2018 mileage: 1800.2
Michelle and I planned to leave at 10 a.m. today to go visit her parents, so I rode early. But when I got home, she was flat on her back with vertigo -- sadly, a not-uncommon ailment for her.
At any rate, I was glad to get in a good ride. And I had checked my mileage just before leaving, so I knew right where I stood, and what I needed to reach the new mileage milestone. I rode a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.) for the second consecutive day, and tacked on just a little extra riding at the end to make this mileage goal. The ride of 19.5 miles took me 2:53, beginning shortly before sunrise in 60° pale light, and finishing at 70°, with the day well advanced
Another statistic also delighted me. I suppose it is sort of cheating, in a way, to check my weight right after a long ride, but nevertheless, I did climb onto the scale before hopping into the shower and was tickled to see my weight the lowest it's been since last October.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
60th ride of 2018 - Monday, 7/30/2018
2018 mileage: 1780.7
This morning I composed hard, and was very productive. Then I took a nap, planning to ride mid-afternoon (since the forecast was for tolerable temperatures). When I started, at 3:15, it was 79°, and that held throughout my ride.
I did a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), completing the 19.4 miles in 2:33. This was not a great time, but it was tolerable, given the very slow start I got off to. LAO, RHW QWrhwe did impact me. This may have been expected, but I didn't know of it, so it caught me by surprise. But on a significant stretch of Jackson Rd., outbound (from Maple to Zeeb), I rode through heavy rain, with big, fat drops pelting me. But once that passed, I dried off (sort of), and the rest of the ride was quite enjoyable.
I passed a milestone of sort today, also, exceeding 200 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
This morning I composed hard, and was very productive. Then I took a nap, planning to ride mid-afternoon (since the forecast was for tolerable temperatures). When I started, at 3:15, it was 79°, and that held throughout my ride.
I did a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), completing the 19.4 miles in 2:33. This was not a great time, but it was tolerable, given the very slow start I got off to. LAO, RHW QWrhwe did impact me. This may have been expected, but I didn't know of it, so it caught me by surprise. But on a significant stretch of Jackson Rd., outbound (from Maple to Zeeb), I rode through heavy rain, with big, fat drops pelting me. But once that passed, I dried off (sort of), and the rest of the ride was quite enjoyable.
I passed a milestone of sort today, also, exceeding 200 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
59th ride of 2018 - Sunday, 7/29/2018
2018 mileage: 1761.3
Today I got myself up and out the door just past 6:30, and rode in superb conditions—calm, pale, 61° sunlight. Despite that, however, I decided to settle for a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding 10.1 miles in 1:22. I wrestled long and hard with myself over whether to do a second round trip, but in the end I decided to keep it shorter so that I could devote more time to composition.
The accident that so transformed my life occurred on May 22, 1993. In the hours immediately after it, while I lay in coma, the doctors told Michelle that she should know there was a strong chance I would not survive the night. Because of this, we now observe May 22 as Life Day.
When I posted about this on Facebook this past spring, a friend (Peter Moberg) who is a fellow alumnus of St. Olaf College, and sang in the St. Olaf Choir with me, playfully remarked, "Life Day would be a great title for a musical composition! Know anyone who writes music?" And since I'm working at trying to rebuild my piano performance abilities, and also find great joy and satisfaction in playing in our church's handbell choir (The Rings of the Lord), I am writing it for piano and handbells.
Also, over a decade about I bought a large Time-Life multi-CD set of recordings of Christian contemporary music called Songs4Worship. I put them all into the iTunes library on my laptop, and on my iPod, and usually listen to them when I work out at LA Fitness early on Sunday mornings. But during this time of year when I'm able to ride outside, I carry my phone with me, and can listen to music on Spotify. I have discovered that most of the songs are commercially available and can thus be searched for on Spotify and added to the Songs4Worship playlist I've created there. So this morning I listened to that.
Finally, in light of the damage I did to the pouch my friend Len gave me a few months back to hang about my neck and carry my phone, I picked up a new one on Amazon (for a whopping $4.99) and so will be able to move Len's into a backup role. Used the new one this morning for the first time.
Today I got myself up and out the door just past 6:30, and rode in superb conditions—calm, pale, 61° sunlight. Despite that, however, I decided to settle for a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding 10.1 miles in 1:22. I wrestled long and hard with myself over whether to do a second round trip, but in the end I decided to keep it shorter so that I could devote more time to composition.
