Last Ride of the Year 2017?

This afternoon, I decided it was nice enough to go for a ride, it was in the mid 50's so why not, we took off and the only thing cold was my ears, all was going well until I rounded a corner and didn't see the pot hole in the shadows, I hit it and punctured a tube, end of ride, I took the tire apart and then realized I didn't have a repair kit, or the right spare inner tube, a guy that lived right next to where I was sitting came out and offered to haul the Trike home for me, which he did and he refused any kind of payment! 

Well tomorrow I get a new tube repair kit and 2 better tubes and maybe tomorrow will
be the last ride of the year, It is supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow!

About 3 minutes later disaster struck!

Here is the Garmin report of the short ride before the flat!

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2352589811

October 8, 2017 Beautiful day for a ride.

Got a late start and so we decided to wait til after lunch, took off across the dam and rode thru Sinnissippi Park and out into the country, should have taken a country route, lots pf pedestrians, had to be continually on the look out for them, most of them have no idea of path etiquette, don't have any idea of which side of the path to be on. But still a beautiful day to ride. Look at the Garmin report for the Satellite view of the ride.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2070343901

1. Looking at the dam from the boat dock parking lot, east of the dam.

Sunday ride on the new Catrike Expedition

We rode with Misty, Judy's daughter yesterday, she bought Judy's old Trek PURE on Judy's new Townie,  which we traded in at Mead's Bike Shop in Sterling, IL, we rode about 14 miles, don't know for sure because the battery went dead on the Garmin.

But today we took a nice leisurely ride around Lake Sinississippi's southern shore, about 9 miles, it was a beautiful day for a ride, in the lower 70's with a gentle breeze, I just wanted to make some adjustments on the Catrike Expedition.

I was trying to get everything dialed in for me, mainly I was trying to get the head rest set the way I wanted it.

After several attempts I think I have it set about where I want it, I will probably make some minor adjustments, but it about perfect now.

Here I am coming up on the end of Riverview Road. Like I said it was a Beautiful day for a ride for the end of July!

I am truly impressed with the climbing ability of this Trike, I move right along, the gearing is perfect for hills and the open road. I can climb hills easier with this Catrike Expedition better than I could on the Sun Tadpole! 

7-9-17 Thomson to Savanna Revisited

Drove up to Thomson, Ilto ride from Thomson to Savanna,IL, we rode this several years ago and decided it was time to ride it again. It was a great day for a ride.

This was our Starting point at Thomson Causeway Recreational Area, beautiful Restroom facilities.

About 5 miles north of Thomson you start into the canopy of trees, makes for a cool ride.

We stopped for a short water break. Note my "Flare" Tail Light, nice and bright and blinking.

Not to much farther you come upon the first of two bridges.

The path is very well maintained.

On the east side for part of the way is Misquakee Lake.

This is the Railroad Overpass Bridge at Savanna, IL.

Here is a YouTube link for a video I shot riding theu the Canopy of Trees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fspgpl1rlXQ&feature=youtu.be

Here is a picture of me on the Sun EX Tad EZ.

Here is a Heads Up, when riding on a Recumbent Trike, be sure to use good Sunscreen or wear Biker pants, I didn't do either and here is the results, your legs are laid out nice and flat in the sun and for about 2 hours duration, I ended up with a good burn.

Learn from my mistake!

4th of July Ride on Trike

Increased the distance to almost 10 miles, getting better and easier. Shot a short video of the ride by Woodlawn east of Sinississippi Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVzY-5cfwEw&feature=youtu.be

Continuing to condition.

Went for a ride today on the Sun SX Tadpole SX trying to build up to where I am on a conventional Bicycle. Did about 8.5 miles, adding more everyday. New muscles are getting used to it.

Shot a little video of the trail from the Dillon Home to Sinississippi Park.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SbAtgL-S8&feature=youtu.be

I cannot figure out how to reduce the video file size in order to post directly on here, I have done it before, but for the life of me can't figure it out today. So I uploaded it to youtube and attached here.

Yes that is me huffing and puffing.

Getting some Conditioning on the Trike 6-30-17

Yesterday I got in some more conditioning on the Sun SX  Tad SX in preparation for the arrival of my new Catrike Expedition.

I rode across the dam and onto Sinississippi Park and back. Got in some good hills and some hard pedaling, as I said before riding a Recumbent Trike takes a new set of muscles. Got to build them up. I am also learning to just enjoy the ride, instead of push, push, push!

On the way back I stopped by the Dillon Home and took a picture of the Trike with the Steam Engine Switcher. I need a bigger more noticeable flag!

Also stopped on the north side of the dam and talked bikes with Dave, I see Dave every so often on the Canal.

Was a nice day for a ride.

Below is the Garmin Report, managed to hit 22 MPH on this ride. Yes it was down hill!

ttps://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1828662331

June 25, 2017 Short ride on the Sun Tadpole Trike

Bryce at our Bike Shop, Mead's Bike Shop has been after me to take the Sun Trike for a ride while I wait for the Catrike to show up. So this afternoon I hopped on and went for an 8 mile spin. I headed up 2nd Street in Rock Falls to the new Bike Path segment by the Holiday Inn.

Stopped on this new section of Bike path Near the Holiday Inn 

in Rock Falls, IL.

From here I headed back to the Hennepin Feeder Canal, there I headed south to the Route 40 Parking lot, turned around and headed home.

