Sweet Downhill Video by Michael

Michael Billesback takes a serious six minute downhill run in Goleta, CA. This video was shot about an hour drive away from where I live in Agoura Hills. As soon as my new hips are broken in I'm taking Michael up on his offer to ride with him. Guess where I want that ride to be.

Check out Michael's "Laid Back" blog and his trikes.

eCrumbs Working Well

Carrie is still picking me up at the end of some my rides as I continue to avoid hills for a couple of more weeks of recovery. The Road ID eCrumbs app is making it easy for her to know when I'm getting to the end of a ride. No more pulling over to call in or text her my location. So far it hasn't let me down.

eCrumbs is a basic and simple tracking app that friends and family can easily follow. Simply start tracking and a text or email or both are sent to those on your notification list. All they have to do his click on a provided link. It's free from Road ID.

Also I always wear a RoadID identification band.

NOTE: eCrumbs uses up about 30% of my iPhone battery every hour with screen on and 10% with the screen off. Works fine for me on shorter rides or turning it on later on longer rides when I'm meeting up with Carrie. 

Bent Spotted at JRA Bikes

Previously I posted about JRA Bikes and Brew, the LBS (local bike shop) in my area of Agoura Hills. I mentioned before that JRA is a traditional bike shop but is recumbent friendly and now I have proof.

I completed my ride today at JRA and spied a recumbent that had been dropped off for repairs. Many traditional bike shops turn away recumbent bikes and riders for reason that are a matter of debate. Although Vince is not a recumbent dealer it's nice to have a LBS that welcomes the bent rider. 

JRA Bikes and Brew

5019 Kanan Road

Agoura Hills, CA  91301

Phone: 818-991-1572

Trike, Bike and Walk

Taken it easy. We loaded up and went to Westlake Village for a little  family time cruising and walking. Carrie took a walk while I rode my trike and Byron his bike. We ended our day with smoothies at JRA's.

Me and my boy Byron.

Carrie with Byron.

Local Bike Shop..JRA

Bikes, coffee, smoothies and snacks at my favorite local (non recumbent) bike shop. JRA Bikes and Brew is owned and operated by Vince and his wife Tamera. Vince runs the shop and Tamera handles all the drinks and eats. Their daughter Cheyenne sometimes checks in to help. JRA is a friendly place to stop by no matter what you ride. Lately I've been ending up at JRA's three to four times a week as I use JRA as a place to meet Carrie after riding the flats. I'm currently avoiding any serious hill climbing while breaking in my new hips. Carrie gives me a ride back up to our home in the hills. Before leaving JRA's I always end up with a smoothie and sometimes a bike part or two.

JRA Bikes and Brew (coffee)

Repair shop and coffee bar area. Bikes, clothing and so on are to the right of the bar.

Hanging with Carrie on a weekday after a ride. On weekends the bike rack fills up.

Here's JRA's address for any locals or others planning on visiting Agoura Hills.

JRA Bikes & Brew

5019 Kanan Road
Agoura Hills, CA  91301
Phone: 818-991-1572

For those pedaling their way to JRA's the back way into the shopping center using Roadside Drive is much easier and safer. This route avoids the busy entrances off of Kanan Road and Agoura Road

Expedition Upgraded to 10 Speed

Every gear inch counts when towing 100lbs of dog and trailer with my Expedition with it's 26" rear tire. Upgrading to a 10 speed cassette gave me an extra gear inch on the low end. To get my gear inches lower and get back some of the lost gear inches on the high end I would have to go to an internal gearing mechanism like the Schlumpf drive. Right now I prefer a setup that is user and local bike shop friendly if a repair is needed while on the road. 

Old

New

Riding Again With My Trik'n Buddy

First ride with Betzi since I had my hips replaced. During hip recovery I've been riding the 700, it's light and oh so fun. Towing Betzi is a big step up in weight. It's been exactly 8 weeks since getting my new left hip and 4 and 1/2 months for the right. It's time to get my triking buddy back on the road so I took her out for a short ride today. So good to have the ole girl join me on a ride!!

Ma Doggie

My rig...Catrike Expedition and Doggyride trailer.

Happy dog working off a few lbs she gained over the last few months.

Happy dog...happy triker...that's all folks.