Happy New Year 2008

RCN Closes After 16+ Years

This was posted on the Recumbent Cyclist blog this morning

"After 101 issues published, the print newsletter Recumbent Cyclist News has closed. RCN 102 was completed earlier this month, but we could not afford to print and mail it. Some of the articles are here on the blog. Further updates will also be placed here. Needless to say, we are devastated by the closing and loss of our business and livelihood. We would like to thank all of our friends, readers, supporters and sponsors. All are listed here in the sidebar links.
Bob Bryant
RCN Publisher 1990-2007"

I enjoyed reading the Recumbent Cyclist News. I am going to miss it very much.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from EZ Nashville.


Have a very Merry Christmas

May 2008 be a very good year for you.

With Many, Many Miles of enjoyable bike/trike riding.

Nashville Greenways are being finished.

Just received the following letter from my friend. Looks like we have some new miles to ride and some soon to come.

Just rode the Greenway at Two Rivers Park. The new Heartland Park Greenway section has all three miles of fence built for cattle/bull safety and is open all the way to Lebanon Road!

It is a scenic high with all the trees, Stones and Cumberland River, plus farm land up to the golf course.

Also the new hand railings are installed and being painted on the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge and is close to finish. New grass is growing on the north side Shelby Bottoms berm and the concrete is painted. Steel sections remain and the entrance ramp on the East side has to be paved to the Briley Parkway tunnel.

2008 looks really good for us bikers with all this work coming to completion.

Dennis

Happy Thanksgiving
Lets not forget the multitude of blessings that we as Americans have and most of the time do not even consider.
In his presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving, President Bush states:

Thanksgiving Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Americans are a grateful people, ever mindful of the many ways we have been blessed. On Thanksgiving Day, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, the people we love, and the gifts of our prosperous land.
Our country was founded by men and women who realized their dependence on God and were humbled by His providence and grace. The early explorers and settlers who arrived in this land gave thanks for God's protection and for the extraordinary natural abundance they found. Since the first National Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed by President George Washington, Americans have come together to offer thanks for our many blessings. We recall the great privilege it is to live in a land where freedom is the right of every person and where all can pursue their dreams. We express our deep appreciation for the sacrifices of the honorable men and women in uniform who defend liberty. As they work to advance the cause of freedom, our Nation keeps these brave individuals and their families in our thoughts, and we pray for their safe return.
While Thanksgiving is a time to gather in a spirit of gratitude with family, friends, and neighbors, it is also an opportunity to serve others and to share our blessings with those in need. By answering the universal call to love a neighbor as we want to be loved ourselves, we make our Nation a more hopeful and caring place.
This Thanksgiving, may we reflect upon the past year with gratefulness and look toward the future with hope. Let us give thanks for all we have been given and ask God to continue to bless our families and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2007, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved ones to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH

The 11 most bicycle friendly cities in the world

http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.asp

Some are in the United States.

BTW Nashville is not one of them.

Make sure you can be seen.

I was driving a four lane road with no shoulders to speak of and it was real dark. I saw this tiny little white reflected light coming toward me in my lane. What it turned out to be was a rider of a bike with dark clothing. No reflective clothing, no lights on his bike. The only thing that saved him was the tiny reflector that came with his bike.

Now as far as I am concerned this is a stupid thing to do. You are asking to be hit.

I thought I would tell you what happened hoping it will make you think about safety and being seen.

Vultures, Deer and Possum

Temp: 69, windy, sunny clear

On the way to Peeler Park Greenway I topped a hill and there were 5 Vultures in the middle of the road. They jumped out of the way of the car but right after I went by they were back in the middle of the road. I have never seen that many on the ground and that close. They are really big and makes a crow look like a blackbird comparatively.

I had a nice ride through the Greenway and then went up Neely's Bend to the Peeler Park Air Field. No one was out flying their remote control aircraft, but it made for a very nice ride. Got a small dog to chase me almost 1/2 mile. I was going slow enought that he thought he could catch me and would not give up. I saw Deer and a Possum so it was a good day for wildlife watching too.

6.7 miles in the Quest for Fitness. 207 miles total

Still not connected!

Temp: 75 degrees, Perfect Fall riding weather.

I took my EZ3 over to the Stones River green way. Starting at Heartland park. It is still not opened up past the bridge. I was told the owner of the land says that the fence is not correct to keep his bulls from breaking it down. So it is in court, I guess. The next time I am going up to the Cole's parking lot and ride the Stones River Green way to the Dam.
I rode what was there and around the Soccer fields until I rode 5.5 miles.

A perfect day!

5.5 miles in the Quest for Fitness, 200.35 total miles

New 2008 EZ3

This was taken at the Interbike show by Bryan Ball of BentRider online

A lot of changes.

Three that stick out are:

New frame

New handlebar design

All the same size wheels

Reason for not posting

Because of heat, health and computer problems, I did not post but once last month. I have not felt like riding because of the heat and problems with my health.
I also have had a computer crash on me and I am posting from another borrowed computer. Hoping to get in some riding this month before it gets too cold.

