Gave my Dahon a workout today.
#1
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Gave my Dahon a workout today.
Just a hair over 60 miles today. No problems with the load.
It was a wet start to the ride but it dried up between 12:00-1:00 and was fine the rest of the day, but cool. I don't think it got above 45degF. With the cloud cover I didn't get much solar charging during my lunch break - about 170mA peak is what I saw. I should be able to get over 1250mA out of those two panels in brighter sun.
In any event, it wasn't a bad day for a ride. Not ideal but not bad.
The bike did great.
I did not get any video footage on this run. I didn't want to mess with setting up a camera to record on-the-go, that and I didn't have my helmet on for more than half the ride as I was on trails a large portion. I wanted to keep the weight off my neck and back - both the helmet and camera up there (I've done that in the past - mount a camera on the helmet).
This was the longest ride so far this season. I felt more energized and less fatigued when I got back than the last 52mi ride or so. I think a large part of that was leaving the helmet off. I don't think the "build up" since that ride alone would have made the difference I felt.
It was a wet start to the ride but it dried up between 12:00-1:00 and was fine the rest of the day, but cool. I don't think it got above 45degF. With the cloud cover I didn't get much solar charging during my lunch break - about 170mA peak is what I saw. I should be able to get over 1250mA out of those two panels in brighter sun.
In any event, it wasn't a bad day for a ride. Not ideal but not bad.
The bike did great.
I did not get any video footage on this run. I didn't want to mess with setting up a camera to record on-the-go, that and I didn't have my helmet on for more than half the ride as I was on trails a large portion. I wanted to keep the weight off my neck and back - both the helmet and camera up there (I've done that in the past - mount a camera on the helmet).
This was the longest ride so far this season. I felt more energized and less fatigued when I got back than the last 52mi ride or so. I think a large part of that was leaving the helmet off. I don't think the "build up" since that ride alone would have made the difference I felt.
#2
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well done!
you took a lot of kit with you
you took a lot of kit with you
#3
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Always. Lotsa options (food, drink, clothes, and otherwise) and lots to do My trips are to be comfortable and fun, not squeaking by with the bare minimum.
For what it is worth, when I left it was in the upper 30's and very moist - dew point and temp were the same causing so much condensation it turned in to a light rain in places. That lasted about 3.5 hours then cleared up. It wasn't a warm sunny day for a ride = more gear because of the layers etc.
A few things I could have done without on this trip, like a reclining chair and heavy coat in the yellow bag. I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
I did shed layers about 2/3 of the ride out - so that all had to go somewhere. I wasn't hurting on bag space so no problem there.
I had planned to leave before daybreak but it was just too wet to risk it. So I waited until the sun was up to re-evaluate and still sat it out a while. I did get a bit wet about an hour in to the ride, to the point I almost stopped. I had an umbrella I could have hunkered down under if I had to (didn't have much water repellent layers - only a coat). There was no rain on the radar so again, just the moisture in the air. I was hoping I would ride out of the wet spot soon enough - and I did. So it all worked out.
For what it is worth, when I left it was in the upper 30's and very moist - dew point and temp were the same causing so much condensation it turned in to a light rain in places. That lasted about 3.5 hours then cleared up. It wasn't a warm sunny day for a ride = more gear because of the layers etc.
A few things I could have done without on this trip, like a reclining chair and heavy coat in the yellow bag. I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
I did shed layers about 2/3 of the ride out - so that all had to go somewhere. I wasn't hurting on bag space so no problem there.
I had planned to leave before daybreak but it was just too wet to risk it. So I waited until the sun was up to re-evaluate and still sat it out a while. I did get a bit wet about an hour in to the ride, to the point I almost stopped. I had an umbrella I could have hunkered down under if I had to (didn't have much water repellent layers - only a coat). There was no rain on the radar so again, just the moisture in the air. I was hoping I would ride out of the wet spot soon enough - and I did. So it all worked out.
#4
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By the way - the red folding chair is the small version of the Eskimo ice fishing chair. I got that for ice fishing years ago, oddly enough I haven't used it for ice fishing yet though. I started using it in the garage when I was working on stuff and came to really like it. It is a fantastic chair. The best part is it has a back on it. I strap it to the top of the rack so it is easy to grab. Most of the time its on the very top so is the first thing off. When I stop on the side of the trail for breaks I pull it off and it it unfolds instantly giving me a spot to park myself for a bit.
Coffee and snack break on the return trek:
My recliner is an REI Flex Chair. I really like it as well. It is way more comfortable, but it also takes a lot more work to set up and take down. And it is a recliner so it isn't ideal to doing any work out in front - like working the stove cooking or working contacts on the radio from a table. So the Eskimo wins there on both fronts - speed of deployment and posture for "doing things". And I still find it comfortable. The down side is it uses steel legs = heavier. But it is strong and for as much as I use it I'd rather have it well-built to hold up (and it has held very well over the years) so the weight doesn't bother me much.
Coffee and snack break on the return trek:
My recliner is an REI Flex Chair. I really like it as well. It is way more comfortable, but it also takes a lot more work to set up and take down. And it is a recliner so it isn't ideal to doing any work out in front - like working the stove cooking or working contacts on the radio from a table. So the Eskimo wins there on both fronts - speed of deployment and posture for "doing things". And I still find it comfortable. The down side is it uses steel legs = heavier. But it is strong and for as much as I use it I'd rather have it well-built to hold up (and it has held very well over the years) so the weight doesn't bother me much.
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#5
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It all sounds like a real hoot! Love the pics and write up. I am envious and hope to do similar rides on my Dahon this year.
You have set a high bar!
You have set a high bar!
#6
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I am keeping tabs on 2 things - rim wear and frame stress.
As to the latter - I haven't seen any signs of concern but I keep checking. That means all frame welds (specifically around the bottom bracket and underside of the frame hinge joint).
I know the Dahon isn't as strong as my Disk Trucker, but it is still a capable bike.
#8
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