Your Best Experience on a Bent This Year

[David]

The my best experience this year was riding my secound century on a bent. I went from my home in
Sioux City to the Minnesota border and then back to my mom's house in Rock Rapids on the occasion of
our 15th wedding anniversary. After I arrived at mom's house she took my wife and I out for a nice
dinner. The route took me back to the places where I grew up. I went by some old neighbours farm
places and at one of them they were standing outside. I waved at them as I went buy & they waved
back. After being gone for over 20 years I wonder if they recognized me or even were the same people
at the farm place but it still was nice seeing the old places.

 

[Mads Hilberg]

My best experience was either:

... covering 205km in one day. I was on holiday in Nova Scotia and cycled from Yarmouth to Kingston
in 8h30 plus 2h30 rest. I didn't have breakfast until I'd done 65km, never had lunch and only ate
dinner once I arrived. The first half of the day included a few short but steep climbs, but the
second half was completely flat with good road surface and a slight wind assist - here I cruised at
around 30km/h. The next day my left knee was a quite painful, but a quick boom adjustment allowed me
to cover 139km that day nonetheless.

or

... tackling the Cabbot Trail in 3 days. This 300km trail includes some pretty tough climbs (by my
standards), with two 1500 foot mountains - one of them having a 13% incline pretty much all the way
- and a few smaller mountains. The downhills were great though; 60km/h+ round the corners is
exhilerating and 75km/h max on a straight bit is my personal best. The scenery was stunning and I
even found time for whale watching on the first day.

Mads

"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> The my best experience this year was riding my secound century on a bent. I went from my home in
> Sioux City to the Minnesota border and then back to my mom's house in Rock Rapids on the occasion
> of our 15th wedding anniversary. After I arrived at mom's house she took my wife and I out for a
> nice dinner. The route took me back to the places where I grew up. I went by some old neighbours
> farm places and at one of them they were standing outside. I waved at them as I went buy & they
> waved back. After being gone for over 20 years I wonder if they recognized me or even were the
> same people at the farm place but it still was nice seeing the old places.

 

[Mike Euritt]

Mine would be riding the Pedal the Puddle in Clear Lake, California. It was the second big ride I
had taken on the trike, the older model Catrike called the Road. The trike attracted much attention,
as would be expected, but best of all was the attention of one lady rider who has become very near
and dear... However, although she will happily stoke on the greenspeed tandem, she is not yet a
recumbent convert, but hey, a woman who can hang with me on a 100 mile ride, lets not get too picky.

Oh, and the ride was good too, a couple of tough climbs and fast descents, I do wish their back
roads were a little better maintained though.

Also of note is the Foxy Fall Century, first time out with the Corsa, flatland cruising speeds in
the mid twenties, dropping some pacelines. what a bike!

 

[Dave Larrington]

1. Dunwich Dynamo and then home. Longest day's ride I've ever managed.

2. Edging Bob Knight in the last few feet of a two hour race to get the unfaired class at
Castle Combe.

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Docbent]

I'd agree with mike on the foxy's fall century in davis, ca. after a very cold and rainy cycle
oregon this year the predominatley flat farmland terrain and the beautiful weather made the davis
century experience pleasure. ever notice that some cycling event keep you away from the bike for a
few days/weeks and then others you drive home thinking about when you can ride next! my only gripe
is that most my cycling buddies now consider it the off season and are not interested in riding now
that i'm all pumped up! hey mike are you in the sacramento are for some rides this winter?

chris markus folsom, ca GRR considering an Aero

Mike Euritt <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Mine would be riding the Pedal the Puddle in Clear Lake, California. It was the second big ride I
> had taken on the trike, the older model Catrike called the Road. The trike attracted much
> attention, as would be expected, but best of all was the attention of one lady rider who has
> become very near and dear... However, although she will happily stoke on the greenspeed tandem,
> she is not yet a recumbent convert, but hey, a woman who can hang with me on a 100 mile ride, lets
> not get too picky.
>
> Oh, and the ride was good too, a couple of tough climbs and fast descents, I do wish their back
> roads were a little better maintained though.
>
> Also of note is the Foxy Fall Century, first time out with the Corsa, flatland cruising speeds in
> the mid twenties, dropping some pacelines. what a bike!

 

[Zach Kaplan Cyc]

Mine would be riding the BiGHA test bike around Black Rock City, Nevada and the people I met and
situations I got into as a result. This was my first time going to Burning Man.

Some other high points of the year were doing the Davis Double in 11.5 hours on my Gold Rush, doing
Seattle To Portland on the BiGHA, finishing the Terrible Two during a heat wave on my Aero,
finishing the Knoxville Double Century on my Aero on another abnormally hot day (felt like quiting
that time too due to the heat) and doing the Marin Double Century on my Aero on a beautiful day in
early October. This was a very scenic ride, right up there with the Terrible Two as one of the most
scenic rides in Northern California. One other nice ride I did this year was riding my Aero by
myself around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe. The scenery was nice but there was a fair amount of
traffic and often little or no shoulder but I'm glad I did it.