A Warm Morning Ride

Temp 80, dead calm, humid

Went out on this Labor day and rode 2.5 miles. Before the ride I tightened up the bolts all around.
The handlebar was getting too loose and was moving toward you at the slightest pull.
All is tight now.

2.5 miles in the Quest for Fitness 194.85 total miles

A great morning ride.

temp: 75, sunny

I rode the trike for the first time in a long time this morning.( since August 2)

The weather has been so hot that it looks like the fall season already.
This is the last day of August . It has been the the hottest August in recorded time in Nashville.
14 days over 102 degrees and a total of 24 days over 95 degrees


Leaves are on the ground and many trees are dying.


Grass and some bushes are dead.

I thought it has been too hot to ride.

It had been so long since the trike has been ridden that the front tire was almost flat. So I aired up all the tires and the air horn and rode 2.5 miles keeping speed down and enjoying it immensely. Good to be back on the trike.

This is the first time I have tested out the clipless pedals. They are nice but I move the heel of my left foot around so much that it sometimes comes unclipped when I am messing around on the bike while not riding. Not annoying, but happens more than I thought. It is nice to be clipped to the pedal when you are spinning at a high rate. No fear of the foot slipping off the pedal.

2.5 miles in the Quest of Fitness 192.6 total

Walk the Whites Creek Greenway this Saturday

Mayor Bill Purcell will conclude his monthly walks in the park at 9 a.m., Saturday, August 25 on the Whites Creek Greenway, located at 2801 Tucker Road, Nashville, Tennessee across from the Hartman Regional Community Center at the Hartman Park Trailhead. The event, which will proceed regardless of the weather, is free and open to the public walk or ride with the Mayor.

The Whites Creek Greenway is another important step in the development of a network of greenway trails and corridors. The Whites Creek Greenway, which extends one mile from the Hartman Park Community Center toward Clarksville Highway, is a multi-use trail following a scenic route along Whites Creek.

For further information, contact:
Sandra Roberts, 880-1827

I've been there!

Cumberland River Bridge

The first Cumberland River Bridge Span is up on the Greenway!


Picture by Dennis Carney

This bridge will connect the Shelby Bottoms greenway to the Stones River greenway in downtown
Nashville

Fitness Review Standard vs Recumbent bikes

I have not been riding on these 100 to 104 degree days.
Hope next week will be better. I am missing the ride.

Here is an article about the comparison of the wear on the body caused by the different types of bikes.

Residents try to stop Whites Creek Greenway extension

Whites Creek Pike residents fear path through yards will ruin privacy, bring crime.

This was the theme of todays article in the Tennessan.

The Whites Creek Preservation Society will hold a meeting tonight to discuss the greenway project. The meeting will begin at 6:30 in the old James Gang Building on Whites Creek Pike, near the intersection with Old Hickory Boulevard.

Today I'm a Weather Wuss

After looking at the 100 degree prediction and seeing it 93 degrees by 11:00 AM, I decided to do my exercises and lift weights inside and forgo the outside exercise today. That is sad because I have not been able to use my new clipless system yet.

Old Folks Warning

It is hot, hot, hot. They told old folks not to breath this air.
But being an older folk you must breath this air or .......

Temp is over 100 with "chill" factor and I will probably not be riding the next few days.
I sat on my trike today and adjusted the cleat tension on the pedals and practiced clipping in and releasing the cleat from the pedal. No sweat releasing because you can move your heel either way and the cleat comes out of the pedal. What produces sweat is sitting on the bike in this heat and doing much of anything! Also getting to know where the cleat is on the bottom of shoe and getting them to connect to the pedal is alot harder. But it is becoming easier each time I do it.

I hope it is not as hot and dry where you are as it is here.

Clipless pedals

Well I finally bought me some clipless pedals. I have waited because I have a lot of people ride my trike and with most clipless pedals they could not do that. I discovered the Shimano pedal that is half and half. One side is a platform pedal and the other side has a SPD cleat receiver. So my family can still ride the trike and I can attach on the other side.



The other thing I bought was a pair of Shimano sandals. The SPD system I bought is less expensive than most of the clipless systems and will allow you to disconnect by twisting your feet either way. What is nice about the trike, you do not have to worry about your balance while clipping or unclipping the cleat into the pedals. These sandals also allow you to walk while off the bike. The cleats are recessed in the sole of the shoe.



I will test these over the next few days and give my feelings about them.

RAGBRAI Review

Dan posted some pictures and comments about a fun ride across Iowa.

Stones River Greenway

Temp: 78-83, Partly cloudy

Got up and took the trike to the greenway. Got an early start because it was going to be 96 today.
Started at the Heartland Park trail head and started riding toward the bridge. The Mayor walked it a month ago so I assumed that it was open. I was traveling across the bridge and was going around 9 miles an hour and turned the corner and almost ran into the barricade. The trail is paved and looks like it is fenced and looks good but you can not continue on after you pass over the bridge.

this is looking back at the bridge after crossing

A picture looking from the bridge.

