015
This morning I rode with Michelle faculty colleague Rob Bauman. We had agreed to meet in front of the Saline Rec Center at 9:00, but I wanted to do some additional miles, so I left home at 7:30 and rode down to Saline and then back up to the Rec Center. (I deliberately built in extra time so I'd not be rushed, and because I am horrified at the thought of being late and inconveniencing someone.)
Fortunately Rob and I thought to exchange cell phone numbers so we could be in touch by text, because I had been waiting for him only a short time when I received a message explaining that he would be unavoidably detained. I ended up waiting for about an hour, but a third of this was due to my early arrival, and anyway it was pure pleasure, waiting in the warm summer morning sunshine (on a beautiful day).
While I was waiting for Rob, an older man (OK, not that much older - probably mid-sixties) came riding by, and stopped and wanted to chat with me. I've ridden past him numerous times in the past; he said his name is Ron. I fished my card out explaining why I couldn't talk, and also extracted from the pouch on my seat the copy of the Ann Arbor News article about me that I keep there for just such a purpose, and gave it to him. Ron also asked me how many miles I ride a day, and I told him (with my fingers) that I probably average 10-20 miles a day. Just having done the math now, I find that since I got the trike on May 2, I'm averaging just over eleven and a half miles daily—less than I had thought.
Once Rob arrived, we rode a little short of an hour, along the Lohr-Textile Greenway down to Marsh Park, and then back to the Rec Center. After we said our goodbyes and made plans to ride again on Labor Day weekend, I rode home, to complete a day's ride of 17 miles in 2 hours and 11 minutes, and this pushed me over 1200 miles for the year.
Fortunately Rob and I thought to exchange cell phone numbers so we could be in touch by text, because I had been waiting for him only a short time when I received a message explaining that he would be unavoidably detained. I ended up waiting for about an hour, but a third of this was due to my early arrival, and anyway it was pure pleasure, waiting in the warm summer morning sunshine (on a beautiful day).
While I was waiting for Rob, an older man (OK, not that much older - probably mid-sixties) came riding by, and stopped and wanted to chat with me. I've ridden past him numerous times in the past; he said his name is Ron. I fished my card out explaining why I couldn't talk, and also extracted from the pouch on my seat the copy of the Ann Arbor News article about me that I keep there for just such a purpose, and gave it to him. Ron also asked me how many miles I ride a day, and I told him (with my fingers) that I probably average 10-20 miles a day. Just having done the math now, I find that since I got the trike on May 2, I'm averaging just over eleven and a half miles daily—less than I had thought.
Once Rob arrived, we rode a little short of an hour, along the Lohr-Textile Greenway down to Marsh Park, and then back to the Rec Center. After we said our goodbyes and made plans to ride again on Labor Day weekend, I rode home, to complete a day's ride of 17 miles in 2 hours and 11 minutes, and this pushed me over 1200 miles for the year.
Friday, August 14, 2015
87th ride - 8/14/2015
I settled for a relatively short ride this morning (one round trip to Marsh Park, 9.5 miles in a slow 1 hour and 14 minutes), in part because I haven't gotten my odometer settings figured out yet. After spending over an hour on it yesterday, I made some progress, but will have to return to it this afternoon. Today's ride (which actually measured 9.52 miles on the gmap pedometer), measured 12.51 miles on the odometer. So, I did some mathematical calculations to figure out that if I leave the odometer just as it is, I can just divide its reading by 1.31407563 to get my actual mileage for any given ride. But I hope to get it worked out to read accurately. And I hope to add another ride this afternoon, too.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
86th ride - 8/13/2015
When I set out at 6:50 a.m. today (with my headlight flashing), it was with deliberately modest intent—I wanted to do consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since August 1 (when I did four of them). In this hope I was successful, completing the two trips (17.5 miles) slowly in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
It was interesting, though, to note a coolness in the air—and this presaged, for the first time, the fall which is rapidly approaching us. (As I told Michelle last night, the Tigers have done so poorly this year, I'm almost glad that football season is about to succeed baseball season!)
