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10-14-08, 11:43 AM
So I get out of work a bit late, since I was trying to finish stuff, and get on the NB CalTrain from SJ at 6:05 PM.
As soon as I get on, the conductor says there was just a fatality at Mtn View :( and we would be going to Santa Clara and holding there for an hour.
So anyway I am in a nice shirt and jeans, and only have my crappy blinky for my headlight (since I left the DiNotte at home). Thus, I don't want to ride all the way to San Mateo, for safety's sake as well as the comfort of my ass (jeans + 32 miles = meh).
So I do what I have done before, call Ruth and say "Hey want to pick me up half way?".
She couldn't leave for around 20 min, my best guess was VA Hospital for the rendezvous point. However, she said she would call me when she left, for a better idea. I said ok, but just head down 280 if I don't answer.
So anyway, I head down Lafayette to Central. Ruth calls me right after I hit Central, but we got cut off.
Then I see it... a bike headlight closing in on me.... Well you guys know me by now, I use this as an opportunity to push the pace. :innocent: :rolleyes:
The headwinds on Central were brutal. So I got low, and just mashed my way through it. I was hammering pretty hard, so I glanced back and realized I hadn't dropped the other bike, they were hanging on to my pace. I thought cool, keep on hammering.
I finally decided to take a full look at who was hanging on my tail, and low and behold it was a recumbent tadpole trike.
I decide to pull along side the guy, and chit chat. Turns out the bike has electric assist (as I look at the big e-hub in the rear).
The guy was obviously an engineer, and he built the bike himself, including the frame. It used the rear triangle from a K2 Mtn bike, with suspension. The wheel even cambered with the turns! The trike has disc brakes up front with regenerative braking to help charge the battery. He said that it would cruise at around 20 mph without pedaling, but if you hammer along plus the electric assist helping you can absolutely rip!
So we ride together for a while going at it in the mid to high 20's into a head wind (!!), but then I get a call from Ruth, and slow down a to talk on the phone :rolleyes: (I know I shouldn't do that... ;) but I am in a huge shoulder on Central Expy)
I confirm that VA Hospital on Foothill Expy would still be our rendezvous point. I look up and the e-trike guy is way ahead. So I put the hammer down again, and was going all out to try and catch back up. It took forever, but I finally caught him just before a light. Turns out we were going the same way, so we rode together on the rest of Central, El Camino and Arastradero. We were absolutely hauling ass the whole time. High 20's - 30+ mph
I turned off into the VA hospital and waved bye. It was a fun ride. Ruth just got to the hospital less than 5 mins before me, so good timing by all.
Just thought I'd make a thread saying that trike kicked ass!! I wonder if I got in that thing and hammered, if I could cruise at 35-40 mph on the flats (with the elec. assist on). It'd be like driving a car.
As soon as I get on, the conductor says there was just a fatality at Mtn View :( and we would be going to Santa Clara and holding there for an hour.
So anyway I am in a nice shirt and jeans, and only have my crappy blinky for my headlight (since I left the DiNotte at home). Thus, I don't want to ride all the way to San Mateo, for safety's sake as well as the comfort of my ass (jeans + 32 miles = meh).
So I do what I have done before, call Ruth and say "Hey want to pick me up half way?".
She couldn't leave for around 20 min, my best guess was VA Hospital for the rendezvous point. However, she said she would call me when she left, for a better idea. I said ok, but just head down 280 if I don't answer.
So anyway, I head down Lafayette to Central. Ruth calls me right after I hit Central, but we got cut off.
Then I see it... a bike headlight closing in on me.... Well you guys know me by now, I use this as an opportunity to push the pace. :innocent: :rolleyes:
The headwinds on Central were brutal. So I got low, and just mashed my way through it. I was hammering pretty hard, so I glanced back and realized I hadn't dropped the other bike, they were hanging on to my pace. I thought cool, keep on hammering.
I finally decided to take a full look at who was hanging on my tail, and low and behold it was a recumbent tadpole trike.
I decide to pull along side the guy, and chit chat. Turns out the bike has electric assist (as I look at the big e-hub in the rear).
The guy was obviously an engineer, and he built the bike himself, including the frame. It used the rear triangle from a K2 Mtn bike, with suspension. The wheel even cambered with the turns! The trike has disc brakes up front with regenerative braking to help charge the battery. He said that it would cruise at around 20 mph without pedaling, but if you hammer along plus the electric assist helping you can absolutely rip!
So we ride together for a while going at it in the mid to high 20's into a head wind (!!), but then I get a call from Ruth, and slow down a to talk on the phone :rolleyes: (I know I shouldn't do that... ;) but I am in a huge shoulder on Central Expy)
I confirm that VA Hospital on Foothill Expy would still be our rendezvous point. I look up and the e-trike guy is way ahead. So I put the hammer down again, and was going all out to try and catch back up. It took forever, but I finally caught him just before a light. Turns out we were going the same way, so we rode together on the rest of Central, El Camino and Arastradero. We were absolutely hauling ass the whole time. High 20's - 30+ mph
I turned off into the VA hospital and waved bye. It was a fun ride. Ruth just got to the hospital less than 5 mins before me, so good timing by all.
Just thought I'd make a thread saying that trike kicked ass!! I wonder if I got in that thing and hammered, if I could cruise at 35-40 mph on the flats (with the elec. assist on). It'd be like driving a car.