The accident that so transformed my life occurred on May 22, 1993. In the hours immediately after it, while I lay in coma, the doctors told Michelle that she should know there was a strong chance I would not survive the night. Because of this, we now observe May 22 as Life Day.
When I posted about this on Facebook this past spring, a friend (Peter Moberg) who is a fellow alumnus of St. Olaf College, and sang in the St. Olaf Choir with me, playfully remarked, "Life Day would be a great title for a musical composition! Know anyone who writes music?" And since I'm working at trying to rebuild my piano performance abilities, and also find great joy and satisfaction in playing in our church's handbell choir (The Rings of the Lord), I am writing it for piano and handbells.
Also, over a decade about I bought a large Time-Life multi-CD set of recordings of Christian contemporary music called Songs4Worship. I put them all into the iTunes library on my laptop, and on my iPod, and usually listen to them when I work out at LA Fitness early on Sunday mornings. But during this time of year when I'm able to ride outside, I carry my phone with me, and can listen to music on Spotify. I have discovered that most of the songs are commercially available and can thus be searched for on Spotify and added to the Songs4Worship playlist I've created there. So this morning I listened to that.
Finally, in light of the damage I did to the pouch my friend Len gave me a few months back to hang about my neck and carry my phone, I picked up a new one on Amazon (for a whopping $4.99) and so will be able to move Len's into a backup role. Used the new one this morning for the first time.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
58th ride of 2018 - Saturday, 7/28/2018
2018 mileage: 1751.2
This morning I got myself out the door a few minutes before 7:00 (after having given Winnie a good brisk walk), and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18.5 miles in 2:24. The weather was, however, unusual. I began in pale clear sunlight, at 56°. During the middle of the ride, heavy, thick cloud cover moved in, and I wondered if I was going to have to dodge rain showers, though none had been forecast. But then the clouds cleared back out again, so that on the return trip from the park the last time, I experienced unbroken blue skies (as shown in the photo below), and I finished at 66°.
This morning I got myself out the door a few minutes before 7:00 (after having given Winnie a good brisk walk), and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18.5 miles in 2:24. The weather was, however, unusual. I began in pale clear sunlight, at 56°. During the middle of the ride, heavy, thick cloud cover moved in, and I wondered if I was going to have to dodge rain showers, though none had been forecast. But then the clouds cleared back out again, so that on the return trip from the park the last time, I experienced unbroken blue skies (as shown in the photo below), and I finished at 66°.
Friday, July 27, 2018
57th ride of 2018 - Friday, 7/27/2018
2018 mileage: 1732.7
When I wrote up my entry for yesterday's ride, I forgot to mention an enjoyable incident. As I was in the last couple of miles of my ride, heading north on the trail towards Ellsworth Rd., I passed my friends Tom and Doris Granum, heading in the other direction, back towards their home. We exchanged smiles and waves—but, sadly, this will not be a possibility for too much longer.
My son John and their daughter Meg were close friends at St. Olaf College a decade ago, both in the St. Olaf Choir. Tom and Doris are both highly musical. But after living the majority of their lives in Georgia, they moved to Ann Arbor a few years ago, for Tom to assume the position of Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, a large church quite close to the University campus.
A couple of weeks ago, however, I learned that they are going to be moving again next month, back to their native Georgia, as Tom will accept the organist/choirmaster position at a large Methodist church in Macon, Georgia. I am happy for them, though sad for myself—their friendship has been an enjoyable part of my Ann Arbor experience, and I thought of them frequently as my rides to Marsh Park take me by their house.
Today, I strongly intended to ride two round trips to the park. I left relatively early (7:15), after walking Winnie, hoping to beat the rain that was forecast to move in by mid-morning. Just after I turned around to begin my second round trip, a light rain began falling. I pedaled on for a couple of minutes, while mulling it over (a favorite phrase of my Dad's), but then decided to press on, as a light rain was certainly not about to melt me. Shortly after that, though, I heard the rumble of thunder, and that was all the persuasion I needed to cut my ride short. So I wheeled around and hightailed it home, for a total ride of 12 miles in 1:31.
Today's ride had an enjoyable moment, as well. Starting out, about two miles into the ride, I was headed south on the trail, coming to St. James Blvd., when a big whitetail deer bounded across the road ahead of me, traveling from east to west! I would have loved to stop, dig out my phone, and snap a picture of it, but (oh deer! 😆) it was much too quick for me.