It was interesting, though, to note a coolness in the air—and this presaged, for the first time, the fall which is rapidly approaching us. (As I told Michelle last night, the Tigers have done so poorly this year, I'm almost glad that football season is about to succeed baseball season!)
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
85th ride - 8/12/2015
I settled for a short ride this morning, like yesterday - a single round trip to Marsh Park. (9.5 miles in 1 hour and 11 minutes). But I hope and plan to supplement it with another ride late afternoon.
Did another Marsh Park round trip this afternoon (9.5 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes), for a total today of 19 miles in 2 hours and 13 minutes.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Did another Marsh Park round trip this afternoon (9.5 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes), for a total today of 19 miles in 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
84th ride - 8/11/2015
I had hoped to do a somewhat longer ride today. But really, I ended up feeling fortunate to be able to ride at all. This morning I couldn't get the center joint of the trike unfolded from having transported it yesterday, and, to my surprise, Michelle was unable to do anything with it either. So I took it back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn, and Richard soon had me straightened out (though he was initially stymied, too.)
Then after I got him home, unloaded it from the car and got it all assembled, when I went to ride early this afternoon I saw that the chain was all fouled up, off the derailleur. When I came in and told Michelle of it, she asked if it was something she could help with, and I'm ashamed to admit that I replied, "I don't think so. But who knows!" And in very short order she had it sorted out, and a brief test ride I took proved that it was now fine, so I set off.
I had hoped to do four round trips to Marsh Park, or at least three. But I found two factors coming into play. (1) Although I only had a one-day layoff, it seemed much longer when I was riding, as though I hadn't been out there for days and days. (2) I almost always ride at the best time of the day (the morning—and the earlier, the better). Consequently, I found it to be hugely different to try to ride in the heat of an August afternoon.
So, in the end I settled for a single round trip (9.5 miles) in 1 hour and 5 minutes. But, as I say, I was grateful to be able to do even that.
Then after I got him home, unloaded it from the car and got it all assembled, when I went to ride early this afternoon I saw that the chain was all fouled up, off the derailleur. When I came in and told Michelle of it, she asked if it was something she could help with, and I'm ashamed to admit that I replied, "I don't think so. But who knows!" And in very short order she had it sorted out, and a brief test ride I took proved that it was now fine, so I set off.
I had hoped to do four round trips to Marsh Park, or at least three. But I found two factors coming into play. (1) Although I only had a one-day layoff, it seemed much longer when I was riding, as though I hadn't been out there for days and days. (2) I almost always ride at the best time of the day (the morning—and the earlier, the better). Consequently, I found it to be hugely different to try to ride in the heat of an August afternoon.
So, in the end I settled for a single round trip (9.5 miles) in 1 hour and 5 minutes. But, as I say, I was grateful to be able to do even that.
Tuesday morning, 8/11/2015
Yesterday I took the trike back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn, where they discovered that the cause of my wobbling seat (a condition that has worsened for weeks now) was a broken mounting bolt. So they replaced all four bolts, and I was looking forward to coming back and enjoying a secure ride. However, I was unable to ride yesterday due to rain and thunderstorms that persisted all afternoon. But another problem was the fact that when I got home and pulled the trike out of the car to assemble it, the center joint "caught" and would not unfold. Since the weather meant that I couldn't ride anyway, I decided to leave it until today, in hopes that a fresh start would help.
However, this morning neither Michelle nor I are able to do anything with it. So it looks like I'm headed back to Dearborn again.
However, this morning neither Michelle nor I are able to do anything with it. So it looks like I'm headed back to Dearborn again.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
83rd ride - 8/9/2015
This morning's ride was nowhere near as challenging as yesterday. But still, today was not without its moments.
I left at 5:50 in order to get in a good, long ride before church—hoping to do 3 or 4 consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, since that route is accessible once more. As it was not quite yet daylight at that hour, I reached to turn on my flashing headlight—but was dismayed to find that it was not there, having come out of the bracket that holds it. (Presumably this occurred sometime when I was transporting it by car.) I knew, though, that if I rode slowly and carefully down the sidewalk to Ellsworth Rd., where I could get onto the Lohr-Textile Greenway, I'd be fine. And this occurred without incident.
