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Thursday, 27 August 2020

Lessons in cycling

The bike rack is finally in place and we can load up the bikes and head out for a few hours. I continue to use my daughter’s bike 





while my husband is using his e-bike. He would not be able to ride a traditional bike for any length of time due to health issues and the peddle assist gives him the ability to cycle.


We learned a few important lessons during our most recent cycling expedition. The loading and unloading of the bikes on the carrier requires some time. Now the newness of the process makes us slow to complete the task and we should to be faster with experience.


The e-bikes are over 27 kilograms or 60 plus pounds each so I have started using weights to strengthen my arms. I can lift the bike with my husband but I would like it to be an easier exercise.


I mustn’t look at the sides of the trail or that’s where I will go. I hope this disappears with time. If I catch a glimpse of something of interest, I stop and look. That’s how I photographed these Joe Pye Weeds.





There was a section of the trail with many beautiful blooms. At another stop, the Newfoundlander in me couldn’t help but photograph the dogberries. Lots of them mean a bad winter ahead. No surprise there!





Until I learn better control of the bike, I cannot ride too close to my husband. He has much better control of his bike than I do of mine at the present time. Also, walking through the gates rather than riding through them is a safer way for me to move through.


A little pocket camera, like the one I used for these photos will have to suffice. I won’t be able to ride with my regular Nikon around my neck.


My legs are strong and I did well with our 7 kilometre ride. We stopped a few times on the way back but I did well overall without a spill this time. 


We both love cycling and will go again later this week. The combination of walking and cycling now are great ways to enjoy nature and get some exercise. We hope to ride a few trails before the snow falls but a stop for a picnic is in the near future.







32 comments:

Ginnie Hart said...

Good for you, Marie, on all counts! Astrid is the big bike rider in our family, which I leave to her so as to not slow her down. But I have always enjoyed riding the bike and can relate to the thrill this must be for you, even with the learning curve. BRAVA. But a bad winter ahead? (sigh)

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

The Joe Pye Weeds are pretty, I am seeing them here too. I think the butterflies love those plants. The berries look pretty, nice view of the trail. Have fun on your bike rides. Great photos. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

Martha said...

Beautiful photos and so glad you are enjoying your rides, just please be careful! Have a great weekend :)

DJan said...

If I had a place like your island to bike, I would. But city streets are scary here. I love your pictures and am glad you are enjoying bicycling to complement your walking. Lifting weights is a good idea! :-)

Anvilcloud said...

I am happy for but perhaps just a wee bit jealous because I did love to cycle.

I see the Pye's still inhabit PEI (as in Josie Pye, Anne's nemesis of sorts).

Beside a babbling brook... said...

You have wonderful paths/roads, on which to do this. That is the first great thing.

And you are learning, as you go. Wisdom.

Always love Joe Pie Weed, since it tells me, that Autumn is coming or here. But never see it, close up.

So, does that tree, forecast a hard winter? I have no idea, if those are a lot of berries, or not. ~smile~

🍂✨🍁✨🍂

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I think I'd be a menace on the road on an e-bike Marie 😉 well done you and I'm sure you will be expert very soon. Lovely series of pics here. Happy weekend ✨

Anita said...

Well thats great!I think the combination ride a bike and go walking is the new thing!also the El bike is great for people that cant ride long on a normal bike
So your are training??I thought of that too..But me feet started to ache so i stopped.But training weights is good too.May be i will do that too..You say the dogberries are in rich amount this year..Bad winther!Here we almost dont have any dogberries..May be will have a good winther then!I hope soo!

Great post !I like it very much!You write and tell so truly!
I wish all the best for your husband and you!looking forward to your next post

Anita

Ruth Hiebert said...

You are certainly capturing some lovely scenes along the way.

William Kendall said...

A lovely spot for cycling.

photowannabe said...

Good for you!!
Healthy and living life to the fullest.
This looks like a wonderful place to cycle.
Sue

Bill said...

It's wonderful that you are preparing yourself for the bike exercising. Good to have help lifting it on to the rack. You'll adapt fine and will develop your own comfortable way of taking photos. Good pedaling to you, Marie. Have a great weekend.

Elephant's Child said...

Wonderful. Like you, I would have to get off my bike to take photographs. And wonder what happened to the 'no hands' rider I was decades ago.
Good for you - and happy riding.

Boud said...

How lovely to live where you can ride. I used to ride a lot around my little town and the country roads. It traffic made it too dangerous. I did love it though.

Red said...

Cycling is a very pleasant activity but make sure you are safe. I rode bike until I was 80 and then stopped as I thought it had become risky. I rode at least 1000 km a summer.

Joanne Noragon said...

I am so happy for you. Riding is great exercise, and keep your eye on the road. I know exactly what is going on there.

Rose said...

I would love to have a place like this to walk or to ride! I bet you will want to go more and more. I know I would.

Mage said...

You two inspire me. If I had better knees, I would do it too.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Good luck as you get better at cycling. Just getting the bikes on and off the vehicle seems a challenge it itself! Think I'll stick to walking.

Susan Zarzycki said...

All the walking you do has really paid off, preparing you for your bike rides into the wild blue yonder! What adventures you can have now! Looking forward to reading about them!💖

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I hope you wear padded cycling shorts!

Linda said...

I think that you two are amazing and I love your tenacity.

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

I am in awe of all you do. I'm so glad the E-bike works well for your husband. My daughter and husband have bikes and they love their outings as you two do also. And your pictures are just fine even using a smaller camera.

Helen said...

I hope you quickly master the loading / unloading of the bikes so you can fully enjoy these wonderful adventures. I too have many pics of the Dogberries. Their red is stunning amongst the vivid greens.

The Furry Gnome said...

Nice trails to ride!

Catarina said...

Good for you! I am very proud of you, Marie! Keep your eyes on the road. :)

Angela said...

Bike rides sounds like a great exercise. I never learned how to use a bike sadly! You got to see such lovely nature scenes.

Debbie said...

i am so happy to read this marie...and you are spot on with some of your suggestions. if you get a basket, you can load a picnic lunch, but you have to be careful to distribute the weight in the basket evenly. if not, that will pull you over.

with my bike, i never use the front brakes, using them caused one of my falls.

we got a bike rack from the electric bike company, it was so expensive but does the trick well. i don't have to lift my bike, the hubs does it for me!!

and remember, most cell phones take great pictures, if you keep that in your pocket!!

Tanza Erlambang said...

nice to bike, especially with e-bike, thus, we may ride quite longer distance..... I love bike.

Very nice views with well maintain trail.

Have a wonderful day

Barbara said...

I seem to remember that I loved the feel of wind in my hair and watching the sights fly by, just that feeling of flying. I was probably going a lot faster then than I could now but I think it would be so much fun at any speed.

J said...

This really seems like a lovely place to ride a bike and enjoy nature!
Greetings, Jonny

Liz Hinds said...

Lovely!
Husband has ordered a conversion kit for his bike and is looking forward to its arrival. He is fine on flat stretches but doesn't want to strain his heart going up hills.Unfortunately cycling makes my hips ache - at least it used to. I wonder if it still does.