trike-ab-trike-2020

2020 mileage: 3957.0 This morning I dealt with changing weather conditions. They had predicted rain to start around 2 a.m., changing over to light snow from roughly 3 to 5. When I began my ride at 8:25, the forecast for snow had been downgraded significantly (at one point, they had been calling for 6-8 inches through tomorrow, but now I'm hearing 1-2 inches), but light snow was still falling, made significantly more challenging by a sporting wind (about 13 mph from the northwest), that whipped the flakes into my face as I started out. Despite this, after having taken yesterday off, I was glad to get back to it today, riding the Packard/Platt Square (13.7 miles) in 1:40. At 33°, with , moist air, it was nippy, but tolerable. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

2020 mileage: 3943.3 I enjoyed a nice (though nippy) ride this morning. When I began, just a few minutes before 9:00, it was 31°, but calm and brightly sunny. However, the ride was not quite trouble-free. I forgot the battery pack I need for rides over an hour, and this necessitated a change to my plans. First I rode down to Stonebridge and did a loop in there, and then I continued on to do the Platt/Packard Square. But when I got over halfway through the total ride (at Lillie Park, near Platt and Ellsworth, I stopped to check my battery, and found that it was running down much faster than I had expected. As it would be a considerable inconvenience if I experienced a mechanical difficulty and had no battery, and thus no way to contact Michelle or Uber, I decided to shorten my plans and head west via Ellsworth rather than making the leg northward to Packard. This meant breaking my vow to Michelle that I'd avoid riding on the road, and I hated to do that, but it seemed the best optio...

2020 mileage: 3928.3 It was good that I could do a relatively big ride today, after consecutive days off. On Wednesday, Michelle and I were preparing for Thanksgiving, and decorating for Christmas, setting up our tree, to the accompaniment of recorded Christmas music. Then yesterday I had planned to sneak in a ride between dinner and a 5:00 family Zoom. But after our magnificent feast, I allowed Michelle to talk me into joining her for a post-meal nap. Once again today, I was in no danger of overheating! I left home at 10:00 in 42° cloudy conditions with a bit of wind (11 mph) from the west-southwest. This meant that I got to experience the joy of riding into the wind as I rode the first half of my round trip to Dexter (Baker Rd.), for a 19.7-mile ride in 2:20. (I took a very slightly shorter route coming home). One nice thing about today was seeing my friend (and fellow handbell ringer from when I used to go to Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Michelle conducted the ensemble, ...

  2020 mileage: 3908.6 In recent days, I've been battling the cold and snow we've experienced, plus combatting an inexplicable exhaustion, and so had not ridden since Friday. Going early today in order to beat the precipitation forecast for this afternoon, I had considered doing my 30-plus mile round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens. However, as I rode the early miles of my ride, it seemed to me that, given the layoff, it might be prudent to break back in more gradually. Another factor contributing to my decision was certainly the still-nippy temperature—25° when I started at 8:45. (Though it did heat all the way up to 35° by the time I finished.) A few weeks ago I ordered some chemical hand and foot warmers from Amazon that were recommended to me by my friend Jim Alvey. However, the supplier must be having issues of some kind, as they remain on back order. With my shortened plans, I ended up riding the Platt/Packard Square (13.7 miles) in 1:44. And I'm delighted now to be...

2020 mileage: 3894.9 I was planning to wait until midday to ride today. But when I had to do an early errand, and I went out at 7:30 to experience warm, calm, sunny conditions, I decided to start earlier, since the forecast was for winds to pick up throughout the day. So I ended up beginning at 8:45 (52°, up to 64° by the time I finished), and riding a round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens (32.0 miles in 3:55) on a gorgeous, unseasonably warm fall morning. On the way home I rode through Gallup Park, and stopped on one bridge and took this picture. However, the winds were picking up by then, and when I stripped off the Michigan  gloves that I had chosen to wear for my early start (but no longer needed) in order to take the picture, and laid them on the seat of my trike, as soon as I turned my back the winds (that were increasing by then) blew them into the river, and I soon saw them floating down the Huron River. I would find it extremely difficult to ride if I could not...

