Lane Sharing

Saw this link on face book from CycleSavyin florida. Great info on why Cyclits need to Carefully consider "Taking the Lane".
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/advocacy/widths-buffers/?fb_action_ids=4686669137434&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%224686669137434%22%3A10150657133493667%7D&action_type_map=%7B%224686669137434%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=[]

Just a quick update:
 in 2011 Our local bike store in Leduc shut down. So there was nobody to do local basic bike repairs in Leduc. My buddy Grant P. from Bentley Cycle suggested I start doing them. May 2011 my wife Alice and I started RENU CYCLE in Leduc. It has grown slowly. We do basic repairs for all kinds of bikes, flats, tune up,s etc. In late 2012 we started to sell ICE Recumbent Trikes. 2015, this season we will sell ICE, Terra Trikes and just got approved to sell AZUB trikes. Check us out at

WWW.RENUCYCLE.NET

Most my ride reports, and reviews are now on my Renu Cycle web site on the
  "what's New at RENU" page.

I also still blog on the Godspoke web site occasionally. But most of my web musings are Now on the "What's NEW" page.  Drop over there to see what is going on with still this ole' Crankin Recumbent Rider! 

Missing But Not Gone

Well if you found this blog and were wondering where I went, head over to http://godspokeleduc.com/ where I post about my riding with my local club. We are a group interested in recreational cycling in and around Leduc.
You can read along at http://velorydr.blogspot.ca/ where I chronical about my own adventures in riding a Velomobile and recumbent trikes! Plus there are links to blogs about velomobiles from all over the world.  Check it out!
 Finally I Have a new to me venture: Renu Cycle. A shop where I do basic bike repairs and sell recumbent trikes. Check out the site to see what we offer . We blog about all sorts of stuff! http://www.renucycle.net/
So I may not be here much anymore but I am still around. Come on over ...

Finally

Since I started my Atkins based diet Sept 19 I have lost an official 14 lbs. That puts me under 270lbs, for the first for the first time in 20 years. I finally broke that 270 barrier after 7 years of yo - yo dieting. Now to reach 245 - 101 lbs lighter than my heaviest ever! Keep encouraging me!
Larry

godspoke BBQ

Attended a wonderful post Jasper Banff riders BBQ at Denis@ Audery Newmans park like farm. lylesribs and Fayes chocolate cherry cake were Devine. I thot I did well butt glucose readings were highest I have seem tonight. I am seeing just how eating after 9 pm really affects me!
but I had a great night catching up with every one
TTFN

blogger iOS

this my first post using new app on my iPhone. Had a good day, had to go to a diabetes class this afternoon- was sort of a rehash of stuff I knew.
Controlling diabetes and trying to lose weight is alot more of a lifestyle change than I was thinking. Have to make big changes in though processes and discipline.
Went to Costco with Alice tonight- had bad dinner choice- but rode 5 k home.
Must limit fruit and any food intake after supper!!!!! glucose was 12.1 2 hrs later :(
hmmm this new app could be nice; or I could get TMI if I am not careful
TTFN

gREAT rIDE TONIGHT

WOW What a nice night for a ride! Unusaully warm for Sept. 8 riders

SEE ya

Summers End

Wow what a summer. April, I rode every day and was looking forward to a solid season of high mileage; then May hit. I was so lacking in energy and was tired All the time. I even took a few afternoons and went home early from work. I ended up riding only a handful of km. June 5 and a ride around Pigeon Lake; Arrrggg! I had cramps so bad my legs literally seized 6 times. I knew then something was wrong. Went to the Doctors, got some blood tests. Verdict: Highblood pressure, Diabetes II and high cholesterol. I was a sick boy! Got meds, a diet and slowly stared to ride!
July – Ride from Jasper to Banff – an epic ride, for 17 lucky riders,

Jasper to Banff VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Was supposed to be 18, but 5 minutes after starting a fast downhill run from the last big hill from Miette Hot springs, (my first 5 min of riding on the trip) screech, slide, rumble… I hit a patch of gravel on the side of the road and went down! Ended up with a dinner plate sized patch of road rash on my left cheek (butt).

Could not ride ie.: pedal for the rest of the trip OUCH!! Still had a great time being the sag driver. What utterly fantastic panoramas'!  So I had to wait three weeks before I could ride comfortably again. So far this year was becoming one of my lowest mileage years in a long time.

But since then things have picked up nicely.
I rode from Calmar to Bentley.

