Yesterday while most people were complaining about the heat and staying inside where the air was conditioned and cool I took off on the recumbent on one of my favorite road rides. The Clear Fork Loop is a 30 mile ride leaving from and ending in my driveway which takes me through three surrounding counties.
This is one of my favorite road loops because the first ten miles are flat as I head east. Turning south the route becomes hilly. One of the hills in this area is steep enough to require the granny gear up front and I climb with relative ease at about 4 mph. Most of the climbs I crank out in the middle ring which I think is a 42 tooth chainring.
Long downhills where I can sustain close to 30 mph are abundant around the Clear Fork Reservoir.
After climbing up the southern ridge of the valley I pass the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. If you know anything about sports car racing or superbikes you may be familiar with this famous track. My only experience with this race course is auto racing games on the Sony Playstation but I must say this one is every bit as fun and challenging as California's Laguna Seca.
I could hear some activity so I rolled up to the guard shack and asked nicely if I could leave my bike by the gate and walk up on top of the high bank to take a few pictures.
After ten miles of hills the last third of the ride is gentle rolling country back to the flats and on to home. The loop is a great training ride because the hills are right in the middle with ample time to get warmed up and then a few miles on the way back to cool down and get back into a steady cadence after the hilly beat down.
Bike: Recumbent
Ride Time: 2:13:38
Distance: 30.43 miles
Average Speed: 13.6 mph
Max Speed: 36.8 mph
Now if they only had pedal cars on that track. . . .
ReplyDeleteIf I had a choice it would still be two wheels but power would come from 600cc of internal combustion!
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit that I'm slightly interested in trying out a recumbent bike. As a cyclist, I think it's only natural to want to try all aspects of the sport. How did you come to be a recumbent rider?
ReplyDeleteMike
ReplyDelete"How I came to be a recumbent rider" That would make a nice post- thanks for the idea.
I like all types of bicycles and riding. Bents are different breed for sure. After a 2 or three hours ride you hop off and feel nothing but that pleasant burn in the legs. No sore butt, back, shoulder, neck, wrists. I've been riding mine a lot lately.
Still dig the uprights though too. Love my mountain bike and cruising around on my commuter.
The stigma of old guys with beards and bellies is common and hilarious but I have found that people I encounter on the trail seem interested and impressed. My goal is to promote the recumbent as a platform for performance and long distance riding for younger cyclists not just old geezers.
Takes about three weeks of riding to get used to riding bent. Differs for each but before long it's like any other bike.
So if you ever have a chance by all means try it out.