40th ride of 2016 - Thursday, March 24, 2016

This morning, the weather did, indeed, permit me to ride outside, as I hoped. I rode in a cold (45 degrees) light rain. The rain was not particularly bothersome except for the way it rendered my glasses virtually useless. I'd take out my handkerchief and swab them, but within a couple of minutes they'd be obscured once more by fogging and water drops. Finally, for the last couple miles, I slid them down to the tip of my nose and peered over the top. This was NOT an ideal solution for one whose nearsightedness is as severe as mine, but it was quite feasible for an off-road ride on a route I know so well.

I decided to settle for a second straight day of doing consecutive round trips to Marsh Park. This decision was sealed during the second round trip when I awakened to the fact that spray from the trail had completely soaked my gloves and my hands were two blocks of ice. I did the 18.0 miles in an hour and 58 minutes, running my mileage for the year to over 462 miles (an average of less than 6 miles a day). This is a disconcerting total, but there have been an awful lot of days when I couldn't ride due to mechanical issues, weather, or our trip to Jamaica. I am hoping (?) that the bulk of such days for 2016 are now behind me.

39th ride of 2016 - Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Today the temperature has been falling all day. At 5 a.m. it was in the mid-fifties; when I left for my ride at 8:30, it was 43 degrees; and when I finished, at 10:30, it was 42. (Northern parts of Michigan are already getting some snow. Happy Spring! 😡 ) Accordingly, I shortened my ride and only did consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 18 miles in 1 hour and 58 minute.

38th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, March 22, 2016

After not having ridden since Friday, I was indescribably glad to be able to get out today. As I began my ride Saturday, a problem developed with the right front tire, as the tube worked its way out of the tire. I couldn't get a fixed that day, as Michelle was gone with the car, and Sunday the shops were closed. Yesterday I was able to get to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn, but by the time I got home it was late and my back hurt, so I let it go.

Today I rode three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 26.0 miles in just under 2 hours and 42 minutes. When I began, at 10:00 a.m., it was 42 degrees, but by the time I had finished, it had warmed up nicely, to 55.

I am always highly motivated by numbers, so today as I rode, I hatched a goal. I got my trike last May 2, and I thought it would be fun to see if I could make 1000 miles for the year by this May 2. I can't figure it out precisely, since my mileage records are on my laptop, which is in the shop being repaired. But I believe that today's ride puts me over 440 for the year so far, which means I need to average about 14 miles per day until then. At this time of year that should be quite doable (though it would have been a challenge in January or February.

Yesterday when I was at Jack's, one of the mechanics who is familiar with my frequent trips there, strolled by me, grinned a goofy grin, and (knowing I was there a tire issue), said, "HERE'S what you need!" And he pointed to a nearby model with big, fat tires. indicating a small box on it, he said, "Motorized, too!" I quickly typed out, " 'Motorized' wouldn't help me with my goal of weight loss." He screwed up his face as though he never would have considered this, and finally concluded, "You make a good point!"  😄

37th ride of 2016 - Friday, 3/18/2016

 Today, I was happy to be able to ride three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park. At the decision point, after two, I SO wanted to stop, but managed to push on, completing the 26.0 miles in a slow ride of a few seconds over 3 hours. A milestone, though, as the long ride allowed to eke over 400 miles for the year.

I also achieved a minor mechanical success. Yesterday I noticed that one of the bolts holding the rear rack on was gone. I managed to remove the corresponding one from the other side and take it to Lowe's. I got one with the right threading, but they were out of stock on the length I needed. I gambled with one just SLIGHTLY short, and it worked. Got it put back together today, and, though it hadn't affected performance any, this eliminated the irritating persistent rattle. 😋

36th ride of 2016 - Thursday, 3/17/2016

This morning, I was delighted to be able to ride again, since yesterday's problems with the laptop and with the flat tire on my trike meant that I couldn't. By the time I got the trike fixed, it was late afternoon and I was spent. Additionally, the high winds we experienced all day continued. (Strong steady winds with gusts of over 50 mph.)

Today I was challenged by both the continued high winds (24 mph) and by assembly of the trike. But I finally was able to go, and settled for one round trip to Marsh Park, doing the 10.0 miles in a slow time of 1 hour and 13 minutes. This was a good way to celebrate my 59th birthday on St. Patrick's Day, or, as I like to call it, St. Allen's Day. 😇

I hoped to tack on another this afternoon. But a full day of errands plus even higher winds meant I needed to surrender that hope.

