March out like a Lion?

Well so much for the date with Eleanor today.. Wake to snow and rain and cold temps again. March came on like a lamb this year, but its starting to look like a loin going to lead us out of March. I’m hoping this year will lead to long miles and maybe rides with some old friends and make new friends alone the way. Work again will be taking up most of my time again. Long hours and lots of overtime again… But I’m not going to let that get in my way. Even if I have to only get to ride of a 1/2 hour after work. That will be the plan. I know some of you are asking why not commute to work. Will with all the expansion work and 2000 plus cars everyday come and going in the morning… The odds are more than stacked against me. I don’t like the smell of road kill when I ride past it, and I sure feel like become road kill. Beside commuting to work is time well spent on the Harley, either way 2 wheels and wind in my face. Dad is all ready miles ridden ahead of me again this year. guess that is what happens when everyday is Saturday… I only wish to be 70 and ride 30-40 miles a day, that and walk with your friends 2-3 mile at the local mall.

Its Spring

Well its time for Eleanor and I to become very close again. We road yesterday for about 10 miles, just a short break-in ride. Weather look like yesterday and today will be the only days good to get out. Tonight though Sunday they are say that nasty 4 letter word again… SNOW… yuck! I’m just glade my loving wife does not mind me having a Mistress… Yes Eleanor is my Mistress, We go in long rides and I can really clear my head and spend good time chatting with God and sing alone to my I-pod or listen to the FM radio in my Chocolate touch Cell phone with awesome songs ring in my ears.

Yesterday ride

Just setting her recovering from today little jaunt.  I best my last time for this route.  last week I rode 35 miles in 2 hrs 59 minutes.  4 miles of the ride is on the road from my house to the rail trail I like you a while back.  Today my legs felt heavy and tired and I really did not want to go… But I pulled on and went for it.  I rode the 35 mile route again, but this time I cut the last 4 miles out due to traffic and wanting to live… So I ended up riding 31 mile in 2 hr. 8 minutes.  My average speed was 14.2 mile pre hour, and max on was 23.4 mph. Heading out I had 10 mph head winds. So that made the trek back nice. I was about 8 miles out and was able to hook on rear wheel of the roadie… OMG, he looked back and asked you read to roll…. I thought I was. well he pulled me for 2 miles at 22 mph.  Now I do not mind going fast and I know 22 mph is not that fast…. but for me with 250ish mile under my belt… That was cranking butt… I had to move the seat forward and lay it back a little bit more.  I guess the swelling is going away a little bit and I’m getting more Bent..  So right now… I setting in the chair with really rubbery legs…  Man I love this ride.

200 mile club… ?

Well I have been back out on the road again. Eleanor has now broken the 200 mile club. Yea I know that not very many miles. But I ride when I can… last weeks ride was great. I took off from the house and head towards the Chippewa Nature Center trail; (Chippewa Trail: Walk, bike or in-line skate to downtown Midland on this 3.5 mile, non-motorized paved pathway. Interpretive stops along the route tell the exciting story of this unique landscape. This is the only Chippewa Nature Center trail where bikes are allowed.) This is a 3.5 mile trail that links up to the Pere Marquette rail trail. The ride to the trail is about 6 miles. Once on the trial you wind through several curves, up small grades and down. Cross over two roads about 1 mile apart and the trail cross over to creeks that are more like over flows for the Lilly pad cover ponds you ride past. It’s not a fast trail, but you can get a good pace going and the twist and turns make it fun. On the way to the rail trail you come out behind the softball diamonds and Frisbee Golf Park. Then it’s the Tridge, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tridge from here is go west young man to Sanford, Coleman or Clare if you feel like the ride. But two the ride was only 44 miles. I made it to Sanford and on the way though I call my Dad for the return trip back home. I road a few more mile towards Coleman and then turned back to head home. Dad was waiting for me near one of the well place rest rooms alone the trail. From there we road back to Midland and on out to the Chippewa Nature Center Trail head. On the way back we past several other bike, roller blader’s, runners and walkers on the trail. My legs are starting to get bent. A term that I had no idea what anybody was talking about until I started riding a recumbent? Because there are muscles that you use in your legs to ride a recumbent I had not idea were even in my legs. On Dad on the other hand knew what it meant to have your legs Bent…. Dad and I make it back to the trail head. I’m feeling good in my ride. By the time I get home I will have road 44 mile this day. Dad tells me “Not bad for a yea kid”, from there Dad turns his Bent around head back home, and he rides away he yells back this was his second ride of the day. I call him when I get home. Dad had already ridden 20 mile that morning, Went to Mall and walked with his friends for 3 miles and now he just road close to 23 mile with me… Not to bad for a 69 year old.

First thoughts….. of Eleanor

Eleanor

Well one pm this afternoon I get out of bed after a long night working mids.  I want to sleep longer but I know what I have been waiting for, it has been a long 3 weeks since I put down the cash for my Eleanor… (Yes I gave her a name.)   I have not been riding bikes now for 6 years.  Every since I had to have the ankle operated on.. So today I head to the bike shop…. I walk in and I can hear her calling my name., she saying lets go out and find a nice streach of road and explore it together.  So the shop and I get the seat and bars all set and take her out to the truck…  I get home and unload Eleanor, my youngest looks at her laughs… “DAD you have a kick stand on that bike…!”  I tell her this is no  bike… this is Eleanor. She rolls her eye and say WHAT EVER! Back ground… non of my other bike had kick stands.  Too much weight.. and they look ugly….

