a.twiddler
Veteran
Tiny rides of 2023
22/5/23
Out for a mini shop. Since we needed loo rolls I took the trike because of the luggage box. A fine sunny day.
I pumped up the tyres. I reset the Garmin and then wondered where the bracket for it had gone. Then I remembered that the one on the Brompton had broken and I’d pinched the one from the trike. Must remember to order another one. I looped the lanyard over the headrest so it had room to swing about without hitting anything. I couldn’t see it while riding but it would still collect ride data.
Leaving it on the big chainring I went out through the gate. On to the road and soon on Swanlow lane heading for the uphill traffic lights. Getting ready to turn right the lights changed to red so I came to a halt at the cyclists’ Advanced Stop Line. A novelty this, enjoying cyclists’ privileges while keeping my feet up ready to go.
The lights changed, no oncoming traffic so off I went. A slight hump to start with then up through the gears as it levelled, then downhill to the left looking forward to a good freewheel to the town centre. As I started to pick up speed a rubbish lorry pulled out from a road on the left, and almost immediately stopped. Traffic began to accumulate, so I just had to wait for a gap. No pedalling though, just let the brakes off and roll. Straight through a mini roundabout with no traffic and then as I approached a traffic light which was starting to cause a queue I nipped up on to the adjacent cycle path and went right. Still no traffic here so I crossed the road on to the opposite side and followed the pavement path into a supermarket access.
Loads of people about, mostly going in my direction and oblivious to my presence. I crept along, waiting while someone took a baby out of a pushchair, then kept on going, heading for somewhere to lock up. At a prime spot two women were gasbagging away totally unaware of anything else. I waited, hoping they’d move but they didn’t. I waited for a gap in the foot traffic then did a loop to the left so I could get into a space that was originally on my right. There was a car parking space but someone had put a barrier along it so you couldn’t get a car in. Anyway, I could see a bike already locked to the fence alongside it so I followed suit. I locked the trike to the fence rail, stopped the Garmin and put it in my pocket then went in to do some shopping.
Back out again, I loaded up the box, which held all my purchases comfortably. I restarted the Garmin, hung it on the headrest again, unlocked and set off across the car park. People talk about fearing that you are are invisible on a recumbent, and the trike is certainly lower and more reclined than my two wheeled one, but still not unusually low for a trike. Judging by the expression on many drivers’ faces it’s pretty visible. Still, car parks are where most cars collect their dents and dings due to all the built in blind spots on cars so it pays to be careful.
Out of the car park, left at a mini roundabout, right at the next one then bouncing over the speed humps on Dingle lane. Across the pavement at the end of Dingle Lane, then a zig zag route through an estate and out on to Townfields Road. Over the top, left at the lights, down a dip then turn off, up a short climb, freewheel through the lanes and home.
After the tiny ride.
Distance 2.65 miles. Max speed 18.7 mph. Average 6.2mph.
According to Bikehike
82 feet per mile ascent approx.
22/5/23
Out for a mini shop. Since we needed loo rolls I took the trike because of the luggage box. A fine sunny day.
I pumped up the tyres. I reset the Garmin and then wondered where the bracket for it had gone. Then I remembered that the one on the Brompton had broken and I’d pinched the one from the trike. Must remember to order another one. I looped the lanyard over the headrest so it had room to swing about without hitting anything. I couldn’t see it while riding but it would still collect ride data.
Leaving it on the big chainring I went out through the gate. On to the road and soon on Swanlow lane heading for the uphill traffic lights. Getting ready to turn right the lights changed to red so I came to a halt at the cyclists’ Advanced Stop Line. A novelty this, enjoying cyclists’ privileges while keeping my feet up ready to go.
The lights changed, no oncoming traffic so off I went. A slight hump to start with then up through the gears as it levelled, then downhill to the left looking forward to a good freewheel to the town centre. As I started to pick up speed a rubbish lorry pulled out from a road on the left, and almost immediately stopped. Traffic began to accumulate, so I just had to wait for a gap. No pedalling though, just let the brakes off and roll. Straight through a mini roundabout with no traffic and then as I approached a traffic light which was starting to cause a queue I nipped up on to the adjacent cycle path and went right. Still no traffic here so I crossed the road on to the opposite side and followed the pavement path into a supermarket access.
Loads of people about, mostly going in my direction and oblivious to my presence. I crept along, waiting while someone took a baby out of a pushchair, then kept on going, heading for somewhere to lock up. At a prime spot two women were gasbagging away totally unaware of anything else. I waited, hoping they’d move but they didn’t. I waited for a gap in the foot traffic then did a loop to the left so I could get into a space that was originally on my right. There was a car parking space but someone had put a barrier along it so you couldn’t get a car in. Anyway, I could see a bike already locked to the fence alongside it so I followed suit. I locked the trike to the fence rail, stopped the Garmin and put it in my pocket then went in to do some shopping.
Back out again, I loaded up the box, which held all my purchases comfortably. I restarted the Garmin, hung it on the headrest again, unlocked and set off across the car park. People talk about fearing that you are are invisible on a recumbent, and the trike is certainly lower and more reclined than my two wheeled one, but still not unusually low for a trike. Judging by the expression on many drivers’ faces it’s pretty visible. Still, car parks are where most cars collect their dents and dings due to all the built in blind spots on cars so it pays to be careful.
Out of the car park, left at a mini roundabout, right at the next one then bouncing over the speed humps on Dingle lane. Across the pavement at the end of Dingle Lane, then a zig zag route through an estate and out on to Townfields Road. Over the top, left at the lights, down a dip then turn off, up a short climb, freewheel through the lanes and home.
After the tiny ride.
Distance 2.65 miles. Max speed 18.7 mph. Average 6.2mph.
Total Ascent: | 107 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 108 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 193 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 192 | ft | Elevation |
| Min Elevation: | 126 | ft | Gradient |
| Max Elevation: | 214 | ft |
82 feet per mile ascent approx.