35th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, March 15, 2016

This morning, with no rain, I was able to do the ride I had wanted to do yesterday, completing three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since October 22. My time for this 26-mile ride was a quite slow 2 hours and 55 minutes, but I know that it will improve as both the weather and I heat up. Today when I left, at 9:00 a.m., it was 48°, and when I finished, it had skyrocketed all the way up to 50°! With this temperature, under gray skies, both my light jacket and my gloves were welcome.

34th ride of 2016 - Monday, March 14, 2016

This morning I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park in less than ideal conditions. Leaving at 9:30, I rode much of the way in foggy conditions accompanied by a light rain. The rain was not problematic for riding, but it was highly irritating for a glasses wearer such as myself. Riding on the trail, it was not dangerous, but it was inexpressibly frustrating to be unable to see clearly.

I had wanted to do three round trips (for the first time since October 22, and could have pushed on to do it, as the rain had abated by late in my ride and we even experienced partial sunshine. But by that point, I was quite soaked and muddy, and had already made up my mind, so I stayed with that plan.

During the second time I was at the park, I was happy to see my friend Leighann Ayers, walking her dog Gracie. Thankfully, when she called out to me she also identified herself, because my distance vision is poor (even corrected), and I don't think I'd have known who it was.

My desire to do a longer ride today was inspired by a story I read last night in the Recumbent Trikes Group to which I belong on Facebook. A fellow member had left her home in Portland, Oregon in early September, and riding steadily, traversing Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, she had arrived yesterday in Key West, thus traversing the diagonal of mainland U.S. in about six and a half months. Doing very rough math in my head as I rode this morning (since I don't know exactly how far her ride was), I figured she had to average between 25 and 30 miles per day.

I'd love to do a similar long ride someday (though not necessarily from Oregon to Florida, or from Maine to California, for instance). So I figured if I wanted to make it even a possibility, one thing I clearly needed to do was to kick up my mileage. If I can make three round trips (26 miles) my usual standard (which I think is quite feasible), I'd be satisfied for now.

However, doing such a lengthy ride would mean confronting and answering a host of logistical questions. The biggest, of course, would be getting Michelle on board with this plan—she currently does not want me to ride on the roads, but I have hoped (and still do hope) that eventually, by establishing a track record of safety (so she no longer has to worry about calls from the hospital ER as she experienced back in 2013, when I kept falling off my bicycle), she may relent and allow me to do this. Other issues include, but are not limited to:

1) I have been unemployed since December 2014, making it feasible for me to devote considerable time to this pursuit. However, I am seeking work, and even though the most likely possibility is a transcription position that I could do remotely (online), this would not combine well with a lengthy cycling journey.

2) I need to investigate whether it is possible for me to generate electricity somehow from the pedaling, that could then be used to charge my laptop and my phone.

3) I'd have to figure out how and where to transport a small tent and sleeping bag, as well as figure out how and what to eat while traveling.

I'm sure there would be other issues, as well—these are just a few basics that have come to mind so far. And obviously, before attempting a major trip like this, I'd build up to it with shorter cross-country expeditions.

So ... we'll see.

33rd ride of 2016 - Saturday, March 12, 2016

This morning I did a ride I've been looking forward to for months now, but couldn't do during the snow and ice of winter, riding the round trip to Baker Rd. (Dexter), which I am able to accomplish entirely on walks and paths (thankfully). Riding in brilliant sunshine (45° when I began, at 9:45, and 56° when I finished), I allowed myself to wonder if, perhaps, the winter is finally done and spring is now here. This 20.3-mile ride took me 2 hours and 20 minutes.

32nd ride of 2016 - Friday, 3/11/2016

Today was mildly cooler than yesterday in terms of temperature (42° when I began, and 48° when I finished today), but worlds better in terms of overall weather. Whereas yesterday I had to ride in a light rain that left me muddy and soaked before long, today brought bright sunshine, and a definite feel of early spring.

I rode my loop down around Saline High School, and then went to Marsh Park, completing a ride of 14.8 miles in 1 hour and 43 minutes. Significantly, this pushed me past another milestone for the year, as I have now ridden 301.2 miles in 2016.

31st ride of 2016 - 3/10/2016

It was a gray, gloomy start to the morning, with light rain. But as the rain is supposed to intensify during the day, I decided it would be best to get my ride done early. (And anyway, I much prefer morning rides, though I haven't done one for several months.) So I went out at 8:45 and rode in the light rain, on a 54° morning.

Before I got halfway to Marsh Park, I was quite wet and muddy. I had hoped to do a longer ride, but under the conditions, I felt it would be more prudent to get home and get dry and warm and launder my clothes before proceeding on with my day. Therefore, I settled for another single round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

30th ride of 2016 - 3/9/2016

When I went out to ride at 1:00 p.m. today, it was 70°—a marked contrast from the 31° in which I rode last Friday! Despite the glorious warmth, though, I decided to ride only a single round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1 hour and 4 minutes. Two factors went into this decision. One was the healthy wind that was buffeting me at 15 mph with higher gusts. The second and more important factor, though, was the fact that I have been making good progress today on a new handbell arrangement today, and during the early part of the ride I got ideas of where I want to go with it from here, so I was eager to get back home and begin to work those out.