After taking these pictures, I went east on the greenway. The HILL that comes up to McGavock Pike is a 28 % grade according to my Edge 205. I do not know who the engineer was that designed that slope but he was not a bicyclist. I made it up but had to stop 4 times. The greenway goes under the road and meanders besides the golf course and football practice fields and is quite pretty. It does have a few more hills but nothing like the HILL.
It will be nice to see the whole Stones River Greenway open.
You will be able to go from the Wave Pool all the way to the Percy Priest Dam. A real nice ride. And when the Cumberland River bridge is done the ride will be from the middle of town to the dam.

7.5 miles in the Quest for Fitness. 190.1 miles total

Tennessee Tax Free Weekend

The state's tax-free weekend is Aug. 3-5. Clothes, school supplies, computers and art supplies will be sales-tax-free.

That will save you around 10 % on Bike clothes, clipless shoes etc.

The New SUV?

Not about recumbents but this article is interesting.
I do not believe that the American will ever ride bikes or scooters as much as smaller European countries but our thinking is changing.

The New SUV

The Loop again

Temp 88, muggy

I rode the Loop again. The final climb was a hard one. It was so hot and humid I had to stop 3 times but did not get off the Trike.

2.6 miles in the Quest for Fitness 182.6 total miles

Mirrors sure make it safer.

temp 85 right before the rain.

Sorry I have been having trouble signing on to the Blog.

I got in 2 miles today. I also set up the trike so that my youngest daughter could try it out. She really likes the feel of sitting back and riding comfortably. She at first did not like the turning of the trike because you don't lean but it become more comfortable as she rode more.
I got my new mirror installed. Like I said earlier it is really scary and unsafe without a rear view mirror.

I also got a mirror that attaches to my glasses.
I am still getting use to it. It is very light and fits on any type of glasses even my wire rims. I think you could really become accustomed to this mirror because it is always right there.

2 miles in the Quest for Fitness. 180 miles total

Nashville's On-Road Bikeways and Off-Road Paths

Map of Nashville's On-Road Bikeways and Off-Road Paths

Changing Cranksets.

A real interesting discussion of cranksets over on The Recumbent Blog.
As you know, from a former blog entry, I changed my crank set to a lower number of teeth because of the hills.

Enjoyable ride.

Temp: 81, Low humidity

I went out and tried to find a bar end mirror for the trike. The LBS did not have a long one, with the shorter handlebars on the EZ 3, I had to order one. I also ordered a mirror that attach to your glasses. I have always wanted to try one of those out. Will be in Wed. next week. I will comment on how I like them.

Not having a mirror I decided on a slow easy ride in the neighborhood. It was the most enjoyable ride I have had in a while. My hill climbing abilities are improving to the point that I can enjoy some of the hills too. I am going to have to tighten the Allen screw mentioned yesterday every day before the ride until I can find a solution.

I have posted a question on the Bentrider Trike forum. We will see if there is an answer. I talked to the LBS owner and might have come up with a solution that will require a machine shop. More on that later if I need to go that route.

Have fun, get fit, ride safe.

3.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 178 miles total

Break Down.

temp: 83 low humidity

Started around the loop again today. Got half way around and the idler chain came off the back axle toothed wheel again. I also realized for the first time, since this happened on hill, that your rear disc break does not work when this chain comes off.
As I was tipping over the bike to fix the chain I also broke my mirror off. OOPS.
I got the chain on but the Allen screw did not tighten as well as I wanted. So some of the BIG hill I talked about yesterday, was walked. I did not want to chance breaking the chain until I could get the wheel tightened. BTW riding without a mirror is scary and unsafe. Two things that need to be fixed is a new mirror, and someway to keep the allen screw from backing out.

Two miles in the "Quest for Fitness", 174.5 total.

Tunes to Ride!

I used my speakers and my MP3 player yesterday. As you can see in the picture below it is fastened to my left handlebar along with the bag that comes with it hooked around the handlebar so the MP3 player can ride in there while playing. The bag is big enough that you can carry the player and speakers with you when you leave the trike.



The MP3 player is a 1 Gig Sandisk Sansa Express player. It has all the bells and whistles needed to play everything I want. It has the capability to add additional memory by adding micro SD cards. The color screen is only big enough to see thumbnail size pictures but that is not my use for it. It also can not be uploaded by ITunes software but Windows Media player is sufficient. On the positive side it does not cost as much as any IPOD and has a FM Tuner that works well while on the trike.

The "I Ride" speakers are well made and are powered by three AAA batteries. There is a switch for off or on but there is no volume control on the speakers. Volume is dependent on the input devise. In this set up the Sandisk can make the volume loud enough to ride and listen comfortably. It is not a boom box, but people you pass know that you have a sound system.

