111th ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 10/31/2018

2018 mileage: 2787.5

Both this week and today have been odd for my trike riding. On Sunday (as detailed in my post from that day), I rode the BIKE THE BRIDGE event on the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit. But during it, one of my fellow riders told me, "Hey, your right tire has a bubble!" Accordingly, I cut the ride short of its entirety (although I DID get to do the 'glamorous' part—riding over the bridge itself).

My amazingly kind and generous friend Dan Cogan (shown below) helped me by confirming that the tire looked problematic to him on Monday, and then yesterday by removing the wheel for me so that I could take it to the dealer, my good friends at Jack's in Dearborn, for examination and repair or replacement. (When I got home from Dearborn, Dan also shared of his time by reinstalling the wheel on the trike for me.)

However, at Jack's they diagnosed the tire as fine, but showed me that the wobble was instead caused by a broken spoke on that wheel. I was able to get them to replace the spoke, and got the wheel home and back on the trike by mid-afternoon, in time for me to go pick Michelle up from school. So I lost both Monday and yesterday as riding days, but all things considered, that didn't seem too bad.

Today, however, I faced several additional problems. The trike itself was back in good working order, but to begin with, the weather was not at all enjoyable for riding, presenting a damp chill. It was 53° when I began, falling off to 52° when I finished, and after rain last night and most of the morning today, I faced a very soggy ride. Although I waited until 11:15, by which time at least no new rain was falling, the trail was exceptionally wet (and therefore, I was, too, before long).

Also, the MapMyRide app on my phone was acting up, and quit altogether a little over 6 miles into the ride.  Because of this, I could not get either accurate statistics, or my full Relive video. To the best of my ability to figure, however, I rode about 12.6 miles in about 1:20—one round trip to Marsh Park, augmented by loops on Interfirst Drive and in the subdivision traversed by Wilson Rd. and Bicentennial Parkway. I was also able to get a video of the first part of my ride, before the app quit.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride (first part)

Finally, my phone's battery ran down much quicker than usual, and died a few minutes before I finished. After having had my phone for nearly two years, and having recharged the battery every night during that time, the research I've done online shows me that the battery probably needs replacing. So it sounds as if a trip to the Apple Store will be on my agenda for tomorrow.

110th ride of 2018 - Sunday, 10/28/2018

2018 mileage: 2774.9

Today, I celebrated the thirty-second birthday of my son John by doing a ride that I had found about months ago, and looked forward to—BIKE THE BRIDGE—touted for its uniqueness in being the only organized ride in the world tocross an international border. We began in Windsor, Ontario, rode to the Ambassador Bridge and then across it to Detroit, and then turned around and rode back into Windsor. The ride then continued with 9 miles in Windsor before finishing with lunch at the park where we had begun.

The ride started at 9:00 a.m., with the cutoff deadline for picking up our packets at 8:50. Mapquest showed me that it was about a 50-minute drive from our home in Ann Arbor, so I had planned to leave about 7:45. In order to do this, I planned to get out of bed by 6:00 (without an alarm, as always—I've not needed one since my 1993 accident). But, as is always the case, I was unable to sleep in the early morning, and, being awake since 4:55, eventually I gave up trying and allowed myself to climb out of bed just before 5:30.

With this slight amount of extra time, I was able to make some progress on a project which has engaged me this weekend. My friend Stephen Baker introduced me to another Iowa musician, Lynn Swan, who wants a choral anthem she wrote quite some time ago professionally notated, using Finale (the software I use). It is a very nice composition, and I'm enjoying this work, so I was grateful for the opportunity to move it ahead a little more early this morning.

I left our home just before 7:30 (still in the dark), going out to the driveway, where our car was parked, with the rack for the trike on it which i had put on yesterday and left overnight. Turning the car around, and backing it into the driveway so that the rack faced the garage, I opened the garage, loaded the trike onto the rack, double checked to be sure everything was secure, and headed off for Canada.

The trip over went smoothly (although I had forgotten about fare for the bridge, and when the attendant told me it was $5 and I only had 3 singles, I was happy to be able to reach into the compartment where I stash an "emergency 20" 😄), and soon I was pulling up to a parking lot beside Assumption Park, where our packet pickup was. The following picture shows the scene at the park, with the approach to the bridge visible, looming over us. They capped participation at 1000 riders, so it was a manageable event.

I would have to call the ride itself something of a mixed success. In the 'positive column' was the weather—cool (39°), but calm, and the possible rain they had projected held off. I rode the initial, 'glamorous' part of the ride just fine—to the bridge, and then across it to the U.S., and then back across to Canada. I expected the actual climb to the center of the bridge to be more of a challenge than I actually found it to be, in fact—apparently Ann Arbor's hilly nature, though not always fun for me, has served as good training. Following is a picture that a fellow rider took of me on the trike, a couple of minutes before we began, and then a picture of the bridge looming overhead as we lined up to begin.

