Helmets - Virginia Tech Helmet Lab

REPOSTING MY HELMET POST FROM JULY OF THIS YEAR.  Adventure Cycling profiled Virginia Tech Helmet Lab in the Dec 2020/Jan 2021 issue of Adventure Cyclist Magazine. So I thought this would be a good time to repost.

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Why replace a Laser Blade helmet with a Laser Blade helmet? I've had my old one for five years and my research tells me a helmet should be replaced every five years (some say every three years). You know...degradation of the materials over time.

Why the Laser Blade?

1. The Lazer Blade withs MIPS has a Five Star rating from Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.  (update 11/20/20, Adventure Cyclist profiled Virginia Tech Helmet Lab in the Dec 2020/Jan 2021 issue of Adventure Cyclist Magazine.)

2. It fits me well. It comes in sizes from XS up to XL. The Large fits my big head.

3. The retention system is adjusted from the top of the helmet. For recumbent riders this means no knobs and plastic between you and the headrest (if you use a headrest).

4. The back of the helmet is rounded. No point on the back to interfere with a bike rack or the tire when really laid back.

5. Now it comes with the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). Extra protection for rotational impact.

The old helmet (red accent) and the new one. 

Inside the old helmet and inside the new helmet with the yellow MIPS insert.

No retention adjustment on the back of the helmet. Instead...

 

..it's on the top.

Rounded in the back.

Trikertude

Trikertude is not backed up by science. Trikertude is not backed up by any facts whatsoever. Just having fun here.

The following is my highly biased take on recumbent triking in a world dominated by motorized transportation and socially acceptable two wheeled human transportation also know as the diamond framed bicycle. 

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Trik-er-tude-wherein the intrepid triker finds enlightenment. To discover enlightenment the triker must first successfully pass through Phase 1 - Fear and Uncertainty followed by Phase 2 - Acceptance and then onto Phase 3 - Trikertude.

Phase 1 - Fear and Uncertainty

Our intrepid newbie triker  has been lurking on the Bent Rider forum for some time now desperately wanting to be active again. Our triker loves the idea of riding a tadpole recumbent trike (or maybe a Delta trike). but is dealing with the fear that overwhelms newbies to the triking world. On the practical side our triker asks, "Is it safe? Can drivers see me? Is it okay to ride in the streets?".  And then there is the social fear that every new triker deals with, the dreaded "everyone one will be staring at me, I'll look like an idiot", kinda fear.

With fear in check (thanks to Bent Rider forum members) our triker now boldly enters a recumbent dealer in (the City of your choice) and marvels at the site of all the recumbent trikes and immediately feels a sense of rightness. After hours (maybe days) of checking out all the shiny new trikes our triker walks out of the recumbent shop and loads the new trike into the awaiting mini-van (or whatever works) and heads home.

It's now time for the first ride. So many decisions. ""Do I ride on the road where every driver will be looking at me and trying to run me over or on the bicycle trail? But the trail has street crossings, what do I do then?" FLAGS AND LIGHTS!! "Yes that's it I'll look like a float in a parade with flags waving and lights flashing". Oh, but now the weird factor just got amped up. What to do? Ah "Grasshopper", every triker must find the path that is right for them. There is no wrong path.

After a few rides our triker is settling into a zone where the desire to ride is overcoming the fear. Our triker is now ready for Phase 2.

Phase 2 - Acceptance

Without wasting time our triker is putting on the miles and the transition into Phase-2 has come quickly. Our triker has moved past  fear and has accepted that drivers are not out to run him or her down. Quite the opposite. Drivers are giving more room to our triker and surprise, surprise, trikers are actually more visible simply because they look "different". Our triker has also accepted that drivers are staring, and some are probably making ignorant comments from within the protection of their tinted high horse powered cocoon. But  to our triker's delight comments made by fellow cyclists and those who travel on foot are generally positive.

Our triker now regularly cruises the roads and trials. With a good understanding of the rules of the road and an appreciation of cycling etiquette our triker has now accepted that he or she is part of the cycling world and expects to be treated as a cyclist.

With complete acceptance our triker has mastered Phase 2 and soon moves on to Phase 3-Trikertude.

