March, 2025-More March rides and weather

 March 9: Our local area election for City Council is in early April and the ballots were out fast this year. We headed out to the downtown area to drop off our ballots at the El Paso County Building. After that was done, we headed through town over on the Pikes Peak Ave bike lane to pick up, Shooks Run trail over to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for herbal/berry iced teas to go with our brown bag lunch! From there we rode several other trails here and there and ended up back at the storage unit to tuck away the trikes!

 

El Paso County Building, downtown Colorado Springs, is where our closest ballot box is located.

The start of the Shooks Run Trail, just off the Pikes Peak Ave Bike Lane

March 10: The main destination was Manitou Springs but we wandered here and there on multiple trails and bike lanes. It was a beautiful late winter day, almost 70 F and we were really enjoying being out and about on the recumbents! 

March 11: After getting the new drive train for BJ's trike back on the 6th., I noticed that my chain seemed to be "auto-shifting" by itself here and there. We headed back up to Angletech www.cycledifferent.com where Kirk readjusted the rear derailleur and did a couple other adjustments for me. We headed west on Garden of the Gods Road to a Mc Donalds for a big mac with the 25 dollar gift card a rider named Steve gave us on an earlier ride. Again just riding here and there on different trails and bike lanes and ending up at Safeway food store to get a couple of items for lunches and dinner, then headed to the storage unit.

 

Stopped at the Pickle Ball Courts in Monument Valley Park for nature break and then to the Pikes Peak Greenway

Afternoon snack of a Think Bar and iced tea at Good Neighbors Meeting House on the Shooks Run Trail and then over to Safeway food store and back to the storage unit

That's All Folks! Till next time "HAPPY TRAIL'S"! 

March 7, 2025- February into March, getting in a few rides between storm systems, winter please go away!!

 February 27- A second run to Angletech, after getting the trike back to the storage unit to tuck it away, I decided to adjust one of the front brake cables. Well I found the cable was frayed so on Thurs. Feb 27, we headed back to Angletech for a new brake cable to be installed. After that we road the Foothills Trail, 31st bike lane over to check out the new Hammond's Pastrami and Deli that opened up inside Trail's End Taproom at Colorado Ave and 30th St. Really good brisket sandwich and coleslaw on the large patio area! We will return, headed back via Midland Trail and the Weber St. bike lane to the storage unit. Sunny but chilly day!

Foothills Trail heading towards the Garden of the Gods City Park and 31st. Street bike lane

 Selfie on the Foothills Trail, pardon the GLOVE in the corner! ;)

February 28- Wanted to check to see if any progress was made on the new "lighted" crosswalk at the junction of the Rock Island Trail and Murry Blvd. A little bit but still not up and working as of yet! Headed back wandering here and there a bit then headed back to the storage unit.

Our favorite rest stop/bench along the Rock Island Trail

The lighted crosswalk at RI and Murry Blvd, heading East towards Powers Blvd.

Lighted Crosswalk heading West

A photo of BJ doing his Video Shooting along the Rock Island Trail

We stopped at the ONLY picnic table in Porta Park along the trail for our late afternoon Think Bar, restroom and break! 

March 2- T-Gap Trail North- Rode up the Templeton Gap Trail heading North East to it's current ending point at Ranch Road. Headed south to the Fork in the trail and then east on the Austin Bluffs Trail to it's ending point then back down the trail to find a place to get tea and eat our snack. More here and there riding around before heading back to the storage unit to call it a day! 

Heading west on the Austin Bluffs Trail and crossing the bridge over the drainage canal

After crossing over the bridge, we turn south/southwest heading back to the Templeton Gap Trail down to the Cascade Street bike lane and heading to the storage unit.

March 6- My 2011 ICE Sprint 2 Special Edition trike is 14 years old and was built using a Shimano Caprio rear wheel hub and special 9-30 tooth cassette. They don't make the "Caprio System" anymore so the cassette was worn out and you CAN NOT add a modern cassette to a Capiro wheel hub! Had to buy a rear wheel and new 9 speed cassette! I got a upgrade to a 11x40 cassette to get some more low/climbing gearing!! I also had them take off the old "disc brake parking brake" and install "locking" brake levers that lock the front brakes instead. The Reason? That disc brake always rubbed or squeaked and never really did a good job of being a parking brake! now it's all gone and makes it easier to hook up my cargo trailer and the levers with locking pins make it so the trike doesn't move when applied!! :) 

We've been waiting on a small Colorado State Income Tax refund to get this new drive train installed, it finally showed up so it's great to have it done! Thanks to our Tech, Kirk at Angletech! We again headed up to do the Foothills to Midland trails but the clouds and chill was setting in quicker than the weather stated so we just headed back to the storage area using the "westside" of the Pikes Peak Greenway and the Cascade Street bike lane!

