Tipping a Trike Monday, 25 July 2016

Tipping a Trike

Monday, 25 July 2016

Yes, as the title suggests, I did tip the trike today. Was heading to the bottom of the drive and wanted to avoid the uneven pavement, so I turned up onto the grassy area to make my 180 degree turn to climb back up to the motel complex, when my rear wheels took the cut between the grass and the asphalt at an oblique angle.

In spite of my messed up sense of balance, I felt the trike tipping too far to port, and I compensated by shifting my considerable bulk well to starboard! It was enough to prevent the trike from completely tipping onto it's left side and sending me sprawling without a helmet onto the hilly embankment west of the farm pond!

The right drive wheel slipped as it left the ground, and I had a moment (that seemed like forever) of feeling weightlessness as I staggered on only two wheels.

I landed upright on the saddle, but still at an angle. While my heart was racing and my mind was busy calculating options, I managed to make the turn and hit the pavement headed east to climb the incline. I did not stop until I reached my building, and made the turn. By then my heart had finally stopped racing.

I have tasted pavement many times before, and experienced road rash, both on bicycles and motorcycles, but those were two wheels and I had years of riding experience. This time it was three wheels with a fixed rear axle (there is no leaning a trike) effectively forcing one to lean their weight to compensate for the trike's inability to lean into curves or correct odd angles of attack.

Very scary! But as in all of life's adventures, a learning experience. I am now actually wondering why I have not seen any adult pedal trikes equipped with roll cages or anti-roll bars like are offered for 2 and 3 wheeled motorcycles.

But, the message about having a helmet, and wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, has been driven home. (I was riding with just a cap on, cutoff jeans, a tee shirt, and some canvas boat shoes with no socks. I did put my left foot down on the grass as I felt myself tipping, and I managed to aggravate my big toe that had suffered frostbite in 2009 Winter FTX in Columbiana County, that has been throbbing and having ingrown toe nail issues off and on.)

I know, it's too hot to ride in a jacket, long pants and in the case of motorcycles, CE armor and a helmet. But all my years on motorcycles taught me the importance of proper clothing and footwear, and that a good helmet is a wise investment. I rode many years on my '94 Ducati Monster, wearing long jeans, a full cloth CE armor riding jacket, gel filled leather gloves, fitted leather Chippewa riding boots with enhanced sole protection, and topping everything off with an Arai Quantum full face helmet!

The helmet and the jacket were purpose built for riding and both had many vents for allowing air circulation as desired, and the jacket having a removable liner for additional warmth. (Unlike my '75 Kawasaki KZ400 that I rode year round, I only started up the Duc 902cc L Twin motor when the temps were well above 60 degrees.)

Well, my riding habit will just have to evolve as I develop my leg muscles and fine tune the correct fit for the trike with my long legs on such a short crankset. (My 1974 Holdsworth 10 speed had a Campy Nuevo Record Crank with 175mm arms, this one piece crank on the Worksman trike is all of 160mm, or about 6 3/8 inches.)

Note also that the English made 10 speed road bike was one fourth the weight of the Worksman trike! Something I really feel as I pedal. Yes, I was 220+ # when I was last riding the Holdsworth, but I also had a correct fit for my inseam, my height, and my reach. And a much wider range of gearing.

Where I could ride 40-50 miles with ease on the ten speed, the .6 mile trip down the hill to the Circle K gas station at Ira Road is a major trek, taking 4 minutes to coast downhill, and at least ten minutes to pedal the 66' change of altitude in less than a half mile! (I am currently 255# fully dressed according to my last few doctor's visits.)

I am still awaiting word that the factory has shipped a new front fender as a replacement for the one damaged in shipping, as well as the promised bike flag from Blimp City Bike and Hike. So in the meantime, I whittled one from one of the furring strips that Joe ripped for me out of #2 soft pine to fabricate screens for all of my windows.

The flag is International Nautical Code Flag, Bravo. (The letter “B”, which also signifies, “I am taking on or discharging dangerous Cargo”) It is commonly displayed when fuel or explosives are being transferred.

And since I have such explosive opinions that upset folks of super sensitive feelz, I figured it is appropriate for me to fly! (“Jimmies Rustled, have trike, will travel!”)

Speaking of rustled jimmies, now that the RNC is complete and all of the visitors in town have moved on, I find that there was indeed no reported violence or extreme protest activities recorded. Just as I had predicted.

But now that the DNC is gathering in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, I fear that the Democrats will feel the wrath of some very pissed off minorities and disenchanted Bernie Sanders supporters! And the just off radar chatter has been promising a full assault on Hillary Clinton and the Dems for dropping the ball on all of their promises.

Now I don't want to be interpreted as hoping for violence, I am worried that we will see a repeat of the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. (You know, the Chicago Seven, the Black Panthers, Bobby Kennedy's assassination at the alleged hands of Sirhan-Sirhan, and all of the peripheral violence by the Counter Culture Hippies, the Socialists, and the professional Communist agitators.) And we all know the history of the Philly Police and their penchant for escalating violence at the drop of a hat.

So again, I say, “Stay alert, watch your six, and always be prepared for anything.”

Also, a quick note: I am currently experiences both computer and Internet issues again. Meaning that I cannot get online with my Desktop (my primary machine), and have to use the ancient Gateway Laptop with a Linux OS and way out of date Word Processing software to send emails and even post this blog installment! (And the laptop will not let me write text in emails!!! So I have to send text as an attachment!)

So while I can access email, I cannot easily respond at present. So if you are trying to reach me, please use my cell # and either call or text. Or you can send me an email asking me to call you! Thanks! 

So until the next installment, Sportsfans, “stay cool and stay calm!”