Good system for what I want.

A Goal Accomplished !

Temp: 91, breezy and warm

I took off on a 3.25 mile ride at 6:30pm. It was around a big loop. Nice easy ride for the first 2.5 miles. Either downhill or flat ride. Then the final hills started. Remember at the first of the Summer I wanted to climb the hill from Dickerson Rd. to my house.
Well I did it tonight with out getting off the trike. I did stop once to rest for about a minute. The Edge 205 computer said that the grade on that hill is near 18% for about a quarter of a mile. Other hills on the loop are 12%, 9% and 11%. As I said I live in a Hilly area. Now my goal is to use this loop and lap it twice.
It is nice to know that my hill climbing is improving. It also helps to have tunes to listen too while riding. I will write up my setup tomorrow. I have mentioned the speakers already in a prior post.

3.25 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 172.5 total miles.

Final Report on RAAM

The Bacchetta website outlines their race-winning 2007 RAAM effort.

Cooler and less humidity

temp: 80 partly cloudy

After being off a week 2 1/2 miles in these hills really was a pretty good workout.
I have yet to blow my horn at anyone. Not a lot of traffic.
Before I rode I checked the nuts and bolts and filled the tire. Waxed and lubed the bike. The back wheel Allen screw is holding tight after the Loctite treatment.

2.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Sickness, rain and heat

Sickness, rain and heat
I'm sorry I have not ridden in a week.

Will try to do better tomorrow.

Bicycle Repair

Here are two bicycle repair sites that offer a lot of information
Not recumbent but as my mechanic says, "Bikes are Bikes"

Park Tool... Repair

Harris Cyclery... repair by Sheldon Brown

Air Zound Horn

The last gadget I have added to my Trike is an Air Zone Horn. This is a compressed air horn that produces 115 decibel sound. To be used only in an emergency. The bell is for other warnings.


The bottle sits in my right water bottle holder and it is easily filled to 80 lbs pressure with my pump through an attachment under the trigger on the horn.
The bottle never need moving to fill.



The horn is on the right of the handlebars and can be actuated with the thumb. Out of the way and very usable.

Maybe the drivers that don't see me will now hear me.

Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee

This event is held every year in September.

BRAT

Happy Independance Day

temp 74,, Partly Cloudy cool breeze



Went out for a ride this morning. Really a nice 4th of July. After not riding for a week the two miles were enough to tire me out.

Two miles in the "Quest for Fitness" Total 167.75 miles

Nashville Weather

Nashville had its 4th driest first half of any year on record and the driest January through June since 1988. Rainfall totaled 15.84 inches from January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007. The driest January through June ever in Nashville was back in 1941 when only 10.04 inches of rain fell, followed by 1986 and 1988.

Stopping the Allen bolt from moving

When I asked the "EZ racers forums" what I should do about the Allen bolt backing out of the big wheel on the axle. I was told to use loctite on the bolt to keep it from backing out. This evening I backed the bolt out and put loctite (green) on it and screwed it back in very tight. The green has a 5 minute time delay before setting up so that comes in handy. I will let it cure overnight before riding the bike and I will give you a critique of its longevity.

Active Tunes portable speakers

I received my portable speakers from I-Ride today.
There is a review of them by Joel Waxman over at "My Recumbent Days" Blog.

I bought them so that I did not have to wear earphones while triking. They work well, sound very clear. My DVD player does not over power them. I have not received my MP-3 player I ordered so I can play music and an audio Bible while I ride. What is nice it has a small bag that will carry the mp 3 player while riding and is big enough to carry the speakers and player when you are off the bike to keep them safe. I was going to mount them on the back of the seat so they would be closer to my head but the bar is too small for the mount. Things are hard to mount on the EZ 3 because the horizontal bar is too small. So I had to mount it on the left hand vertical handlebar. Should be nice, I will review it more when I get the rest of the system.

Reds need a "different voice…a different approach.''

Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky today praised Jerry Narron but said he and CEO Bob Castellini decided to fire him because the last-place team needed a "different voice … a different approach.''

Krivsky said advance scout Pete Mackanin (pronounced mah-CAN-in), 55, will be interim manager of a team with the worst record in baseball. A search will begin for a permanent manager.

He does have a connection with Nashville. In 1990, he won the American Association Eastern Division title as the manager of the Nashville Sounds.

I have been sick the last few days and have not ridden. Looks like tomorrow will be good.