So I get home and get my old racing gear….  Oh my someone has put in the dryer and it has shrunk up a little…  (Hey its my story! I’m going with it) I get the bike out seat down, and look out at the long frame.  WOW.   Red Simpson’s song comes to mind.. Give Me Forty Acres.

Man is this a long bike.  I set the crank and push off  and we are away.  The first 3 miles was stop and go… Eleanor did not like the way I was hold her. So I stopped and adjusted the handle bars.  Then I’m back off  and riding.  First impressions, Man this a very smooth ride… Legs are a little bit sore, But that comes from not riding for all those years.  I find starting out at the lower speeds she is a little bit wobble.  But as you pick up speed  she settles right in and picks up speed quit well.  I do not know how fast I going as I have not added a cycle computer.. yet.  I ride out 7.5 mile before turning around.  Once I make the turn I start the short ride home… I find the my neck, back and shoulder are not hurting, my legs are still there. Hmmm I think I can get used to this…. ON the ride back it was more pleasure then I have ever enjoyed riding….  I’m setting up right and can see all around me…  bady rabbits feeding on the side of the trail…  Oh I did not mention 2.5 miles was on the road, then we switched over to a paved nature trail.  several deer are in the field eating in the tall grass, 2 young raccoons get scared and run up a tree as I go by.  On the trail there is a couple of small down hill runs on the way back…. We hit the top of them cranking hard, as we come over the top.. It like Eleanor say set back and take a break…. Let me show you what I can do… and she does WOW 150 yard down hill on a 5% grade… she gives me a little taste of what is to come, SPEED.   So we head back on the road again and start back for home.. I turn into a west head wind.  It’s only blowing about 5 mph.  I look ahead.. and see a roadie… evil grin comes across my face.  “Eleanor, what do you think,  can we catch them?”  I think so..  They are only 1/2 mile ahead of us..  We take off , the game is on.  Big ring and second to the bottom cog of the 9 speed.  We started to gain on them when the roadie looks back… “Eleanor he see’s us”  I think… Out of the saddle, he is up and sprinting, and I start to pick up my rpm’s on the crack set.  Then with out warning the roadie turns south at the intersection… “Lucky for him Eleanor…” I think, we was gaining on him… will at least I think I was gaining…..   The rest of the ride home was back to a slow pace and enjoying the view.  What a peaceful ride…   I park Eleanor in her new home whipe off what ever road dust collected and head inside… Legs a burning and 3 steps into the house feel like I’m climbing Mt. Everst…
LIFE IS GOOD…   Now where to tomorrow?

Recumbent riding

Well I setting here wishing my recumbent was in.  I ordered it on June 26th from a local shop and only half of the bike came in… I’m still waiting on the wheels/rims set and seat.  I did get to see the frame set, and wow that is one nice bike the color is Champagne. It more of a gray with lots of silver metrical flack in the paint.   Many wonder why a recumbent, well I have been riding bikes for many years. I used to race mountain bikes and I trained on a road bike. I messed up my left ankle and had to have surgery on it. Well this took me out of riding for quit a while.  I try to ride now and D.F. = Diamond Frames  or upright bikes just plan hurt my ankle to ride and not to mention… I lost my cycling butt, my arms,  shoulders and wrist just do not like the DF frames any more… Most call Recumbent bikes,  old men bikes.  Well may be they are. But they do tend to make riding long mile very easy… They are faster then DF bikes, epically on down hills.  A Friend once told me that recumbent have lots of stored potential gravitational energy on down hills.   in other words MASS and Gravity with low wind resistance….   My Dad has been riding a recumbent for 4-5 years now. He is retired and at 69 years old… it is nothing for him to ride 70 miles for a fun ride.  When I was on my DF, 70 miles was a huge work out.

So, now I want to get good miles in… Since I have quit riding I have gained weight, become diabetic (type II) and all around out of shape.  I’m hope to use this site as way to track myself and for my friends to see where I’m at with riding.  I have never ridden a century (100 miles) on a bike yet. The best I have ever ridden was on the Mt. Bike.  A friend and I road 89 miles 60% of that ride was off road and I was about 8 years younger and I a lot better shape then I am in now.  One day I want to ride to our cabin on Houghton Lake, ride the DELMAC and Make a Wish.  So the challenge has been set before me…

Stop back and see what and where I have gone off to… I hope to have picture of my rides….

Jeff

RANS Stratus XP

Well still waiting for my Recumbent to arrive. I ordered it and half of it came in.. the frame. The wheel set and seat will its still out there some place in the world… Dad picked up his SXP last week loves the ride.. until he whipped out and picked up from butt fruit… (Raspberry’s) He is OK just hurt the pride.

Welcome to the bent Blog

HEY all who has found this site welcome to the MADNESS of me…