Wednesday, September 8, 2021

2021 mileage: 4068.7

I called the trike dealer (Jack's in Dearborn) this noon, asking the owner, Brian (who I trusted to be able to understand this simple message despite my garbled speech), "What's up, Brian?" He checked, and told me that my trike is 99% done, but the seat frame is missing one specialized bolt that they have to get from the manufacturer (TerraTrike in Grand Rapids), so it's been ordered and should be here by the weekend.

In light of that, I rode on our stationary bike for the second straight day, and today finished up the second half of Schindler's List, which I had begun yesterday. That covered 1:40, and gave me 25.1 miles.

Trailer for Schindler's List

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

2021 mileage: 4043.6

I took my backup trike to the dealer today, to have them adjust a problem with the seat that has had me leaning notably to the left for some time now. So, with both of my trikes unusable at present, I returned to our stationary bike, which was such a useful option for me last winter. I've used it very little, though, since spring arrived—but still, of my total mileage for the year (4043.6), 2176.8 of them (or a little more than half) have been on the stationary bike.

While riding, I watched a movie, as I like to do—the incredibly moving 1993 film Schindler's List, about the plight of Polish jews during World War II. However, as it is over 3 hours long, I decided just to watch the first 90 minutes today (for a ride of 22.1 miles) and save the second half for tomorrow.

Theme from Schindler's List (played by Andrea Giuffredi)

129th outdoor ride of 2021 - Sunday, September 5, 2021

2021 mileage: 4021.5

Today was a huge, HUGE joy, as I got to ride with Christy for only about the third or fourth time ever. We had planned to meet out at our garage and ride at 7:30, and when she showed up a bit past 7:20, she told me that she had vainly hoped to beat me out there, but as I told her, I went out early to move our car and to air up my tires, as is a Sunday custom for me.

We had a lovely ride in early Sunday stillness and sunshine, going to Marsh Park and then two loops in Stonebridge on the way back. This gave us 14.9 miles in 1:39 ... as she slyly noted, I'm gradually working her to longer and longer rides. We hope to do the 20-mile Baker Rd. round trip sometime this fall, and then perhaps next year, the 31-miler to Matthei.

I was doubly glad to get a good ride in today, since tomorrow is out. Michelle and I are leaving this afternoon for a brief overnight getaway in a Bed and Breakfast over southwest of Lansing.

Relive video of today's ride

128th outdoor ride of 2021 - Saturday, September 4, 2021

2021 mileage: 4006.6

The day began with a big disappointment. The tubes I needed for my new trike finally arrived from Amazon yesterday, and when I went to put one on this morning, I got stuck -- but my friend Doug Tidd was able to come over and help me out. However, after we put it in, and pumped it up, before it was even completely inflated, it blew out. Undaunted, we tried a second, and that one let us blow it up a little closer to the recommended pressure -- before it, too, blew. Down to our third and last tube now, we tried that ... but it, too, blew out (after we had gotten it fully blown up, but before we got it reattached to the trike). Now, I really don't know what to do. The dealer, Jack's, told me the tubes they use are out of stock, and they aren't supposed to get any more until MAY! In light of that, I'd be tempted to give Amazon another try -- but when I did that this morning, I was told that this item was unavailable.

But then, there was a BIG milestone today - going over 4000 miles for the year far and away the earliest I ever have. After watching Michigan open their college football season with a solid win over Western Michigan, I went out late afternoon and rode a round trip to Marsh Park, with a loop in Stonebridge added in on the way home, for a 12.6-mile ride in 1:19.

While riding, I listened to my John Denver playlist on Spotify, and though this had me smiling throughout, I was especially delighted to hear this song, which my siblings Marianne and John and I sang often in our teens (with me at the piano).

Grandma's Feather Bed

Relive video of today's; ride

127th outdoor ride of 2021 - Friday, September 3, 2021

2021 mileage: 3994.0

Today's schedule was a bit funky. I had a rehearsal with my trumpet playing cousin Rich Harris and our guitarist, Erik Gibelyou, late morning, and then I waited at home for a call from Michelle to come pick her up from school (where she was busily preparing for the new year which begins next week). Finally after we exchanged texts, I rode at 3:30. The tubes for my new trike arrived today, but I haven't gotten the installation done yet, so I again rode my older backup trike. It went OK, but I will be very glad when I can return to the new one.

I rode a round trip to the near edge of Saline (at the intersection of Woodland Dr. and Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.), to give me 11.2 miles in 1:14. And upon finishing, I had a moment. That older trike is significantly more top heavy than the newer one, and I was reminded of this as I made the right turn into our complex. I couldn't hold it from tipping over, and as I spilled out, my head cracked into the cement curb, making me VERY glad to be wearing my helmet (as I always do). And, as He always seems to do, God provided me with an attending angel ... a woman who was just turning into the complex then, and stopped, asking me in alarm, "Are you OK?" She was eager to help me get up, and was relieved when I indicated that I was fine. When I showed her my card explaining why I can't speak, and saying that I didn't mean to seem rude or unfriendly, she laughed, "Oh my God! I didn't think that AT ALL!"

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be fine in the morning, but for tonight I'm feeling mildly scraped up and sore, so I'm glad to be spending the evening in my La-Z-Boy with my feet up, and watching the Tigers take on the Reds down in Cincinnati.

Had I not already committed to riding the Great Cycling Challenge in support of efforts to battle childhood cancer, i probably would have taken today as a rest day. But in order to make my (self-imposed) goal of 400 miles for the month of September, I need to average over thirteen and a half miles per day, and taking the day off completely would have made it, while not impossible, just one notch harder.

Relive video of today's ride

126th outdoor ride of 2021 - Thursday, September 2, 2021

2021 mileage: 3982.8

This morning I rode to Marsh Park, and then on the way back did loops on Interfirst Dr., Bicentennial Pkwy, and in Stonebridge, to give me a 15.0-mile ride in 1:35, while listening to the Spotify playlist I've created of the superb past 4 CDs that my cousin, trumpeter Rich Harris, has released. He is about to record a new one (Sept. 15-16), and has asked me to be his pianist ... I am greatly honored by this, and looking forward to the recording sessions, as well as to our rehearsal tomorrow morning (we have had one already).

Relive video of today's ride

125th outdoor ride of 2021 - Wednesday, September 1, 2021

2021 mileage: 3967.8

In September I am riding the Great Cycle Challenge, which is aimed at raising funds to fight childhood cancer. I am pursuing a goal I set for myself to ride 400 miles in September, (Contributions are gratefully accepted on my page:

Great Cycle Challenge

I got the month of to a good start this morning by riding a round trip to Baker Rd. (Dexter) for the first time since August 18) in LOVELY riding weather ... slightly cooler air has moved in as fall approaches, and when I set off at 7 a.m. today, it was 60° and sunny, climbing to 68° during my ride. By taking my slightly shorter route, I did 18.3 miles in a few seconds over 2 hours even.

I remain intensely grateful to have my old (backup) trike to use while I await the tubes for my new one. However, the last two days have reminded me of one of its unpleasant features. The handlebar is so placed that on the upstroke, my left leg scrapes it, and that has opened a raw patch on my left thigh. Additionally, my right ankle is slightly striking the pedal crank—so my poor left side is feeling it!

Relive video of today's ride