I did, however, experience the joy of figuring out the problem that bedeviled me yesterday. With the help of a suggestion from my friend Doug Tidd, I discovered that the front derailleur had not completely engaged one of the gears, but was kind of "in between" two of them, and this was causing the rattling of the chain that so unnerved me. With that taken care of, the noise was totally absent once more.

29th ride of 2016 - 3/8/2016

Another glorious day for a ride—68° and partly sunny. I had hoped, in fact, to take advantage of the weather by riding again today consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, which would have been my first back-to-back days of this route since December 22 and 23. But I was challenged by a mild mechanical 'adventure.' The chain was making an extremely loud rattling noise in the front, where it passes over the gear between the pedals. Because of this, I was concerned about pushing it too much, and so settled for my loop down around Saline High School, emboldened by the nice weather to venture off the familiar path I usually take. I completed this 10.3-mile loop in 1 hour and 6 minutes.

28th ride of 2016 - 3/7/2016

WOW—what a gorgeous day for a ride! When I went out at 1:00 to ride in bright 51° sunshine, it was almost t-shirt weather ... but not quite yet. My light jacket felt good against the wind, and the spray from all the melting snow. But by the time I finished, it was 58°! Tomorrow it's supposed to get over 60°, so I should easily be able to do another "longer" ride, barring mechanical problems.

Today I rode consecutive trips to Marsh Park for the first time since February 7, finishing the 18.0 miles in 1:49:20, which is a new record for me over that distance. Last summer and fall, such a ride would have been commonplace and rather easy for me, but now, after the ravages of the winter, I find it to be a challenge, and I will be rebuilding my stamina in coming weeks.

27th ride of 2016 - 3/4/2016

As I hadn't ridden outside since Monday, I was very eager to do so today, and glad to be able to as the weather cooperated. It was a bit nippy, but quite doable, and I've ridden in lots colder weather (18° back on January 20). When I set out today, at 1:00, it was 31° with a very mild wind (7 mph) bringing the wind-chill down to 25°. And the bright sunshine made the ride almost comfortable!

That soon changed, however, as the copious melted snow on the trail had soon soaked my gloves, and riding into that mild wind nearly froze my fingers off! I settled once more for a single round trip to Marsh Park, doing the 10 miles in 1 hour and 9 minutes.

Coming back was much more enjoyable, however, as the temperature had skyrocketed to 35°, and that mild wind went almost still (down to 3 mph). And they're calling for a high in the fifties on Monday, and 60° on Tuesday. Almost t-shirt weather! HA!

26th ride of 2016 - 2/29/2016

I tend to get things stuck in my head (passages of music, or verbal phrases) and then repeat them over and over. This is especially true while I'm riding, and today's fodder was a bit of doggerel from the childhood of my dad (b. 1907).

I am participating in a Monday morning men's small group at our church, and today we began a reading of the Gospel of Luke. A consideration of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) reminded me rhythmically of this poetic couplet I heard Dad recite many times, listing the names of the four youngest siblings in their large farm family, along with the name of the family pony:

Loyle, Evelyn, Dale, and Von—

Saddle up Old Major and we’ll ALL hop on!

At any rate, this has been churning through my thoughts all day, and with it I went out and fought the elements this afternoon. Waiting until 1:45, the temperature had gotten up to 46°, but a stiff wind (20 mph), which was, of course, a great pleasure to ride through, brought the wind-chill down to 39°. However, by the time I finished, it had climbed all the way to 49°! (I didn't, however, suffer heatstroke.)

Because of the wind, I allowed myself to be content with a single round trip to Marsh Park today, finishing the 10 miles in a slow time of 1 hour and 12 minutes.

25th ride of 2016 - 2/28/2016

Today's ride was a spectacular one, under glorious sunshine. When I began, at 1:00, it was 52°, and when I finished it was 54°. I wanted to take full advantage of the weather, and hoped to ride consecutive round trips to Marsh Park. But as I rode, I found myself eager to get home and begin to work out a new praise song that had begun germinating in my head during worship this morning. So, in the end, I gave in to that urge, and settled for a single round trip, completing the 10 miles in 1 hour and 4 minutes.