More seriously, however, as I rode onward, I began to develop a concern for my safety, The seat swings and sways, squeaking and squawking—this is not a new situation, but is something which has been gradually worsening for weeks (months) now. Finally, after having reached Marsh Park safely, and started back, I decided that it was not worth trying to put up with, so I would take it back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn tomorrow morning (where I haven't been in weeks now, since late June!), to let them address the problem, so I could ride without fear.
This gave me a brief ride today, of 9.5 miles in a pokey 1 hour and 8 minutes. But at least it all happened without any breakdowns.
I left at 5:50 in order to get in a good, long ride before church—hoping to do 3 or 4 consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, since that route is accessible once more. As it was not quite yet daylight at that hour, I reached to turn on my flashing headlight—but was dismayed to find that it was not there, having come out of the bracket that holds it. (Presumably this occurred sometime when I was transporting it by car.) I knew, though, that if I rode slowly and carefully down the sidewalk to Ellsworth Rd., where I could get onto the Lohr-Textile Greenway, I'd be fine. And this occurred without incident.
More seriously, however, as I rode onward, I began to develop a concern for my safety, The seat swings and sways, squeaking and squawking—this is not a new situation, but is something which has been gradually worsening for weeks (months) now. Finally, after having reached Marsh Park safely, and started back, I decided that it was not worth trying to put up with, so I would take it back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn tomorrow morning (where I haven't been in weeks now, since late June!), to let them address the problem, so I could ride without fear.
This gave me a brief ride today, of 9.5 miles in a pokey 1 hour and 8 minutes. But at least it all happened without any breakdowns.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
82nd ride - 8/8/2015
Today was a full and challenge-filled morning. I had hoped to do a somewhat longer ride, but the challenges, though none were backbreaking individually, added up to sap my gumption. And two of the challenges include my inability to map the route, and a failure of my watch, so that I can be certain of neither time nor distance. However, my best guess is roughly 13 miles in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
I looked forward to riding with my friend Kahle, who lives up at Brighton. We planned to ride in the Island Lake Recreation Area, where we have ridden several times before, and perhaps also in the adjacent Kensington Metropark.
I was awake in the night, as always—this time from 2:30 until 4:00, when I slipped back into bed. However, I was unable to get back to sleep. Since I had told Kahle I'd meet him at his house at 7:00, I figured I needed to be out the door no later the 6:00 in order to get the trike disassembled and loaded it into the car, and to drive up there. So I allowed myself to get up at 5:30, knowing I'd be running on short sleep, but then, that is nothing new.
When I got to Kahle's house, everything was dark. After trying to decide what I should do, I sat down on their porch and texted him. In a few minutes I heard him call to his wife Sue, "I think he's been here and has already gone." I called out, "I'm here!" and we were soon talking. It turned out that he had sent me a second email last night, after the first one that I had read, and I didn't see this second one. In it, he noted that he wouldn't have his truck today (into the back of which we normally put our bikes to go to the park and ride). However, Kahle is a problem solver, and he soon told me that he could ride the 8 miles to the park (which would take him about 40 minutes) and meet me there.
We agreed that I would go to Kensington, and where I would park, and that I should then begin riding in a counterclockwise direction around the lake, and he'd come and catch me. This sounded like a good plan to me, since on his bike he's a much faster rider than I am on my trike, so I set off and was soon at Kensington unloading and setting up the trike. At this point, however, I encountered the next challenge. I put my head down and started riding resolutely, and only a couple of miles later did I realize that I had picked the wrong direction, and was going clockwise. (I consider myself a good navigator, but in all fairness it was cloudy, and that particular parking area was somewhat confusing.)
I wheeled about and made up my error, and began going the right way. But this faux pas created my next challenge. By the time I got to the tunnel that connects Island Lake (through which he was coming) to Kensington (beneath I-96), I was afraid our plans to meet up were waylaid. So I exchanged texts with him again, and he concluded by saying, "I'll see you soon," which I took to mean he was still behind me.