When I wrote up my entry for yesterday's ride, I forgot to mention an enjoyable incident. As I was in the last couple of miles of my ride, heading north on the trail towards Ellsworth Rd., I passed my friends Tom and Doris Granum, heading in the other direction, back towards their home. We exchanged smiles and waves—but, sadly, this will not be a possibility for too much longer.
My son John and their daughter Meg were close friends at St. Olaf College a decade ago, both in the St. Olaf Choir. Tom and Doris are both highly musical. But after living the majority of their lives in Georgia, they moved to Ann Arbor a few years ago, for Tom to assume the position of Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, a large church quite close to the University campus.
A couple of weeks ago, however, I learned that they are going to be moving again next month, back to their native Georgia, as Tom will accept the organist/choirmaster position at a large Methodist church in Macon, Georgia. I am happy for them, though sad for myself—their friendship has been an enjoyable part of my Ann Arbor experience, and I thought of them frequently as my rides to Marsh Park take me by their house.
Today, I strongly intended to ride two round trips to the park. I left relatively early (7:15), after walking Winnie, hoping to beat the rain that was forecast to move in by mid-morning. Just after I turned around to begin my second round trip, a light rain began falling. I pedaled on for a couple of minutes, while mulling it over (a favorite phrase of my Dad's), but then decided to press on, as a light rain was certainly not about to melt me. Shortly after that, though, I heard the rumble of thunder, and that was all the persuasion I needed to cut my ride short. So I wheeled around and hightailed it home, for a total ride of 12 miles in 1:31.
Today's ride had an enjoyable moment, as well. Starting out, about two miles into the ride, I was headed south on the trail, coming to St. James Blvd., when a big whitetail deer bounded across the road ahead of me, traveling from east to west! I would have loved to stop, dig out my phone, and snap a picture of it, but (oh deer! 😆) it was much too quick for me.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
56th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 7/26/2018
2018 mileage: 1720.7
During this morning's ride, a minor calamity befell me. I track my rides with an app called MapMyRide on my iPhone, and I carry it in a cloth neck pouch given to me a couple years ago by my good friend Len Gajda after I had expressed to him a need for a similar item. It's ideal for my purposes—but today, when I got off for a brief break at the park, my typical clumsiness rose to the surface, and when I sat back down on the trike to leave, the dangling pouch caught on a part of the trike, and the cord that loops around my neck ripped free from its attachment on one side of the pouch.
Now I was left with a good cord, still firmly attached to one side of the pouch, but unattached on the other so that I could not wear it. After scratching my head for a moment, I came up with a solution, and took out my keys and used one of them to punch a small hole through the side of the pouch to which I needed to attach the cord. Then, resurrecting one of the knots I had learned in Boy Scouts a mere 50 years ago, I was able to tie it successfully, so that I could wear it for the remainder of the ride. This picture, taken after I got home, shows my inelegant solution.
I was particularly focused on the use of my phone this morning, because when I was up in the night (as I always am), I was haunted by Michael Buble's version of the song You Make Me Feel So Young, and I listened to it on repeat over Spotify for the first half-hour of my ride (down to the park). Here it is:
So, given my equipment problems, and the fact that clouds moved in, threatening the rain that was forecast for this morning, and blocking the bright sunshine with which I had begun my ride (just past 7:00, at 64*), I elected to accept only a single round trip to Marsh Park today, finishing the 10.2 miles in a slow time of 1:20.
The weather did have one nice feature, however. Just after I had turned back from the park, the precipitation moving in from the southwest revealed a faint rainbow on the horizon in that direction.
During this morning's ride, a minor calamity befell me. I track my rides with an app called MapMyRide on my iPhone, and I carry it in a cloth neck pouch given to me a couple years ago by my good friend Len Gajda after I had expressed to him a need for a similar item. It's ideal for my purposes—but today, when I got off for a brief break at the park, my typical clumsiness rose to the surface, and when I sat back down on the trike to leave, the dangling pouch caught on a part of the trike, and the cord that loops around my neck ripped free from its attachment on one side of the pouch.
