I have created a test to determine how observant you are. In particular, are you aware of your surroundings? Let's find out. Get a clean sheet of paper and a pencil. Write your name in the upper right hand corner. Write the numbers 1 through 20 in a column at the left side of your sheet of paper. Put away all your books and notes. Now take this exam:
Write your answers next to the corresponding numbers. After you have finished the exam, click on the link to the answers and find out how you did.
Professor Drachman
A Few Photos:
Son and granddaughter (9 years old at the time) on the TerraTandem. Yes, the helmets are not on properly. They're pushed back for the photo.
My trike (Windcheetah Club Sport) when it was brand new:
The Club Sport with a coroplast fairing, thanks to the coroplast workshop by John Foltz:
How to mount full front fenders on a Windcheetah
Miscellaneous Cycling Tips from Byron:
Make your own recumbent jersey:
If you wear a regular cycling jersey and put a banana in the (rear) pocket while riding your recumbent, you end up with banana pudding. There are some jerseys made specifically for recumbents, but if you have an old regular cycling jersey, you can convert it to a recumbent jersey by cutting some of the rear pockets and sewing them on front. Another method would be to use a sleeve from a long sleeve jersey for a front pocket. In the example shown, I used one sleeve for a front pocket and the other sleeve was made into a flag. Here is a long sleeved jersey before and after the conversion to a recumbent jersey:
Tire maintenance:
Every now and then put a fresh coat of shellac on the sides of your Continental Grand Prix tires. They are great tires but prone to side cuts. The shellac makes the sides tougher and stones will often bounce off without cutting the tire. If you do get a cut, the shellac will help keep the cut from growing:
A few suggestions for winter riding:
If you use shoe covers, wrap your shoes with a piece of newspaper before putting on the covers. The newspaper will add insulation and absorb moisture. After a long ride, your feet and socks will be warm and dry and the piece of newspaper will be wet. But newspaper is like wool, it keeps you warm even if it is wet. If you cut the tops from an old pair of socks, you can put those over your ankles with some newspaper underneath. If you keep your ankles warm you have a better chance of your feet staying warm.
If you just use socks, shoes, and then a shoe cover, I don't think you have much of a chance of keeping your feet warm. As soon as your feet get damp, you can't keep them warm.
Some people use sandals, hot packs or electric socks with rechargeable batteries, and booties for winter riding. Some people recommend dousing the feet with an anti-perspirant before riding to help keep the feet dry.
If you ever find yourself underdressed in cold weather, stuff some newspaper inside your jacket, leg covers, mittens, etc., or wherever you are cold.
If it is very cold or cold and windy, cover your face (and shield your eyes of course) to avoid frostbite. There is so much good winter clothing and equipment available that many winter days there is the option of being outdoors riding. Everybody agrees thin layers are better than one thick layer. My favorite material for winter riding in very cold temperatures is two thin wool layers, with newspaper between the layers in front, or a thin wool jersey and a windbreaker jacket.
Go to google.com or your favorite search engine and search under winter cycling. You'll find lots of good information. In particular, the tips on keeping warm from people who ride in northern Minnesota, Canada or Alaska have to be taken seriously. In some cases, the measures are not necessary for our (relatively speaking) mild winter temperatures.
My suggestion is not to ride if there is ice on the roads unless you are riding a trike. Here I am with Edie test-riding a prototype TerraTandem on a nice winter day.
I liked the prototype TerraTandem so much I bought one of the first production ones.
How to make a low budget trike tandem rack.
Are you just cycling and nothing else? So you are doing lower body exercise only? Here is one enjoyable way to do some upper body exercise:
Need more room in the garage? Here's a suggestion.
How to measure the toe-in, camber, and caster on your trike.
Alternate discussion on toe-in
More ways to measure toe-in (an attempt at light engineering humor I once posted at IHPVA)
Explanation of Ackerman Compensation