However, upon returning, as we were waiting for the last of the riders to finish their crossing and arrive, when I went to pause the MapMyRide app, I found that my phone was dead. This may have been partly attributable to the cold, and partly to the lengthy wait we had on the American side, as we could not begin our return trip to Canada until the entire group had made it across. I didn't think that my power should have run out yet—and indeed when I returned to the car a short time later and plugged it in, I found that I still had over a 50% charge left. But just before noticing that my phone was dead, a fellow rider had told me, "Hey, your right tire has a bubble"—and the combination of these two events convinced me to cut the ride short and skip the extra miles in Windsor.

During the ride I received a couple of comments from fellow riders. One woman, noting my navy gloves with the block M on the back, shouted, "Hey—GO BLUE!" (I responded with a spirited first pump.) And another fellow, behind me, said, "Hey there, TerraTrike! How's the climb?" I told him (as best I could), "Fine" ... but he did not attempt to engage me in further conversation. 😏

Anyway, though I think I was shorted slightly by the power problems, the app measured my limited ride at 3.6 miles in about 32 minutes. It was very slow because at no time could I make any kind of good speed, I was so hemmed in.

On the way home, as I drove across the bridge from Canada back into Michigan, I had the odd realization that the last time I had made that same drive in that direction was on the morning of May 22, 1993, just a couple of hours before my world crumbled with my accident. And today, although I do, of course, wish that everything today had gone problem-free, my heart swells with gratitude to God for protecting me from any large problems, and enabling me to get there (and home) safely, and to do the ride at all. And as I neared Ann Arbor, around the time I came to Ypsilanti, a relative heavy, quite steady cold rain began, a rain that I was also grateful to have avoided having to ride in.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

109th ride of 2018 - Friday, 10/26/2018

2018 mileage: 2771.3

After taking yesterday off because of a heavy cold I was developing, I was glad to get out today (despite cool and windy condition—46° when I began, at 9:45, and 49° when I finished, with a nice healthy 10 mph wind out of the east), and rode another round trip to Baker Rd. (Dexter), completing 20.2 miles in 2:35. I didn't even wear gloves -- probably one of the last few times this year I'll be able to say that.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

108th ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 10/24/2018

2018 mileage: 2751.1

Today's ride was clear and COLD. The unbroken blue sky and bright sunshine were lovely, but accompanying them was a bit of a breeze and a temperature of 36° when I began (at 9:30) which climbed all the way to 40° by the time I finished.

I had wanted to ride to Baker Rd., but the last time I did it (Monday), a crossing I have to make (Scio Church Rd. and S. Main) was all torn up, and as I hadn't had a chance to check it yet to see its current condition, I decided to stick the safer ride to Marsh Park instead. I felt as I should do a longer ride, and wanted to also, but in the end I just couldn't make myself stick it out under the conditions, so I settled for a single round trip to the park (10.2 miles in 1:11). I need to toughen up, though, because colder weather most certainly lies ahead!

I'm looking forward to an organized ride I'll do this Sunday. Touted as "the most unique cycling ride in the world," BIKE THE BRIDGE is the only one to cross an international border. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. at a park in Windsor, Ontario, we ride to the Ambassador Bridge, ride across the bridge into Detroit (we're required to have our passports with us), turn around and ride back into Windsor, and then conclude with a few miles there before we are served lunch. In information we received yesterday, they stress that although the views from on the bridge are absolutely spectacular, participants are forbidden from stopping to take photographs.

Today, my extremities were particularly cold. As soon as I got home, I rushed to my sock drawer to pull out my wool socks for future rides rather than the cotton ones I have been wearing for months now. And my fingers were quite icy as well—I was most grateful for my cloth gloves (shown below), which I got and first wore exactly two years ago today (October 24, 2016)—but I can tell that the time when I'll have to pull out my heavier winter ones is near.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

107th ride of 2018 - Monday, 10/22/2018

2018 mileage: 2740.9

On an absolutely glorious fall day today, I left at 12:15 (48) under a blue sky and rode a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), completing a 19.5-mile ride in 2:23.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

106th ride of 2018 - Saturday, 10/20/2018

2018 mileage: 2721.4

With Michigan's big "backyard brawl" rivalry game against Michigan State at noon today, it was critical for me to get out and ride early, so that I could also squeeze in piano practice before the game. And, fortunately, this all worked out—I began my ride at 8:00, in 44° cloudy conditions, and rode to Baker Rd. once more, completing the the 20.3 miles in 2:37 and finishing at 50°.

On the way back from Dexter I listened to my John Denver playlist on Spotify, but they must have an algorithm that when all the songs of a playlist have finished, they provide other songs which they find to be similar in lyrics and/or general musical style. Interestingly, what came on in the last couple of minutes of my ride was a piece I remember from my boyhood, but hadn't heard in half a century—1967's Georgy Girl.

