Trial Ride and 5 mile Walk in the Rain...

Well we were on vacation in the North Woods just outside of Minoqua WI in the small town of St. Germaine. I had brought the bikes for a nice ride and when my folks came to join us my dad would be able to ride with us. On Monday we rode about 6 miles of REALLY NICE trail while I Pulled Darth Jr on the Trailer bike. Grandpa was really tired by the 3 mile mark so we turned around and that made the trip just right. My parents left on Wednesday and the plan was for me to take a good portion of the day to ride the trails.

Thursday just after lunch I took the van to the trail head and hit the road. I was cruising along enjoying a sunny day and protection from the wind from the really large trees. I get to a super steep hill at about the 2 mile mark and go down and push up the very steep opposite side and make it rather easily. I push past the 3 mile mark of Monday and see an amazing site. Rolling hills and trials as far as my eyes can see. Mile mark 4 I cross the road and make my way up a hill... Thump, Thump, Thump... I look down and my back tire is flat. No big deal I came prepared. After getting everything undone, full of dirt and grim and back together I was excited to get up the really big hill and see what is ahead. The tire was inflated probably about 80% of what I normally like, but appeared to be in good order. The flat tire seemed to have a messed up valve. So after packing everything up I made my way up the large hills to see the path go on in the distance through the pines in what looked almost like a roller coaster track of perfectly paved trails. Since I had just replace the tire I felt it was best to make it back toward the van and turned around at the 6 miles mark. 12 miles would be a good ride with all the hills. I go down he first hill and begin to go up the next when I feel the tire give and slide funny under me. I get off the bike and look at the tire. FLAT! I attempt to pump it, but it will not keep the air for more then a few minutes. I make it to about the 7 mile mark (5 from the van) and realize I am not going anywhere on this. I look at it and it appears that the valve is broken as well. My guess is when I was using the frame pump I pushed or pulled too hard breaking the little head of the valve. The sun is still shining and there is a slight breeze so it looks like I am walking. I give a quick call to the wife to let her know I will be really late, but her cell phone is off being charged! Not that it matters the van is a long way from the cabin. As I walk at a nice 3 MPH pace the wind picks up and the distant sound of thunder begins to roar. Within minutes the storm front is on top of me and the rain comes pouring down. Not only did I get two flats it is raining on me as well. What else could go wrong? As I get to the steep hills about 2 miles from the van the tire will not stay on the rim. I pick up the bike and carry it up the hill to a wayside park and inflate the tube enough to keep it on the rim. I finally make it back to the van and get the bike loaded when I look down at my hiking shorts and see a 8 inch hole in the side. I wear hiking shorts over my bike shorts for storage and to avoid the bike shorts look.

Stats...

• 7 miles ride
• 5 mile walk in the rain
• 2 flat tires
• 1 ripped pair of hiking shorts
• 1 soaked pair of shoes
• dirt and grim everywhere
• Trip up North with trails rides...opportunity lost...

On the somewhat bright side I the way up to the cabin we stopped at the Hostel Shoppe in Steven's Point. This place is amazing. It is the largest bike store I have ever been in and they were right on a trail. The selection of Bikes, Accessories and of coarse RECUMBENT bikes was amazing. There must have been 50 different Bents in the shop and a TON of bikes in my size... XL!!! I rode the RANS Stratus XP. What an amazing ride. It was super smooth and despite the extreme length of 95.5" I was able to take the 90 degree turns of a normal sidewalk. I rode it around and was extremely excited, however that excitement began to fade when I realize I was about $2,000.00 short of purchasing one. I did have some nice discussions with a couple bike shoppe people about size, style and value of some bikes. I really like the ride of the Long Wheel Base Recumbent, but the stability of the Trikes are rather inviting. My only concern about the trikes was the width. While riding CK's trike I realized my thighs are rather wide and his narrow trike is not really that comfortable for me. We discussed this at the shop and they came up with a few other options that are in the same range, but have a wider profile. At this point the kids were getting a little restless and it was time to go. I may have to make a day trip up to the shop and spend some serious time testing bikes for size and feel.