 
This was one of my bucket list rides; it took abit long than what i had planned due to detours and a lot of big hills but It was a great day of riding! 

In August we also got a chance to go to Calgary for my nieces wedding and to drop in for a visit in Cochrane to see and ride with Cornell.
The highlight of that was I got to squeeze into his Strada velomobile !!

ME WANT A VELO!!

I have tried to commute home from work or at least partially every other day in Aug ust and hope to do the same as long as the weather holds up this Fall. I did ride in one morning which was nice but I don't like the stress of arriving when clients are waiting and chomping for us to open up. I like morning riding alot the day seems "perky", full of promise and refreshing on those days i can ride somewhere in the morning.

Today I rode from Calmar a St.Francis - Warburg - Calmar Loop; another ride I that has been on my to do list for a couple of years

I Burned over 5000 calories. Did good on water just under 4 liters, and ate good: 1 cinnamon raisin bagel, 3"garlic sausage, 1 eatmore, a bit of black licorise, 50gm of beef jerky, a nut and fruit bar and 2 tabs of Fizz endurlytes and 7 caps for endurolytes. I Felt goodall day  no cramps or bonking in the +25 heat! just tired calf and thigh muscles; Great ride!!

I “hope" to add more on this blog, like the Garmin reports above and to chronicle more for the rest of the season. I hope to ride Lake Louise to Canmore later this September and to Ride around Pigeon Lake again. Plus Alice is planning a trip to Kelowna to pic apples yet this fall too. so we will see.
TTFN

My Best Friend

Don Martz

Died today of a massive heart attack. He was one of the few that I could be totally honest and open. We would laugh so hard of the commonest things in our lives we thought was so private. but ended up to be so everyday. If our wives only knew what we talked about.

I will miss him terribly – but he will be with me always.

You made it home first….See ya Later buddy…..

30 Days of Cycling

There are times you wonder why you make goals and commitments – Snow Day-  5 km of wet, slush and obstacles. If I did not make this self imposed challenge I would have missed an awesome short ride!

I loved it!

Set your self a goal this week!

Larry

30 days of Cycling

I was reading Kent Peterson's blog the other day and he was commenting how even he a major cycling commuter and car free family guy had gotten out of the habit of riding consistently he walks to work etc.) and how he missed it but was "out of the habit" so to speak. When you have stopped or slowed down doing something that it is hard to resume it.

Boy I understand that. After the winter and spring around here I find it tough mentally so get riding, I want to but I find a lot of excuses not too or I postpone it until it's too late.

Kent found a challenge that started April 1. Called 30 days of Cycling. You were supposed to sign up by the 1st and no matter what you ride for 3o days straight. If its raining, snowing, sunny, windy ; don't mater even if it's just a quick ride around the block.

JUST DO IT!

I think I need this type of motivation to get my head back into my riding and weight loss thing. So I started Saturday April 1. I am going to ride every day for 30 days too. So stay Tuned I will try to update this 1 or 2 times a week. See you on the road!

Larry

My Cheeks Are Sore!

Man ya just don’t realise how out of shape you are until you go for a long ride after 4 months of relative inactivity. I rode in from Calmar this afternoon- 20 km. Great weather and it sure beats riding a trainer like I did last year! It seems like the roads and paths are lot cleaner and it “warmer” too! 

So get your bike off the trainer and get some Vitamin D exposure.  Get a break from cabin fever syndrome and do something outdoors (like ride a bike) on Sunday! You never know how long the nice weather will last.

Some of us Rode in Feb ‘08

(gotta get those training kms in for the Jasper to Banff tour this summer, those mountain passes are gonna be a grunt)

Larry

Summers Gone - Where did all the Posts Go?

Arrg!!
Seems like I have all the best intentions about adding to this blog but, time seems to slip away…
So As the Fall progresses I will endeavour to catch up with what transpired in the last couple of months. Just a few highlights today.

June, July and August ended up being one of the coolest and wettest in recent years, We had the lowest attendance on average for our weekly Godspoke rides, we just got rained out to often or people just had things to do.

On a more personal note, my business really went through a tough time, it ended up being better than I thought but, the last 8 months have been extremely stressful to say the least. The current economic situation in N. A.  is effecting us and if things don’t improve … well I could be doing something else in the spring.  But that’s life. It keeps rolling along. As a good friend in high school used to say to me: ”let it ride, this too shall pass!” 

