Bandi Goes On Her First Trike Ride

 

Song:  Give Me Love

Artist:  George Harrison

Today was Bandi's first ride in her doggie trailer...

 as I towed her with me trike.

She was initially reluctant to get in...

but, I goaded her into it and attached her collar to an inside dog leash

which is attached to a D ring (one of two attached D rings in the carrier).

Bandi was unsure as to how the ride would go.

After a little while...

she felt more comfortable with the carrier.

We just took a short ride to sunset court (my name for it).

I had made the mistake of leaving the front wheel on the carrier (it is used when you wish to roll it around independent of a bike or trike hook up.

I took off the wheel and placed it inside the carrier.

The ride was much smoother without it on.

Bandi looking out at the sunset.

Although it was a mild pastel sunset...

our main goal today was doggie carrier familiarization.

As you can see...

the doggie carrier quick connects to a standard bike or trike connection stud 

which is sturdily connected to a hard point on the axel housing.

The top of the carrier also unzips in the rear (for loading)...

and the top...

so dogs may look out from the top if desired.

Let's go home.

Aren't we going?

Okay...

let's go.

Bandi had a good time on this familiarization excursion.

As she gets more and more used to it...

she will soon look forward to getting inside...

as she will look forward to running alongside until she tires...

and then getting to ride in comfort afterwards.

There is also a thick doggie pad inside so Bandi may lie down.

As you can see...

there is plenty of room inside for her.

Almost every time I go out...

I will take Bandi on a run...

and then inside for a ride...

if she tires.

Training The Dogs To Accompany The Trikes

 

Song:  I'll Be Your Song

Group:  Heart

On this day's ride...

we kept it short, as it was to train the dogs to walk and run 

alongside the trikes.

As my younger sister will be handling the dogs during our rides...

(my elder sister will be hauling her dog...

and I will be towing my mother in her palanquin)...

I wanted her to train the dogs so she will be used to them running alongside.

At first...

the dogs were not used to walking alongside the trike...

but they soon adapted.

After a brief rest...

we went back home.

They at first walked...

but then my younger sister went faster...

and so...

the dogs started to run.

Going back up the hill...

they resumed walking.

Pulling in to home.

This was the first of many more rides in which the dogs will accompany us.

This is all in preparation for spring.

There are so many trails we wish to go on.

We will start out at Lake Tahoe...

and from there...

we will go on mountain trails.

Turn Signals And Extra Rear Lights Installed / Future Gear

 

Song:  Wanted Dead or Alive

Group:  Jon Bon Jovi

Last night...

I installed my front and rear turn signals...

and the remote switch to operate them...

as well as moving around the rear camera and accessory post...

and adding some more rear lights.

I had forgotten to turn on the underside red lights...

but it doesn't matter.

I wanted to show the much improved rear laser pattern...

(after I had taken this picture...I realigned the laser...

as it was slightly off center).

As I had moved the laser and led light higher...

the pattern is now much more full.

You can see the extra two led rear lights below the laser emitter.

I had moved the camera post to the center and had placed it vertically...

as it made for a much more full laser pattern...

as well as giving me a mounting post for the rear turn signals.

The center post may easily be extend upwards...

and upon which I may mount my Insta 360 x3 camera.

You may see the two extra led rear lights as well.

I had mounted the front turn signals on the main cross bar...

and just inside of the wheels.

Although they may not be easily seen in this picture...

I also installed greatly improved pedals.

They are not only wider...

but each side has metal studs to grip the bottom of shoes.

I had mounted the turn signal remote control atop

 the right side vertical steering grip.  

With just a flip of my thumb...

I may easily and intuitively use my turn signals.

The centered top switch is to operate the emergency flashers...

whereupon all the lights flash off and on.

My next step will be to install my water proof side bags.

This way I may always carry extra food and water...

tire and chain repair kits...

and for some longer rides...

an emergency medical kit...

water purifier...

my cold / wet weather gear...

the tow rope...

all my charging equipment...

my Bass Flute...

a tent and -50 F (-45 C) sleeping bag...

and anything else I deem necessary for my particular trip

(Later, I will also add a top rear rack and a trailer...

for extended multi-day trips to hold my extra gear).

As with anyone truly knowing, we men...

we all have the little boy we once were...

always living inside of us...

and so...

just like a child...

I am having a blast just accessorizing my trike...

and dreaming of coming adventures.

I already have a neck worn blue tooth equipped speaker system

which directly connects to my phone in its holder to play my music playlist...

of which I may listen to for longer than I will be pedaling on any one day.

-----------------------

The following applies only to my dreamed of....

but not solidly planned for...and which may never even happen...

solo multi-day long distance Nevada desert / forest / mountain rides...

or even through adjoining states with similar gun laws:

After the bags...

I will be adding a chest gun holster...

and perhaps a shotgun holder to one side of my seat...

as we may open carry a loaded side arm in my state 

(Our State Motto: All For Our Country, Battle Born)...

and although my pistol may be loaded...

and the open carry shotgun may also be loaded....but in the magazine only...

without a shell in the chamber...

I can quickly and easily rack a shell

 in case the first rounds of my .357 don't stop

whatever creature attempts to prey upon me...

and my shotgun will be loaded with penetrator slugs...

with which I could even take down a grizzly or a bison in one shot

(again...just for my Nevada or similar gun law state...

long distance day and night solo desert / forest / mountain rides).

By the way...

that is one of the reasons I put on two extra large convex side view mirrors.

Mountain lions usually attack from the side or rear...

and bears will charge from any direction...

but if I see either...

you can bet I will be pedaling furiously in an attempt to put him behind me  :)

I will also be carrying plenty extra ammo in my bags as well.

