W
wafflycat
Guest
So I got up before Vernon & Nathan, breakfasted & set off for Mildenhall by
'bent. Not that far, approx 35-38 miles (haven't got computer on 'bent) and
as I'm slower on the 'bent than on the upright, I wanted to set off early -
in case of problems & to be able to spend many hours at Mildenhall.
The jounrey was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the three hours it took me to
cycle down on my own. I didn't push myself at all, it was thoroughly
leisurely and enjoyable cycling. I confirmed pheasants are totally without
brains as a group of six just kept looking at me as I freewheeled down an
incline towards them. They stayed put. As I aimed to one side of them, they
moved in front of me. I changed direction again - they changed to remain in
front of me. Six pheasants taking off as a madwoman on a 'bent trike zooms
by was a 'wish I'd brought my camera' moment.
Drivers all gave me loads of room except for ... tada!... a white BMW and a
Range Rover towing a caravan. BMW man seemed oblivious to brightly coloured
trike with flag waving as he overtook me at what seemed well over the speed
limit with micrometres of didtance between his nearside wing and me. Range
Rover man stayed behind me until there was an oncoming vehicle and only then
did he decide to overtake me. I could see the look of total panic in the
eyes of the driver of the oncoming vehicle.... Other than that, the journey
was fun, with the ususal smilemobile effect of piloting a 'bent.
Once at Mildenhall I found I'd arrived before V & N who were coming down by
car as we intended to do shopping at the trade stalls. But they soon
followed. Within seconds of arriving, I was spotted by Mr Whelan of this NG,
who has a 'bent of his own but was participating in grass track racing
today. We had a chat and then I found myself talking to several people who
decided they'd like to inspect my 'bent. I was chatting to a nice man on a
Trice (different model to mine) and then a trike rider I know from near me
told me about the trike racing & parade round the ring. So I was willingly
drawn into taking part of the parade of trikes around the ring. In the lead
were the kids trikes, then the normal trikes then the tandem trikes then
there were three recumbenteers taking up the rear. There was yours truly on
my Trice Ice T, the man on the other Trice and a lady on a Windcheetah. Then
remaining in the ring, we watched the trike racing then we heard 'recumbent
trike race' - ooh-err! As I was at the start line I heard a certian teenage
voice saying, "Zone 4 to start with so you don't blow, then cracnk it up to
zone five and go for it, Mum!" But it was fun
After this, V & H put the Trice in the car and the serious shopping began.
Nathan required some new road shoes and he was well pleased with the ones we
got. Bargain too, as they were £46 cheaper than on Wiggle. Plus he got a new
h*lm*t, a new winter waterproof jacket for that college commute & new
shades. I got a new winter jersey & a pair of armwarmers, & new tyres for
the front of the 'bent..
All-in-all, a good day, lovely weather, fun, good company and a bargain or
two. On the downside - not as many trade stalls there as previous years (No
ICE, for example).
Cheers, helen s
'bent. Not that far, approx 35-38 miles (haven't got computer on 'bent) and
as I'm slower on the 'bent than on the upright, I wanted to set off early -
in case of problems & to be able to spend many hours at Mildenhall.
The jounrey was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the three hours it took me to
cycle down on my own. I didn't push myself at all, it was thoroughly
leisurely and enjoyable cycling. I confirmed pheasants are totally without
brains as a group of six just kept looking at me as I freewheeled down an
incline towards them. They stayed put. As I aimed to one side of them, they
moved in front of me. I changed direction again - they changed to remain in
front of me. Six pheasants taking off as a madwoman on a 'bent trike zooms
by was a 'wish I'd brought my camera' moment.
Drivers all gave me loads of room except for ... tada!... a white BMW and a
Range Rover towing a caravan. BMW man seemed oblivious to brightly coloured
trike with flag waving as he overtook me at what seemed well over the speed
limit with micrometres of didtance between his nearside wing and me. Range
Rover man stayed behind me until there was an oncoming vehicle and only then
did he decide to overtake me. I could see the look of total panic in the
eyes of the driver of the oncoming vehicle.... Other than that, the journey
was fun, with the ususal smilemobile effect of piloting a 'bent.
Once at Mildenhall I found I'd arrived before V & N who were coming down by
car as we intended to do shopping at the trade stalls. But they soon
followed. Within seconds of arriving, I was spotted by Mr Whelan of this NG,
who has a 'bent of his own but was participating in grass track racing
today. We had a chat and then I found myself talking to several people who
decided they'd like to inspect my 'bent. I was chatting to a nice man on a
Trice (different model to mine) and then a trike rider I know from near me
told me about the trike racing & parade round the ring. So I was willingly
drawn into taking part of the parade of trikes around the ring. In the lead
were the kids trikes, then the normal trikes then the tandem trikes then
there were three recumbenteers taking up the rear. There was yours truly on
my Trice Ice T, the man on the other Trice and a lady on a Windcheetah. Then
remaining in the ring, we watched the trike racing then we heard 'recumbent
trike race' - ooh-err! As I was at the start line I heard a certian teenage
voice saying, "Zone 4 to start with so you don't blow, then cracnk it up to
zone five and go for it, Mum!" But it was fun
After this, V & H put the Trice in the car and the serious shopping began.
Nathan required some new road shoes and he was well pleased with the ones we
got. Bargain too, as they were £46 cheaper than on Wiggle. Plus he got a new
h*lm*t, a new winter waterproof jacket for that college commute & new
shades. I got a new winter jersey & a pair of armwarmers, & new tyres for
the front of the 'bent..
All-in-all, a good day, lovely weather, fun, good company and a bargain or
two. On the downside - not as many trade stalls there as previous years (No
ICE, for example).
Cheers, helen s