2020 mileage: 3862.9 This morning when I went out to ride at 11:00, I was delighted to find that the cold that has plagued us in recent days has relented some, though the winds have persisted (but have abated somewhat). It was 50° and sunny, warming up to 61° over the time I was out there. However, the 20 mph wind out of the southwest beat me down and convinced to settle for a relatively modest ride (the Packard/Platt Square -- 13.6 miles in 1:39). I listened to radio streamed from Interlochen on my phone while I rode, and one piece I was especially delighted to hear was Pastime  by Dr. Jack Stamp, my grad school colleague and buddy at Michigan State.  Pastime, composed and conducted by Jack Stamp I remember our studying together in late night study sessions for the doctoral comprehensive exams, sharing materials and tips with one another as we prepared for whatever doom Dr. Dale Bonge might inflict upon us.  This piece reflects Jack's love of baseball, and remi...

  2020 mileage: 3849.3 I began at quarter to eleven this morning in nice sunshine and 38° conditions. The temperature was tolerable with my appropriate wardrobe, and I considered riding to Matthei (my 30+ mile ride). But it didn't take very long at all for me to change my mind, as the cutting wind was just intolerable. Even though it was much less ferocious than yesterday's gale, still, a 12 mph wind out of the south-southwest knocked the 38° temperature down to a hair-raising wind-chill of 32°. So I ended up riding the Platt/Packard Square (13.7 miles) in 1:41, and feeling good about the fact that I could even do that much. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

2020 mileage: 3835.6 Today's ride was very unnerving. I set out about 11 a.m., intending to ride the Platt/Packard Square (almost 14 miles). However, conditions were very far from enjoyable—the 34° temperature was tolerable with my winter coat and heavy gloves, but the 17 mph howling out of the northwest wind presented a huge challenge.  As I headed south down the Lohr/Textile Greenway, with the wind pushing me along, it was a delight, and I was riding an average speed of over 10 mph, which is quite slow for a bike rider, but on my trike, with its heavier weight and awkward gearing, it is a very good speed ... far better than my usual ride.  I always carry my ID with me, realizing how critical it could be for me with the inability to speak. However, for some reason today, I carelessly shoved it into my coat pocket rather than securing it into the zippered interior pocket I have available. About 2 miles into the ride, I discovered that the wallet was gone ... and my heart nearl...

2020 mileage: 3829.9  This past weekend was not a good one for riding. Saturday Michelle and I took on a big project, cleaning and reorganizing out garage. After the several hours we spent on that, I was whipped, and decided not to ride. Then yesterday, extremely high winds kept me inside. Parts of our area reported gusts as high as  65 mph, and while Ann Arbor was not quite that bad, I didn't want to blow away. Today, then, I was eager to get back to it, and while the conditions were not optimal, I'm glad I rode. Temperature was a cool but tolerable 44°, and the winds were still in existence, but had abated to a mere 15 mph out of the west (bringing the wind chill down to the mid thirties). I started about 1:20 and rode the Packard/Platt Square (13.7 miles) in 1:33). Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

2020 mileage: 3816.2 Today's ride was challenging on two fronts -- both the weather, and a hardware issue. I began about  11:30 in gloomy, gray, windy, chilly conditions. It was 44°, and during my ride that temperature fell to 40°, and the clouds thinned somewhat, allowing a few peeks of the sun to reach me, but the wind persisted. Thankfully, the equip[ment issue did not involve my trike, but rather my phone. About three weeks ago I had a couple of rides when the phone ran out of power part way through. I thought I had overcome that, as it had not troubled me for several days. But today, it returned. I was listening to Interlochen Classical radio, and as I approached the halfway turnaround point of my ride, a piece in which I was highly interested came on. When I was doing my doctoral work at Michigan State University in the mid-eighties, one of my fellow grad students and a good buddy was Jack Stamp, who is now well known in the music world as a successful composer and ...

2020 mileage: 3788.5 This morning's ride used a notable range of curious mental gymnastics. I set off at 10 a.m. in lovely conditions -- utterly calm, brilliant (though cool -- 39°) sunshine, fully intending to ride my round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens of 30+ miles. The early miles of the ride went fine, but as I neared a decision point about 9 miles in where I must either push on for the longer ride or turn for a shorter one. I tried to encourage myself with the thought, "You will never regret having done the longer ride," and I know that to be true. Nevertheless, I found myself turning, and settling for the shorter ride (the Platt/Packard Square, 13.7 miles in 1:34.)  As I tried to analyze my heart later, it seemed to me that although I was perfectly comfortable, what was really calling to me was the desire to continue my compositional activities (currently working on a choral setting of the text, "How Can I Keep from Singing?") And I was reminded of a c...