Now I was left with a good cord, still firmly attached to one side of the pouch, but unattached on the other so that I could not wear it. After scratching my head for a moment, I came up with a solution, and took out my keys and used one of them to punch a small hole through the side of the pouch to which I needed to attach the cord. Then, resurrecting one of the knots I had learned in Boy Scouts a mere 50 years ago, I was able to tie it successfully, so that I could wear it for the remainder of the ride. This picture, taken after I got home, shows my inelegant solution.
I was particularly focused on the use of my phone this morning, because when I was up in the night (as I always am), I was haunted by Michael Buble's version of the song You Make Me Feel So Young, and I listened to it on repeat over Spotify for the first half-hour of my ride (down to the park). Here it is:
So, given my equipment problems, and the fact that clouds moved in, threatening the rain that was forecast for this morning, and blocking the bright sunshine with which I had begun my ride (just past 7:00, at 64*), I elected to accept only a single round trip to Marsh Park today, finishing the 10.2 miles in a slow time of 1:20.
The weather did have one nice feature, however. Just after I had turned back from the park, the precipitation moving in from the southwest revealed a faint rainbow on the horizon in that direction.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
55th ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 7/25/2018
2018 mileage: 1710.5
Today I went up to Kensington Metropark (one of the real jewels in Michigan's park system, up by Brighton, some 30 miles north and very slightly west of us) to ride with a former student, Tonia, and her spouse, Eva.
Kensington has a lovely paved bike trail that encircles Kent Lake, and I had hoped to do multiple loops of it. But I had only ridden it once before (a couple of years ago, with my friend Kahle), and had forgotten how extremely hilly it is. These hills no doubt did good things for my legs, but they beat me down psychologically so that I stopped after only one lap, completing a ride of 8.8 miles in 1:09. (Tonia noted, accurately, just before we began, "OK—here goes eight and a half miles of hills!") I hope we can repeat the experience, and next time, I'll go into it a little better prepared mentally.
Today I went up to Kensington Metropark (one of the real jewels in Michigan's park system, up by Brighton, some 30 miles north and very slightly west of us) to ride with a former student, Tonia, and her spouse, Eva.
Kensington has a lovely paved bike trail that encircles Kent Lake, and I had hoped to do multiple loops of it. But I had only ridden it once before (a couple of years ago, with my friend Kahle), and had forgotten how extremely hilly it is. These hills no doubt did good things for my legs, but they beat me down psychologically so that I stopped after only one lap, completing a ride of 8.8 miles in 1:09. (Tonia noted, accurately, just before we began, "OK—here goes eight and a half miles of hills!") I hope we can repeat the experience, and next time, I'll go into it a little better prepared mentally.
Eva took several pictures from behind of us riding —me wearing my bright yellow Visibility Vest, and Tonia in an orange shirt—(including one over her shoulder):
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
54th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 7/24/2018
2018 mileage: 1701.7
After taking Sunday as a rest day, and then not riding yesterday for no good reason—just plain laziness—I was glad to get back to it today, and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, doing the 18.7 miles in 2:25, and bumping myself over a new mileage milestone for the year, as well.
My daughter Christy and her kids (Izzy and Danny) are on a two-week road trip, and this week, while they're gone, we're dog sitting their adorable dog Winnie. This morning I got up early (about 6:00) to let Winnie out, and then take her for a half-mile walk around our complex before feeding her. This allowed me to begin my ride just a little past 7:00, and it was 67° (up to 74* when I finished).
Several months after my accident (during my extended hospitalization, May 22 - December 7, which made 1993 seem like a very odd year), one of my doctors told me, "You know, speech is a terribly complex phenomenon, involving the interworking of a number of the body's systems. And in your case, just about everything that can go wrong has gone wrong." I remember hearing this and thinking, "Gee, thanks, Doc!"
However, having lived intimately with my condition for over a quarter century now, even though I am not a (medical) doctor, I think I can identify breath dysfunction as the primary, root difficulty contributing to all the others. And this also explains the wheezy, raspy breathing I experience when I ride hard, pushing myself. It's a challenge at the time ... but on reflection, it seems to me that this challenge must be beneficial ... right?
After taking Sunday as a rest day, and then not riding yesterday for no good reason—just plain laziness—I was glad to get back to it today, and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, doing the 18.7 miles in 2:25, and bumping myself over a new mileage milestone for the year, as well.
