I‘ve been invited by Roger Zoul of BROL to join his and 1199 other riders in Charleston, South Carolina, November 28th – December 2nd for this festive event called FestiVELO. Roger also rides a RANS Stratus XP. I plan to take my Trek Project One, my Velokraft VK2, as well as my SXP. Hopefully, I get in 340+ miles over the 4 riding days. Check out the food listed on FestiVELO site. There’s also lots of activity. I know this will be fun. Now to get ready…
Ordered the LI taillight I described below. It will ship Priority Mail versus Express Mail–expect it in 3 days or so.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to add this light to my DiNotte set and then have redundant taillighting. I have the amber headlights for front visibility. I’ll then only have to add a DiNotte headlight for complete redundancy. All this in the name of my safety.
Placed my amber headlights on both DFs and use one to determine the optimal DiNotte Taillight location. One of the beauties of these lights is the ease with which they can be moved from bike-to-bike. I’ll post pictures later. I’ve use them on my VK2 and will set up the RANS Stratus XP for DiNotte lighting.
I attended church, thinking I’ll ride sometime this afternoon. Well, my customer could not pick up his computer until 4:00 p.m. That’s where my ride day went–hopefully tomorrow.
After a frustrating & disappointing ride, I’m resolved that I’m alive & well. Actually, the ride was good for me and My VK2.
The ride began at a relatively slow pace, with 2 groups of riders–the 37 & 64 mile riders. Given my riding of the ‘bent, I decided to trail the other riders. Ultimately, I decided to pass the group to my front and close on the leaders, as the pace began to quicken. I did so with no problem–only to hit a hard bump that resulted in my sports drink bottle falling from the bike. I decided to stop to pick it up. The spout was broken off, so the bottle could not be used. I gave it to one of the sag driver, remounted the bike and began to catch the trailing riders, but never the leading pack of 64-milers–thus my frustration.
The course was not well marked [recent rain did not permit the course to be remarked, plus I did not take a cue sheet with me--other riders have always been visible], which became an issue later. At the point where the rider should have split, I made a right-turn, but no riders in sight, nor blur arrows that I could see on the pavement. At this point, I slowed my pace and decided I’d just return to the start point–the route I rode my DF on the USA Today photo shoot. As I approached the point to make the right-turn to head back, I saw the 64-mile sag truck and was advised to make a left-turn and head for Wagram. I did and arrived at the rest stop after the other riders had departed. Back to frustration–I’ll never know how long I would have stayed with them. I’ve not had a problem on shorter routes on this bike. Now, some may think either I or the recumbent is slow–SHUCKS!
I continued to ride [and on routes and in traffic where I've not ridden the VK2 before]. That was good–we did well. I had on hill at a traffic light where I fail to down shift to a lower gear before I stopped. I dismounted an went to the smaller chain ring. Although not the optimal for the traffic and grade, I was able to get underway. I did lots of in-town riding in Raeford.
Now, the other riders did not ride in Raeford. I missed a turn, yet I knew where I was and how to get to the start point–I was not lost!
Finally, I get back to the start point. I ridden just over 67 miles versus the 64 miles the others rode. All the cars, but two have gone [mine and Bob's (a sag driver who was riding the 37-mile route) car] of the –no one rode a hundred. I still wanted to. The way I figured it, I just had 33 miles to ride rather than 36 to get my century. OK, I’ll ride the remainder in Eastover. Then, I get a telephone call from a customer who wants their computer fixed. I set a 4:00 p.m. appointment for them. I think maybe I can ride and still make the appointment. At 2:15 as I drive to the ride start point, I decide there is not enough time to complete the ride and make my appointment–no century on the VK2 today.
The bike did well. My butt was more uncomfortable on this ‘bent than my DF. This is not the way it is suppose to be. Today I had some left wrist discomfort. I lowered the brake leavers. That should give me a more relaxed hand position. I think the lighting ensured I was visible. I want to add a DiNotte taillight for increase rear visibility. I’m good on the front for now. Ultimately, I use a 600 lumen headlight. Eventually, I want to ride brevet with this bike.
Although I rode most of the ride solo [I do not like the experience when I seems I was dropped--all for a water bottle (I needed my sports drink--It was Hammer stuff)], the experience was good. At the end I was not sore. My average speed was not too bad, given my riding around in Raeford to get my bearings.
BTW, the weather was good–no rain. I had all my rain gear in my panniers. I know how the bike rides with additional weight. It all good! I also got lots of appreciative comments on the cool bike.
Enlarged map of the route I rode
37-Miler
