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 !
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 "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.

First Ride of 2017 on the Canal

Unbelievable weather for February.

 I went over the Bikes on Saturday in preparation getting ready for the 2017 season. On Sunday the 19th of February, we headed out on the bikes and decided to go with a pretty flat course. So we headed down the canal to Buehl Road, which amounts to a 8.4 miles ride.

Lots of walkers and Kayakers were on the canal.

Looking north from the turn around point

Looking south from the bench where we took a short break

One of the group of Kayakers.

Another group paddling up towards the Rock River, the Feeder Canal Lock is in the distance and beyond is the Rock River.

After last years disastrous season where I was sidelined for the end of June through the end of August, it was good to get back to riding.Most of this week is supposed to be as nice as Sunday was. 

Hope So!

Late Fall Ride 10-29-2016

Saturday it was in the Mid 70's so we decided to take a ride. This years riding was completely screwed up by my heel injury, but as it is so nice out for so late in the year, maybe we can get some riding in yet this year.

They finally have the bridge over the Feeder canal completed and the bike Path underpass is complete. Very nice, instead of the narrow, dark tunnel with a sharp 90 degree turn at the south end there is now a wide, bright, lots of head room and gentle curve on the south end.

Underpass under construction June of 2015

Under Pass complete Oct 29, 2016

Under the bridge, under construction 6-2015

South side under construction June 2015

 South side complete Oct 29, 2016.

We rode south as far as the East Bound lane on I-88, where the path was flooded, the canal is too high for this time of year, time they closed the gate some and stop flooding the path.

So we rode across the dam and rode to Sinnissippi Park and on to Woodlawn Park and came home.

On our way home we saw this tree, just beautiful, soon they all will look like this.

Last Ride 2015

On November 2, 2015 we made our last ride. We rode the path across the dam and called it a year. It was a beautiful day considering it was the first of November.

Guard Lock at the Head of the Feeder canal

Lagoon on Sterling side of the Rock River.