My daughter Christy and her kids (Izzy and Danny) are on a two-week road trip, and this week, while they're gone, we're dog sitting their adorable dog Winnie. This morning I got up early (about 6:00) to let Winnie out, and then take her for a half-mile walk around our complex before feeding her. This allowed me to begin my ride just a little past 7:00, and it was 67° (up to 74* when I finished).
Several months after my accident (during my extended hospitalization, May 22 - December 7, which made 1993 seem like a very odd year), one of my doctors told me, "You know, speech is a terribly complex phenomenon, involving the interworking of a number of the body's systems. And in your case, just about everything that can go wrong has gone wrong." I remember hearing this and thinking, "Gee, thanks, Doc!"
However, having lived intimately with my condition for over a quarter century now, even though I am not a (medical) doctor, I think I can identify breath dysfunction as the primary, root difficulty contributing to all the others. And this also explains the wheezy, raspy breathing I experience when I ride hard, pushing myself. It's a challenge at the time ... but on reflection, it seems to me that this challenge must be beneficial ... right?
Saturday, July 21, 2018
53rd ride of 2018 - Saturday, 7/21/2018
2018 mileage: 1683.0
As I have not been able to ride outside since a week ago today, I was eager to do ao. Last Sunday I was busy preparing to leave on a trip, and took it as a rest day from riding±then Monday through Thursday, Michelle and I spent in the Upper Peninsula, at a cabin in Paradise (near Tahquamenon Falls). They were called "Lakeview Cabins," and here is the view we had of Lake Superior from our yard.
Yesterday's forecast was for rain all day, so I went to LA Fitness in the afternoon, even though I felt rather silly about it, as it was sunny when I left home, and sunny when I left there to return home, too. Last night, the hourly forecast for today looked as an outdoor ride was not in the cards, and I'd have to return to LA Fitness. However, by the time I woke this morning, the forecast had changed enough so that it looked as though I could ride.
I left at 8:15 in damp, cool (67°) conditions, and though I had hoped to do consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, the challenge of pushing through the thick, moist air convinced me to settle for one, and I did this 9.9-mile ride in 1:18.
As I have not been able to ride outside since a week ago today, I was eager to do ao. Last Sunday I was busy preparing to leave on a trip, and took it as a rest day from riding±then Monday through Thursday, Michelle and I spent in the Upper Peninsula, at a cabin in Paradise (near Tahquamenon Falls). They were called "Lakeview Cabins," and here is the view we had of Lake Superior from our yard.
Yesterday's forecast was for rain all day, so I went to LA Fitness in the afternoon, even though I felt rather silly about it, as it was sunny when I left home, and sunny when I left there to return home, too. Last night, the hourly forecast for today looked as an outdoor ride was not in the cards, and I'd have to return to LA Fitness. However, by the time I woke this morning, the forecast had changed enough so that it looked as though I could ride.
I left at 8:15 in damp, cool (67°) conditions, and though I had hoped to do consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, the challenge of pushing through the thick, moist air convinced me to settle for one, and I did this 9.9-mile ride in 1:18.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
52nd ride of 2018 - Saturday, 7/14/2018
2018 mileage:1661.1
I left this morning just past 6:00, with a deep reserve of resolve. And I put that resolve to work in riding three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since October 20, 2017. It was nice to just keep on spinning along, on a lovely morning -- clear, and calm, but not hot. When I began it was 68°, and by the time I finished it had climbed to 82*.
It was an additional blessing to see a friend, also. As I was in the home stretch of the last round trip, with about 2 miles left to go, I came upon my longtime friend and brother in the Lord, Doug Franklin, sauntering along on a healthy morning constitutional, several miles north of his Saline home.
I left this morning just past 6:00, with a deep reserve of resolve. And I put that resolve to work in riding three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since October 20, 2017. It was nice to just keep on spinning along, on a lovely morning -- clear, and calm, but not hot. When I began it was 68°, and by the time I finished it had climbed to 82*.
It was an additional blessing to see a friend, also. As I was in the home stretch of the last round trip, with about 2 miles left to go, I came upon my longtime friend and brother in the Lord, Doug Franklin, sauntering along on a healthy morning constitutional, several miles north of his Saline home.
Friday, July 13, 2018
51st ride of 2018 - Friday, 7/13/2018
2018 mileage:1634.2
WHoping to get a jump on the worst of today's heat, I left home at 8:20 this morning, and since Michelle is gone out of town with our car, I rode to church so that I could practice piano, my music books carried securely in the bag on the back of my trike. After a good practice session, I continued west, riding out to Baker Rd. (Dexter), and then coming home I stopped at Cottage Inn for their pizza buffet lunch. I couldn't seem to make good time today. but I was glad to at least get a good, fairly long ride in.