Also, in the warmth, the mountains of snow from the 8+ inches we got earlier in the week were disappearing rapidly, leaving portions of the ride quite wet. Even though I was nowhere unable to negotiate it, I returned home with my pants, coat, glasses, and the gloves I had fortunately thought to wear, quite soaked and muddy. It reminded me of a quotation from a letter by my favorite author, C.S. Lewis:

“I know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is not serious, provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking records, impatience etc. don't get the upper hand. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes in the airing cupboard. The only fatal think is to lose one’s temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.”

24th ride of 2016 - 2/27/2016

As I wanted variety today (inexplicably), I went down to ride in Stonebridge. That is the subdivision a little over a mile from us that Michelle recommended to me last spring when I began riding; it has a nice paved loop (almost two and a half miles), fairly flat terrain, and extremely light traffic. I did almost all my riding there for the first few weeks after I got my trike last May, but then I discovered the trail to Marsh Park, and switched almost exclusively to that.

I was thinking I'd try for a longer ride today, but even though the sunshine was bright and abundant, it was cold enough at 39° to dampen my enthusiasm, so in the end I settled for two loops—a total of 8 miles (with the trip down there and back) in a desultory one hour even.

23rd ride of 2016 - 2/26/2016

I did a good, full workout at LA Fitness today midday, so I wouldn't have had to ride outside. But, as I hadn't since Monday, due to weather, I wanted to, with our relatively mild weather in advance of this weekend's warmup (forties tomorrow, and possible fifties on Sunday). So I set off at 2:30 in 30° conditions (with a wind-chill of 22°), intending to ride my 'Figure 8' route, one which used to be my most frequent running route. This would have been 4.5 miles—pretty paltry compared to my 10-mile round trips to Marsh Park, but still acceptable to me in light of today's already completed session at LA Fitness.

However, today's ride was not adventure-free (though it was, thankfully, danger-free). In retrospect, I should have ridden the trail to Marsh Park instead. I got off to a good start, but when I reached Joe's Crab Shack, I came upon a lengthy stretch of uncleared sidewalk. After halting and pondering my options for a minute, I turned around in Joe's parking lot and headed back, figuring I could modify my route and still ride the majority of what I had intended. However, the sidewalk was less cleared than I had expected. At one point, near a Buddhist Tibetan Learning Center that Michelle and I pass while walking (called JewelHeart) I ran into a heavy patch of snow that stranded me, so that I had to unclip from the pedals, stand up, turn the trike around, and head it back to the clear portion. I was able to get out to the road for a short stretch, intending to get back onto the walk at Oak Valley and Ellsworth. But plowed up snow where the walk met the road made it impossible for me to get through, so I had to stay on the road for another short stretch, until I was able to get back up onto the sidewalk again. Fortunately, this all went smoothly, and I finished a challenging ride of 3.5 miles in 29 minutes.

22nd ride of 2016 - 2/22/2016

I had hoped to do another longer ride today, to give me two such consecutive days. However, as the temperature has fallen back to a more expected level for this time of year (38° for this afternoon's ride), I decided to stay with my self-imposed 40° threshold and just do a single round trip, completing the 10 miles under gray skies in 1 hour and 2 minutes.

The day did, however, provide one encouraging step ... I exceeded 200 miles for the year. And whereas it took me the entire month of January to make my first 100 miles, this one went by considerably faster, even with our vacation to Jamaica for 6 days.

21st ride of 2016 - 2/21/2016

Today I sailed along easily, going for distance but never really pushing myself for time. I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (for the first time since February 7), and was happy to see a time of 1:51:13 when I finished, as my record is 1:50:25.

It has cooled considerably from yesterday's astonishing 60° sunshine, and clouds have moved in as well. However, we are still experiencing unseasonable warmth for Michigan in late February: when I began today's ride, at just past noon, it was 43°, with a wind of 13 mph bringing the wind-chill down to 36. And when I finished, about  2:00, it had descended to 42*, with a 7 mph wind making the wind-chill 38.

The Lohr-Textile Greenway, the asphalt trail on which I do the vast majority of my riding, is marked by two boulders that bear plaques commemorating its two phases of construction. In my blog on Feb. 8, I included a picture of the second, but forgot to photograph the first on that day's ride. Here are the two - first the one I showed previously, that is on the south side of Textile Rd. roughly halfway between Lohr and State:

And then here is the first one, which is located on the east side of Lohr Rd., roughly halfway between Ellsworth and Textile. Its date is June 9, 2012, well before I began riding my trike, and about the time that my friend Doug was beginning to work me into riding a bike.

20th ride of 2016 - 2/20/2016

After not having been able to ride since Feb. 11, I was awfully glad to be able to get back into it today. Michelle and I were in Jamaica Feb. 13-18, and I'm also pleased that we seem to have been able to bring some of the warmth back with us (though not the beach). Here is what we had to endure, with a temperature around 80°.