2020 mileage: 3774.8 Well, the weather has certainly returned to more seasonal conditions. I left at noon today and rode another round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens (31.7 miles in 3:48), riding out through Gallup Park. When I began, we enjoyed brilliant 43°sunshine, but as the ride proceeded, more and more clouds moved in, and the breeze picked up (to 11 mph from the WNW). My speed kept dropping as I went along, too. I was especially glad to prove to myself that the longer rides I've  made recently were not just a product of the warmer weather. When I rode through Gallup Park late this morning, it was still quite sunny, and I enjoyed a great view of the Huron River.

2020 mileage: 3743.1 Another gorgeous day led to another good ride -- I left at 8 a.m. this morning and rode another round trip to the Matthei Botanical Gardens, northeast of town, for a 27.2-mile ride in 3:25. Riding in the relatively early morning, I experienced blessedly cooler conditions than yesterday afternoon, when I sweltered wearing jeans. Ann Arbor hit an unbelievable high of 81°, smashing the old record. Today when I began, the temperature was a refreshing 60°, and up to 74° when I finished. Today's mileage differed slightly from my norm, as I came back through Gallup Park and then took Packard and Eisenhower west rather than returning all the way south to Textile Rd. During this amazing streak of weather we've experienced during the past week, I've been trying to pile up as much good mileage as possible. During the 9 days from last Monday through today, I've ridden 240.0 miles, for an average of almost 26.7 miles/day. But the weatherman on the local news las...

  2020 mileage: 3717.9 The word for the day— desultory (lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm). Had I not been loathe to waste such a MAGNIFICENT day, I'm quite sure I would have taken the day off and spent the time composing. My feet and my knees both hurt, and I felt exceptionally tired. But I had told both Michelle and my brothers in the early Monday morning fellowship group I meet with that I planned to ride to Matthei Botanical Gardens today, and I wanted to carry through with that -- so I did. (30.4 miles in 3:45.) And it had the additional benefit of putting me over a new mileage milestone for the year: 3700. When I began at noon, it was brilliantly sunny and 69°. While the sunshine remained, the temperature climbed to 76° by the time I finished. (I regretted my wardrobe choice of jeans, and wished I had worn shorts instead! Who would have thought it possible in Michigan on November 9?!) However, the weatherman says our "return to reality" is imminent. Tomorrow is...

2020 mileage: 3687.5 When I retired last night, I was planning to ride a long ride (20 miles) this morning. But then in the night, I changed my mind and decided to spend the morning composing, then after online church at 11, watch the Lions early this afternoon, and then ride after the game. I ended up going at about 3:30, with the game not yet over, but the Lions losing badly. Our great weather is still holding on (for a couple more days, I hear), and the ride took place in absolutely SPECTACULAR conditions—brilliant sunshine, no wind, and a temperature of 70° that dropped to 67° by the time I finished. I rode the Packard/Platt Square (13.7 miles) in 1:33. And I enjoyed a pleasant surprise about a mile and a half before getting home, when I came up on a pair of friends from my previous church—Bob and Carol Hufnagel—as they were walking on the Lohr/Textile Greenway, not far from their home. The great weather has enabled me to have a great week of riding! From last Sunday through ye...

  2020 mileage: 3673.8 Got a great start to my Saturday today by going out at 7 a.m. (sunrise was at 7:16) and departing in clear 42° conditions. I wondered for a time if I should have worn my gloves (I hadn't), but I ended up being OK, and got this picture in chilly and foggy conditions (the fog, which blanketed the ground like a fine mist, was not apparent here) about 4 miles from home on the Lohr-Textile Greenway approaching State Rd. Then I continued on with the plan of riding another 31-mile round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens. It was going well ... at the trailhead (corner of Geddes Rd. and Dixboro Rd.), I got this picture. On the trail from that trailhead to the Matthei Botanical Gardens, I got this picture. And on the way back toward home, I got this picture (the Geddes Dam) as I crossed the Huron River, along Dixboro Rd. However, despite the good progress, I ended up choosing to cut off 5 miles (like I did on Monday) by coming west along Packard and Eise...

