On The TerraTrike

I will preface my remarks by stating this is not a report on a scientifically proper experiment, but relating my person experience. In other words, strictly anecdotal evidence.

I recently had a total shoulder replacement, left side. Knowing I couldn’t ride my standard bike for a while, I looked into a recumbent to use while my shoulder mended. I found Suncoast Bicycles in Inverness had TerraTrikes for rent. As soon as I could drive, I went over and picked one up. I rented a TerraTrike Sport for one month. (Being the eternal optimist that I am, I feel assured I will be back on my regular bike by then.)

Riding the recumbent is a blast. It handles very well and it’s just fun riding so close to the ground. (Can you pick up the newspaper without dismounting?) And it’s pretty comfortable. The TerraTrike has single rear wheel drive with two wheels that steer in front. I find this configuration to be very stable and easy to maneuver, although the turning radius is large. I’m riding it everywhere I rode my standard bike. It’s a little less efficient than my standard bike with more moving parts, so it doesn’t go quite as fast. But not by much.  Getting used to using a slightly different set of muscles took  just a couple of days.

I was wary about riding in traffic. Being so low to the ground makes my visibility significantly different than when I’m on a standard bike. To help visibility I have an orange flag that sticks up about six feet and I wear a high visibility jacket or shirt, as well as having a red strobe light on the back of my helmet.

You may have heard me complain about the bad treatment I frequently get from motor vehicle drivers, especially on certain roads. Close passing, honking and various unfriendly verbal admonitions have been commonplace in the past.

Well, glory be! Not only have I not had any adverse reaction while riding the recumbent, but drivers give me wide berth, changing lanes to pass most of the time. If they do stay in my lane they slow way down and inch past. Even on the RBLR arterial. Many wave and smile at me. They wave me through intersections even though they have the right-of-way.  I ride around with a big grin on my face most of the time, hardly believing my good fortune.

So why is this increase in respect happening? Here are the variables: Recumbent bike, trike, new beard (check picture). Could it be the novelty of the recumbent? Could it be my beard? (But drivers don’t see that when approaching from the rear.) Could it be the trike which apparently to the driver takes up more of the road than a regular bike? Could it be that because I’m closer the the ground they give wider berth since I’m less visible to them? Or finally, could it be what I call the “Crazy Unpredictability” (CU) factor, wherein drivers figure the sum total of what they see is far enough off the normal scale they are compelled to give it wide berth? And in connection with the CU factor they also smile and wave so I won’t do anything to harm or upset them.  I personally think it’s the CU factor combined with decreased visibility.  Drivers are thinking, “better stay well away from that thing”.

Admittedly this is only based on 11 days experience. But my experience has been so exceptional I had to give you all a report.  I’ll be interested to learn any of your own experiences with recumbents.  Enjoy your ride and stay safe.

Today was the launch of the Healthy Central Florida initiative, a community-based partnership created by Florida Hospital and the Winter Park Health Foundation. I had the pleasure of attending the Dr. Oz event this morning. Since, I don’t watch TV, I didn’t know who he was… but I really enjoyed his talk! I learned a bunch of useful tips.

Attendees received a copy of the new Guide to Active Fun for Winter Park, Maitland & Eatonville (a revision of the Fun & Fitness map I did for the Winter Park Health Foundation in 2007). You can get one, too. They will be available at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce tomorrow, and other distribution points TBA.

The map contains parks with lists of amenities, bike trails and popular, quiet-street bike routes. The back side lists:

• Details, contact information, hours and directions for all the parks
• Popular walking and running routes, courtesy of Track Shack
• Cycling resources — pointing people to Bike/Walk Central Florida & CommuteOrlando for social rides and safety information

Ace Hardware

 Stolen bicycle returned to owner after 28 years

The Esquimalt resident figured he’d never see his 10-speed Norco bicycle again after it was stolen in broad daylight outside a Victoria pub 28 years ago.

. . .

Roche, now 49, was 21 years old when he and a friend rode their bikes to a Douglas Street pub. When they came out to ride home, Roche’s bike, a gift from his older brother, was gone.

“Mine was locked and my buddy’s, which was a way better bike, wasn’t,” said Roche. “We were killing ourselves (laughing). Why would they take the locked one? That’s the irony of it.”

. . .

Where the 10-speed has been all these years is a mystery to police, who traced a nine-digit number stamped on the bike’s frame back to Roche.

The bike’s chain is rusty and the tires are flat and bald, reason why Roche is wary of taking it for a spin. But the bike may still have some years left in it.