Zach Kaplan

 

[Jeff Wills]

Day 6 of Cycle Oregon: http://www.cycleoregon.com/Portal/Modules/RideInfo/Day6map.htm Started off at
the beautiful Wallowa Lake campground (where the deer join you for breakfast) and descended 2000
feet in 45 miles. What the map doesn't show is the 15 mph headwind we were facing- which didn't
affect us (much) on our Tour Easies, but the upright riders were complaining! It was fun passing
pacelines and then having my wife pull out and pass me. The stretch along the side of the Wallowa
River down in the canyon was a blast... until a train on the other side of the canyon (hidden from
view) blew its horn. Definitely a sphincter-tightening, sinus-clearing moment!

Cycle Oregon was very good this year- no excessively long days, good campsites everywhere, and the
usual superb support. We can't wait until next year!

Jeff

 

[Tbradster]

Second day of TOSRV. Beautiful sunny day, screaming cross to head wind. Hammered the R40 the last 30
miles at 18-20 (OK, so maybe just fast for me). Felt like a million bucks coming into Columbus.

Can't wait for Mother's day weekend next year.

Fourth day of DALMAC (five day route). Sunny and pleasant. Nice hills and scenery. Good times and
great people at the end of the ride.

WORST DAY: The Apple Cider Century. Cold, spitting snow and pouring rain. Bailed on the century
and only did 74 miles. I hate to be a wiener! Really ****-poor conditions. Mistimed my food
stops as well.

However, I gotta say, I am impressed with the Davis Double in 11.5. Sheesh! I am not worthy!

Brad Eschler R40 GRR Linear Rocket

 

[Philbert]

This year it would have to be the 10 mile midnight, full moon, cloudless sky, no lights ride I took
late last summer. Moon super bright and right overhead. No traffic at all on paved country roads.
Light, warm breeze. Just magical - one of those things that keeps me riding on all of those crappy
days. Makes me smile every time I think about it

 

[Mike Rice]

The Hilly Hundred, absolutely. I've only owned my Tour Easy for around 500 miles (six or seven
weeks), and took part in my first organized ride after three weeks experience.

I rode fdaster (47.3 mph on one down hill) and farther (the hundered, remember) than I've ever been
able to on my old Schwinn.Varsity, and with no pain. Wonderful weather, wonderful scenery, what a
great time this year!

Mike Rice

 

[Torben Scheel]

Well, not exactly on a bent, but seeing my daughter ride her homebuild for the first time was quite
an experience : http://www.hpv-klub.dk/selvbygger/juniorHPV/images/IMG_2237.jpg

Or maybe it was the bike vacation this summer, when my wife drove her Evita (she's a newbie)

Or the ride with Cletus this summer

Or .. or .. or .. It's been a great year so far.

 

[Mike S]

1. Trinity ride near San Antonio, New Mexico: Rode from Stallion's Gate to the Trinity site (1st
A-bomb detonation) and then to the McDonald Ranch House where it was assembled. Haven't been to
too many places where I can stand and say the world was changed on this spot. 100 riders went,
all kinds of bikes, all kinds of speeds and performance. No politicizing, no demonstrating, just
riders with their own thoughts and feelings. Great day.

2. Oklahoma City ride: Last year on our trip out west (we set up rides in the morning then drive to
the next destination) we were blown off by the hard bodies on their regular evening ride we had
been invited to when they discovered we rode recumbents. This year we were going to avoid OKC
altogether but were contacted by Richard Geary, a Tailwind rider, who put together a ride for us.
The ride itself was only 11 miles, through the older part of OKC and down to the Memorial. But
the consideration and effort he put in to it (including showing up with an extra gallon of water
if someone needed it and color coded maps) was endearing and reminded us of what bicycle riding
is about. Distances are great, speed is wonderful, but it is the people who make it go.

3. Not a ride but the effort and ingenuity of Ben Fox of Springfield,
Ill. for configuring the M5 seat (which he found) to my Barcroft Virginia. Reinforces what
friendship is all about.

4. Macomb, Ill., Havana, Ill. (nice to meet you tom Sherman and to ride the fabled Sunset Lowracer),
Springfield, Ill., Monticello, Ill., Steven's Point, WI, Mt. Vernon, Il, Cape Girardeau, Mo.,
Albuquerque, NM, Chicago, Ill.: All rides were special as were the people we rode with.

Mike S. ST. Louis, Mo.