Phase 3 - Trikertude

YES...our triker has reached Trikertude and with that enlightenment. Every road and path is open. You have gone beyond the acceptance of yourself as a mere cyclist and now see yourself as a pioneer who has broke free of expectations and social norms. You exude confidence. So many are the cyclists for whom a traditional bicycle no longer suits them. Even though their body cries out for something better and smarter to ride they continue to ride what is expected of them. Others simply give up cycling. 

Trikertude is a state in which a triker has moved beyond the expectations of others and has developed a sense of self worth that acknowledges the right of an individual to enjoy their life in whatever manner they so please as long as their actions don't negatively impact others. To the contrary, Trikertude is further defined as a willingness to help others in a positive way by helping them to discover the joy of life again. 

Get out and ride a Trike!

Instagram Post 11/2

Go To My Instagram

No picnic this year for us National Park Service Volunteers. Drive by meetup instead. I triked on over to Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa to say hey to NPS regulars and pick up a bag of cool stuff. I started volunteering for the NPS 21 years ago and would never have imagined I would be called off from my duties at Cheeseboro Canyon because of a pandemic. Oh well, keep riding.

Quad Lock Dampener

When taking fast downhill runs I'm starting to wonder how much vibration my phone can handle. I don't want find out so I installed a Quad Lock Dampener. It's designed for the motorcycle mount which I use on my trike. So far it's lived up to the task of making the ride easier on my phone.

Go To Quad Lock Motorcycle Mounts

 

My Instagram

Go to my Instagram

 

New Window Decal

Custom decal from Flaming Eyeball Graphics.

Go to Flaming Eyeball Graphics

Instagram Post

Go to My Instagram 

 My Medicare "To Do" is complete. Left wrist Carpal Tunnel.

Two Reasons I Ride a Recumbent Trike

Two of many reasons...

REASON NUMBER 1

It's just  a lot of fun.  Many humans ignore the fun factor in order to live up to the expectation of others who want you to be "normal". Especially now with the explosion in bike sales due to the pandemic I see many riders, young and and older, who simply do not seem comfortable riding their new steed.

If I were younger and armed with the knowledge and legs (and $$) I would care less about the expectations of others and I be riding the roads on a VTX or Catrike 700 (depending on budget). But I see the day coming when recumbents are more common place.

REASON NUMBER 2

Round two...left wrist CT release. 

Physical setbacks haven't slowed me down. Well...maybe sometimes but in comparison to a traditional diamond frame there is very little to stop me on a recumbent trike. Much of my post op physical therapy and mental therapy was done riding a trike.

My Repair List 

Knee right arthroscopic 

Knee right arthroscopic

2008 Shoulder right rotator cuff repair

2009 Back L4, L5 - Foraminotomy

2009 Back T5,T6 - Foraminotomy

2011 Heart 2 stents LAD

2012 Hip left arthroscopic

2012 Hip right arthroscopic 

2013 Hip right replaced

2013 Hip left replaced

2020 Back  L1 to L5 and S1 - Foraminotomy, partial  

         laminectomy, Discectomy, Coflex clip L4,L5.

2020 Wrist right - carpal tunnel release

2020 Wrist left - carpel tunnel release

I waited until I went I  Medicare in 2019 for the 2020 surgeries. Co-Pays and deductibles were killing me. 

No more surgeries on my 'To Do" list!! 

Instagram Post

 

Go to My Instagram

Clear sky again

Marathon Plus or Not

First a summary of my opinion regarding the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires...heavy, hard and slow. It's worth it to me to have an extra flat or two by using other lighter and more supple tires.

Now that I have an e-trike I've been using Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. At least up until now but no longer. Yes I've had fewer flats but I've still had flats. Two flats so far. Both punctures towards the sidewall where there is less protection. Fewer flats is nice but repairing a flat while on the road can be tough. These brutes are NOT supple by any means. The front tire requires three tire levers to coax it off the rim and back on. The rear tire requires two levers. After the second flat I went back to using lighter and faster tires from my pre e-trike days. 

           Schwalbe Marathon Plus 35/406 (20"x 1.35")

          Schwalbe Marathon Plus 40/559 (26"x 1.5")

I'm now using folding 35/406 Schwalbe Kojaks up front and a folding 42/559 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme on the back (I wish Schwalbe still made the 406 Supreme again). The Kojaks are fine for now but I want to find a 406 tire that is more puncture resistant but not to heavy and easy to remove from the rim when I get a flat while on the road. (As of Sept 3rd I now have a pair Continental Contact E25 37/406 on the front and I'll see how that works out. Although they do seem a little slower then the Kojaks but still faster than the Pluses. But they have a better puncture rating than the Kojaks.)

Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42/559 (26"x 1.60")

Schwalbe Kojak 35/406 (20"x 1.35")

Regardless of which tires I use, when possible I like skinner tires on the front for handling and a little wider tire on the rear because of the extra weight on the rear tire and for comfort. I've also found that with the wider tire on the back that the rear is more stable in tight turns. 

I have found that the only benefit using the Plus tires is fewer flats. Fewer flats not "no" flats. Right now I'm of the opinion that fixing an extra flat or two is better than having to be pedaling with all the extra rolling weight of the Plus tires. The total weight of the Plus tires is 1,990g (4.36lbs) vs 900g (1.99lbs) for the lighter tire set. Based on my ride log (I've been keeping a log since 2009) my battery range has increased by about 10% while maintaining my average speed of 13.5mph with an average gain of 71 feet per mile. Maximum downhill speeds on a measured downhill run are up by at least 5% amping up the downhill rush. 

Also my current tire choice is more supple than the Plus tires and don't bounce around on a tight fast turn. The rear Plus tire had the bad habit of bouncing around in tight turns forcing me to occasionally counter steer. I tried different tire pressures to no avail. 

Using the lighter/faster tires has added back that extra level of fun. But that doesn't mean I won't put the Plus set up back up if the situation calls for it.

Piriformis Syndrome

WARNING ... Boring medical stuff about Piriformis Syndrome.

I always suspected I had Piriformis Syndrome but held off confirming it until I was on Medicare. I'm now on Medicare and I'm no longer paying $1,200 a month for shitty health insurance with a $7,000 deductible that forced me to think twice about seeing doctors. 

Before dealing with the Piriformis I got my back repaired as to not confuse the symptoms of the Piriformis issue with the back issue The back surgery was done a back in February.

An ultrasound confirmed that my Piriformis is inflamed and there is also a layer of scar tissue on the Piriformis from my hip replacements in 2013. The stiff scar tissue is most likely binding up my Piriformis and not allowing it to smoothly move thus the inflammation. Along with always having some degree of discomfort and sometimes pain (if I twist my leg wrong) it also causes occasional foot numbness as the ultrasound showed the Sciatic nerve to be "entangled" in the mess that is my scarred Piriformis. 

When I ride my scared Piriformis requires that I stretch every 10 to 15 miles during a ride as the Piriformis tightens up with use. I usually feel no pain from the Piriformis while riding but I do feel the onset of numb feet (my form of recumbent foot). The function of the Piriformis is the lateral rotation of the hip joint and other stability functions. Being clipped into pedals helps to stabilize the hip joint while riding. However once off the trike I generally feel some discomfort. Pain on occasion.

I'm moving forward with having the situation reviewed by a doctor to two. The expected game plan is for targeted physical therapy to soften the scar tissue and ease the fascia between muscles to get the area moving smoothly again to hopefully ease the problems associated with the Piriformis. The worse case option would be surgery, if even possible. 

Such a little muscle but it can cause so much pain.

Staying Healthy Takes Work

When I recently went in for my Carpal Tunnel surgery the pre-op nurse asked me a bunch of the usual questions. When she asked if I have had any previous surgeries I started laughing. It hit me at that moment that I have had a bunch of surgeries. And they just keep adding up. Yay for medicare and medicare supplement as of last year. No more $10,000 deductible and co-pays. No more waiting to get my body repaired due to cost or timing a surgery around the start of a new annual deductible. 

I've lived a physical life and leverage and gravity conspire to break down my 6'1" frame. However I am very fortunate that nothing has been life threatening  (except for a little heart attack in 2011). I think of those unfortunate souls who are dealing with serious life threatening and quality of life issue conditions and it helps me put my issues in perspective. I realize that at 66 shit is going to happen and I'm thankful it's shit that I can manage. I may be paying the price for lifting too many stones in my younger days and poor genetics but I wouldn't change anything. Well maybe a better diet in my younger years could have helped me avoid a heart attach. But the plumbing seems to be in good order now.