Nashville Metro Parks Budget

A cyclist passes a nature center under construction in Shelby Bottoms. Denial of a proposed parks budget increase means the center and two others, plus a history center, will open later than planned and with reduced hours and staff.

from Tennessean. com

The three new $750,000 nature centers, at the Beaman, Bells Bend and Shelby Bottoms parks, were scheduled to open between August and September with staffing costs running at a combined $589,000 annually. Parks Department Director Roy Wilson will now recommend opening the Shelby Bottoms center in October, the Bells Bend center in January and the Beaman center in February, with reduced staff and operating hours. The City Paper

I would think that this would also slow down the building of greenway extensions also, such as finishing the Peeler Park Greenway. my opinion

New Greenway Ride

temp: 91, hot and clear

Today after Vacation Bible School I took my bike down to the very end of Neely's Bend Rd to Peeler's Park and rode the new green way. For those that know that the model aircraft runway is also in Peeler's park, don't turn there you cannot get on the greenway from there. Go on down the Rd until you come to this sign.



There is a boat ramp there and the trail head. The Trail Head is to the left of the parking lot.



The greenway is a little over a mile now finished. In the next year there will be a loop at the end and a boardwalk on the river. It now is a very smooth ride with very little grades. Of course not many people in the middle of the day. Some fisherman were there and asked about the EZ 3. Most of them have not seen anything like it.

5.25 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" total of 165.75 miles

The Cycling Mayor?

I ran across this and thought it was interesting.
David Briley is a candidate for Nashville Mayor in this next election.
This is a Bike news item only and is not an endorsement for any candidate by this blogger. ts

The Cycling Mayor? by Michael Cass
Mayor Bill Purcell drives a Saturn. David Briley would ride a Masi.
For the uninitiated (like me), that’s a bike. Briley told The Tennessean’s editorial board last week that he would ride his bike to work “as many days as I possibly can” if he became Nashville’s next mayor. He said he could ride along greenways most of the way from his Inglewood home to the Historic Courthouse.
“It’s the only way I ever get any exercise,” he said.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 at 10:12 am and is filed under Metro Dispatch

After Dark

Temp: 73, cloudy

"After Dark" use to be the name of a screen saver program a long time ago, 1990

This evening's ride was cool and nice. I talked with a neighbor couple that were walking with their Great Dane. With me being on the EZ 3 recumbent, he and I looked at each other eye to eye!

The Edge 205 computer worked well. I rode 2.5 miles, averaged 5.1 miles an hour, the grade in front of my neighbor's house is 10%, I know how many calories I burnt and how long it took me to do all of this. If I stop the bike the calculations stop until I start again. I am able to download the info into my PC and keep the history of my rides and totals. It is easily mounted and easily taken off the bike so it can be kept secure.

All that is worth the 94 dollars I spent for it on EBAY.

It's MSRP is $269

Now, I personally believe that is too much.

2.5 miles in the ""Quest for Fitness" total of 160.5 miles

Garmin Edge 205

I am excited about a new purchase I bought. The Garmin Edge 205 is charging as I type.
It is a GPS bike computer.

The poster at wedgiefree blog has a preview of it here.
I am waiting for his complete review.
He has yet to post any thing about it other than this.

As I test it out I will put up more information, likes and dislikes.
I am excited with my new toy.

The last 48 hours Team Velokraft

http://teamvelokraft.blogspot.com/2007/06/last-48-hours.html

Info on Team Velokraft in the RAAM

Here is the info about what happen to Glenn of Team Velokraft.
This is Dana of Bent Up Cycles

http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?p=267069#poststop

Nice ride after the rain

Temp. 73, cloudy

I was able to get back on the trike after a few days layoff because of knee problems.
Waited until after the rain today and was able to ride in the coolness of the evening.

3 miles in the "Quest of Fitness", 158 miles total.

Bacchetta Wins RAAM

Team Bacchetta/Military Families Foundation has won the RAAM 2007 two-person recumbent category, completing the 3042.8 mile course in 7 days 00:26. Their average speed over the 3000+ miles was 18.07 mph.

What a great effort to almost do it in the 6th day.

Team Velokraft made it a very exciting race and it would have been much closer if one of the team members was not able to race because of Dr's orders for 12 hours. Causing the other member to finish the last 350 miles solo.

A New Greenway in Nashille

MAYOR BILL PURCELL OPENS NEW GREENWAY AT PEELER PARK
Park Features Greenway, Wetlands, and Equestrian Trail

Peeler Park is an important natural area in the Cumberland River watershed. Except for public use of the model plane airstrip located near the Peeler homestead, the property was landbanked until 2007. Development of the park has been made possible through the 2002 Parks & Greenways Master Plan.
The park, when finished will include a nature center, additional paved trails, permanent restrooms, an equestrian trailhead and parking, and a river overlook.
After a brief dedication ceremony, Mayor Bill Purcell, Councilman Jim Forkum and Greenways representatives will lead a walk on the 1.5 mile paved scenic trail.

The park is located at 2043 Neely's Bend Road - Madison, TN

Race Across America

Since my left knee will not let me ride. Let me show you a small race.
How would you like to go over three thousand miles across the US in 6 to 9 days on a bike?

That is what happening at this very time. Solo bikes are into the 5th day and the teams are in the 3rd day.



Above this is one of the recumbent two man teams going through a lonely stretch in Arizona.
There are two recumbent teams racing. Team Bacchetta was running approximately 2 hours ahead of Team Velokraft. But both are in 2nd and third place among the teams.

