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.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
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.
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.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
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.
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.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, January 1, 2016
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.
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.
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