3-Mar-24      SUN      Rockwall-Forney Ride

I've done this ride many times in strong headwind. Today's may have been the toughest south wind we have endured. I don't know if it was, but I do know I feel wiped out. On the other hand, the return trip was great. It just wasn't great enough to offset the fatigue I felt from going south.  
 
BIKE:  Neuvation Road Bike  /START TIME:  9:06 /END TIME:  12:43 /AVG SPEED:  14.6  /MAX SPEED:  31.2 /CLIMBING:  1719 /MILES:  43.25 /MTD MILES:  139.68 /YTD MILES:  1513.09  
SKY: Sunny  /WIND:  SSW 16-22 /START TEMP: 63  /END TEMP: 74

Tuesday 3/5/24 WRL Clown Ride:
 
Participants: Daniel S, Larry K, E Bob, Mark Mc D, Ken 3, Bob M, Lynn M, Butch Y, Don C, and me
 
Daniel and Larry rode together as did Mark and Ken 3. E Bob rode solo. We had a mix up waiting for Don to get ready to ride (he arrived at the lake later than the rest of us). Butch and I thought Bob M and Lynn had rolled out, and were headed for the SoPac Trail, while we were talking to Don. We told Don we were going to try to catch them, so we rolled out and put the pedal to the metal. When we reached the north end of the SoPac, no Bob and Lynn. We headed back down the trail and ran across Don and finally Bob and Lynn. We did a 180 and joined them as they rode to the north end. We then all rode back to the lake and Sunset Bay. Following a break, Bob led us on a second lake lap and SoPac up-and-back. Back at Sunset Bay, Bob and Lynn packed it in and left the Bay. Butch drove to the Green Spot, while Don and I rode there on our trikes. Following lunch at the Spot, Don and I completed a fast (20.3 mph average) counterclockwise lake lap back to Sunset Bay. I got in 54.9 miles at a 17-mph average moving speed. Max speed was 30.5 mph on the smooth asphalt flats of West Lawther.
 
No mechanicals today. The new stock power double idler I installed on my Aero trike, yesterday, while noisier than the old single idler I had adapted to the trike, got the job done.
 
One incident: We had to slow down for two small dogs running free on the SoPac (they should have been on leashes for their safety). As we passed, I think Lynn said something to the dogs' owner, because she responded with: "Mind your own business" as I passed her.  

5-Mar-24      TUE      CLOWN RIDE

Finally, a practically windless day along with very mild temperatures, under partly cloudy skies.
 
BIKE: Catrike 700  START TIME: 9:34  END TIME: 12:47  AVG SPEED: 16.1  MAX SPEED: 26.1  CLIMBING: 1007  MILES: 41.3 MTD MILES: 221.06  YTD MILES:   1594.41
SKY: partly cloudy  WIND: SSE 6  START TEMP: 66  END TEMP: 81

10-Mar-24      SUN      Rockwall-Forney Ride

Today might have been the best Sunday for a ride, this year. There was no wind to speak of and the morning temperature was a bit chilly, but ok. It stayed relatively chilly for the entire ride but that wasn't bad. Riding today was me, Eva, Ed, Paul, and Carlos. We all stayed together pretty well - about 90% of the time so we were a good group!
 
BIKE: Neuvation Road Bike  START TIME: 9:02  END TIME: 12:47  AVG SPEED: 15.3  MAX SPEED: 31.6  CLIMBING: 1650  MILES: 43.46 MTD MILES: 299.07  YTD MILES: 1672.42
SKY: Sunny  WIND: NNW 2  START TEMP: 44  END TEMP: 57

Thursday, March 14, 2024: Clown ride
 
I awoke early, and it was dry outside, so, after breakfast I headed to the lake.  I was about to start when Daniel arrived.  After I started Larry, Kenny, and Lynn came.  Daniel and Larry rode together, and Lynn and Kenny rode solo.  Although it was humid, with a few sprinkles, it was a decent day for a ride.  I did two long laps, as usual, with an extra mile at the end, for Saturday.  Total equaled 42 miles.

Quote from NO BATTERY bwand E-Bob on Mar 16^th, 2024, 12:13am:

 
Are there any port-a-potties on the North Haven Trail? Somebody told me there used to be one, but it had been removed.

12-Mar-24      TUE      CLOWN RIDE

Rode my recumbent trike on this ride along with Larry, although not the entire ride. When I wasn't riding with Larry, I had an opportunity to pick up the pace, especially into the wind. There was a south wind, but it wasn't strong enough to cause white caps on the lake while we were riding.  I felt good, the temperature was pleasant, and the sky ranged from partly cloudy to mostly cloudy.  After the ride, we retired to the boat club where we enjoyed Cheetos and conversation. Bob Millay joined us. While the other 2 drink regular beer, I stick with my non-alcoholic beer choice. Has the same great flavor, but no impact while driving home.
 
BIKE: Catrike 700  START TIME: 9:37  END TIME: 12:41  AVG SPEED: 15.9  MAX SPEED: 25.5  CLIMBING: 1020  MILES: 40.85 MTD MILES: 339.92  YTD MILES: 1672.42
SKY: Partly Cloudy  WIND: S 9  START TEMP: 55  END TEMP: 68

16-Mar-24      SAT      South Loop Velomobile Solo

Didn’t get a ride yesterday although I could have. Just wasn’t motivated. This morning, I checked the weather news, and they were saying only low chance of rain before noon. That was close to 9 AM. I decided if I got on the ball I could get out the door by 9:30 (riding from the house) and still get a decent ride during the 2½ hours that would be safe (dry) to be out riding. I finished at 12:15 with elapsed time 29 minutes longer than ride time. Since my remote garage door opener/closer is not working (again) I had to start from my garage area, ride around the block to the front of my house, go in and through the house and hit the closer and back out to the velo to start. Had to do the reverse of that at the end. Also had a few long red lights to wait on and one whiz stop. That added up to 29 minutes. I checked the time of day at mile 29 and saw I had an hour until noon at that point and decided to cut the ride shorter than I had planned, as I still had 20 miles left to get home. I’d say it worked out pretty well. By half an hour later, lightning was occurring, and the rain was pouring. It was still dry when I finished. So glad I didn’t drive somewhere to ride as that would have shortened my available “dry time” for riding!
 
bike: DFXL; start time: 9:29; end: 12:15; avg:20.4; max: 39.3; climb: 1381; miles: 49.23; mtd miles:429.59; ytd miles:1802.94
PARTLY CLOUDY; wind: NE 9; start temp: 59; end: 63