I waited a few minutes, and then rode up the east side of Kent Lake, stopping at a picnic and parking area, from which I texted him again after waiting about a half hour. But he told me he was already by my car (next challenge), so I knew he was way ahead of me and figured I'd better get a move on. When I sat down to move off, the center joint collapsed again, as it did a few weeks ago, with a loud crack (next challenge). But, grateful both that this hadn't happened while I was riding, and that it hadn't come apart this time, I was able to pop up and get it securely fastened. One helpful young lady stopped and asked if she could be of assistance, but after showing her my card to explain why I couldn't speak to her, I assured her I was good to go.
A couple of times during the morning, groups of runners passed me while I was using the wrench to tighten the seat (which kept loosening and wobbling every few hundred yards—yet another challenge), and they asked me if everything was OK. I choked out as best I could, "Yes—fine," but at these contradictory words and tone of voice, on both occasions they laughed. I understood, and might well have reacted the same way myself—but the way the morning was going, these incidents did not fill me with happy thoughts.
As I rode on a bit further, Kahle texted me to say that he was coming back my way to ride with me, and so we got to actually ride a couple of miles together, at the end of our journey. After climbing a massive hill that left me panting in a big way (huge challenge), we were soon back at my car, and I assured him that it was fine to go if he wanted, and I'd meet him back at his house to give him the ride to pick up his truck about which he had already asked me.
By the time I got to Kahle's house, I had a wait of a little over a half-hour before he arrived; then he needed some time to cool down, repeatedly proffering heartfelt apologies for having thrown such a wrench in my schedule. But, as I assured him, I had no plans, so he was disturbing nothing, and I was very happy to be able to help out.
Next we set off to get his truck ... but he needed me to run him by a mechanic's first, in order to pick up an item he needed from their other car, that was there. This was somewhat off the beaten track, and then on the drive from there to Ann Arbor so he could get his truck, we encountered detours that took us well out of the way. Finally, though, it was accomplished, and I returned home, arriving shortly after noon (having been up since 4:30 and left home at 6:00). I took my trike out of the car, carefully reassembled it, and came inside to clean up and chill out.
I looked forward to riding with my friend Kahle, who lives up at Brighton. We planned to ride in the Island Lake Recreation Area, where we have ridden several times before, and perhaps also in the adjacent Kensington Metropark.
I was awake in the night, as always—this time from 2:30 until 4:00, when I slipped back into bed. However, I was unable to get back to sleep. Since I had told Kahle I'd meet him at his house at 7:00, I figured I needed to be out the door no later the 6:00 in order to get the trike disassembled and loaded it into the car, and to drive up there. So I allowed myself to get up at 5:30, knowing I'd be running on short sleep, but then, that is nothing new.
When I got to Kahle's house, everything was dark. After trying to decide what I should do, I sat down on their porch and texted him. In a few minutes I heard him call to his wife Sue, "I think he's been here and has already gone." I called out, "I'm here!" and we were soon talking. It turned out that he had sent me a second email last night, after the first one that I had read, and I didn't see this second one. In it, he noted that he wouldn't have his truck today (into the back of which we normally put our bikes to go to the park and ride). However, Kahle is a problem solver, and he soon told me that he could ride the 8 miles to the park (which would take him about 40 minutes) and meet me there.
We agreed that I would go to Kensington, and where I would park, and that I should then begin riding in a counterclockwise direction around the lake, and he'd come and catch me. This sounded like a good plan to me, since on his bike he's a much faster rider than I am on my trike, so I set off and was soon at Kensington unloading and setting up the trike. At this point, however, I encountered the next challenge. I put my head down and started riding resolutely, and only a couple of miles later did I realize that I had picked the wrong direction, and was going clockwise. (I consider myself a good navigator, but in all fairness it was cloudy, and that particular parking area was somewhat confusing.)
I wheeled about and made up my error, and began going the right way. But this faux pas created my next challenge. By the time I got to the tunnel that connects Island Lake (through which he was coming) to Kensington (beneath I-96), I was afraid our plans to meet up were waylaid. So I exchanged texts with him again, and he concluded by saying, "I'll see you soon," which I took to mean he was still behind me.