Georgy Girl

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

105th ride of 2018 - Friday, 10/19/2018

2018 mileage: 2701.1

Left at 8:00 a.m. today and rode again to Baker Rd. (Dexter), and then on the way back home I  stopped by our church to practice piano, since Michelle is away with the car. This gave me a total ride of 20.5 miles in a somewhat slow 2:47. It was a brisk 38° when I started, but up to 52° at the end.

I'm playing in church on Dec. 23 an absolutely gorgeous Meditation on Silent Night (that has long been my favorite carol, and this year it has special significance since it was first heard Christmas Eve 1818—200 years ago). It is my hope and belief that I can play it from memory, so I'm trying hard not to miss a day of practice.

I hit another mileage milestone for the year, too (2700).

And best of all, I connected with a friend! While riding the sidewalk alongside Jackson Rd. (between Wagner and Zeeb) on the outbound leg (to Dexter), I encountered Paul Smith! Fortunately he looked carefully at me and then spoke my name, because I would not have recognized him. He became friends several years ago when we were fellow team members on a Mission Trip from Westminster Presbyterian Church (my former church) to Mexico in 2009.  Paul is the man on the right end of the top row in this picture of our team (it also shows some of the local children).

 I had not seen him since then, although we have exchanged some greetings over the Internet. (It was funny—when we met on the trip, I asked if he was any relation to Paul W. Smith, a well known Detroit radio personality. Paul laughed, having heard that question before, and corrected me—"No, I'm Paul H. Smith!"

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

104th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 10/18/2018

2018 mileage: 2680.6

After getting my flu shot yesterday morning, I decided to take the day off from riding. So I was glad to get back to it today, riding a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), for 20.1 miles in 2:34. It was, however, a ride in which I didn't have to worry about overheating—when I began at 8:15, it was 27° (10 degrees above my all-time coldest ride), but by the time I finished it was up to 42°. And the sky was a brilliant (crisp) blue throughout.

I wore my bright yellow winter coat for the first time this fall. My visibility vest would not fit over it, but I quickly decided that with this bright garment on, I was plenty visiblee anyway!

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

103rd ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 10/16/2018

2018 mileage: 2660.5

Today was a gorgeous day for a ride—in appearance. When I began at 10:15, the sky was a bright, unbroken blue, and that continued throughout my ride. It was cool, however—39° when I began (but up to 52° when I finished). And the wind was a decided factor, too—early on it didn't seem so bad, but I checked it at the midpoint, and weather.com said that it was 15-25 mph, blowing out of the west. So I must have made my earlier judgment at a time when it was lower. Going out, though, right into the teeth of this wind out of the west, was all the challenge I needed for today.

I rode to Baker Rd. (Dexter), completing 18.9 miles in 2:27. And as I was finishing up, the song Fall came on my John Denver playlist on Spotify, and its lyrics really resonated with me:

Reflections on the water, like shadows in my mind,

speak to me of passing days and nights and passing time.

The falling leaves are whispering, winter's on its way.

I close my eyes remembering the warmth of yesterday.

It seems a shame to see September swallowed by the wind.

And more than that, it's oh, so sad to see the summer end.

And though the changing colors are a lovely thing to see,

if it were mine to make the change I think I'd let it be.

But I don't remember hearing anybody asking me.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

102nd ride of 2018 - Monday, 10/15/2018

2018 mileage:2641.6

Riding conditions today were very far from optimal. I'd probably stop short of calling them abominable—but only by a little bit. A thick, unbroken cloud cover had moved, rendering the sky a gloomy gray. (This was beginning to break up a small amount in the last 5 minutes of my ride, and I actually saw a few patches of blue.) The temperature was cool, but not cold, and falling—40° when I began about quarter to noon, and 48° when I finished.

Of greatest concern, however, was the wind, blowing steadily and strongly, whipping out of the west-northwest at nearly 20 mph. Fortunately, I discovered this when I checked the conditions just before beginning, so I was able to alter my plans, and instead of going to Baker Rd., I contented myself with a trip to Marsh Park instead. Oh, there were still stretches where I had to fight it—but nothing like the severe struggle I would have had riding west into the teeth of it, as I did on THursday.

With this, I allowed myself to settle for a single trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10.2 miles in 1:17.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

101st ride of 2018 - Saturday, 10/13/2018

2018 mileage:2631.

I left this morning at 7:55 (sunrise was at 7:45) and rode another round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.)—20.2 miles in 2:30. As I rode up on the sidewalk alongside Ann Arbor-Saline Rd./S. Main toward Michigan Stadium, I was amused to see parking lot attendants already trying to wave people in, and early birds beginning to filter in to Pioneer High School when I rode by about 8:15, even though the game against Wisconsin isn't until 7:30 p.m. When I cam back by it on the way home, about 10:15, it was still look pretty sleepy, but I knew that would very soon begin to change.

