Test Ride

 

Ok, now we're having fun. I finally had a short ride around the neighborhood. First time riding a trike. The terrain just off the property is all downhill. Not the best way to get introduced to riding a trike, but holy cow that was fun! My plan was to go down the hill and turn around to get an idea on what needs to be adjusted. Well, so much for that. I ended up touring the neighborhood and wanted to go further, but Erika pulled the plug on that. First impression: Should have purchased a trike a long time ago. A "Lazyboy with wheels" fits the description just about right.

So why on Earth did I purchase a trike? Let's just say, I sorely missed the activity I loved the most. Sure, I've ridden short distances with the tandem and mountain bike. I always worried about straining my neck. Way back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was hit by a bus. Actually, the wheelwell of the bus sucked me into the rear wheel and my head just missed the wheel as I fell. My helmet saved my life, but I broke my arm and injured my hip and shoulder. This was in 1984. Soon after (two days), I was back on the bike with one arm in a sling.

Yeah, I loved cycling. My brother and I would ride all over the West Coast. When I was 16, I rode in the Davis Double Century, 212 miles. I toured from Canada to California. I would often ride from Reno to Lake Tahoe and back when I lived in Reno. My commute in Sacramento was 38 miles each day, rain or shine, night or day, on the American Bike trail. I only used the car to transport the bike to go on some bike rides for the weekend. Cycling was what I identified with.

After marraige, the cycling took a back seat. Rarely, I would go for rides more than 50 miles or so. Work and life soon made those rides disappear. In my heart, I knew I would ride again.

When I was in Seattle (2010), an MRI revealed the extent of my injuries from 1984. My age was finally catching up to me and so were my past injuries. I experienced numbness along my entire right side due to a severely impinged nerve. I was in physical therapy for over three months. Eventually, I required cortisone shots up my spine...fun! That was the longest needle I have ever seen! The neurosurgeon could not operate as it was considered too risky and dangerous. At this point, Erika and I decided it was time to make some life changes.

Well, here we are. My neck is stable provided I don't do anything stupid. I came across an article about people who experienced trauma to their spine. To my surprise, cycling was part of rehab. Not regular cycling...cycling with a trike. A trike places the neck in a very relaxed position while riding. I was intrigued and excited about what I discovered. I must have spent a thousand hours researching which trike to purchase. One problem though...I lived in Japan. Only two dealers in the country and one dealer did not respond. The only dealer is in Osaka ( Recumbents HC Works )The owner ,Yoshi, can speak English. Hey, it was meant to be. Well after a few hundred emails and lots of anxiety, frustration, and work, the ICE trike became a reality.

I'm taking it slow. There is no hurry. I've made it a point to learn as much about this new form of exercise as I can. The muscles used to ride a trike are different than a regular bicycle. I quickly learned that on my first short ride. Give me another 1000km of training and I'll be buzzing all the hills around Tsukahara and beyond. Glass is temporarily on hold for the moment, but will resume after I get some things straightened out. Please stay tuned...