  2020 mileage: 3647.1 After being lazy yesterday and only riding 14 miles, I got back into my routine of riding a round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens today, thus making it 4 out of the 5 weekdays this week. The weather was absolutely stunning—brightly sunny and 64· when I began just before noon, and up to 69° when I finished. Today I rode through Gallup Park on both legs (outbound, and then also returning back home)  On the way there, I got this picture of a swan far below on the Huron River from the bridge over it. then, while returning home, I cut off a few miles by coming west on Ellsworth Rd. rather than returning clear back down to Textile Rd., and MapMyRide measured this at 27.7 miles total, in 3:18. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride One neat thing that happened was when a cyclist passed me at one point, and called over to me, "I like your pinwheel!" The following photo shows it—it twirls in the wind produced by moving . Today was the first time I hea...

2020 mileage: 3619.4 When I began my ride at 10 a.m. today, it was with the full intent of riding my 30-plus mile round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens (for the fourth consecutive day). However, as I rode out, listening to a playlist on my phone of my favorite choral works, I was inspired to continue with the good progress i've made at composing recently (having just finished a substantial, Latin-texted piece earlier this morning), so I altered my plans and just rode the Platt;/Packard square (14 miles, in 1:40). Temperatures remain relatively mild for the season (57° when I began, up to 62°), but thick cloud cover has moved in obscure the brilliant sunshine we enjoyed the last two days. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

  2020 mileage: 3605.4 Again today, I enjoyed lovely fall weather (sunny, and from 55° when I began at 10:30, up to 70°) , and rode a round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens for the third consecutive day. Today, I again saw my friend Doug Franklin near the very beginning of the ride, walking on the Lohr-Textile Greenway, but then I sort of reversed yesterday's ride, going to Matthei by the slightly more direct route, and then returning home through Gallup Park. While going through the park, I took this picture of the Huron River and the Huron Parkway bridge crossing it. Then, a few minutes later, after having left the park, as I headed for home, I stopped on the dedicated and separate walkway of the bridge and took this picture looking back at a part of the park. MapMyRide measured today's jaunt at 31.7 miles in a slow, lesiurely time of 4 hours even, and it pushed me over a new mileage milestone for the year - 3600. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

2020 mileage: 3573.4 After the chilling cold and blustery high winds of the last two days, today brough a welcome contrast. Under brightly sunny skies, when I began at just past 10:30 it was 50°, and climbed to 60° by the finish. I rode another round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens (and again saw my friend Doug Franklin walking on the trail near the beginning of my ride), going out along a slightly longe route, through Gallup Park (so I could see the color along the Hyron River, and returned home by a slightly longer route. MaypMyRide measured this at 32.4 miles, which I rode slowly in 4:10. But this long ride gave me the opportunity to listen to a lot of music—the entire soundtrack to Hamilton , and the entire soundtrack to The Sound of Music , plus a good chunk of my Devotional music playlist. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

2020 mileage: 3541.3 When I went out at 11 a.m. today to ride, the wind was blessedly less than yesterday's challenging ride ... but it picked up steadily throughout the time I was out there, until on the final stretch I was pedaling right into the teeth of a 21 mph howling gale out of the WSW. After an auspicious beginning, in which I saw my good friend Doug Franklin striding toward me on the Lohr-Textile Greenway in his bright yellow coat which is easily recognizable from far off, even with my execrable distance vision, I rode a round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens for the first time since september 23, the day when the seat broke on my former trike on the way home (about 5 miles before I finished). On the way home today, though, my energy was waning and I decided to come west along Packard rather than returning all the way south to Textile, and this allowed me to cut off about 5 miles. Even then, my auxiliary battery pack ran out of energy a little over a mile before I got ho...

2020 mileage: 3515.3 This morning it was nice to enjoy the extended daylight we enjoy because of the shift from Daylight Saving to Standard Time during the night. I was able to start at 7:45 -- earlier than in recent weeks -- and I chose to ride down to Stonebridge and do two loops in there, and then follow that up with the Platt/Packard Square, for a ride of 18.9 miles in 2:29. The ride was relatively slow because of challenging weather conditions. It was 41· when I began, dropping to 38° over the course of my ride. But I battled a brisk wind throughout (22 mph WNW, with a High Wind Advisory issued), that made it feel like I was riding into quicksand as I fought it during the second half of the ride. Also during that second half, I was pelted by a light rain, and the wind whipped those into me like bullets. I was also pleased to reach a significant new mileage milestone for the year today—3500. Link to (Relive) video of today's ride