This is what helps me get through tough times (Besides relying and trusting My GOD) :


I made this poster with a modified quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that hits home with me :

“When you’re feelin’  low;
when the day didn’t go right;
when the stress becomes overwhelming; 
just grab your recumbent (bike) and
go for a spin down the road,
without a thought of anything but the ride you are taking.”

I did that so much this past summer, Just got on and wondered around Calmar for 17-10 km or so, just riding.

My recumbent is so much a part of my life. Cornell, the ‘Bent rider from Cochrane that I got the GRR from, said he was always amazed how quiet and smooth it was; I hear my self thinking those same thought often as I ride it. It’s such a great ride. It gives me such, simple pleasure, adventure, fitness and a great group of friends who share cycling too!

I passed my 10,000 km ride mark
both on total recumbent riding and for my C-KAP  tracking in August. Woo Hoo!  Some riders achieve this mark yearly, But I am quite satisfied that I have achieved it and I’m pressing for the 25,000 mark. (took me 5 great years) It may take me another 10 years or so, but it’s a goal – and if you don’t have a goal what do you achieve?  If I shoot for it, I will get closer-right. Its the journey that counts even more than the destination. ( Harry Kim- Star Trek Voyager :) ) 
I really like the Journey!!!

Well this is getting long, I will post more later about the rides we had this past summer and other cycling related thoughts.

TTFN & GB

1000 km

Tonight I rode past the 1000 km mark for the year! Yea! I know as I read the totals each year for CKAP that many people do that in a month - but I have a life and .... Well this past weekend  I also past 10,000 km (that I have been charting) of riding a recumbent. A milestone.

As I have posted before riding a recumbent has changed my life and I see riding one (or two or three) for alot of years to come. Some years I may get more in others less. Will I ever own a regular bicycle again - Maybe; but I know that I enjoy cycling, its part of my life now. I hope and pray I can still ride for another 25-30 years. But I made it to 10,000 - I only have another 991 to go to get a official CKAP reconigtion for riding 10,000 km since logging with them. I hope to reach 25,000, it might take me another 15 years of life getting in the way but I will enjoy every ride until I do.
 

At least riding has enabled me to get fit enough to try. I worry about the growth of obesity I see around me and a real lack of willingness to get off the couch, put down the cheezies, turn off the T.V. and get involved in some sort of ongoing healthy excercise! Just sit down in a mall andn watch the people going by. Too many people are getting heavier younger and as they get past thier 40's. I really believe that technology ie: the net and TV is ruining the health of the nation. The people I see in the gyms and engaged in fundraising athons are not the majority of the population. I just shake my head - cause even 5 years ago I there. It took a move and a little blue BikeE recumbent bike to get me on the the road to a healthier, broader life! 

See ya along the next 10,000- Larry

I’m A Cycle Tour Wimp (wannabe)

I came to the sudden realization tonight that I am a cycling tourist wannbe. A what?  I wanna be a cycling tourist but several things hold me back:

1) No time; really I run my own business; it is really feeling the economic times, a lack of staff and work does hamper taking time off during the summer season
2) Lack of funds; see above
3) where do I go
4) I really am a social person so who do I go with
5) Fat and somewhat lazy; I don’t like to ride more than 50-100 km in a day, several days in a row
6) Time and money; see above
7) Motivation; its a lot easier to live through others ride reports, isn’t it

I research all over the net, read ride reports, about others that just plan and then do it. I feel so tied down and constrained some times. I know that its not right to envy others but it can  weigh a person down.  I am slowly getting fitter to do these things, but I am still 50-60 lbs too heavy still. Got to be disciplined to get the fat off over the next 12 months.

Okay, If I really could plan and do it what/ where would I want go…

hmm …
day trips and S240’s for now
Jasper to banff in 5+ days  (2011?)
Quebec
Olympic Penninsula, Wash State or any ride in the Oregon/Wash area
Florida

Our cycling Group Godspoke and Marvelous Marv’s SDG Tours do some fun, challenging, thrifty rides. I am lucky to be a part of them. They are in my range: I guess I like to be a tourist that cycles, SAG’ed, low km days, low budget -  and they are a fun group of misfits to do things with!

Someday another real Adventure awaits; I have real fond (though some what pained) memories of the Southern B.C. trip a few years ago ( I got hurt and could not ride) but what an adventure!

It really is about time and money. At least I can take a week and Do the SDG Tour this year to Penticton. If I get fitter and keep my health, I still have 15 years or so to do a couple of bonafide cycle tours!!