That's all the riding for now, it's March 7th. and gray with clouds and more possible rain and snow overnight to mid day on Saturday the 8th, RATS!! Till next time, Happy TRAIL'S!

2nd part of February 2025, just trying to catch up as usual, here we GO!

 

A view from the SKY BRIDGE 

We had a real cold and wet spell for like 10 days so we finally got a decent day and headed off to Manitou Springs via the Midland Trail, stopping at the Colorado Ave and 31 St. Starbucks for our brown bag lunch and a hot tea. It was at least warm enough to sit outside but we had the polar fleece and windbreakers on! Then continued on the trail over to Fields and Schriever Parks and to the current end of the Creek Walk Trail. Heading back the same way, it felt good to be riding again! Over to the Weber St. bike lane to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for a 2nd hot tea. Picked up Shooks Run to the Rock Island Trail west, Cascade St. and into the storage unit!

Bringing home the weeks' worth of food and household supplies!

Again we had several cold, wet days before a day decent enough to go food shopping!

February 24, we decided to check on the construction progress of a couple of projects effecting bike paths and bike lanes and make our way up to the Starsmoor Center in North Cheyenne Canyon Park. First was the new path along Tejon St and the intersection of I-25.

The right side is basically complete, but the left side path is still not finished, rats, luckily, we needed to stay on the right side to stop at a Mavrick Station outside patio area and a hot tea with our brown bag lunch. Alas, NO hot or Ice tea, bummer! Ate lunch and headed for the center on the Tejon St bike lane and then the Cheyenne Blvd bike lane, (sadly the painted lines for the bike lane have faded away all the way to 8th street!) :(  Well the road construction again forced us up on the sidewalk for several blocks, then we got back on the bike lane up to the Starsmoor Center. Ah, note to self: The Starsmoor Center is CLOSED on Mondays! Headed back over to Shooks Run Trail and Good Neighbors Meeting House for the TEA we didn't get earlier then back to the storage unit.

The Official Greeter at Angletech Recumbents of Colorado Springs, Colorado

Great view of Pikes Peak on the Centennial Blvd South Path

My new ASSIST BARS on my ICE Sprint 2 Special Edition

February 25, Headed up to Angletech to get my new, ASSIST BARS installed on my trike, I have been having a harder time getting OUT of my low seated trike as I get within 5 months of turning 70 yrs. old! I also had my left side drum brake shoes checked for "glazing" as they have been squeaking a lot lately. After we got done at Angletech we decided to see if they had finished the Pikes Peak Greenway "WESTSIDE" trail's concrete work and fencing. We were lucky as the workers let us pass by and continue down the trail so you all got the FREE TOUR before the official unveiling has happened! Rode down to America the Beautiful Park and the "confluence point" of Monument and Fountain Creeks. Then headed back to the storage unit.

That's it for this blog update, will bring you more soon, thanks for reading, it's very appreciated, BJ :) 

February 2025 so far, As usual playing Catch Up again!

 Well very little riding in Jan. and Feb. isn't a lot better, rats! I'll do a bit of catching up on the old BLOG! 

February 2, Ground Hog's Day Ride: 

We headed up the Rock Island Trail to check on the progress of the new lighted crosswalk at Murry Blvd. and Rock Island Trail. Still not functional but they do now have lights on the poles, etc. so its slowly getting there!

New trail signage for the Rock Island Trail

A piece of the Rock Island Railroad

Neat little carved bench and contemplation area on the Rock Island Trail 

February 3rd, 

Well Jo did not want to ride due to a sinus headache, so I decided to try and find a "new" section of the Sand Creek Trail, I just found out about! LOL, it started on the Rock Island Trail and then had to use a sidewalk and parking lot to get to the old frontage road along Hwy 24. Now on the new Wooten Ave Bike Lane up to Galley Road and then again ran into road construction and had to use the sidewalk, bummer. Finally found the new trail section but "no signage" at all?? This portion of the Sand Creek Trail goes from Galley Road to Hwy 24 with a "under pass" but sadly dead ends. The Future will have it continue to hook up with the older section of the Sand Creek Trail heading south to the Pikes Peak Greenway. 

