More Changes - page 3

I have riden my new bike for the first time!

It will take some time to get used to as turning hand cranks instead of foot pedals is very different. Also steering while turning the hand cranks is not as easy as I first thought. I want to either turn the cranks or steer, not both at the same time. Give me some practise and I will learn how to do it though!

9th January 2008

At last, I am starting to get towards a real ride. I left my village on one of the quieter roads and turned back after a while. Total mileage for the day was 3 miles. It is slowly getting more!

The steering is getting easier. For the greatest control while turning a corner, you stop pedalling and just steer. Then carry on pedalling again when you straighten up.

12th January 2008

Luckily today was a break in a period of rain, so I made the most of it and went for a ride. Today's statistics were 6.5 miles riden during 46 minutes at an average speed of 8.5 mph. Although this is about 3.5 mph slower than my bicycle's average speed I am very pleased with what I have done. It will be interesting to see what my statistics are in 2 or 3 months time.

Considering the difference between arm and leg muscle size, I am surprised really by the performance I managed today. As I mentioned above, I have been using a handcycle as part of my fitness work in the gym for 3 months now. That work has definitely built up my upper body bulk in this short time. A summer out on the road will improve my performance quite dramatically I hope! There is one thing that I feel confident I will not be able to do on my handcycle that I have done on the bicycle, that is travel 100 miles in a day. I could only do that when I felt really fit and there was only a light wind. At the end of the day I was completely exhausted. The handcycle is much more aerodynamic because of the low seating position, but the slightest hill I find hard to pedal up and my 100 mile route has got some big hills!