Thanks for letting me vent. I am lucky, I know… I was just was planning to go to an event this summer in Kellogg, Id. the TOT. But came to the realization I don’t really have the money or time to go this year – and that sucks! The Penticton ride is not second rate in any way – its just that I have to go alone again without Alice, I wanted to go with her somewhere but we have to keep the shop goin,’ so we’ll have somewhat separate holidays again.  I had to be real in my hopes and expectations this year like thousands of others …

Well stay tuned , If you hang around long enough you can read the ride report. LOL
TTFN-& GB
Larry

Cool Day for A Charity Ride!

Saturday we set up for the the Annual MS Tour Training ride: Devon to Wilton Park Hall and back. This is a small way for Godspoke to give back to the community and help promote our group. This is the fourth year we have set up a refreshment stop for them. its always great to know that it is appreciated.

 

Happy Mothers Day Ladies!
Larry

April showers bring May....

So April is done. I surpassed my riding goal for the month with over 320 km. Cool and that was with a week of crappy cool weather. Diet wise not a great month I sort of plateaued, fumbled along, and zoned out. Partly it was weather change, partly needing a break, work and family and volunteer commitments. Mostly it has been a "okay sluff today start monday attitude. Every week. I lost motivation. Why I don't know, I really like the results and the comments I get, so what gives? I truly believe this was a hiccup. I know I need that mental kick in the arse to get back on track. So May its no excuses, every day is a new day, JUST Do IT.

I have had my Gold Rush for a month now and it is supassing my expectations. Yet  I sit here and realize that I have said that about every new bike I have gotten. But the other day I was riding into the wind for a 10 km ramble around Calmar and started to laugh. I was riding into the wind and enjoying it. All I could think about was "sorry Lance, IT IS ABOUT THE BIKE! he he he he. I am truly Blessed to have the oppurtunity to ride such a fun and efficient machine. Thanks to Keith who bought my TE and to Cornell who sold me his and to Uhaul for my over ride commissions and to Alice who puts up with it and hopes to gain a healthier hubby. And to an Awesome God who listens and hears and does bless His childern.
 My goal for May is to lose over 8 lbs and ride over 400km. Pray for me I'm going to need it. Next month I will post some pics of my ride and some of the Bling I have and a review of a couple of really cool addons.
TTFN -GB
Larry

After the Wind Ride

Finally the winds died down (after 3 days). So after getting back from lunch at Kosmos with Alice, Darrel & Carol Rachel,  Alice and I went for a ride. As we started out we heard Alices rear tire rubbing on her brakes. Jocelyn and I had tightened the rear cone and adjusted and lubed the brakes on Monday. But when Alice rode it we needed to adjust the tension on the brake springs. Jocelyn showed me how this is done and so it was easy to do on the side of the road. We got going agian and relazied the wind had picked up, after turning onto the highway I zipped ahead and noticed Alice was lingering. Once I got to the top of the rise on the east side of Calmar I didn't see her so I called her on her phone. She had decided that the wind was too cold for how sahe has dressed so she bailed. I continue to the 10k mark and headed  back. It was good to be back on the bike after 3 days. I cannot believe how more efficient the GRR is over the TE. I likey my bikey! Here is my Garmin GPS recording of my ride: . If you click on the see details you may be able to use the player to see a dynamic portrayl of my ride. I am experimenting with links here;
Anyways have a great day -  Now Git out and RiDE!
Larry

Carry All For Seat back

I always seem to be on the hunt for an alternative bag to hold the basics while I ride. Basics what basics you ask? Well you should always carry a few essentials while riding. A flat repair kit (spare tube, glue less patches, tire levers and a pump or CO2 cartridges & valve). bike tool w/ chainbreaker, phone, light snacks, and maybe a few other person things. I like using a water bladder instead of a bottle for rides over 30 min., as I tend to drink more often with it;so i need a bag that can hold this too. This year I want to ride a little lighter and don’t want to add a rack and big bag to my GRR, except when on tour. So I need a seat bag that will hold the minimum for a commute home or expand for a century ride. I was going to get Alice to sew me up  a new basic bag. I even thought out the design, made a pattern, got the fabric and notions, cut then out but then Tax season hit and Alice is way too busy for the next couple of months! Arrrggg!
While I was in Calgary last month I stopped in at MEC and was browsing around and found a small shoulder bag that I Modified.