Check out all the info on RAAM here.

In the Neighborhood part three!

Temp: 73, Sunny

BTW when I give the temp it is what it is when I ride.

My daughter in law climbed back on the trike that has been throwing chains on her again. She had a nice ride of about 2 1/2 miles and the "Red's Rider 3" was nice to her today. I also went two miles even though my left knee was inflamed. I did not do any hills just a boring back and forth on flat surfaces.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 155 total.

Nuts, Bolts and Screws

Temp: 79, partly cloudy

I did not get to write this yesterday so there will be two today.
Now this is what I mean by the above. You are told to check the tightness of all nuts, bolts and screws very frequently when riding a bike or trike. Remember the Allen screw that holds on the toothed idle chain wheel that I had tightened by the LBS when I got my new back chain. Well I have not checked it since. The wrong thing to do. I had ridden my bike the night before and as I said my daughter rode it almost 2.5 miles too. So my daughter in law got on it this morning, Tuesday, and went down the hill all the way to the bottom (2 miles and was going to come back up and the chain came off because the wheel was loose. She did not have an Allen wrench set on the bike so she walked all the way back. Pretty frustrating. I fixed it and also rode. So check those items often!

3 miles in the "Quest of Fitness" 153 miles total.

New Riders

Temp: 83, cloudy

I introduced EZ 3 trike riding to two new people. My aunt and my oldest daughter. My Daughter rode almost 2 miles and was very successful at climbing the hills around the house. She realized how much exercise you can get on a recumbent.
I rode three miles around the neighborhood. It was cloudy today holding the temperature down. Quite nice.

3 miles in the "Quest of Fitness" 150 miles total.

Early Morning Ride

Temp: 68, clear.

Rode an early morning ride. Only two miles but over half of that was climbing hills, The haze is gone and it is a beautiful Middle, Tennessee day. Vanderbilt is in the finals of the NCAA baseball SE regional against Michigan. They have both won a game so it is a one game final tonight. BTW If Cincinnati was leading by 6 runs in the 7th they should win it right? Wrong. Give it to the bullpen and it is a goner.

Two miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 147 miles total

Bad Air

Nashville has a case of air that you can see, taste, and have trouble breathing.
The old and young have been warned.
Here is the sun going down and you can hardly see it through the haze.



This has been a great day friends of mine took me out for a great birthday dinner.

Perspective (Or Lack Thereof)

Alan Barnard over at The Recumbent Blog wrote an excellent article about why recumbents aren't as popular as they should be. [Link]

A Fix

Temp 84, Hazy
Forest fires in Georgia and Florida, are resulting in lowered air quality in Nashville to moderate.

A friend of mine said that I should be careful or I would break the wire on my speedometer on the EZ 3 since I was carrying it on the bicycle rack. Well it did break. I looked for a wireless speedometer to replace it. But most wireless will not transmit the distance to the top cross piece on the bike's handlebar. 70 mm was the farthest it would transmit so it would be down on the bar below the water bottle. So since it did not give me any more advantage than the wired, I repaired my wired speedometer. It was broken in the middle of the wire. If it had pulled out of the head or the pickup this might not be possible. Another friend of mine separated the two small wires soldered them and used shrink tubing to make the repair water proof.



Works well. I just have to be more careful.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 145 miles total.

New Route

Temp: 83, Sunny

This is the hardest route I have taken. It is only 2 miles long but 1/2 of it is uphill. I drop down hill from my house for 1/2 mile and then have to climb back to it in a series of up hill climbs in the next mile and 1/2.
With out the new Mt gearing on my front chain rings, 44, 34, 22, I would not be able to do it.


I only had to stop 3 times. Hopefully I will get able to do this time after time for a 10 mile ride before the Summer is out.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" Total of 143 miles

My Mistake

I went back to the Cumberland Transit bike shop and found out that the rear idler toothed wheel that is attached to the back axle, had the Allen bolt come loose and was moved to the right far enough that the chain had broken 3 lengths. Bolt tightened and a new final chain put on and it works like a top. I am still amazed how much easier it is to climb hills. No strain it is not, but still much easier.
3 miles in the "Quest of Fitness" 141 miles total

What a difference.

When I got my trike out of the LBS the difference in the smaller chain rings is unbelievable. The only thing is that while testing them on a local greenway I had a problem. About 3 miles into my ride the idler chain that goes from my cassette to the back axle starting popping and then came off. It would not stay on. So back to the shop again. I believe that when adjusting the back cassette so it would smoothly go into low gear it canted the idler wheel too much and the chain will not stay on.

Will find out and take pictures and post later today.

3 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" and then a three mile walk.

New Parts.

I have not been able to ride for the last two days because the trike is in the LBS, Cumberland Transit, to replace the chainrings and a complete tune up. Will fill you in when I get it back on how much better it climbs and functions

A battle Cruizer

Here is a EZ -3 that has been modified a little

A little afternoon ride.