Today the riding conditions were splendid—bright 60° sunshine (though with a healthy 22 mph wind), and, not wanting to waste the weather, I had hoped to do consecutive round trips to Marsh Park. However, as I was coming back from the park, it seemed to me that it would be more prudent to ease back into riding, so I settled for a single round trip, completing the 10 miles in an even hour (well, 5 seconds over).

19th ride of 2016 - 2/11/2016

Today was a wholly unsatisfactory day of riding, in terms of measuring myself against the standards which I like to meet. For one thing, the Polar Vortex, with which we became so uncomfortably familiar last winter, has returned, so even though I really really wanted to ride outside after not having done so since Monday, when I went out at noon it was 16° with a 2° wind-chill. Quite honestly, I was more than a bit nervous, or even afraid, of riding down to Marsh Park and maybe having mechanical trouble out in the brutal cold ... so I decided to stay in our complex and ride laps (each one is .47 mile).

I hoped to ride 21 loops for the equivalent of my 10-mile ride to Marsh Park, but fell short even of that. I kept it up for a while, but eventually caved in after 11 laps (5.2 miles), which I did in a slow time of 36:12. Better than nothing, I guess ... but not much.

18th ride of 2016 - 2/8/2016

When I went out at 1:20 to ride today, it was 40°, with a wind-chill of 35°. But by the time I finished, at almost 2:30, it had warmed all the way up to 41°!

I rode again my 10-mile route, of a round trip to Marsh Park with a concluding loop in our complex, completing it in a little under 1 hour and 3 minutes.

Along the asphalt trail I ride, the "Lohr-Textile Greenway," there are two large commemorative boulders placed, marking the two phases of construction on the project. I forgot today to photograph the first one, but this picture shows the second, located on the stretch along Textile Rd., roughly halfway between Lohr Rd. and State Rd. The date which it indicates, November 18, 2015, is one on which I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, in 55 minutes (this was before I began adding on the loop in our complex to make it 10 miles).

17th ride of 2016 - 2/7/2016

When we got home from church today, it was sunny and almost springlike, and I strongly considered packing up the trike and going to ride at Hudson Mills Park in Dexter, along the West River Trail into the village itself, as I did one time last June (a round trip of about 10 miles). But then I realized that today's temperature probably exceeded my self-imposed 40° threshold for doing more than one round trip to Marsh Park, and since the temperature is supposed to dip back down the next couple of days, I decided to take advantage of the 'warmth' and stay home to ride my familiar trail yet again.

So I ended up doing consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since December 23. Clouds moved in during the ride, and it was a challenge, but much more so mentally than physically—as I neared the turn-around point to start the second one, I had to really fight off the tendency to pack it in and tell myself than a 10-mile ride was good. And it would have been good, but I want to continue to grow and improve, so I'm glad I pushed myself to do that second one today. With the concluding loop in our complex, this gave me 18 miles, in a new record time (by about a minute) of 1:50:25. It was 41° when I started the ride, and 46° when I finished.

I find myself mildly dismayed to be at 'only' 158.4 miles over a month into the new year. But then, I remind myself of how fortunate I am to have been able to ride at all this winter, enjoying the mild conditions—and I remind myself, too, that it's 158.4 miles more than I had at this point in 2015!

16th ride of 2016 - 2/6/2016

Michelle is working the Solo & Ensemble Festival today (one of her responsibilities as a director.) After dropping her off at Pioneer High School early (7:00 a.m.) for that, and then coming home for a quiet morning of reading, I went out to ride at 11:30 in chilly, but nice, conditions—bright 32° sunshine with a wind-chill of 25° at the start, and by the time I finished it had warmed up slightly, to 34°, but the wind picked up a little, too, dropping the wind-chill to 24°. I rode my usual winter 10 miles, in 1 hour and 1 minute.

15th ride of 2016 - 2/5/2016

For those who have begun reading my blog more recently, and may not have seen my trike, here is a picture Michelle took of me on it at Hudson Mills Park in Dexter, on the day I bought it—Saturday, May 2, 2015.

This afternoon's ride was in lovely conditions that seemed almost springlike—bright 34° sunshine, with a wind-chill of 26° (only a very mild breeze). So, I didn't exactly sprint, but pushed myself along in a pretty good time of 1 hour and 3 minutes for my 10-mile ride.

14th ride of 2016 - 2/4/2016

Well, winter is clearly back. That much was quite evident from the gray gloomy skies under which I rode early this afternoon, with light snow and a temperature of 30° (wind-chill of 22).

