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!

This Guy IS GONE!!!!!

 Today I hit my 1/2 way point to my immediate weight loss goal

Since January 1, 2010 I have decreased my body fat from
37% to 28%

over 35 lb of Fat Gone

 over15 lb of lean muscle gained

Jan 1- 307

March 24 -276

my goal 245 by July 1

Discipline, Exercise, Diet

Some Days it is really tough to do the calorie burn, some days easy..

I expect the next 12 weeks to be the same...

So Long Rosie!

Today was the end of a beautiful relationship. Its bitter sweet one, both sad and happy. I shall miss Rosie, we had alot of wonderful times and yet like all relationships there were some incidents. She tossed me a couple of times, but I was either foolin' around or I took her where she really didn't belong. She was a great stress relief and comfort. A wonderful traveling companion. She carried her fair share and more. From her I learned how to press on when things are tough, and little by little you can accomplish great things. She helped me make alot of new freinds; But she has moved on to another guy. 

Yes, today I sold my Easy Racer Tour Easy Recumbent bike "Rosie".

 Her new owner is excited and very happy tonight. All week as she sat in my shop lobby waiting to be picked up, I wondered what was I thinking. She looks so good. She rides so well. But another has taken her place; prettier in some ways, faster, stronger, just a little bit more lively. Hopefully she will come up to Edmonton real soon and I will introduce her to you. Like me she is from cowtown,
her name Bleu....

Wilton Hall Ride

Today I was able to ride 30 km to Wilton Park Hall. It's a nice ride 8 km west of Calmar, then north 5km to the Hall, Then I did a loop around town to pick up some wings for supper.

The ride to the hall has some nice rolling hills and long grades of 2-3 degrees or more, so I get a nice burn out it and some nice speed. Its about 2/3 highway with wide shoulders and 1/3 quiet paved rural road.

The ride and a visit to the gym today earned me 2350 calories. It was still a bit cool +6 but sunny. It will be nice to ride with out face protection in a couple of weeks.

 I also stopped and raised my fairing 1.5 inches. In emails with Lonnie Morse from Portland (Long time Easy Racer Rider and tech guru) he advised me to raise my fairing after I had sent him some pix of me on the TE. It might create a bigger hole in the air this way but he says it is more areodynamic and it would help my speed and agianst the wind. My Ride back was into the wind for 1/3 so I thought I would try it. Yep, it worked, instead of the wind coming off the fairing and into the top of my chest, it was hitting me in the eyes. I may need to raise it another 3/4 of inch so it hits my visor and over my head. We'll see how it goes.

Well I reached 1/3 of my goal weight loss today. I am down 21 lbs towards 62 or more!  I can really see the difference in how my clothes are fitting. I have a wall I hit around 280 -275. I have not made it past this mark in 5 years of trying. Pray for me that I keep on exercising and watching what I eat. Once I hit 275 I know I can do it and the next 25 - 30 will be just as tough/easy as this first bit. Stay Tuned ....

Have a great day and get out and ride!
GB- TTFN

First Commute Home

Wow! This is the earliest I have ever started commuting from the shop! It took me about 51min odo time and probably a total of 60 min all together for lights and stops for a drink or 2. I also rode to Wendys to grab lunch and rode the long way back to the shop for a 23 km riding today. I sure can tell I have been sick for 2 weeks AND its my first commute. I was wasted by the time I got home. I had a cross wind that wasn't to bad, averaged 19.5 kph hiting 30 a few times. Over all I feel stronger this year already, so it could be a good year (I hope)

It was slower at the shop this week so I took the oppurtunity so clean up my recumbent. I also took the plunge and today I split my Garmin Speed/cadence sensor, so I can finally use use the speed pick up on the back wheel and get a bit better accuracy on the Garmin 705. Man them wires are small! I had to crack open the sensor to get the longer cord soldered. It took alot of patience but I finally did it. I wasn't sure for a while and thought I had screwed up the whole thing at one point. But tonight I can say it worked great on the way home SUCCESS! whew! Next week I will seal up the sensor real good with some urethane and then make a better mount for the rear speed sensor using some remouldable plastic

(ShapeLock).

The weather is cooler; but it is so nice and sunny; Don't be a wuss, bundle up and go for a ride - you'll be glad ya did
I have My recumbent (an Easy Racer Tour Easy) for sale as I have an oppurtunity to get a similar but upgraded version (GRR) this spring. so if you are interested or know someone, let them know eh?!

GB TTFN

A Nice ride

Today, while the Canadain Mens Olympic team was battling the US for Gold, I was out for a nice prespring Ride with My Daughter Kara. 20 Klm later I had burned off 1135 calories, spent some quality time with my youngest, and the Canadians WON Gold! Not being a hockey enthusist, I feel like a minority. But I still take pride and I know alot of my friends will be happier for a day or 2. I look forward to riding in warmer weather (+3C Today) and not having to bundle up so much and seeing something other than white scenery. I have a couple of acquaintences in Portland - they say they don't go riding until it gets
+45F - Humph ... no wonder the Canadians Win in Hockey!
GB TTFN
Larry

After the Cold...coff, coff

Well finally I decided to just get out and ride after suffering for two weeks with a really bad chest cold.  The weather is starting to change as it slowly melts the roads clear. I only had to put my feet down as outriggers on snowy patches a few times. The main roads are clear, its just some of the sides that are loose and treacherous. Funny how when you are riding that the cold symptoms seem to disappear until you get back home and indoors. This was the first time I got any exercise for 14 days, feels good to be out again.

All that I have been able to do lately was look at other 'bents online - and that can be potenually expensive. I miss riding. Maybe I can get out tomorrow- I'm a bit behind '09 already in ride km.

I was out taking a few pics also today -  here' one for ya
 Larry

Family Day Ride

So today was a really nice Sunny mid winter day, So I loaded up the TE and went for a spin and some intervals. Just as I was leaving Calmar I heard a honk on a horn, looked over and there was Lyle and Carol driving by, so we stopped and got caught up on the Thai Wun On trip. Lots of laffs and remembering, It was great to see and talk to 'em. Then I headed west to the Buford turn off for a nice ride. On the way back I tried out the interval setting on my Garmin 705 GPS. Worked out great! found out that using the scroll button I could go back to my general screen and it would buzz me at the right times, SWEET. I could switch back and forth between the two screens easily with my big ole winter gloves too. Did a total of 19km. to day, NICE. A bit behind last year but I think I will catch up ! I want to ride over 3000k this year!

The progress bar on the top shows I am making progress on the fitness strategy. Learning that fitness is the ultimate goal with a healthy level of body fat around 20-25% is the ultimate. I started somewhere around 36% at the beginning of 2010. I have lost 17lb, gained some muskel, so I don't know what percent I am today. Tammy from believe fitness will not test us again until the class is over at the end of march. My goal is have lost 30 lbs and near 32% body fat. weight wise I have a 2 goals - 245lb by july 1 and to settle around 25% (205lb?) about this time in 2011.  We shall see if I obtain these goals - steady exercise and balanced calorie intake will get me there soon enough. Keep watching and encouraging. So far I am 4 months ahead of any time in the past 5 years when I was this svelt! I always seem to start at Jan 1 for a goal near The MS Tour in June, as a bench mark.
GBTTFN - Larry
okay the picture was from Last year but hey.....