Barcroft Virginia Barcroft Columbia RANS Rocket

 

[Cletus Lee]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> Well, not exactly on a bent, but seeing my daughter ride her homebuild for the first time was
> quite an experience : http://www.hpv-klub.dk/selvbygger/juniorHPV/images/IMG_2237.jpg
>
> Or maybe it was the bike vacation this summer, when my wife drove her Evita (she's a newbie)
>
> Or the ride with Cletus this summer
>
> Or .. or .. or .. It's been a great year so far.
>

I am honored even to make your list. Of course, my cycle tour of Denmark has to be on the top
of my list.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
- Bellaire, TX USA -

 

[Larry Varney]

There have been lots of good experiences this year, but maybe it's not just proximity in time that
make the past couple of weeks stand out: From the 8th until this past weekend I was in Florida,
riding the South Broward Wheelemen Century on the 9th, the Horrible Hundred on the 16th, and got a
chance to spend a couple of days on Sanibel Island with a bunch of south Florida recumbent riders.
The weather was gorgeous, the rides were well-suppported and fun, and the people I met both on the
organized rides and off made the two weeks just go by too quickly. I'll be back.
--
Larry Varney Cold Spring, KY http://home.fuse.net/larryvarney

 

[Risto Varanka]

Dave Larrington <[email protected]> wrote:
: 1. Dunwich Dynamo and then home. Longest day's ride I've ever managed.

And how long was that?

: 2. Edging Bob Knight in the last few feet of a two hour race to get the unfaired class at Castle
: Combe.

Cheers mate!

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/hpv/hpv.html varis at no spam please iki fi

 

[Tom Sherman]

mike s wrote:
> ...
> 4. Macomb, Ill., Havana, Ill. (nice to meet you tom Sherman and to ride the fabled Sunset
> Lowracer), Springfield, Ill., Monticello, > Ill....

Mike,

You have to stop getting to rides so early. If you had shown up later at Monticello, I would have
contributed to your case of trikeitis by letting you ride my Earth Cycles Dragonflyer [TM].

Tom Sherman - Planet Earth

 

[Recumbentman]

I spent the month of September riding from Dublin to Rosslare, then (by ferry to France) from Cherbourg to Malmö in Sweden (with a few more ferries and a train across the bridge from Copenhagen, they don't let you cycle across).

I was on a PDQ and my brother was on a Maxam Reveille, and we took it very easy; 50 miles a day on average. Seven countries (Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden) and 1400 miles in four weeks. Only one drenching; best part was Holland, where they seem to have things sorted more than most.

I wrote 48 pages as we went, currently typing it up, a version will probably appear in http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2 around Christmas.

 

[Risto Varanka]

The best? Hard to say, ironically my maybe best rides (160 km, 200 km, and so on) this year were on
an upright. But I had many good rides on different bents too...

Maybe the best bent ride was when I did a 2 hour tempo ride with my new trike and noticed I was
about as fast as with the upright (a hybrid, semislick tires). Nice weather, nice scenery, nice
feeling. I think that makes a good ride for me, I'm not really a group rider... not yet...

I also did a trip to Netherlands (by car which involved some riding. Highlights were Cycle Vision
and a day (80 km) riding the Challenge Jester - my first day on a lowracer, and so far the only day
on a lowracer... Details and photos at http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/hpv/holland_03.html

This year I did the Ecotrip as well, though that too was on an upright (talk about breach of
etiquette).

One more ride worth mention, was actually done indoors. I got a chance to try out the domestic
tadpole Haermaepyoerae (Härmäpyörä if you have the language support at a fair. Must have been at
least half an hour of hard cornering on the short test track. Did I say I ended up with a tadpole as
my first bent...

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/hpv/hpv.html varis at no spam please iki fi

 

[Gary Mc]

Phil,

Like yourself I seem to get the biggest kick out of unplanned events that just seem better for their
sponteneity.

I took a familiar ride along the Weber River this spring. The Echo Canyon Reservoir was up and
filled with migrating waterfowl. I stopped at a lookout to peer into the water and saw a couple bass
cruising near the shore in search of prey. It was just one of those days that seem to connect us
with the rest of the world. Being out of doors and under one's own power seems to do that for me
better than just about any other life experience.

Gary McCarty, Greenspeed GTO, Salt Lake City

"Philbert" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> This year it would have to be the 10 mile midnight, full moon, cloudless sky, no lights ride I
> took late last summer. Moon super bright and right overhead. No traffic at all on paved country
> roads. Light, warm breeze. Just magical - one of those things that keeps me riding on all of those
> crappy days. Makes me smile every time I think about it

 

[Harv]

There's listed for sale on BROL for $2800. "Tom Sherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> mike s wrote:
> > ...
> > 4. Macomb, Ill., Havana, Ill. (nice to meet you tom Sherman and to ride the fabled Sunset
> > Lowracer), Springfield, Ill., Monticello, >
Ill....
>
> Mike,
>
> You have to stop getting to rides so early. If you had shown up later at Monticello, I would have
> contributed to your case of trikeitis by letting you ride my Earth Cycles Dragonflyer [TM].
>
> Tom Sherman - Planet Earth