Temp 81 , calm and clear

Got some exercise in before Church tonight.

3 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 135 miles total.

The hills are alive....

Temp 74, blue skies

This was a beautiful day for a ride.
My Wife got on the trike for the first time to ride in over 34 years.

A great day.

3.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 132 miles total.

The Choppy Cumberland River

Temp: 69, very windy

I went back to the Metro Center Levee bike path. Had a nice ride of over 81/2 miles.
The wind was blowing so much that there were whitecaps on the Cumberland River

Most of the weeds are blooming making a different type of flower than when I last rode this
green way.

I then got off the Green way at the other end and rode the bike lanes around the industrial area.



This is the dome over the practice field of the Tennessee Titans.

As I came around the last bend of the road there was this pool

8.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 128.5 total miles

Bike to Work Day.

Bike, walk,

carpool, canoe,

hop, skip or jump!

But leave your car at home Friday, May 18, 2007

National Bike-Walk to Work Day

Commuters! It's National Bike/Walk to Work day when thousands of commuters will leave their car at home and try a new way to commute.

It's a day to celebrate the freedom of getting to work without a car, high-priced gasoline, commuting costs, or parking hassles while doing something good for your health and the environment.

Walk, bike, carpool or hop on a bus to work, if you live far away, drive to a nearby Park and Ride lot and bike from there or, check-out your local bus system to see if they can carry your bike part of the way.

Also, this week is Bike- to- Work Week, and the month of May is Bike Month.

After Dark

Rode my three miles after dark tonight. I put on the Cateye LED Head and tail lights and had a nice cool ride right before the rain storm.

Real nice.

3 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 120 total miles.

Goodbye To My First recumbent

Temp 83, clear

Sold my EZ-1 SX today. Looks like it is going to a person that will ride it often.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 117 total miles

Beautiful Horses and People

I have not ridden in two days.
Yesterday, I worked the 2007 Iroquois Steeplechase from dawn to sunset. A beautiful day.
Too tired to ride when I got home.
Today it is a lot cooler and would be a great day to ride but I am sick and cannot, so here is a picture of Red's Rider 3 with all the additional gear added on.

Up that hill with a Wheel Chair!

Temp: 89, cloudy, humid

I rode 5 miles today. Getting the hills down. Easily climbed if you can stop a while. I am a third of the way to my summer goal of getting from Dickerson Rd. up the hill to my house. So much easier when you do not have to worry about balance.


The other day when we were riding we heard a child say, "Hey Mom, look at the wheel chair bikes". From the picture below you can see why he would think that.



5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 115 total.

A New Ride

Temp: 87, partly cloudy

While in Dayton I was able to pick up a new ride.

Red's Rider 3



I spent most of the afternoon installing all the equipment from the EZ-1 to the EZ-3 trike

Then I spent time riding it. It is enjoyable not to have to worry about balancing the trike while climbing hills. It is a heavier but a more comfortable and solid ride.

3 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 110 miles total.

Vacation With Dad

Temp. 81, Sunny

I have ridden 6 miles this week. Did not ride any last week because I was in Dayton visiting my Dad and we went to Washington DC. We were just plain tourists. Had a great time.



The above is a picture of John Velbeck's EZ 3 AX. It is quite different than the EX 3 SX. It is made of aluminum with canted back wheels. All the wheels are 20 inchers with disc brakes and Big Apple tires. John has added shorter cranks with elliptical mountain rings of 44-34-24. Something I need for the hills around here. He also has added an electrical motor to help in hill climbing.
Good looking bike.

6 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 107 total.

Back and Forth on the Street where I live.

Temp: 72, windy

Rode today after setting up Kid City Layout

3 miles in the "Quest for Fitness" 101 total

Back in the Saddle

Temp: 68 beautiful clear day.

The last 4 days away from home messed up this week's mileage.
Only rode 2 miles today before dark. Good to be back on the bike.

The answer to the "Where In Nashville"



James Polk and his wife are buried on the east side of the Tennessee Capital's lawn.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness", 98 total miles.

Sun EZ 1: The People's Bent

Temp: 61, cloudy

I was going through the Recumbent Cyclist blog and and found Bob Bryant review of the EZ 1.

Sun EZ 1: The People's Bent

I road 3.5 miles between rain showers today.

3.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness", 18.25 miles this week, 96 miles total.

Cold and Windy

temp: 50, clear, cold wind




This is the final of the three flags that I am flying now. Cincinnati Reds
I have rooted for them for 52 years

3.25 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Windy

Temp: 54, clear, windy

Rode only a short while today.
Feeling kind of dizzy and the wind was gusting and cold.
Still noticing the improvement that the extenders give to the pedaling of the bike on hills.

Received myfirst issue of the Recumbent Cyclist News (RCN) today.

Looking forward to reading it tonight. Looks interesting.