The weather slowed me, as I did my 10 miles in 1 hour and 8 minutes. But despite the weather, it was a great joy to ride with my newly stabilized seat—the wobble that has plagued me since early last summer now entirely absent, due to this week's repairs. For that, I have to thank the capable help of Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn, as well as last week's diagnostic assistance of my friend Doug Tidd, who is the one that got me started riding, after all (back in 2012).

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

I had hoped to ride today, after getting my trike home from the dealer in Dearborn. However, by the time I got back to Ann Arbor, got Michelle, and we got home and I assembled the trike, it was quarter to six, darkness was quickly descending, and it was quite windy—all of these conditions combined to convince me to let it go for today, especially since I went to LA Fitness and worked out this morning.

However, the GREAT news is that, for the first time in many months, there is no more wobble to the seat! They put on a new seat clamp and a new seat frame, the old ones having become damaged by insufficient tightening early on when I had and wasn't yet sufficiently familiar with it, and it just continued to worsen over the months (I'd say, probably since last June). It seems awfully odd (but awfully nice) to have that wobble all gone now, and I'm really looking forward to my ride tomorrow.

13th ride of 2016 - 2/1/2016

When I went out at 1:00 today, the bright sunshine made for exquisite riding conditions. At 39°, with only a very mild breeze bringing the wind-chill down to 33°, early in the ride I was almost seduced into trying for a second round trip to Marsh Park, which I haven't done since December 23. But before I got even halfway to the park, I realized my fingertips were tingling, and decided it would be prudent to stick to the original plan, limited by my self-imposed 40° threshold.

Yesterday I decided not to ride due to rain most of the day ... and I didn't ride on Saturday because I was gone to the men's retreat from our church. So I was glad to get back on the ball today, even though I only did the single round trip to Marsh Park plus my usual concluding loop in our complex, for my customary winter ride of 10 miles, in 1 hour and 4 minutes.

12th ride of 2016 - 1/29/2016

Today's right was cool, at 25° (with a wind-chill of 15°). However, I reminded myself that I have ridden in significantly more extreme conditions.

The first part of the ride, the southward stretch along the trail on the east side of Lohr Road, was a challenge. Since I was riding directly into a blindingly brilliant sun, and the trail was quite wet from melted snow, I was soon soaked myself, and watched very carefully for pedestrians or other riders (of which I saw none). However, that same sunshine made the bulk of the ride very enjoyable, and allowed me to turn in my 10 miles (a round trip to Marsh Park plus the concluding loop in Heatherwood) in a respectable 1 hour and 1 minute.

Perhaps most significantly, today's ride pushed me over the 100-mile plateau ... the first of very many such milestones I hope to reach this year. It makes for a pretty weak month of January (especially when I compare it to my best month in 2015, October, when I rode 456.3 miles. But, considering the long stretch (two weeks) when I was laid up and couldn't ride at all this month because the trike was being repaired, I can't be overly disappointed.

11th ride of 2016 - 1/27/2016

I decided not to ride yesterday, as it was extremely raw and unpleasant—both cold and quite windy. I almost didn't go today, either; I was strongly planning on a trip to LA Fitness, and the flags I saw flying stiffly when I was out running errands this morning nearly sealed my decision. But in the end, I decided to ride, and I'm glad I did. It was 31°, with a snappy wind bringing the wind-chill down to 21°, and the air was unpleasantly humid ... but, I figured I've ridden in considerably worse conditions (just going from memory, I'm thinking the coldest day I've ridden so far was 18°), and I really didn't want to take off consecutive days.

I did my 10-mile route again (a round trip to Marsh Park, and a concluding loop in Heatherwood), in 1 hour and 7 minutes. And now I'm glad to be inside and warming up!

10th ride of 2016 - 1/25/2016

We have been unbelievably fortunate in terms weather this "winter." Today when I went out about 2:00 into the abundant sunshine to ride, I was almost tempted to try for two round trips to Marsh Park. However, then I remembered that yesterday I had decided that 40° would be my threshold for a longer ride, and it was 39° when I started my ride, so I held back.

It didn't take very long, though, riding into the southerly breeze that brought the wind-chill down below 35° to convince me that the shorter ride was a very wise decision for today. I did this 10-mile ride in an easy 1 hour and 9 minutes, trouble-free, and never pushing for speed except just a little bit in the last half-hour. And while I was riding, the clouds moved in, so that the "abundant sunshine" was only a pleasant memory by the time I finished.

9th ride of 2016 - 1/24/2016

When I got home from church today, I very briefly entertained the idea of riding two round trips to Marsh Park. But it didn't take too long of being out in 32° weather to disabuse me of that notion (even though I've done considerably colder rides). I think I decided to let 40° be my threshold for stepping it up to a longer ride.