WHoping to get a jump on the worst of today's heat, I left home at 8:20 this morning, and since Michelle is gone out of town with our car, I rode to church so that I could practice piano, my music books carried securely in the bag on the back of my trike. After a good practice session, I continued west, riding out to Baker Rd. (Dexter), and then coming home I stopped at Cottage Inn for their pizza buffet lunch. I couldn't seem to make good time today. but I was glad to at least get a good, fairly long ride in.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
50th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 7/12/2018
2018 mileage:1615.4
Well, today I was not pleased that I caved in on my original intention of riding three round trips to Marsh Park (for the first time since October 20). But I am pleased that at least I did two. I think this failure is attributable to laziness -- I had wanted to ride at 6:00, but I ended up staying in bed and starting until the late hour of 8:00. As I was dragging my feet, though, it continued to warm up, and was 59°. And after I rode 18.7 miles int 2:25, it had heated up to 78°.
This ride of 18.7 miles took me 2;25, and took me 2:25, as well as carrying me past another mileage milestone for the year.
Well, today I was not pleased that I caved in on my original intention of riding three round trips to Marsh Park (for the first time since October 20). But I am pleased that at least I did two. I think this failure is attributable to laziness -- I had wanted to ride at 6:00, but I ended up staying in bed and starting until the late hour of 8:00. As I was dragging my feet, though, it continued to warm up, and was 59°. And after I rode 18.7 miles int 2:25, it had heated up to 78°.
This ride of 18.7 miles took me 2;25, and took me 2:25, as well as carrying me past another mileage milestone for the year.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
49th ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 7/11/2018
2018 mileage:1596.7
Yesterday I could not ride, as a big chunk of my day was occupied by a trip to the dealer (Jack's) in Dearborn to have a set of TerraTrike's Wide Handlebars put on. I only found out about these last weekend from fellow riders, as a way to alleviate the pain I've experienced by my left thigh scraping across the inside end of the handlebar, constantly reopening the wound that this scraping first visited upon me early in the spring.
The difference to the eye is slight (the top picture here shows the old handlebars, and the bottom picture shows the new ones), but the difference in comfort is IMMENSE, as I was able to ride pain-free this morning for the first time in months.
I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since gritting my teeth and forcing myself on July 4. This 18.4-mile ride took me 2:24.
A new app I've recently discovered (Relive) shows the ride:
Yesterday I could not ride, as a big chunk of my day was occupied by a trip to the dealer (Jack's) in Dearborn to have a set of TerraTrike's Wide Handlebars put on. I only found out about these last weekend from fellow riders, as a way to alleviate the pain I've experienced by my left thigh scraping across the inside end of the handlebar, constantly reopening the wound that this scraping first visited upon me early in the spring.
The difference to the eye is slight (the top picture here shows the old handlebars, and the bottom picture shows the new ones), but the difference in comfort is IMMENSE, as I was able to ride pain-free this morning for the first time in months.
I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since gritting my teeth and forcing myself on July 4. This 18.4-mile ride took me 2:24.
A new app I've recently discovered (Relive) shows the ride:
Monday, July 9, 2018
48th ride of 2018 - Monday, 7/9/2018
2018 mileage:1578.3
Today's ride was exceptionally slow and uncomfortable (even painful). Foolishly, I had begun with the optimism that perhaps I could push myself to do two round trips to the park.
However, the problem I've been experiencing in recent weeks (since being able to ride consistently in shorts) cropped up once again. My left thigh is scraping against the inner end of the handlebars with every upstroke, and this has opened up a wound.
For a while over the weekend, I was optimistic the problem could be easily solved, as I learned that the manufacturer of my cycle (TerraTrike) offers a set of Wid Handlebars that provide an extra 2.5 inches on each side of the cockpit. But, before ordering them, I sent a message to the company to be sure they'd be compatible with my model of trike. To my surprise and dismay, they said they are likely not compatible, due to changes in the structure of the trike over time. But they asked me to send a picture of the steering mechanism so they could confirm, and I have done that and now await a response. If, as I expect, I am out of luck with the Wide Handlebars, I'll simply take the trike back to the dealer in Dearborn along with an explanatory note, and see what adjustments they may be able to make.