2 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Between Rain storm with extenders

Temp: 68, rainy

Well I received my pedal extenders from "Norm Simpson" yesterday.




I can not believe how much difference it makes. Installation was easy took about 2 minutes.
They are labeled L or R because of the different threading for each side. The only thing is the extenders use a metric 19 and my pedals use metric 15 wrench.



These allow me to pedal and my heels do not hit the crank arm. I do not have to worry about keeping my feet straight.

Norm sells these or 20 dollars plus 5 dollars for shipping. That is cheaper than any I have found and they are a quality item. He excepts Pay Pal also. Norm Simpson< rdsnorman@cox.net>

I do not work for Norm in any way just a satisfied customer.

2.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Hill Climbing Continued.

temp: 62, Clear

Rode 3.5 miles and kept climbing bigger hills. Rode in the Neighborhood. Set a goal for myself to climb the hill from Dickerson Rd. It is a long hill over a mile in distance. I have never been a hill climber so this is going to be a real challenge for me.




This was the other flag that I received. I was in the Air Force.
My Son is in the Air Force stationed in IRAQ

I have added more links to EZ recumbents.

3.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness.

Climbing Hills

Temp: 55, Clear

The tempature rose to above 50 so I grabbed the bike and rode 3.5 miles in the neighborhood.
I am climbing hills in 1-3 that I could not climb last week in any gear. I am looking at bigger and bigger hills.
Felt great to ride again. It is becoming addictive.


Ohio Flag

I recieved a couple of new flags and flew one today. Ohio's State flag is a double pendent flag.
It is my home state. I like the looks of it on the bike.

3.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Where In Nashville.

It has not been above 33 degrees in the last two days.
So no riding of the bike.

I would like to do something different on the days I am not riding.

Where in Nashville is the item in the picture below located?




James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States.
He is buried at this site along with his wife Sarah.

Where is it located?

Answer in the comments section of this post.
After a week if no one gets it right the answer will be given.

Total milage for the week in the "Quest for Fitness" was 2.5 miles, total of 78.8 miles

Ice on the Pumpkin

Temp: 44, Clear

Well if there were pumpkins still in the Pumpkin Patch they would have ice on them last night.
It went below freezing.



Sunday, after I took this picture, it started raining big time and the temperature took a dive.
So today was my first time to ride this week. Around the neighborhood for 2.5 miles.

Sure does feel great to get back on the bike.

When I went to the doctor yesterday and stepped up on the scale I had lost 3 pounds. My blood pressure and sugar was in the right range and the Doctor said "I see you got your bike out and are riding again".

2.5 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Murfreesboro's Greenway

Temp: 72, Ptly Cloudy

The EZ group went on their second Saturday ride on the Murfreesboro Greenway.
Covered the distance of 14.7 miles 3 Tads, 2 EZ 3s and one EZ 1.
A beautiful ride along Stones River, the CSX railroad and a 4 mile ride through the Battlefield.


This was taken at the end of the ride.

Lost my cell phone and the gentleman that picked it up is going to COD it back to me Monday. Whew, won't have to replace the phone and all those numbers!!

14.6 miles in the "Quest of Fitness", 44.8 second week, 76.3 miles total

East Bank Greenway

Temp: 76, partly cloudy

Rode the East bank of the Cumberland down by the Titan's Stadium. (LP Field) Plenty of area to ride all level and interesting . You also have to deal with the homeless asking about your bike. (Never seen one like that before)



Too small of a picture of !st Ave from the east bank, River Front Park and Fort Negley.

I rode the Greenway multiple times and the railroad tracks are within 10 feet of the greenway.
I then decided to ride around the stadium and that was when two switchers pulling two gondolas of junk came through the park. Bummer, this is as close as I came to them. If only they would have come through 15 minutes earlier........




I rode about 7 miles and was about to quit when I got with another biker and he was going to Shelby bottom greenway so we took off and traveled 2 1/2 miles over to the park.




On the way I saw this Center Cab Davenport Switcher in operation moving gondolas into position.




On the way back I took this picture of 3 ways to come into Nashville. River, Music City Star and the Highway.

12.5 miles in the "Quest of Fitness"

Between the rain showers.

temp: 65, cloudy

It rained all morning. This afternoon cleared enough to do a couple of miles.

2.4 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"

Tennessee History

Temp: 80 Partly Cloudy

I rode on the Bicentennial mall today. I arrived just in time to ride inside the bells of the carillon as they played for 15 minutes at Noon.



As you ride south on the Mall you see the Capital of Tennessee on the hill above you



Coming North toward the bells, you ride through granite walls telling the history of Tennessee
Each pillar is dated as a decade and the history of that decade is on the granite wall to your right.



I was the only bicycle there today but there were numerous walkers from the state buildings including my wife and some of her friends taking their lunch stroll.

It is a level ride if you stay in the mall itself. Some of the streets around it have hills.

6.7 miles in the "Quest for Fitness"