Why so many shells and rounds?

Wolves and coyotes travel and attack in packs...

and they can run down their prey for days at a time...

and so...

even on my trike...

they could outlast me.

Anyway...

my first defense will be to always monitor my surroundings...

and my backup weapon will be my slingshot...

okay...yes...

I am joking.  :)

And now...

my new motto:

"I'm a cowboy...

on a steel horse I ride."

(Jon Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive)

Ah...yes...

the little boy inside is still alive and well.

And...

if he is ever allowed to die within you...

you might as well be dead yourself...

for it is through him that we dare conquer

all of our fears to achieve our hopes and dreams...

so we may always see life anew with open and honest eyes...

with a sense of wonderment and deep appreciation...

and see each day as the beginning of a new adventure.

Cold Weather Gear and Battery Test Uphill

 

Song (Cover):  Fantasy

Original Group:  Earth Wind and Fire

Performing Group:  Leonid & Friends

On this night...

it was hovering just above freezing...

about 33 degrees F (just above 0 degrees C)...

and so...

it was a perfect night to test out my cold weather gear.

I also wanted to test out the handling characteristics of my trike at higher speeds...

as well as the battery drain, as I not only used power assist...

but pure throttle without even pedaling uphill...

on a much longer and much steeper incline.

I went much farther down the mountain than I had gone so far.

In total...

it was well over two miles (about 4 kilometers)...

and all of it downhill and then back up.

Everything worked perfectly.

I felt as if I were riding into a night that was pure fantasy.

The only things that were even remotely cold were my eyeballs.

I even had to pull down the balaclava at one point on the way up

to cool my face some.

I wore sweat clothes under a snow bib and then a snow parka...

a balaclava, beanie, and warm insulated suede gloves.

The total cost for all of my cold weather gear was just over $100...

as I bought them during their Black Friday sales on Amazon.

They are also all water resistant...

and toasty warm, even in sub zero conditions.

I just set my headlight to the medium setting as it is plenty good at that setting.

Just getting ready to start my trip down the mountain.

You can see my 30 AH battery just in front of the rear wheel.

I specifically got a much larger battery to ensure I would not 

run out of power, as I knew I would be towing my mother on long 

bike paths in the future.

The typical battery is 17 AH.

Plus...

 I got the largest wattage motor one may use while still remaining in class 2...

it supplies much more torque.

My elder sister followed behind in her car as I rode.

I went over 30 MPH (over 48 KPH) on the long stretch down hill...

and even with that speed of wind in my face...

I wasn't the slightest bit cold anywhere other than my eyeballs  :)

My brakes worked perfectly...

without undue grabbing or fading...

and although my steering is indirect...

and so...

much more sensitive to input than is direct steering...

it handled well, as it takes just a slight nudge to initiate a turn.

And, yes...

the little boy in me felt as if I were a fighter pilot racing earthward

as I zoomed down the mountain  :)

The turnaround point at a park well down the mountain.

I put on an underside light to give a more full picture of my trike at night for drivers on the road.

I am thinking of adding turn signals to my trike in the future...

and perhaps a lighted wand protruding up a few feet from the rear of the seat.

I was getting ready for my trip back up the mountain in the above picture.

You can just see my elder sister in the background.

On the way back up...

I tried different levels of power assist...

as well as going up the mountain with just the power of the motor using the throttle.

I had modified the power profile of the throttle to 19 MPH...

so as to keep my trike as a class two e bike, so I may ride regular bike trails.

Just by using the options on the bike computer...

the modification is easy.

On the way up hill...

I could stay at 15 MPH on just throttle...

but I could go faster on level ground...

or if I used level 5 power assist with pedaling.  

I only had to pull down my balaclava after a while going uphill...

to allow my face to cool down some while pedaling.

Had the trip been longer...

I probably would have unzipped my parka

to allow my body to cool some...

but I was perfectly fine on this trip.

The uphill portion was rather steep...

so my battery drain in total was about 10 percent...

and I used pure throttle for a lot of it...

as I wanted to see the total power drain percentage 

at the highest rate of drain.

It was a beautiful ride...

and from the info gathered here...

I won't need to test the uphill portion at Lake Tahoe.

We may just all go as I may tow my mother in her wheeled palanquin 

without worry...

as not only is the gradient a much lower percentage...

but we will be going at a much slower speed...

and I will just use pedal assist for the inclined portion...

and not pure throttle.

I am having a blast triking...

what a ride.

I know on the many nearby forested trails...

it will be even more of a fantasy ride.

I can hardly wait.

To get exercise while riding among the trees, lakes, and rivers...

and with distant mountain views...

and all in perfect comfort...

is the best of all worlds.

And to be able to give my mother a great view from her palanquin...

and in great comfort as I tow her...

and with the rest of us going on these fantasy rides together...

is to share memories...

and so...

to truly live life.

For senior citizens...

a recumbent trike with e drive...

is the perfect combination to get exercise

while enjoying the great outdoors.

It doesn't matter if you have balance issues...

have arthritis...

or any of the many maladies which slows us down.

With a power assist trike...

it gives you much needed exercise with the freedom 

of the trails.

You may keep up with anyone else on the trails...

while staying in the appropriate exercise zone for your fitness level...

as you constantly improve that level by not using power assist 

until you get enough exercise.

I cannot express enough...

the value for fitness and wellbeing that 

an e drive recumbent trike will give you.

You won't fear long grinding rides uphill...

or long distances...

and so...

you will regain the freedom you feared had been long lost.