Monthly Archive for November, 2008

Yesterday I rode for an hour to a PodRunner podcast called “Work It All Out” 161 BPM (80 rpm).

I came down with a cold or something like that Thurdays night and I’m not feeling to wonderful, however, riding does allow me to stretch out my legs.

I have about 400 miles before I reach 4000 miles ridden for the year. If I continue at my pace (about 100 miles a week), I shoul dbe able to reach it.

I’ve also ordered 2 sets of parts - a pair of disc hubs and a set of mirrored disc brakes. Once they are on hand, then I’ll order rims.

Since I’m buying parts a month at time, my new trike build will be slow (I should be done before May)

Today I have ridden 3628.6 miles since January, about 1800 miles less than last year. When I look at my logs, even though I have ridden less miles, my average speed higher, 18.8 mph this year versus 17.2 mph for last year.

Total miles ridden with my Micro: 29442 - Will I reach 30000 miles this year?

Good ride this morning! Listened to PodRunner’s “Power Trip” 152 bpm (76 rpm). My riding during the fall and winter months at times can be non existing - although I’ve been feeling quite good lately and riding is a great way to relax.

- Rant on- You know, banking can be such a pain in the backside… I need to wire a payment to Australia for parts I’m ordering.

Thinking I have the all the required information, I went to my bank to wire the money, only to find out that I need more than just account and routing numbers. Gesh - credit cards are so much easier, I even consider PayPal easy to use. - Rant off -

Purchasing “exotic” parts is a fun experience (”exotic” for me means parts that I can’t get locally).

The internet is such a wonderful tool, where I can research parts, and within weeks (even the next day if I’m lucky) have them in hand!

My trike project is out of the gate as I’ve ordered my first part!

Once I start getting parts, I’ll post pictures…

As I complete my upgrades to my current certifications, I am looking at perhaps building a new trike as a reward to myself.

When I was deciding to either rebuild my Micro or buy a new trike, I looked at Catrike’s 700 and a few other companies that offered a “big wheel”. Since nothing is like an ICE, I decided to rebuild my Micro. That was the better choice overall.

With the arrival of ICE’s QNT 26 on the market, I may have found the right frameset to start with to make my new trike. I even have a name for it: “Easy”

I have always wanted a “Monster”, however, ICE no longer makes custom trikes, so this option is out, unless by some fate I run into a “Monster” for sale (Yeah right).

I’ve e-mailed the great folks at ICE and found out that they sold a couple of modified “Monsters”.  They called it a “Dutch Monster”: 700c rear, 406 fronts. This is where the idea for the QNT 26 comes in for me. The QNT 26 can handle a 700c rear and it already has 406 front wheels.

The next hurdle to overcome is the hardshell seat - the seat that comes with the QNT 26 is fiberglass (not as light as I would like). I may have found a source, I will have to see if seat can be retrofitted.

Another aspect to the new trike build is the component group. I’ve been looking at the top three: Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM and fell is love with SRAM’s Red groupo. This group already comes with ceramic bearings in key areas (a bonus).

Idlers are another item of interest for the new trike - Terracycle Idlers will be installed from the start as they have worked wonders on my Micro.

Also on the agenda is to replace all bearings with ceramics (I’ve had great success with the ceramic conversion on my Micro - I will not go back!).

So, on my “wish list” are the following for “Easy”:

1) ICE QNT 26 frame kit - black

2) Mechanical disk brake conversion (will use AVID’s BB7 road calipers)

3) Carbon fiber seat

4) SRAM Red components - 50/34 front crank, 11-28 rear cogs

5) In all hubs will use ceramic bearings

Of course, this is just the begining of the “dream” - like my Micro rebuild last year, I had to plan out the logistics, order the parts, and put the thing together.

Next year looks to be a fun one!