172nd ride of 2020 - Saturday, 12/19/2020

2020 mileage: 4139.3

Today's ride was challenging in several ways. I was not entirely convinced that I wanted to ride, and as I am currently experiencing considerable lower back pain, I could have easily justified taking the day off. However, the seat on my recumbent trike is sufficiently comfortable that this consideration was not really a big issue. A few summers ago, a regular who I passed on the trail laughed and told me, "There you go in your La-Z-Boy again!" This picture is one that Michelle took in August 2017 -- NOT today. 😎

After allowing myself to climb in for a midday nap, I had to scramble once I got up. I wanted to ride the Platt/Packard Square, which usually (in good weather) takes me about 1 hour and 45 minutes, give or take. And with daylight ending so early at this time of year (today's sunset was at 5:05), I figured I'd need to be away by 3:00 at the very latest in order to give myself a chance, since I have no lights in the new trike yet, and that would render a late arrival both unsafe and illegal.  But I was able to hustle and get started just past 2:30, which I figured would be OK.

The early part of the ride went just fine (though, at 35°, I didn't have to be concerned about overheating 😎). I saw my friend Jim Alvey about 7 miles into the ride, over on the Platt Greenway, and was able to figure it was him from a good way off, despite my poor distance vision, due to his flashing headlight. In the second half, however, the riding surface had considerably more snow and ice on it, impeding my traction at numerous points.

And then, 11 miles into the ride, the big issue hit. I noticed squeaking from my right front wheel, looked down, and saw that I had a flat! Now one of my goals for 2021 is to learn to change a flat. My cycling friend Dan Cogan has taught me how, and I took notes on my phone so I would have something to consult -- but I've never yet done it myself.  And I didn't think that the failing light of a 35° day would be good conditions for my first try. So I chained the trike up, and texted Michelle, who came and picked me up. Upon getting home, I put the rack on our car, and drove back to get the trike. Tomorrow I'll be able to haul it to the local bike store to have them change it.

Some even though it was nippy, and a bit frustrating ... all's well that ends well! I did 11.0 miles (over 3/4 of what I had planned), in 1:22.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

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