I hate going to doctor offices but I've learned to accept at 66 years old it's a reality of my life. It plays havoc with my "white coat" hypertension. I keep a record of my "at home" blood pressure readings so I don't have to listen to the high pressure lecture when I visit a doctors office. 

Don't need a fancy gym.

Staying active and maintaining my quality of life doesn't come easy for me. Exercise is a daily routine. I'm not genetically blessed, more like cursed. I work hard at keeping myself moving so I can enjoy life and family. Cycling 200 to 350 miles a month, regular exercise with weights, and a lot of stretching. Old muscles tighten up fast. Also a healthy vegetarian diet (really more like a sushitarian diet, I enjoy Sushi but no other fish). The most I ever weighed was 227 some 30 years ago.  In the last 15 or so years I've kept my weight between 185 and 190.

A life well lived is better than a life long lived.

I have 15 reasons to stay healthy...

9 grandkids,

5 grown kids, 

and waking up next to my beautiful wife every morning.

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Haha...this is what it has come down to, a list of surgeries so I don't have to stress my brain when filling out a new patient form. I'll be adding my left Wrist Carpal Tunnel release to the list in a couple of months. 

Surgeries - Mark Rackow

Knee right arthroscopic 

Knee right arthroscopic...again

2008 Shoulder right rotator cuff repair

2009 Back L4, L5 - Foraminotomy

2009 Back T5, T6 - Foraminotomy

2011 Heart 2 stents LAD

2012 Hip left arthroscopic

2012 Hip right arthroscopic 

2013 Hip left replaced

2013 Hip right replaced

2020 Back  L1 to L5 and S1 - Foraminotomy, partial  

         laminectomy, Discectomy, Coflex clip L4,L5

2020 Wrist right - carpal tunnel release

2020 Wrist left - Carpal tunnel release

Instagram Post

My Instagram 

ONLY ON A RECUMBENT TRIKE...ride 4 days post op after Carpal Tunnel surgery.

Top gray buttons are for the E8000. The lower ones control the Shimano Di2 electronic shifter. The display panel is the Shimano E6100 panel used with the E8000 assist motor.

Lazer Blade Helmet Replaced With Another Blade

Why replace a Laser Blade helmet with a Laser Blade helmet? I've had my old one for five years and my research tells me a helmet should be replaced every five years (some say every three years). You know...degradation of the materials over time.

Why the Laser Blade?

1. The Lazer Blade withs MIPS has a Five Star rating from Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.  (update 11/20/20, Adventure Cyclist profiled Virginia Tech Helmet Lab in the Dec 2020/Jan 2021 issue of Adventure Cyclist Magazine.)

2. It fits me well. It comes in sizes from XS up to XL. The Large fits my big head.

3. The retention system is adjusted from the top of the helmet. For recumbent riders this means no knobs and plastic between you and the headrest (if you use a headrest).

4. The back of the helmet is rounded. No point on the back to interfere with a bike rack or the tire when really laid back.

5. Now it comes with the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). Extra protection for rotational impact.

The old helmet (red accent) and the new one. 

Inside the old helmet and inside the new helmet with the yellow MIPS insert.

No retention adjustment on the back of the helmet. Instead...

 

..it's on the top.

Rounded in the back.

ICE Rear Fender - Cut Down

I prefer a short rear fender. Less rattle and easier to maintain. 

The ICE rear fender has eight support struts that makes it easy to cut down without sacrificing rigidity. 

The ICE rear fender as it comes from ICE.

ICE Ergo-Luxe Seat Re-reviewed

Let me start off my saying that my original review from April 16, 2020 was done shortly after my back surgery February 19th. I largely discounted the Ergo Luxe seat due to discomfort around the incision area of my back where I had surgery. I didn't even take the effort to make minor adjustments needed to accommodate the extra thickness of the Ergo-Luxe. BIG mistake! So please let me have a do-over.

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Another update 3/3/21

After developing a tear in the Ergo Luxe seat (go to post) I put the mesh seat back on. For now I'm very happy with the mesh seat and plan on keeping it on the trike. What I like most about the mesh seat is a bit lower center of gravity and the the firmness of the mesh seat when peddling.

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ICE Ergo-Luxe Adventure seat cover on my ICE Sprint

I use an Adventure seat frame on my Sprint. 

The frame of the Adventure seat base is a bit longer and I find it more comfortable.

