Silvio Ride through Southern France

[JimParker]

Okay, it was southern North Carolina.... but parts of it reminded me of a bike ride I took through southern France a few years ago. Maria and I left at 6:45 AM and we home before noon. We traveled through four counties, mostly rural. In my endorphin-induced euphoria, I said hello and "moo" to any cow that bothered to look up at us, and most of them did this morning, curious about a FWD bicycle I suppose.

We rode alongside fields of wildflowers that just made you glad to be alive. This was our longest ride so far this year. My Garmin unit and MotionBased report that we covered 82.77 miles, total elapsed time was 4:41:36, with a "moving" time of 4:31.16. Total speed was 17.6 mph with a "moving speed" of 18.3 mph. Winds were SW, averaging 6.7 mph. Had a minor technical problem. A brake pad fell of my rear brake at about mile 25. It had worked itself loose, probably during the long car ride the bike took last weekend. Taught me a lesson that I need to periodically tighten all the bolts.

Below is a link to the MotionBased data, with details of the ride.

Jim
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.mb?episodePk.pkValue=8081940

 

[Peder Torgersen]

Seems you are both in good shape ready for a new season! I hope we can see more videos from you and other Silvio riders.


Peder

 

[JonB]

Peder Torgersen wrote: Seems you are both in good shape ready for a new season! I hope we can see more videos from you and other Silvio riders.

Yeah, maybe you're the top rider thats going to take some HPV medals for cruzbike.

 

[Peder Torgersen]

JonB wrote:

Peder Torgersen wrote: Seems you are both in good shape ready for a new season! I hope we can see more videos from you and other Silvio riders.

Yeah, maybe you're the top rider thats going to take some HPV medals for cruzbike.

________________________________________
On Thursday evening I was in my first race with my Phantom P52 I started in group 2 group 1 was the highest level.
This race was open for everyone and was 5 laps 6 km on a road. I started as the last rider the first part was relatively flat and I had the wind from the rear. I had to use my brakes going downhill there was traffic so I had to wait until no cars were coming and passed the whole pack. About 3 km there was a hill top and open area they were still behind me now the wind came against me and from the side. It was a long down hill the speed was just under 60km could feel the wind so I didn’t dare going faster had to lean against the wind but felt I had it under control. When the climbing started back to the start most of the racers passed me.
From the starting position I was able to speed up again and catch up and pass some of them again. The wind calmed on the last laps so I was able to go over 60 km down the hill and pass some of the racers.
Most of the racers finished before me but some came in after me.
There is a link to a local club that took pictures there are two of me one you only see a little of the front climbing to where the race started. http://www.focc.no/bilder/1338.aspx
The picture where you only see a little of the front the racer came over and congratulated me after the race. I had passed him on every round but he passed me on the climb and he finished just before me.
On that same picture where you only saw the front of my bike the powerful man on the left came over after the race. I mentioned I had an appendix operation for just over 2 weeks ago and he mentioned he had recently removed his colon (not sure that’s the correct English word) and had to eat every 2 hours and drink regularly.
That made me think and appreciates that all my body functions work.
I will try to get in better shape and climb better next time. The Phantom P52 is fast on the flats and downhill and that’s what they said under the other picture.

I didn’t plan to hijack this thread but since Jon mentioned me as a racer I thought about how much better a Silvio would do in a race like this. On the flats and downhill I can outride most of the rides but climbing hills just about every racer out climbed me. There are many racers faster then me but I have fun and had no prior racing experience can ride without pain.
Both Jim and John T have mentioned going fast downhill if you can’t climb fast you will loose. A full fairing is good on flats and if there is not too much cross wind. If the wind is from the rear even the elite racers would have problems following on a road bike.

I have gotten questions about Silvio from several racers they have noticed it has dual 28” wheels which is important for many of them and that it has a short chain. The best as I see it is the comfortable seat compared to a racer. Under most conditions a Silvio would do well against racers and blend in. My Phantom P52 doesn’t blend to well with racers!

Peder

 

[cycleguy]

Hello Jim,

WHat is the terrain like throughout this ride? Hilly, flat?

Riding up here in central MA, the terrain is very hilly... Can't go a mile without hitting a 7% grade and lots of double digit climbs as well. Sometimes I would love to just get the Silvio really humming along on some nice flat stretch...

Trying my first group ride tonight out of a bike shop in Nashua NH. Those are always fun. Beautiful area....

Harold