Cycling Experiences…

…or is the future now? Check the sidebar video today [08/24] or here anytime. Have you heard of The Copenhagen Wheel. Yes, there is a Smartphone connection.  Some distain the integration of electronics and cycling [see this BROL Thread]. I am open to ideas and like to share my finding with my readers. That does not mean I am off to buy a cycle with the next new idea. Hey, maybe Cecil “Zeke” Yount will give this a go at the 2011 Blue Bridge Breakaway—Stamey Cove—no problem.

You see, I try for full use of my smart phone. It makes sense to me to spend under $5.00 for an app that replaces an electronic device that may cost $300-$500, or more. This bike uses a smart phone to control the Copenhagen Wheel. Then, there is the patent Apple has applied for “The Smart Bike.” I think in the next 5 years we will see new cycling concepts on the road that uses computers for more than metrics. I suspect either of these ideas will work for some and definitely not for others.

We now await the story. I suspect Zeke has finished. I think he may have finished about 12:45 EDT. CONGRATULATIONS Zeke!!!

At 7:30 a.m. today, riders will be off on rides of 24, 40, 66, and 105 miles. Our friend Cecil “Zeke” Yount has chosen to ride the Metric Century. The best on this ride. We will be looking for your write-up and will follow you on your SPOT Adventures Page. Thanks for sharing. –jim

Zeke says:

Gr8smokieszeke permalink

August 7, 2010 2:04 pm

Hmmm… one word – Intimidating!

Zeke

Well, if not the cycle on the left, then maybe the mascot on the right. See the story…

Here you are Zeke:

Pterosail Trike Systems

Good question. Our latest video shows how quickly it is to stop. Yesterday I Pterosailed up to 23 MPH; although,we’ve gone faster – around 30+

I’ve picked up the rental truck, loaded it, checked out of my room, and now await the UPS delivery truck’s arrival at the Ashford Motel [I hope with 2 shipments for me]. Then the 12+ hour drive home. depending on my time of departure and rate of travel, I may stop in Richmond to spend the night with my son; or, if too late, drive on to Fayetteville. Chirac, Ashford Motel Manager, was kind to drive me to Plainfield, Connecticut to pick up the truck. Thanks Chirac! You really take care of your guest. I wish you well.

There is another story here as it relates to this rental truck. In these parts a GPS is good for finding one’s way around. Once in the truck, my Garmin Nuvi worked for about 5 miles and then died. The cigarette lighters are dead. I called, the Plainfield Connecticut Budget Truck Rental Service Manager. He says bring the truck back—no way, that’s an 80 mile round trip. He thinks it is a fuse. I find no blown fuse. Good I have a Power Box, with a 12-volt battery. I’ll get to Interstate 95 and then I’m on my way without needing a paper map. I also have my iPhone navigational app—although it returned me to the hotel from Plainfield in a convoluted way. Today is off to an interesting start. I have confirmed the batteries shipped by Zeke are out for delivery, as well as at least one of the trailer boxes from the Bath Bike Shop [The other tracking numbers did not work.]. SPOT will be on for the trip home.

I know life returns to normal at some point…  

The last riding day was Friday, Tour Day 12. The tour has come to its riding end at Ashford, Connecticut. With Chirac’s [Ashford Motel Manager] assistance, I hope to pick up a Budget 10’ Rental Truck from Plainfield, Connecticut later today. Budget’s rates are substantially better than U-Haul’s.

I caught Davis at the Bath Bicycle Shop before he shipped my trailer. I’m have it shipped to the Ashford Motel. I also stopped a package that was to have been shipped from home. Now, I only have the items Gary is shipping. For costs and his time, they can be shipped to Fayetteville.

My planned departure is Tuesday after I receive my SPOT Batteries from Zeke and the trailer boxes from Davis.

