[Sportsandrec] Independent pedaling

[Joy Relton]

Wow, Ron! I couldn't do 45 miles right now but I can feel the exhilaration
of the effort. I'm envious.

-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ron & the bears
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 1:12 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List;
blind_cycling at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Sportsandrec] Independent pedaling


I rode a 45-mile memorial ride last night on a Da Vinci Intuition, with 
independent pedaling. It had been several years since I have ridden such a 
set-up. In one ride, I cannot say that I had it down. I'd say that I was in 
synch most of the time, like 90 percent. At one time, my pilot looked at our

shadow and said I was in perfect synch with him.

I could tell sometimes when something was not right. I could feel the bike 
canoeing under our pedal strokes. All I could do is try to stop pedaling and

restart, hoping that I had less than a stroke different. It was like playing

Russian Roulette. Sometimes, I had to interrupt my stroke a few times to 
make it feel right. I could not see my pilots pedaling in front of me.

I wrote Da Vinci to inquire as to a sure-shot method for staying in time, if

there is one. The president's wife is blind, so I am hopeful, though I might

already know the answer.

It was funny, some times, we would have to back off the cadence to let other

riders catch up with us. Then, I'd be sitting there, waiting for the 
nonverbal cue to resume pedaling. Then, I'd notice that my pilot had already

been pedaling again. It was a trip. One time, we were sprinting for a green 
light, I had no idea if I was in phase, but had no time to think about it. 
We just had to go for it. Another time, we were wanting to see what our 
maximum speed could be down a hill. As we neared our limits, again, I was 
wondering where our pedals were. I am always mindful of our smoothness at 
our limits, but this time, I was a little more careful. We were pedaling at 
43 mph. We both had been pre-racing the course this weekend, for the Texas 
State TT, next Sunday, so we were both already tired from those efforts. 
Plus, since the bike was set-up for his bride, my position was pretty 
scrunched and not optimum for performance riding. I would have preferred my 
bars another inch or two further forward from me.

Still, it was fun. It was great to get out for a ride. I do not remember 
having trouble staying in synch in the past with the ICS system. I must be 
getting old, or something.:)

Best,

Ron & the all our tandems are direct-drive bears
Austin, TX 



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