Ready for the test ride...

I installed the fairing this PM and took this photo. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be good, maybe near 50°F. I am wondering how the recent upgrades, new wheel set and the fairing will perform We have a ride scheduled in the PM and I am thinking I am close to recovery from this recent cold.

One surprise was the noise of the tire on the road amplified inside the polycarbonate and sending it upwards. That will take some getting use to.

Any advantage that I can...

I have invested more than a thousand dollars in upgrades for my recumbent. I have a new Roval wheel set as well as a fine new aerodynamic fairing. I smiled inwardly as the bike store salesman told me how light and strong these new Roval wheels were, only so many grams, etc. I thought of my still 42" wasteline and wondered how many extra grams I could lose before the NorCal Aids Challenge ride in May happens. I am down from a 46" since last October though. This new fairing, according to varying accounts, should increase my speeds by one to two mph. Due to weather congestion, rain and snow, and a head cold I have to wait to try the bike out with these improvements. Can I ride the same course as last time along the Legacy Trail and reach 15 miles in one hour? I am hoping the cold is gone and the weather has improved for a ride on Monday to test all this new gear. Thanks to Em for the gentle encouragement and support to ride the ride!

Another advantage to the recumbent, and I hope it is true, is from a nice article on Wiki:" Many riders switch to recumbents to alleviate the chronic back or neck pain from riding upright bikes. On tricycles, the inherent stability of three wheels allows very low gearing to be used, so hills can be climbed without strain on joints. Also, on some recumbents, the rider's legs are nearly at the same height as the heart. This reduces the rider's hydrostatic pressure, thus allowing venous blood to more easily return to the heart. This physiological effect of improved circulation suggests an increase in rider endurance and/or increased power output on long rides. Recumbent riders are not bent over as are conventional bike riders, and this makes breathing easier. Additionally, studies indicate that upright bicycle riding may be a cause of male impotence due to pressure placed on the perineal nerve by the seat; recumbent seats do not present the same issue."

I will remind my body of all of this as I am cranking along at the back of the pack over the 330 miles in Northern CA in May.

Uphill both directions...

Just could not stand not getting the recumbent out today for an afternoon ride. So many questions, how would I do after nearly 40 pounds of weight loss and one month or regular visits, three times a week, to the gym? Would spinning the exercise bike be of much value? Could I possible be ready in 3-1/2 months to ride 330 miles in the NorCal Aids Challenge ride? HMR said I would need to ride a minimum of 12 mph and including rest stops I must average 10 mph. I rode for an hour with Juan Luis and we kept it up to 13+ and averaged almost 12 for the 20 mile stint we did on the Legacy Trail. It was a bit on the cool side with temps in the mid 40's.

KSL's weather site said 3 mph winds from the south west so that is the direction we started. That lasted about half the ride then it switched from the north and east so we got it both directions.

Monday both the recumbent and Stout are going into the bike shop for upgrades and new rubber. I want to repeat today's ride on the Stout. That is about the sweetest bike ever. In spite of the endorsements by recumbent manufacturers the rolling resistance I think is greater than the traditional bikes. An early thought for a training ride in March in NorCal is to use the Stout in the hills on a 49 mile ride and Juan Luis for comfort on the flats.

The last issue is what does Olmesartan due to your body when exercising? My doc is famous for non communication about the side effects of chemically induced vasodilation, i.e. lowering BP. Already I have begun cutting the pills in half and reducing the dosage by 50%. I will watch it for a couple weeks. I am not telling him about it.

A different view...

It is probably appropriate to adjust the orientation of the blog. No longer will I be reporting on the construction of the new Surf Scoter Pilot House Cruiser but my current preparations for the Northern California Aids Challenge and events beyond that. Presently I am holed up in a Super 8 Motel in Montpelier ID. The good news is they have wireless internet and an exercise room. I managed to get an hour on their stationary bike in between getting ready for a couple presentations tomorrow and tracking down on the internet an aerodynamic polycarbonate faring for the recumbent bike. It is reported it can increase my overall speed by at least 10%. I have signed up to ride 330 miles in four days. Is that insane or what?

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