I also had to contend with a dynamic which I've dealt with previously, but not in recent weeks. I came home after church today and began a praise song on one of the scripture texts we heard in worship, and made very good progress on it. The progress was so good, in fact, that I was tempted to skip riding in order to keep working on the song. But in the end, I felt that it was important to keep some balance in regard to this issue, so I should ride, and then come back home to compose.

Anyway, I was glad to be able to go, doing a single round trip to Marsh Park and the (now-obligatory) concluding loop in our complex, to give me 10 miles in 1 hour and 8 minutes.

8th ride of 2016 - 1/23/2016

I rode again this afternoon in cool conditions, though the 30° sunshine seemed almost balmy in light of some of the weather that has beset me recently! I was happy to ride once more a round trip to Marsh Park, with a concluding loop in our complex, giving me an even 10 miles in 1 hour and 6 minutes.

I hope I don't jinx myself by discussing this, but I was thinking while I rode about what improved success I have had with my tires since they both corrected the alignment and put on higher quality tires in late September. Prior to that, in the 5 months I had the trike, I had numerous flats and blowouts (4 or 5, I believe). But since that time, no problems (knock on wood) in about 970 miles.

7th ride of 2016 - 1/22/2016

Today was a very mild adventure day. To begin with, before setting out I wanted to tighten the seat clamp on my trike, as the seat has begun to just rock from side to side very slightly. But when I went to take the allen wrench out of the pocket on the seat in order to make this adjustment, the wrench wasn't there! (Ironic, given my name.) When I brought the trike home from the dealer early this week, I would have had to use the wrench to put it together, and I can't imagine where else it might be now. But anyway, since I cannot find one sufficiently big at Lowe's (I've looked in the past, to try to get a backup), I've emailed the manufacturer to ask them to send me one.

It is once more a chilly day (currently 28° at 3:45, with a wind-chill of 16°—if it were spring, I'd describe the breeze as "nice"), but I planned to ride my loop down around Saline High School (10.3 miles). However, I inadvertently took a wrong turn off Bicentennial Pkwy back in the subdivision between Textile Rd. and Saline, and when I discovered my error and turned around and retraced my route back home, it gave me a ride of 8.4 miles (a little below the 10-mile minimum I try to do) in an even hour. My toes, which are still warming, were grateful that I cut it short.

6th ride of 2016 - 1/21/2016

Though today was still plenty cold, it's 24° (with a 17° wind-chill) was perceptibly less bitter than yesterday's 18° with a 5° wind-chill. (Given the conditions, to say today is "warmer" wouldn't seem right, somehow.) I was happy to once more be able to ride a round-trip to Marsh Park, with the concluding loop in our complex, to give me 10 miles once again in a still-slow (but slightly faster than yesterday) time of 1 hour and 13 minutes.

Best of all, though, I am delighted to report that, since getting my trike back this week, I have had two consecutive "adventure-free" days (that is, absent of any mechanical problems). And I want to give a shout-out and a big thanks to the manufacturer, TerraTrike, and the dealer, Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn, for their patience and help with working through the various problems I've encountered.

5th ride of 2016 - 1/20/2016

Having been unable to ride for the last two weeks, with my trike out of commission, I am dismayed to find this is only my 5th ride of the year (20 days in!), and feel as if I have some ground to make up. But after picking up the trike from the dealer yesterday, and getting it reassembled upon returning home, I was happy to go out today and ride a round trip to Marsh Park, plus the concluding loop in our complex upon returning home, for a total of 10 miles in a slow ride of 1 hour and 18 minutes.

I will lay some of the fault for the slowness upon the conditions, however. When I went out, early this afternoon (having waited for the day's temperature to peak), it was 18°, and I was riding into the teeth of a (thankfully mild) breeze that brought the wind-chill down to 10°. (When I finished, however, it had climbed all the way to 19°.) There was also a light snow falling, in which it was very pretty to ride, but it also made me thankful to be riding on an asphalt trail with virtually no other traffic (I only saw two walkers the entire time I was out).

One of my friends likes to tease me about the 'adventures' I encounter all too frequently. Usually, but not exclusively, these are mechanical issues plaguing the trike ... sometimes something more significant in nature, and sometimes as pedestrian as a flat tire. But today, I was delighted that all such adventures were absent, and I had to deal with nothing other than the brisk cold, which stung both my toes and my cheeks, and left me thankful for my thick winter coat and heavy gloves.