So, this tour was from Bar Harbor, Maine to Ashford, Connecticut. Not nearly as far as I wanted, even after riding on my own. But far enough for Ashley Guy to obtain useful information for subsequent modifications to this quad design. Once those are made, I’ll strike out again to see how well they work. Thanks to Ashley for his support, both as the builder and his personal financing of much of this tour. Thanks to my BROL friends who also assisted financially. Without you, we would not have made it this far.

I hope I have brought you a little piece of the Northeast USA and one’s cyclist journey along the way. The people I met and their willingness to help where they could. I am blessed to have met them and graced with the protection they gave. This is an experience to treasure for the results are so positive. Thanks to all my readers for following along. Now, stay tuned for the Fargo mods.

If you are wondering…

Budget rental is not in the area.

Zeke is sending me new SPOT batteries. Anyone want to send me anything, please send it to Ashford Motel, 26 Ashford Motel Road, Ashford, CT 06278. The earliest I expect to leave is Tuesday, 06/29.

Literally at the end of the day, I experienced another mechanical failure. That is a Rohloff IGH failure. I purchased the Rohloff so I would not have gearing problems during the tour. It appears shear pins(s) may have sheared. This is the best I have found so far:

When confronting the Rohloff people with this they sure enough told me that this was not covered under warranty but in the same breath assured me not to worry as the hub was built to last. First of all it is built plenty strong (it is designed to handle Pro racing and tandem usage!), secondly there are several safety features built in the hub that would fail when overloaded before serious damage occurred to the hub. For example the internals of the hub are fixed to the shell by 9 small nylon pins that will shear when overloaded prior to any gearing damage. Then there are the bolts that hold the torque plate in place and the list continues …. All things that are easy to fix. GERMAN ENGINEERING at its best.

Anyway, I will call Darcy at:

Bath Cycle And Ski
Rr 1 Box 372
Woolwich, ME
04579-9705
207-442-7002

Thanks to Zeke and Darcy, my trailer is position for shipment to Fayetteville. I’m fortunate to be on the road and through the use of electronics have a direct source to problem solutions as I ride. Now pushing the quad up this gigantic hill was no fun. Mr. Giraldo rode that hill last night.

Mechanical #1 [trivial—just time consuming]

From before the Ride for the Republic started and my first 2 days on that tour with Rafael, I have had the most positive experience with people of this state. First, not a single horn blow—they wait and pass cautiously. They speak and great. Their human touch is extraordinary. Daily, I have had more that 5 individuals stop their cars to photograph Fargo—many have stopped to converse. Today, a lady, after being told of my presence by her husband, brought me bottled water and asked to photograph the quad. Needless to say, a lot of my stop time is in conversing with the citizens of this state—a VERY positive experience.

I introduced you to my 4 angels of Day01. Today, the 3rd day of the ride I now call cycling experiences on tour 3 additional angels came my way: Zeke from Waynesville, North Carolina; Darcy of Bath Cycle And Ski of Woolwich, Maine; and Wayne, Darcy’s father-in-law.

The 3 of them facilitated the most efficient trailer drop imaginable. I called Darcy after Zeke found her and she gave me directions to Wayne’s location. He was quite hospitable and even permitted me to take his picture. Thanks to the three of you.

Darcy, I will call you tomorrow on my Rohloff problem. Good I mentioned Rohloff today and know your shop is knowledgeable.

Hi to all,

For those of you interested in following Jim Artis’ upcoming adventure:

Here is one of the images of Fargo, his quadricycle, just prior to being shipped from Utah. This will give you a good look at the nearly finished product. There are still graphics and pin-striping to be applied, as well as, installation of the solar panels, electronic tools, etc. Jim will be picking up Fargo in Charlotte tomorrow (Friday morning) and then going full steam into final prep and packing for the trip. He leaves in 7 days!  If you would like to see additional images of Fargo in its pre-shipping stage, go to http://cyclingexperiences.com and scroll through the various posts. You can also see the Fargo graphic that will be applied to each of the rear quarter panels. Now, here’s the image…

Later,

Cecil

Thanks my friend! Visit Cecil/Zeke’s blog and read the most interesting stories.