  
MEC Sml Shoulder Carryall
This bag is great and has a lot of compartments.

First thing I did was cut off the shoulder strap and then sewed on a web belt to hug the lower part of the bag to the seat to stop flopping. I placed rivets at the stress points to strengthen them.

I then sewed and riveted  nylon male buckles to the top corners to attach onto the bike seat. A lot of seat bags use a sleeve to go over the seat to attach a bag. A couple of years ago I devised a way to attach a bag using industrial double sided Velcro and these clip buckles. I just loop a female buckle onto the seat frame on either side and then can quickly attach or detach my bags.

To finalize the bag I sewed a safety triangle and a C-KAP patch to the flap and TA –DA:

It can expand outside the seat frame for longer rides or for shorter jaunts hang inside for a lower profile.

The flap strap will cinch up the bottom and keep it away from the wheel & fender. It looks great and is very versatile!

Now Git out and ride

Larry

GRR Pick up Adventure!

I Went down to Calgary for the weekend of March 27. On my way I visited and helped Grant at Bentley Cycle Saturday afternoon (well really hung out, answered some customer questions regarding bents, accessories, blogs, etc and almost was in the way! He He) . Had a great time! Then stopped at Robs In Olds (of The Recumbent Blog) to see his Manga Velo  Cool, I think I want one in the future! We talked about velos, recumbent stuff and the TOT in Idaho this year.
I finally got to Ken & Lenores close to 11pm - kinda late for dinner!

Next morning I got up and using  new gps software for my Iphone Called Motion-X GPS Drive, drove to Bow Cycle to look around (no 'bents!) Why are all the "bigger" bike stores so hesitant to bring in ``some`` quality recumbents? They bring in the cheap stuff and then say they don't sell - duh!! I got back into my van and proceeded to make my way to MEC. While I was there I got some new rechargeable batteries (the best price for good 2650 mahs in town), a new seat bag, some clips, & glueless tire patches. After spending my allowance there I drove to Cochrane to pick up the GRR using the Motion-X Drive app. This app for $.99 works really well. It gave pretty good voice directions.

As I got close to Cornells cul-de-sac, I saw him turn a corner on his Cat Trike EXP and pulled up behind him. After razing him abit I followed Him to his house. The first thing I see is a Rans Crank Forward bike that he had built up. Neat, it would nice to have some day, for off road adventures. Sitting beside it was the Blue GRR! Wow, a beautiful cool blue and its so light. After gabbing and gushing over the bike, we went in  and had a nice lunch of homemade minestrone soup and scones. Mmm, Cornell is a good cook - Lucky for Muriel his wife! After lunch and looking at his drum, snare and Roy Rogers/Lone Ranger collection we went went back outside.

With my excitement growing about riding a GRR for the first time, we put om my Crank Bros Mallet pedals, a Planet Bike Super Flash light on rear of the GRR, adjusted the seat and went for a sunny, very windy, 25 km ride among the rolling hills and vistas near their acreage! Cornell & Muriel sure live with a majestic view! Boy, the GRR is so much more responsive and so much easier to go over rolling hills than even the TE! Being my first ride on a GRR I was very impressed. Yes, I sold a great bike and bought another without ever riding it before; but the I expected it after reading so many ride reports and talking to others about the GRR vs. TE, I had simply out grown the TE as far as performance and efficency was concerned.

When we got back and were just gabbing, I found out that Cornell was with Canada Parks for over 25 years and had been in every back woods cabin in Jasper and Banff Parks and was responsible for the furnishing of many of the historical sites in many western Parks; WAY COOL! As were going for a coffee Cornell showed me a cool battery charger: PowerEX. Another electronic gadget that the wives would roll thier eyes up on. Anyways this thing recharges, discharges, renews and tells you if the battery is toast! drooooool gadgets! With all the lights and other gizmos I run with having reliable, reusable batteries is important, green and inexpensive.

We had  a great cup of coffee and Cornells homemade blueberry bran muffins (mmmm) while talking about ‘bents and BROL, TOT and diet stuff.(TOT 07: a video) We then concluded our transaction, then he showed me his horses (well mostly Muriels) and acreage. Around 6:45 pm, I loaded up the bike into the van, said bye, and started the drive back to Edmonton. Stopped off in Bentley to drop off a trike rack to Grant; picked up a friend of Kara’s and drove home, got there around 11 pm.

Over all an Utterly Wunderbar Weekend!