“I’m going to throw some money at it if it’s worth fixing and then donate it,” said Roche. “I’m sure some kid will say, ‘Wow, this is cool.’

“Maybe all his friends will have brand new BMXs and his will be an original.”

January is already over, and it’s time for another First Friday ride!  As always, we roll out from Loch Haven Park at 6:00 p.m. for a casual, family-friendly, law-abiding, hour-long ride around Orlando.

All bikes and all bicyclists are welcome!  Front and rear lights are required; helmets are required for kids under 16, and are a good idea for kids 16 and up.

Thanks to Greg Bailey for setting up a CaringBridge site for Nick Vollman. Greg posted a link in the comments to our post calling for prayers.

You can visit that site for updates on Nick’s recovery and send messages of love and support to Nick and his family in the guestbook.

Also, David’s World Cycle is asking for cards, signs, posters and messages of support to post on the wall in Nick’s room at ORMC. From their FaceBook page:

Here is a picture of Nick Vollman’s room in ICU. It is so important that we show him all of our support with our messages of encouragement and hope.
Help us to plaster his room with cards and pictures and messages to let him know that when he opens his eyes that he is loved and prayed for. Please forward all of your well wishes to the College Park Store address at 2517 Edgewater Dr. Orlando, FL 32804. Attention Nick Vollman.
Thanks so much for all the prayers!

The guard rails have weakened and become unsafe. In addition, they are replacing the wooden deck to make it a smoother ride. This should be nice when they’re done!

Unfortunately, there are no direct routes to get around this bridge since the gates will be closed at Dean Rd. You may want to avoid the trail after nightfall this week.

Feel free to ride whatever you have. Ride your cargo bike, pull a trailer, use racks, bags, baskets, panniers, or hang a plastic bag from the handlebars. It’s all good. Everyone is welcome to come. Bring your kid, your dog, your insignificant other, or come by yourself. If you are new, you’ll know everyone within a few minutes.

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012

Time: We’ll meet up at 10:00 AM.

Meet up place: in the parking lot of the Cady Way Trailhead behind Fashion Square Mall

Destination: Maitland Farmers Market on the shore of beautiful Lake Lily

Come join the fun! Carry home a bag of peppers, some fruit, a big bunch of greens, a jar of exotic marmalade, a gourmet cupcake or two, or whatever you please, all transported by you and your bicycle. It’s the best way to go.

We will be joined by John Schubert of Adventure Cycling Magazine and videographer Scott Murrish who will be shooting footage for (R)Evolutions per Minute: Cargo Bikes in the US.

I can’t wait for the e-Book! In the meantime, the website offers some rich reading and fascinating collection of historical images.

Roads Were Not Built for Cars

Motorists are the johnny-come-latelies of highway history. The coming of the railways in the 1830s killed off the stage-coach trade; almost all rural roads reverted to low-level local use. Cyclists were the first group in a generation to use roads and were the first to push for high-quality sealed surfaces and were the first to lobby for national funding and leadership for roads.

Without cyclists, motorists wouldn’t have hit the ground running when it came to places to drive this new form of transport.

‘Roads Were Not Built for Cars’ is a history book, focussing on a time when cyclists had political clout, in Britain and especially in America. The book researches the Road Improvements Association – a lobbying group created by the Cyclists’ Touring Club in the 1880s – and the Good Roads movement organised by the League of American Wheelmen in the same period.

The book will be published in April 2012 and, thanks to research grants and advertising support, will be free to read online and free to download to Kindles, iPads, iPhones and other e-book readers. The free distribution model will be used in order to get the book seen by as many eyes as possible.

Join Bike/Walk Central Florida at 7 p.m., March 1st, at the Garden Theatre (160 W. Plant St. in Winter Garden, 34787)  for a the Central Florida premiere of Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning documentary chronicling the high drama, tragedy and adrenaline of Race Across America, a phenomenal 10-day sprint across the country by bicycle. This movie is good theater, not just for bicycle junkies, and a portion of the proceeds go to support BWCF.

We are sending out a huge prayer request for our very own Nick Vollman from the College Park store. Please please pray for Nick. He was involved in a terrible bicycle accident. There is tremendous power in prayers and we are asking that everyone please pray for Nick’s speedy recovery!

No details on the crash. It happened on Edgewater Drive. Nick is in the ICU at ORMC. He’s seriously injured. Please send prayers, healing thoughts, positive energy… whatever you got!