The first real ride
Jul. 9th, 2023 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericcolemanAn electric trike appeared at our house a couple of weeks ago. It needed a little TLC (a bad tube) and I was able to take it out for a few minutes last night, but had the first real ride tonight.
I did just over 2 miles tonight, entirely on the electric motor. I was getting to know it, and know what it can do. Tonight could not get me up an admittedly sizable hill. I may be able to deal with it when I get the gearing worked out better, but I'm not sure. I was hoping to take it to work occasionally, but there are two sizable hills in each direction, really the only direction I can go on a bike. The next time I ride it, probably Wednesday, I'll work with the gears more, but it might not be able to move my weight up a hill.
But, tonight told me that this is a good thing for me. I need to get on it as often as I can. We work on the podcast Monday and Tuesday evening, so Wednesday it is.
We are working out places that we can ride on the flat. I know the myth is that all of Iowa is flat. RAGBRAI riders reply to that with "you've never ridden a bike across it".
I want to practice changing back and forth between the motor and the pedals. When the motor is on, the pedals are disengaged, so it will take a bit of practice.
I am dealing well with the saddle. The thumb control for the motor can be a bit tricky after awhile, but I will get used to it.
So far so good!
Now I just have to work out how to afford one of the trikes that will take me up a hill, and that has pedal assist.
I did just over 2 miles tonight, entirely on the electric motor. I was getting to know it, and know what it can do. Tonight could not get me up an admittedly sizable hill. I may be able to deal with it when I get the gearing worked out better, but I'm not sure. I was hoping to take it to work occasionally, but there are two sizable hills in each direction, really the only direction I can go on a bike. The next time I ride it, probably Wednesday, I'll work with the gears more, but it might not be able to move my weight up a hill.
But, tonight told me that this is a good thing for me. I need to get on it as often as I can. We work on the podcast Monday and Tuesday evening, so Wednesday it is.
We are working out places that we can ride on the flat. I know the myth is that all of Iowa is flat. RAGBRAI riders reply to that with "you've never ridden a bike across it".
I want to practice changing back and forth between the motor and the pedals. When the motor is on, the pedals are disengaged, so it will take a bit of practice.
I am dealing well with the saddle. The thumb control for the motor can be a bit tricky after awhile, but I will get used to it.
So far so good!
Now I just have to work out how to afford one of the trikes that will take me up a hill, and that has pedal assist.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-10 01:57 am (UTC)And yes, even small hills can be significant. I remember my father talking about the need to know where the hills in Chicago are, since (among other things) paving a block on a hill takes more stuff and is therefore more expensive than paving a block in a place that's really flat.