I waited a few minutes, and then rode up the east side of Kent Lake, stopping at a picnic and parking area, from which I texted him again after waiting about a half hour. But he told me he was already by my car (next challenge), so I knew he was way ahead of me and figured I'd better get a move on. When I sat down to move off, the center joint collapsed again, as it did a few weeks ago, with a loud crack (next challenge). But, grateful both that this hadn't happened while I was riding, and that it hadn't come apart this time, I was able to pop up and get it securely fastened. One helpful young lady stopped and asked if she could be of assistance, but after showing her my card to explain why I couldn't speak to her, I assured her I was good to go.
A couple of times during the morning, groups of runners passed me while I was using the wrench to tighten the seat (which kept loosening and wobbling every few hundred yards—yet another challenge), and they asked me if everything was OK. I choked out as best I could, "Yes—fine," but at these contradictory words and tone of voice, on both occasions they laughed. I understood, and might well have reacted the same way myself—but the way the morning was going, these incidents did not fill me with happy thoughts.
As I rode on a bit further, Kahle texted me to say that he was coming back my way to ride with me, and so we got to actually ride a couple of miles together, at the end of our journey. After climbing a massive hill that left me panting in a big way (huge challenge), we were soon back at my car, and I assured him that it was fine to go if he wanted, and I'd meet him back at his house to give him the ride to pick up his truck about which he had already asked me.
By the time I got to Kahle's house, I had a wait of a little over a half-hour before he arrived; then he needed some time to cool down, repeatedly proffering heartfelt apologies for having thrown such a wrench in my schedule. But, as I assured him, I had no plans, so he was disturbing nothing, and I was very happy to be able to help out.
Next we set off to get his truck ... but he needed me to run him by a mechanic's first, in order to pick up an item he needed from their other car, that was there. This was somewhat off the beaten track, and then on the drive from there to Ann Arbor so he could get his truck, we encountered detours that took us well out of the way. Finally, though, it was accomplished, and I returned home, arriving shortly after noon (having been up since 4:30 and left home at 6:00). I took my trike out of the car, carefully reassembled it, and came inside to clean up and chill out.
Friday, August 7, 2015
81st ride - 8/7/2015
After taking two days off already this week (!), I was glad to climb back on today and do a good ride, making consecutive round trips to northern Saline (the intersection of Woodland and Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.), for a total ride of 21.2 miles in 2 hours and 27 minutes. This also put me over 1100 miles for the year, and over 100 miles for August. Keeping track of my progress, I noticed that I slowed considerably on the second half of the second round trip, which is almost entirely uphill when it is not flat. The old man was clearly wearing down ...
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
I did not ride today, and as I write this, looking back in the evening, I can come up with no real good reason for this. This morning I was going to see if I could reattach to the trike the rack and bag I bought to carry my laptop, so I could ride it to DiBella's for lunch with my friend Len. However, in the end I was unable to attach it successfully. Then I decided to wait and ride after our lunch meeting. But by then the Tigers' matinee contest had started, and I told myself I'd ride after the game. After this exciting contest, however, which the Tigers won on a 9th inning walk-off home run, it was hot, I was tired, and my feet were hurting ... so I decided to give myself a break and crawl in bed for a nap.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
80th ride - 8/5/2015
This morning, since my Marsh Park ride is still not usable, I went down to Stonebridge again and did a slightly longer ride today than yesterday (3 loops rather than yesterday's 2), for a total of 10.9 slow miles in 1 hour and 16 minutes.