January 19, 2016

Today was a momentous day for my riding. First the good — no, GREAT — news! After having had to take my trike back to Jack's in Dearborn on January 6 for repair, they finally called yesterday afternoon to say that it was ready for me to pick it up! The delay was because they needed my input. The frame was damaged (again, the second time this has happened), and they needed to know whether to send (under warranty) another Traveler frame, like the one I had, or a Rambler, which was the same except that it didn't fold. I took some time to think this issue over, but finally decided to stay with the Traveler. I had gotten it initially because of it being easier to transport, since it folds. However, the company had issued a Technical Bulletin (of which I was unaware) on YouTube, saying that the folding joints had to be handled properly or the frame could be damaged as mine had been (twice). However, now being aware of it, I intend to focus my attention on proper care of this.

The unfortunate news (however, fairly minor) is that I had wanted to do a short ride this afternoon, and the sunshine seemed to make this feasible. However, when I got back from Dearborn, I was challenged in reassembling the trike, both by a bad back, and by recalcitrant parts, and ended up having to sit on the cement driveway (in 21° sunshine) for a good portion of the work, which ended up taking me nearly an hour in total. By the time I finally got it all done, I found that it had robbed me of my gumption (a word I learned from one of my favorite books, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which means "shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness"), and I was happy to throw in the towel and wait for tomorrow. This seemed more palatable because I had gone to LA Fitness this morning and done a full workout "just in case," and it also enabled me to come inside and host the furnace repairman from Koch and White. Our igniter burned out last night, and the weather we are experiencing right now does not, of course, go well with a dysfunctional furnace. Anyway, the trike is back, and fully assembled and ready to go tomorrow!

4th ride of 2016 - 1/5/2016

Today's ride ended with (mild) adventure. Riding on a 24° morning, at least I did not have to worry about heatstroke! It was made feasible by the near total absence of wind, and bright cheerful sunshine.

It brought to mind a piece I heard the St. Olaf Choir sing during my freshman year at the college (1975–76), and even though it was 40 years ago, I still remember the crisp bounce of its 5/8 rhythm, and the cheerful text (which I think begins, "Sing to the world, the Lord is now come, on this, a winter morning"). I have not my son John's gift of perfect pitch (which he inherits from his mother), or I could identify its key as well.

A little over a half mile from home, having ridden a round trip to Marsh Park, I was crossing a road and going back up onto the sidewalk, when I heard a CRACK, and the trike canted slightly to the right. I thought it was something in the fastening of the seat that had given way ... but this proved not to be the case. I got back to our complex OK, and was riding my concluding loop within it, when, about halfway around, the front wheel clamp (that holds the "outrigger" into position) gave way, and I collapsed to the ground. I was able to find the clamp with no trouble, and pull the trike back around to our garage, but it will mean a trip back to Jack's Bicycle in Dearborn tomorrow for repair. I am grateful to God, though, that this happened when I was so close to home.

So, at any rate, the slightly truncated ride meant that I did 9.8 miles, in a slow 1 hour and 8 minutes.

3rd ride of 2016 - 1/3/2016

Early this afternoon, I watched the Detroit Lions' final game of the season. After playing the first half of the season with a desultory 1-7 record, they finished much stronger, at 6-2 for the second half, but still, their disappointing 7-9 record (after last year's 11-5) leaves them out of the postseason.

Then, however, I went out in the 29° gray gloom of the late afternoon and rode a round trip to Marsh Park, with the concluding loop in Heatherwood to give me 10 miles for the day, in 1 hour and 6 minutes.

About three quarters of the way through the ride, I thought I passed my friend Carole Franklin. But her silent wave, coupled with my very poor distance vision, left me less than 100% certain that it was her.

2nd ride of 2016 - 1/2/2016

Fortunately for me, my need/desire for variety in my activities is exceptionally low. Thus, I am good with riding the trail to Marsh Park day after day. But today was one of those rare times when I wanted something different, and so I went out at 8:30 and rode (in 30° weather, 21° wind-chill) a running route I used to do frequently (except that today, riding, I stayed on sidewalks the entire way, honoring my vow to Michelle not to ride on the road).

I called this route the Church 10K, because it goes by my former church, Westminster Presbyterian, and I had measured it out at 10K (or 10 kilometers = 6.2 miles), a common distance for running road races. Today, though, I just rode it in a leisurely fashion, "enjoying" (?) the morning coolness and not pushing for time at any point, finishing the 6.2 miles in a sluggish 47 minutes.

1st ride of 2016 - 1/1/2016

I was glad to get 2016 off to a good start this morning with a healthy (though modest) ride, going 10 miles via a round trip to Marsh Park with a concluding loop in our complex. My time was slow, at 1 hour 11 minutes, but at least I got it done.

It was a brisk ride, at 26°, heading out into a WSW wind of 15 mph that brought the wind-chill down to 14°. There were also light flurries coming down, so that it felt somewhat like riding in a snow globe.