Sun 2016 EX Tadpole SX Recumbent on the feeder canal Bike Path.

I know it was short, but riding a trike takes an ew set of muscles to break in.

Here is the Garmin Report,

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1826193983

6-22-17 Decided to go with a Catrike Expidition

After much though I decided to go with a Catrike Expedition, the reason for this is, after doing all the upgrades on the Sun SX Tadpole EZ to get where I wanted to be, I might as well just start with the Catrike and have everything I wanted already factory. Not that the Sun was a bad bike, but because I am fussy I guess and wanted more. Some of the Highlights are the Aluminum frame, makes it lighter, 26" rear wheel little less effort and at my age, the less effort the better. Plus 30 speeds to choose from will make climbing hills easier. The downside is, 3 week wait. 

All I can say is Mead's Bike Shop in Sterling, IL and everyone there has been extremely helpful in this change we are making. Judy just loves her Electra Townie Original 21D !
.

 "Is it here yet Bryce?"

Yes it is RED

I have ridden one just like this and love it, can hardly wait to get on the road with it!

And I ordered Arkel bags from Mead's Bike Shop today to carry the necessities!

In a nutshell: 

These bags are specifically made for the Catrike Expedition, Road and Speed. They are made right here Sherbrooke, QC, Canada from 600 denier polyester fabric with foam and high density polyethylene stiffeners. They are sold as sets and fit snuggly on each trike. No rack necessary! The designs are made to carry from the frame and require absolutely no other hardware.

 "Is it here yet Bryce?"

6-18-17 I & M Canal LaSalle to beyond Utica

Today we decided to drive to La Salle, Il and start riding on the I & M Canal. The Illinois and Michigan Canal connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. It ran 96 miles (154 km) from the Chicago River in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru. The canal crossed the Chicago Portage and helped establish Chicago as the transportation hub of the United States, before the railroad era. It was opened in 1848, its function was largely replaced by the wider and shorter Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 1900 and it ceased transportation operations with the completion of the Illinois Waterway in 1933. ( From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Lock 14 looking west

The Lock walls are made up of cut stone, later canals like the Hennipen are made of Portland Cement, all canals locks after the Hennepin were made of cement,as is the Panama canal.

We started at Lock 14 and rode west to where the canal terminated at the Illinois River, only a short distance from Lock 14. The path is rather overgrown here,

Lock 15 which is submerged, this is where the boats loaded up with supplies and goods that came up the Mississippi and the Illinois Rivers to be taken to Chicago and then all over the USA.

Back to Lock 14 looking east to where we are headed, in the background is the excursion boat that is pulled by a mule for sight seeing.

Note the large arm that was used to open and close the lock gates

The silhouette man shows how the gates were operated. 

 Below is the RailRoad bridge just east of LaSalle Trail Head

I 39 Bridge

 Looking south towards the Abraham Lincoln Bridge over the Illinois River

Split Rock, they had to blast through here with Black Powder and picks and shovels, they were determined!

The History sign of Split Rock , tells a story that is quite interesting. 

Double click on the picture to enlarge for easier reading.

Abandoned Railroad bridge just west of Utica

Shabbona's Rock where he would sit and meet with people, it has been moved from its original spot 3 times and is now located in Utica at the museum. Below is the plaque that tells the story.

Looking back at Utica as we continue east.

This is where the trail was blocked due to a washout I was told by someone we met on the trail. The washout is near Buffalo Rock Park.

A view of the canal at our turnaround point.

 Back to 351

 When we got back to the Trailhead in LaSalle, IL we were met by Moe and the Groom Person, pulling the Excursion Boat up the canal.

The Deck Hand is pushing the boat away from the shore.

Back to our access point.

Then we drove back to Utica for lunch at Duffys, Good Food!

It was a beautiful day for our first ride on the I&M Canal. We will have to return and ride another segment!

Time for New Bikes

Due to some problems I decided it was time for something different. I have been experiencing some discomfort caused by the seat on my bike, due in part to my Prostrate cancer which has re occurred after failed Brachytherapy, which leaves no treatment options that are acceptable. They told me this was normal and to try to find something to be more comfortable, after several seat options, none of which are cheap I decided to go Recumbent Trike. I bought a Sun EZ Tad SX-Comfort 24 speed in Metallic Red, can't wait to ride it!

  In the process, Judy and I discussed her options and she said what she would like to try, we went to Mead's Bike Shop in Sterling, Il and she tried several options and actually ended up with the updated version of what she has been riding, now instead of a Trek PURE  Feet First 7 speed, she now has on order a Electra Townie 21 Speed (no it is not an Electric Bike)
Electra is the company name, a company Trek bought. She said it is really easier to ride than her old Feet First PURE. And the 21 speeds will certainly help on the steeper hills, but to her credit she can grind out the steepest hills!  One interesting note this bike has a built in Generator in the front wheel that powers the head and tail light!

Hopefully the new bikes will be in next week and we can start riding them and report back.

Thursday June 15, 2017

I rode solo today as Judy went on a Quilt Shop Hop. Rode down west of Buehl Road and back.
Lots of bike riders were out today.

Looking south to the new Route 40 Bridge.

This morning I took a picture of the feeder inlet control structure on the left, this structure regulates the amount of water flowing into the Feeder Canal  and Lock 33, the Guard Lock on the right, this lock used to allow boats to go from the Rock into the Feeder Canal.