At any rate, I set off at 11:15, in 82° sunshine, and rode a single round trip to Marsh Park in the glacial time of 1:27. The slowness comes about because most of the time now when riding, I have to ride with my leg leg angled in unnaturally so as to try and avoid as much contact with the handlebar as possible. It simply is not possible to attempt to push for speed. The trike is slow to begin with ... but I can usually do considerably better than today's average speed of 6.8 miles per hour.
Today's ride was exceptionally slow and uncomfortable (even painful). Foolishly, I had begun with the optimism that perhaps I could push myself to do two round trips to the park.
However, the problem I've been experiencing in recent weeks (since being able to ride consistently in shorts) cropped up once again. My left thigh is scraping against the inner end of the handlebars with every upstroke, and this has opened up a wound.
For a while over the weekend, I was optimistic the problem could be easily solved, as I learned that the manufacturer of my cycle (TerraTrike) offers a set of Wid Handlebars that provide an extra 2.5 inches on each side of the cockpit. But, before ordering them, I sent a message to the company to be sure they'd be compatible with my model of trike. To my surprise and dismay, they said they are likely not compatible, due to changes in the structure of the trike over time. But they asked me to send a picture of the steering mechanism so they could confirm, and I have done that and now await a response. If, as I expect, I am out of luck with the Wide Handlebars, I'll simply take the trike back to the dealer in Dearborn along with an explanatory note, and see what adjustments they may be able to make.
At any rate, I set off at 11:15, in 82° sunshine, and rode a single round trip to Marsh Park in the glacial time of 1:27. The slowness comes about because most of the time now when riding, I have to ride with my leg leg angled in unnaturally so as to try and avoid as much contact with the handlebar as possible. It simply is not possible to attempt to push for speed. The trike is slow to begin with ... but I can usually do considerably better than today's average speed of 6.8 miles per hour.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
47th ride of 2018 - Sunday, 7/8/2018
2018 mileage: 1568.4
The problem I have been experiencing in recent weeks persists. My left thigh rubs (scrapes) against the inside of the handlebar on the pedal upstroke, and this has opened a wound which is increasingly painful the longer I ride.
Yesterday I posted about this situation to two Facebook groups of which I am a member (TerraTrike Owners, and Michigan Recumbent Trikes), asking for advice or suggestions. Several people replied that the manufacturer of my cycle (TerraTrike) makes a set of Wide Handlebars. They add 2.5 inches of space to either side of the trike's cockpit area. So now I have sent a message to TerraTrike to confirm that they'll be compatible with my model of trike before I order them.
Assuming it works out, this sounds like an ideal solution for me! In the meantime, though, until they arrive, I've decided I'm going to allow myself to settle for a daily short ride of a single round trip to Marsh Park. This morning I left at 6:00 in unseasonably brisk conditions (51° -- but also calm and sunny) and rode this 10.4 miles in 1:14.
The problem I have been experiencing in recent weeks persists. My left thigh rubs (scrapes) against the inside of the handlebar on the pedal upstroke, and this has opened a wound which is increasingly painful the longer I ride.
Yesterday I posted about this situation to two Facebook groups of which I am a member (TerraTrike Owners, and Michigan Recumbent Trikes), asking for advice or suggestions. Several people replied that the manufacturer of my cycle (TerraTrike) makes a set of Wide Handlebars. They add 2.5 inches of space to either side of the trike's cockpit area. So now I have sent a message to TerraTrike to confirm that they'll be compatible with my model of trike before I order them.
Assuming it works out, this sounds like an ideal solution for me! In the meantime, though, until they arrive, I've decided I'm going to allow myself to settle for a daily short ride of a single round trip to Marsh Park. This morning I left at 6:00 in unseasonably brisk conditions (51° -- but also calm and sunny) and rode this 10.4 miles in 1:14.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
46th ride of 2018 - Saturday, 7/7/2018
2018 mileage: 1558.0
I am despondent about my riding. A more perfect day that today could not be imagined—calm blue skies, and a comfortable temperature (63° when I started, 70° when I finished) with pleasantly low humidity.