I decided that I wanted to do a little more this afternoon, but the Marsh Park ride is still not available, and I didn't really want to ride Stonebridge twice in one day. So I went down the Lohr-Textile greenway to a bit before it is disrupted, and then took Bicentennial Parkway south toward Saline. From it, I am able to connect (all on walks) via Community Dr. to Campus Pkwy. which runs past Saline High School, and where I used to ride frequently back in 2013 on my regular bike, riding home from work (the long way). doing this loop gave me an additional 10.3 miles, in 1 hour and 7 minutes, for a daily total of 21.2 miles in 2 hours and 23 minutes.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
I decided that I wanted to do a little more this afternoon, but the Marsh Park ride is still not available, and I didn't really want to ride Stonebridge twice in one day. So I went down the Lohr-Textile greenway to a bit before it is disrupted, and then took Bicentennial Parkway south toward Saline. From it, I am able to connect (all on walks) via Community Dr. to Campus Pkwy. which runs past Saline High School, and where I used to ride frequently back in 2013 on my regular bike, riding home from work (the long way). doing this loop gave me an additional 10.3 miles, in 1 hour and 7 minutes, for a daily total of 21.2 miles in 2 hours and 23 minutes.
By the way, since the Internet preserves material virtually in perpetuity, my riding blog from 2013 may still be consulted, at http://ride-ab-ride.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
79th ride - 8/4/2015
Since discovering the ride to Marsh Park in mid-June, I've almost wholly abandoned riding in Stonebridge. (I'd not been in there at all for over a month before today, and had not ridden there regularly since early June.) However, since that Marsh Park ride is currently unusable due to construction, I returned to Stonebridge today, riding down there and a mere two loops in it, for a paltry ride of 8 miles in 58 minutes. And I drove by the Marsh Park route after my ride, just to check, and saw that the boardwalk is still all torn up.
Monday, August 3, 2015
78th ride - 8/3/2015
This morning's ride was somewhat frustrating. I headed off full of energy and planning to do three round trips to Marsh Park. But as I was riding on the path along Textile Rd., headed east and up toward State Rd., when I came to the boardwalk where it crosses a wetland area, it was taped off - but no work was visible. They must have been preparing to do some work. I gave very brief thought to going to the road and circumventing this blockage, but quickly rejected that option, and headed back west on the trail. I added a few miles by heading south toward Saline for a little bit before returning home and totaling a ride of 10.3 miles in 1 hour and 13 minutes. And I consoled myself slightly that, since Michelle and I are going to dinner this evening at the home of our friend Bryce Babcock in Saline, and I am planning to ride to that (all on sidewalks), I'll get to add a little over 6 miles then.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Today I took a very rare day off from riding entirely. This morning, rather than my typical early ride, I decided to stay in to cuddle with Michelle, figuring I'd ride late afternoon following the Tigers' game. And by that point, although my spirits were buoyed by a good game, it had gotten quite hot and I figured it would be OK to let it go this one time.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
77th ride - 8/1/2015
My longest ride so far was this morning (on the trike anyway—but back in 2013 when I was riding my regular bike a lot, on Saturday, June 8 I left at 5:50 a.m. and rode a round trip to Chelsea, for a 37.1-mile ride). I went out just past 7:00 and rode four consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, for a total of 33.5 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes.
This is part of a plan to build up my stamina for a special ride I want to do next spring with friends who have done it before. The Five Boro Bike Tour is a 40-mile ride that is held the first Sunday in May each year (since 1977), where they close off the streets of New York City to traffic, and 32,000 riders transit the five boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. My friends Eric and Mari Veenstra, who were part of our mission team to Haiti back in April, have done the Five Boro previously, and offered to take me out for it in 2016 (Sunday, May 1). So I've been gradually increasing my long rides—today was my first time of 4 round trips to Marsh Park, and my plan is to do five in September, which will be 41.5 miles and prove to me that I can do next spring's Five Boro Tour.
This is part of a plan to build up my stamina for a special ride I want to do next spring with friends who have done it before. The Five Boro Bike Tour is a 40-mile ride that is held the first Sunday in May each year (since 1977), where they close off the streets of New York City to traffic, and 32,000 riders transit the five boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. My friends Eric and Mari Veenstra, who were part of our mission team to Haiti back in April, have done the Five Boro previously, and offered to take me out for it in 2016 (Sunday, May 1). So I've been gradually increasing my long rides—today was my first time of 4 round trips to Marsh Park, and my plan is to do five in September, which will be 41.5 miles and prove to me that I can do next spring's Five Boro Tour.
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