At 40° when I left, I was sure glad to have my gloves on! And even though it heated up to 42° by the time I finished (a little before 11:00), I kept the gloves on.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

100th ride of 2018 - Friday, 10/12/2018

2018 mileage: 2611.2

The big cool down continues! It's hard to believe that so recently, I was still riding in shorts and in temperatures exceeding 80°! Just on Sunday, it was 82* when I finished. But this morning, when I began a few minutes before 9:00, it was 41°, and I was exceedingly glad for my gloves, and felt that my apparel of a hoodie over a t-shirt was nearly insufficient.

I'm a bit embarrassed to only be reaching my 100th outdoor ride of the year so deep into 2018 ... this is 285th day of the year. Oh well!

At any rate, I allowed myself another lazy day. Like on Wednesday, I only rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, but today only supplemented it with two additional loops—on Interfirst Dr., and then on WIlson Rd./Bicentennial Pkwy. This gave me a ride of 12.6 miles, covered in 1:30. This allowed me to hit another mileage milestone.

A calamity of the day was my water bottle. As the cage for it sits along the main horizontal "boom" of the bike, it all too easily slides out—the is no gravity to assist holding it on place as with the diagonally mounted cage on my former road bike. This is the 8th or 9th one I've lost in the three and a half years I've been triking. The bottle has slid out countless additional times, but I usually hear and am able to retrieve it. But not today—I never knew it was gone until about a mile left in the ride. Later I took the car and drove back, looking as carefully for it as I could, but my search was fruitless.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

99th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 10/11/2018

2018 mileage: 2598.6

Rode another round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.) today. But WOW -- has the weather ever changed! When I left, at 9:35, it was 53° (up to a dizzying 54°, though, when I finished at about12:30. And this cooler temperature was augmented by a steady, strong (nearly 20 mph) cooling 'breeze.'

Riding into the wind, which cam from the west, on the way to Dexter presented an extremely stiff challenge. At least if was partially balanced by my trip back home, with the wind at my back most of the way. I had forgotten that I wanted to try to tack on a little extra so that I'd cross another mileage threshold ... but I should make short work of that tomorrow.

A decade or so ago, my son got me interested in the music of virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck, and on the second half of my ride today, I listen to a Bela Fleck playlist on Spotify that I created last night. Following is a sample of his playing:

Bela Fleck (Sinister Minister)

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

98th ride of 2018 - Wednesday, 10/10/2018

2018 mileage: 2578.3

Lazy day today! I was inexplicably exhausted, but made myself leave at noon and do a ride (both short and slow) of 15.8 miles in 1:55.

We are in the midst of a big weather change. The temperature is still unseasonably mild—when I left it was 72°, and up to 76° when I finished—but, as this picture shows, clouds have rolled in, obscuring the blue skies we enjoyed the last two days, and more seasonal temperatures are about to descend upon us. The projected highs for at least the next four days are only in the fifties.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

97th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 10/9/2019

2018 mileage: 2562.5

Our weather is stuck in a gorgeous pattern. I suspect it may not last much longer, but today When I left at 8:45 it was 68°and sunny, and when I finished it was 79° and sunny. Once more I rode a round trip to Baker Rd., accomplishing the 20.3 miles in 2:37.

As I was riding the sidewalk on the south side of Jackson Rd. on the way home, eastbound, approaching The Session Room (a brick restaurant) and then, beyond it, Wagner Rd., I took this brief bit of video

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

96th ride of 2018 - Monday, 10/8/2018

2018 mileage: 2542.2

On another beautiful summery day, I rode again a round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.)—it was a brilliantly sunny blue sky the whole way, and 71° when I began (at 12:15), and 82° when I finished

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride.

94th ride of 2018 - Friday, 10/5/2018

2018 mileage: 2522.7

Did another round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.) today, on a chilly morning. When I began, at 9:10, it was 46° (though it had heated up to a toasty 51° by the time I finished). However, it remained heavily cloud covered throughout, with some light rain falling in the second half of the ride, that spattered on my glasses, turning them into prisms. However (fortunately, coupled with the cold) the rain was never heavy or steady. I rode in shorts and a hoodie, and was comfortable, but I wondered how many more times in 2018 I'll be able to get away with riding in shorts.

At Baker Rd., when I turned around, just as I was starting back toward Ann Arbor, I stopped and took this picture to illustrate how bleak it was. It made me muse how much bleaker still it will look two or three months from now! I wonder, too, whether I will still be able to ride then. Cold doesn't really bother me, but I will not ride in or through heavy snow.

Link to Relive video of today's ride