When I set out at 8:30, I intended to try for three round trips to Marsh Park, which would have been my first time doing that since October 20. But I was once again plagued by the pain from the sore on my left thigh where it rubs (scrapes) against the inside end of the left handlebar on my pedal upstrokes, and so I cut the ride down to a single round trip, completing this 10.2 miles in 1:24. I'm simply going to have to figure out some solution for that situation.
I am despondent about my riding. A more perfect day that today could not be imagined—calm blue skies, and a comfortable temperature (63° when I started, 70° when I finished) with pleasantly low humidity.
When I set out at 8:30, I intended to try for three round trips to Marsh Park, which would have been my first time doing that since October 20. But I was once again plagued by the pain from the sore on my left thigh where it rubs (scrapes) against the inside end of the left handlebar on my pedal upstrokes, and so I cut the ride down to a single round trip, completing this 10.2 miles in 1:24. I'm simply going to have to figure out some solution for that situation.
Friday, July 6, 2018
45th ride of 2018 - Friday, 7/6/2018
2018 mileage: 1547.8
The terrible humidity which has plagued us this week finally broke overnight, and this morning's ride was extremely comfortable. I left at 6:00 a.m. (up to 69° when I finished) and rode a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), covering the 20.6 miles in 2:46. Also, it was terribly nice to have once more a rear-view mirror -- I had smashed my previous one when I rolled the trike over on June 24, just before our recent vacation. But yesterday I put the rack on the car to take the trike over to Wheels in Motion, and had them put a new one on for me.
The terrible humidity which has plagued us this week finally broke overnight, and this morning's ride was extremely comfortable. I left at 6:00 a.m. (up to 69° when I finished) and rode a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), covering the 20.6 miles in 2:46. Also, it was terribly nice to have once more a rear-view mirror -- I had smashed my previous one when I rolled the trike over on June 24, just before our recent vacation. But yesterday I put the rack on the car to take the trike over to Wheels in Motion, and had them put a new one on for me.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
44th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 7/5/2018
2018 mileage: 1527.2
The forecast today is for heat and thundershowers to arrive by midday, so I figured I'd ride early to avoid those conditions. I left at 6:15, intending to ride again consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, as I did yesterday. But just after reaching the park and turning back for home, rain began to fall, increasingly heavy, and not long thereafter I heard the rumble of thunder. It was still several miles distant, but nevertheless it was enough to convince me to alter my plans and settle for a single round trip, completing the 10.2 miles in 1:17.
The forecast today is for heat and thundershowers to arrive by midday, so I figured I'd ride early to avoid those conditions. I left at 6:15, intending to ride again consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, as I did yesterday. But just after reaching the park and turning back for home, rain began to fall, increasingly heavy, and not long thereafter I heard the rumble of thunder. It was still several miles distant, but nevertheless it was enough to convince me to alter my plans and settle for a single round trip, completing the 10.2 miles in 1:17.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
43rd ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 7/4/2018
2018 mileage: 1517.0
After having been gone and away from my trike for over a week, it felt awfully good to get back to it today. I left at 6:30. in order to beat the head and humidity Michigan is currently 'enjoying,' and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, finishing the 18.5 miles in 2:15. It also put me over a new mileage milestone for the year (1500).
As I was nearing the end of my ride, I saw a fellow recumbent trike rider whom I first met last summer, and then saw again on May 30 of this year. To my embarrassment, I can't remember his name! But he was riding with his wife, Chris (who was on a regular bicycle), and he introduced me to her.
In recent weeks, I've become terribly fond of the song Grace Wins by Christian artist Matthew West. So I put it on my phone this morning (on repeat), on Spotify, and enjoyed listening to it for over 2 hours. I felt as if this was doing good things for me, both musically and spiritually. 😇
After having been gone and away from my trike for over a week, it felt awfully good to get back to it today. I left at 6:30. in order to beat the head and humidity Michigan is currently 'enjoying,' and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, finishing the 18.5 miles in 2:15. It also put me over a new mileage milestone for the year (1500).
As I was nearing the end of my ride, I saw a fellow recumbent trike rider whom I first met last summer, and then saw again on May 30 of this year. To my embarrassment, I can't remember his name! But he was riding with his wife, Chris (who was on a regular bicycle), and he introduced me to her.
In recent weeks, I've become terribly fond of the song Grace Wins by Christian artist Matthew West. So I put it on my phone this morning (on repeat), on Spotify, and enjoyed listening to it for over 2 hours. I felt as if this was doing good things for me, both musically and spiritually. 😇
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