Good turnout today with a group of 8 riders.
Trip distance: 21.71 Miles
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
July 10th group ride
Today we only had a small group of 4.
Trip distance: 24.10 miles
I have now ridden over 1000 miles this year! Bike Worksheet
Trip distance: 24.10 miles
I have now ridden over 1000 miles this year! Bike Worksheet
Monday, July 9, 2007
July 9th ride
This evening I rode both the Adams and the Bowling Alley loops.
Distance: 23.56 miles
Average speed: 15.86 MPH
Bowling Alley Loop map
Adams loop map
Pedals:
I often get comments that it must be harder to ride a recumbent since I have to rise my feet forward to get to the pedals. This is not true, it is as easy to hold your feet on these pedals as any upright bike (for me anyways). I also use clipless pedals which actually clip my feet to the pedals (even though they are clipless).
I remember back a few years when I first started using clipless pedals. Before then I had been using pedals that use a harness to hold your feet in place, with this type of pedal you simply pull your foot straight back to get your foot off the pedal. Which is real handy when you need to stop. Clipless pedals disengage by twisting your foot outwards from the bike. As you might imagine this could cause problems for a person that was used to pulling their feet straight back when they stopped (like me).
I was in Long beach California at the time; back then I could easily get my road bike up to 30 MPH for short flat distances. There was one particular stretch of road where I could actually race cars from one light to the next, if the lights turned red. there were multiple lights and the posted speed limit was 25 MPH. It was rare for me to hit the lights as they turn red in succession. When it did happen though, I would actually keep up with the traffic through each light for a total distance of about half a mile.
It would go like this: stop at the first red light, then pedal as fast as possible to the next light. I would start out ahead of the traffic, by the time the traffic caught up with me we were at the next red light. Here I would do my best to stay with both feet on the pedals until the light turned green. sometimes this meant staying in one spot while waiting (I usually couldn't do it for very long.). Once the light turned green I would pedal quickly to the next light and repeat through all the red lights. I often imagined myself being the talk of Long Beach with my speedy bike.
Anyway, on this particular day I had for the first time my new clipless pedals made by Look. I came across this particular section of lights. The first light turned green just as I came along. A convertible Mustang with its top down with four young ladies inside just started pulling to the next light. Well I thought, I'll give them something to watch!
I revved up my pedals super fast switched to the high gear and hit over 30 MPH and hoping that the next light would turn red before the mustang caught up with me. Yes! it turned red. I then expertly slowed the bike to a stop and even pedaled backwards a couple times to demonstrate my masterly bike handling. The Mustang then caught up and stopped next to meat the red light. I was next to the front hood of the Mustang.
Once my bike stopped I was still thinking about the impressive show I was putting on. I tried to pull my right foot straight back from the pedal. The foot would not budge! I then tried pulling the left foot straight back it wouldn't budge either! The bike started to lean a little to the right; more like it was falling over.
I couldn't wiggle my feet loose!
My feet and legs were masterfully (er desperately) dancing on the bike struggling to loosen my feet but my feet were steadfastly connected to the pedals! What was going on? Crash! I now lay on the curb with my feet stuck on the pedals. It seemed forever before I realized I needed to twist out, not pull back! Duh!
Now that my feet are loose I stand up holding my bike, bleeding from some scratches on my right leg. I was wondering if anyone saw what happened as the Mustang very slowly pulled forward since the light is now green. I wasn't brave enough to look at the occupants, but I am pretty sure I heard some snickering.
I'm sure I was the talk of Long Beach that night, possibly even for the entire year.
Distance: 23.56 miles
Average speed: 15.86 MPH
Bowling Alley Loop map
Adams loop map
Pedals:
I often get comments that it must be harder to ride a recumbent since I have to rise my feet forward to get to the pedals. This is not true, it is as easy to hold your feet on these pedals as any upright bike (for me anyways). I also use clipless pedals which actually clip my feet to the pedals (even though they are clipless).
I remember back a few years when I first started using clipless pedals. Before then I had been using pedals that use a harness to hold your feet in place, with this type of pedal you simply pull your foot straight back to get your foot off the pedal. Which is real handy when you need to stop. Clipless pedals disengage by twisting your foot outwards from the bike. As you might imagine this could cause problems for a person that was used to pulling their feet straight back when they stopped (like me).
I was in Long beach California at the time; back then I could easily get my road bike up to 30 MPH for short flat distances. There was one particular stretch of road where I could actually race cars from one light to the next, if the lights turned red. there were multiple lights and the posted speed limit was 25 MPH. It was rare for me to hit the lights as they turn red in succession. When it did happen though, I would actually keep up with the traffic through each light for a total distance of about half a mile.
It would go like this: stop at the first red light, then pedal as fast as possible to the next light. I would start out ahead of the traffic, by the time the traffic caught up with me we were at the next red light. Here I would do my best to stay with both feet on the pedals until the light turned green. sometimes this meant staying in one spot while waiting (I usually couldn't do it for very long.). Once the light turned green I would pedal quickly to the next light and repeat through all the red lights. I often imagined myself being the talk of Long Beach with my speedy bike.
Anyway, on this particular day I had for the first time my new clipless pedals made by Look. I came across this particular section of lights. The first light turned green just as I came along. A convertible Mustang with its top down with four young ladies inside just started pulling to the next light. Well I thought, I'll give them something to watch!
I revved up my pedals super fast switched to the high gear and hit over 30 MPH and hoping that the next light would turn red before the mustang caught up with me. Yes! it turned red. I then expertly slowed the bike to a stop and even pedaled backwards a couple times to demonstrate my masterly bike handling. The Mustang then caught up and stopped next to meat the red light. I was next to the front hood of the Mustang.
Once my bike stopped I was still thinking about the impressive show I was putting on. I tried to pull my right foot straight back from the pedal. The foot would not budge! I then tried pulling the left foot straight back it wouldn't budge either! The bike started to lean a little to the right; more like it was falling over.
I couldn't wiggle my feet loose!
My feet and legs were masterfully (er desperately) dancing on the bike struggling to loosen my feet but my feet were steadfastly connected to the pedals! What was going on? Crash! I now lay on the curb with my feet stuck on the pedals. It seemed forever before I realized I needed to twist out, not pull back! Duh!
Now that my feet are loose I stand up holding my bike, bleeding from some scratches on my right leg. I was wondering if anyone saw what happened as the Mustang very slowly pulled forward since the light is now green. I wasn't brave enough to look at the occupants, but I am pretty sure I heard some snickering.
I'm sure I was the talk of Long Beach that night, possibly even for the entire year.
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