Tag Archives: Recumbent Trike

The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

Anticipation

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

It always comes to this moment.  Before every big ride, I get to a point where the planning is finished. The trike is packed.  All I need to do now is climb in and ride.  But it’s not yet time to leave, so I must wait for another day.

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

Packing Up The Recumbent Trike

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I managed to get most of the items on my packing list into my panniers and on the back of my trike this morning.  It took a bit of struggling to figure out where everything goes, but ultimately it all fit.

For this tour I have a brand new tent.  The Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT is lighter than my old tent, but a lot larger.  Not only is there more room inside, but it includes a big covered vestibule area that will hold my panniers at night.  In the old tent, things got pretty crowded with my clydesdale self and both panniers inside the main tent.  I’m really looking forward to spreading out in all the extra space on this tour.

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Recumbent Trikes, Recumbents

Front Fenders Are Back!

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When I bought my trike, I got fenders for it.  Living in Southern California, I found fenders on the trike unnecessary.  It hardly ever rained, and when it did, I did not ride. So shortly after The Pacific Coast Tour, I removed the fenders and I’ve been happy ever since.

Until Florida that is.  Here is Florida it rains.  A lot.  Pretty much every day.  It usually only rains for a few minutes, although it has rained for a few entire days this summer.   If I ride regularly, I will get caught in a rain storm occasionally.  If if I’m not stuck in the rain itself, the water stays on the roads and trails for hours after, so I am always riding through puddles and mud.

So today I dug through the garage, found the fenders and put them back on.  When out for a quick 25 miles.  No problems.  They rattle a little, and one of the bolts came loose part way through the ride.   I tightened everything up and added some Locktite when I got home.  I don’t really like the way they look though – but I’ll probably get used to that.

I’ll keep them on through my tour to St. Augustine, then I decide again if I want to keep them on.

So what do all you folks think?  Fenders, or no?

The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

St. Augustine Equipment List

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I’m starting to complete the equipment list for this ride.  Even though this is a relatively short ride, there seems like a lot of stuff to drag along.   I need to decide what I really need.  Where is it all going to fit on the bike?

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

The St. Augustine Plan Starts to Come Together

I’ve Got A Plan!

Well, at least I have a little more clarity on the plan to ride to St. Augustine.   I’ve studied up on the route, and I know where the campgrounds are located.    I have put together a tentative plan for my ride north.  6 days should do it, without too much stress, and no horribly long days.

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

The Recumbent Gourmet Heads To St. Augustine

You heard it here first!  The Recumbent Gourmet is heading to St. Augustine.  Mike will pack up his trike and ride the approximately 350 miles from Lakewood Ranch to St.Augustine.  Nancy will meet him there, and they will spend a few days of fun and sun together in the United State’s oldest city.

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Bike Rides, Bike Trails, Street Rides

Loop Around Anna Maria Sound

I have not done a long ride in a while, so I decided I’d head out on Friday for a longer ride  to Anna Maria Island and back.  I planned a route that would take me into some new territory – a neighborhood called Cortez that I have never ridden through,   and an area called Palma Sola where I’ve only ridden in a small corner.

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Bike Rides, Restaurants, Street Rides

Ride to Nathan Benderson Park and Breakfast

It was a humid (for a change) morning in Lakewood Ranch when Mike and I decided to ride to Benderson Rowing Park. It is a 20 mile loop round trip with the pool waiting for us at the end of the trip.

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Bike Rides, Street Rides

Ride Report: Lakewood Ranch to Emerson Point Preserve.

Gallery

Emerson Point Preserve is a 365 acre preserve at the tip of Snead Island in western Palmetto. This morning I rode the approximately 45 miles round trip from my home in Lakewood Ranch to check it out.

I worried a lot about the route – since it does travel along one of the busy east-west corridors in Manatee County (State Road 64).  I would also need to cross the I-75.  Crossing an interstate highway is always a challenge on a bicycle.

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