Leveling Up on ride 27

[judifilksign]

 The 3^3rd ride was notable in that I was able to shift gears up to the next level, thanks to advice from pondside during our swim today.  

The larger sprocket made us go much faster, and while hills were more difficult, the momentum gained by pedaling downhill helped make the uphill battles less wearing that I would have thought.

My darling husband took Sparkle for her Y swim tonight, so I could pack for the 21st NE Filk convention, Contata 6, at which I am guest of honor.  I will be going up with solomons_pond  and pondside , the other parts to my singing persona  (as opposed to my sign language persona) known as We're Not Koi.  For the Y, my darling husband actually took along his swimming trunks.  He got in the water at the shallow end, and stood at the edge reading a copy of The Economist magazine.  Next step:  actual swimming, dear!

As a result of her swim, we didn't start our ride until a quarter to nine.  While Sparkle expressed interest in going to the "HIGH towers," I said we'd only go as far as the Troll Bridge, because I didn't want to bike in the dark.  Sparkle pretended not to know what I meant.  I called it the Windy Bridge.  There was no real breeze today.  Sparkle called it the Bumpy Bridge.

As we passed the rail road crossing construction, I noted that they have filled the ditch with gravel.  Still to come is re-paving the road up to the tracks, as there is still a big bump down no car would like to have to do.  Sparkle expressed concern about passing the construction train, even parked.  She remembers nearly getting hit a couple of years ago.  I noted with pleasure that the rail way signs all up and down the roads anywhere near us now have contact info on the backs now, since Angels on the Tracks got involved on our behalf.

Today's creatures were night time fluttery bugs, and bats.  I could hear the high pitched squeaks from the bats before I spotted them over the trail and train tracks swooping and making crazy angle turns.  I've always wondered how bats can flip on a dime better than feathered birds can.  Sparkle was oblivious, and I let her be.

At the Bumpy Bridge, as we rattled across the metal fittings that connect the bridge with the trail, we made bump-bump, BUMP sounds, my two tires, then Sparkle's trailer tire.  Right after, Sparkle would shout:  "Dum-Dum DUM!" in the same rhythm.  Bumpy Bridge, thou art aptly named for a clear evening sky with no breeze.

At the 2.5 mile turnaround at the second road, we broke out our water, Sparkle got off the bike and came up and hugged me tight.  We watched the sunset for a little bit.  In the clear skies, we actually had a rainbow going on, with a bit of green in the sunset as well as the rosy pinks, purples and golds.

Coming home downhill on the larger sprocket cranked up to the largest back sprocket, we really made some speed.  It was enough to make me a bit nervous.  We moved faster on our trail than a car on the parallel road was going, so it must have been about 20 to 25 mph!  Sparkle cackled with glee and yelled "Faster, Mommy, faster, FASTER, HA HA HA!"  The loud hum of the bike tires coming sent chipmunks, rabbits and birds on fences scattering.  There were some slight uphills I didn't even have to pedal up because momentum took over.  (This was good, because I was breathless from going faster, y'know?)

The hill down to home went by scarily fast; I worried about hitting a bump and crashing.  The dogs at the mean dog house were out, but we flew past them before they could run out of their yard and into the street.  I am strongly tempted to complain to somebody about them unsecured, off leash and running after bikes in the road to Somebody, but I'm not sure to whom I should complain.  If they tip us over or bite, it will be the police.

We made it home on our five mile trip in record time.   While I am looking forward to my con trip, I shall miss my nightly rides with my girl.  I don't know whether I shall be able to get online and post while I am at the con.  Happy LJing!

Comments

[spiritdancer]

You should give a call to your local animal control officer/humane society (depends on your locality - an animal control office may be associated with the police dept., or with a HS). If all else fails, call the police department on the non-emergency number, and ask who should get involved. If there is a local leash law (many places have them these days), a friendly visit from a law enforcement officer might be in order.

:)

[maverick-weirdo.livejournal.com]

Congratulation on picking up the Shift Gears Feat.

I so wish I was going to Contata this year. I hope you have a blast.

Re: :)

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Thank you. See you at OVFF this fall?

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Well done on the Shift Gears Feat.

Next level up--The Shift Gears While Moving Feat--this enables the user to shift down for steep hills, and up to go faster on the flat and downhill.

Well done on another vigorous bike ride! I bet Sparkle will miss the rides too. Have a lovely time at the con; you deserve it.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I did shift gears while moving. They made a scary clicky noise that made me fear I had just broken the bike, but it kept going. I think my Feat was shifting gears with wobbly child pedaling, too (albeit on a different chain.)

I hope that the rides won't be too hard after I come back with such a break.

I wonder whether the con hotel will have a stationary bike? (Not that I'd count that toward my 100 Rides of Summer, just keeping in training.)

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

That clicky noise is probably the point where the chain is moving over from one gear to another. It is kind of unsettling at first but once you get use to it it's like a cat chirping, just a normal noise they make sometimes.

I bet three days won't make much difference, but hotels often have a gym of some sort and a stationary bike is one of the most common pieces of equipment. So I'd say your chances are very good.

[needlewomyn.livejournal.com]

I've found that once you have a "core" level of fitness, you can slack off for a week or so without having to struggle too much when you return.