I'm very VERY happy I did not end up selling the Ergo-Luxe seat cover and waited for my back to toughen up. It has toughened up and now I can say this seat is really comfortable. Like REALLY comfortable.  

After having installed the Ergo-Luxe seat cover on my Sprint seat frame and making minor adjustments to the trike to accommodate the thickness of the Ergo-Luxe I took it for a 20 mile outing. It's clearly the most comfortable seat you'll ever sit in whiling pushing pedals. After a few more rides it's without a doubt going to stay on my ICE Sprint FS E8000. The couple of negatives are outweighed by the positives.

The seat sits a little higher with its extra padding raising the center of gravity a bit but the seat is constructed in a way that makes it much easier to lean into a turn. On the old mesh seat I had to lean forward to clear the seat frame before being able to lean into a turn. Being able to easily lean into a turn by far compensates for the higher center of gravity.

Another issue that gets talked about a lot is heat. Yes my back heats up a little more with the Ergo-Luxe but not nearly enough to be a deal breaker considering everything else that rocks on the Ergo Lux. 

Another issue I brought up in my original review was the extra padding absorbing energy. As I said earlier "I ride a lot of hills and I felt that the Ergo-Luxe was a bit too cushy and absorbing some of my power when pushing pedals going up a hill." I feel now that I may have over thought this issue. With the E8000 and my riding style being being more relaxed nowadays the loss of power is a minor issue. 

In the end the seat is supper comfortable and easy on the old muscles. I'm really enjoying the ICE Ergo-Luxe. And to think I almost let the haze of a recent back surgery cloud my thinking. I have been enlighten.

This is not a seat for someone who wants to ride light and fast. For all others it's an option worth looking at.

The minor adjustments that needed to be made on my Sprint to accommodate the extra padding of the Ergo-Luxe

Ready to Ride

Shimano E8016 630Wh Battery and Mount

Shimano's latest external mount battery is the E8016. A 630Wh battery that offers a substantial jump in range over its next largest battery the E8010 504Wh battery.

Bad news, the E8016 is a large battery that will not work on the older BM-E8010 battery mounts. A new battery mount, the BM-E8016 is required.

Good news, the new BM-E8016 battery mount will accommodate the older E8010 and E8014 battery. So at least you can use your old batteries but you will have to by the new BM-8016 battery mount.

      

The big new E8016 630Wh Battery

The older B8010 504Wh battery (shown with mount)

  

My Correspondence with Shimano

My Question - Can the down tube battery mount for the E8010 be used for the new E8016 battery

Shimano's Answer - Hi Mark. The New BT-E8016, does require a new battery mount BM-E8016, and will not work with the BM-8010 mounts. I hope this information helps. All the best.

My Question - One last question (for now). Will the new BM-E8016 mounts work with the older E8010 battery?

Shimano's Answer - Hi Mark. Yes the BT-E8010 and the BT-E8014 will work on the BM-E8016 mount. All the best.

Bike Lanes Becoming Pedestrian Lanes

Give me a break. In the age of COVID 19 if you gotta give another pedestrian a little space by moving into the bicycle...fine. And there are a lot more pedestrians out. Most pedestrians move back onto the sidewalk or out of the way when a cyclist comes along. But there are the newbie exercise walkers and runners that have discovered the great outdoors thanks to COVID who are clueless and just hold their ground in the bicycle lane, some with strollers, some staring at their phones and some just being whatever, forcing cyclists to move into traffic to get past them. 

I'm happy people are getting outdoors and exercising but use common sense. Especially on a downhill blind curve, what do you expect when I almost plow through you.

It's time that city planners start designing public spaces with pedestrian needs in mind. Token sidewalks just don't cut it anymore.

This pic is on a less traveled road going uphill and in so big deal. But pedestrians

 in the bike lane on busier roads are common.

Puppy and The Ballerina

Who doesn't like puppy pics. My daughter's puppy chill'n on my ICE Sprint FS E8000. 

My daughter is a dancer with the San Fransisco Ballet and while Covid has put everything on hold she came home with her puppy. Lucky me I get to help her raise her pup. Ummm...maybe that's why I'm more tired than usual.

The Puppy

Leili's mini-aussie pup Barley

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The Ballerina

Leili

The Puppy and The Ballerina