This is actually the Homestead Trail South off of the Rock Island Trail, took this to get to the sidewalk/parking lot path to get to the Hwy 24 Frontage Road

Looking south on the Homestead Trail South

Looking north on the Homestead Trail South at the junction of it and the Rock Island Trail to get back to the storage unit! 

February 5th., 

While I was wiping down my trike, I noticed black scuff marks on the upper park of the swingarm (rear end), looks like my factory rear rack was banging into the swing arm, yikes! Headed up to ANGLETECH to have Joshia look at it. He re-drilled new holes in the rack extension arms that hook the rack to the frame and that made the rack sit higher for the needed proper spacing! The damage was purely cosmetic to the swingarm, just needs some silver touch-up paint to be good as new, YEA! From the shop we headed up to the Foothills Trail past the Garden of the Gods City Park and then, via the 31st street bike lane to the Midland Trail heading east and of course, ran into road construction so we had to use backstreets to get back on the trail into America the Beautiful Park. Over to Shooks Run Trail and the Good Neighbor's Meeting House for snack and tea! Then home to the storage shed.

February 7th., 

Decided to ride the Cottonwood Creek Trail as far east as we could, due to possible trail damage caused by a homeless fire causing damage to part of the park drainage system. Well, we found out most of the damage has been repaired, except the access way to the port-a-potties, arrugh! We rode the long way around the outside of the park via sidewalk to get access. Headed back down the trail heading west over to the open air patio at the University Village Colorado Retail Center for our brought from home snack and water. Now to the Pikes Peak Greenway, T-Gap Trail and Cascade St. bike lane back to the storage unit!

LOL, took the round-about way be made it to the restroom at the Park

Heading back to the west on the Cottonwood Creek Trail

Crossing on of the many bridges on the Cottonwood Creek Trail

Jo got a photo of me getting a video of her, LOL! We do everything as a TEAM most of the time! Not bad for an old couple who will celebrate 45 years of marriage in Oct. 2025!

We made it to the end as the winter weather, cold, snow and WIND has returned with a vengeance! Today is Tuesday, February 11th. and it's 13 F, gray, cloudy and breezy with lite snow falling and the rest of the week looks mostly the same, RATS!! Till we see you again, Happy Trail's! 

January 15, 2025-WINTER is NOT going away soon enough!!

 As you can see, there has been almost NO RIDES since the 3rd. of January! It's been COLD, WINDY and at times several inches of SNOW! Sadly, we had very important Medical appointments on Thursday, January 16. Of course, it was the WARMEST day of that week, we did get a short FOOD RUN ride in on Wednesday, January 15th! It was still only 40 F with chilly breezes, but it was sunny, so we headed up the Rock Island Trail over to the Walmart Market Place off of Union Blvd. Got a full load of food and household supplies as by Friday night the coldest air from Canada brought on the "Polar Plunge"!! It's only 12 F with a windchill in the -4 F temp and 2 inches of SNOW outside our living room window! 

This will continue with more snow possible Sunday night into Monday morning and to be honest the temps won't get high enough to do any melting of snow till Tuesday so we HOPE the area trails and roads might be clear enough to ride by NEXT Friday, January 24th.!! We did a couple of walks over to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for HOT Tea's and one walk to Safeway for a few items the Market Place doesn't stock but the Food Run was the last ride, cabin fever is going to be a "Real Problem" by next Friday, ARRUGH! 

Unloaded the trailer after the FOOD RUN ride to the Walmart Market Place on Union Blvd, just off the Rock Island Trail

Here is the "RIG" or how my trike goes from, " sport car to pick-up truck" so we can get food and household supplies! My trike is called: Scrappy, the trailer is called: Tugger!

Well, that's all I have till the winter weather decides to quit being so mean and onery in nature, LOL! If your in the Polar Plunge with us, STAY WARM!

January 6, 2025- Last of December and the first ride in 2025, the winter is coming on strong! :(

 Happy New Year, as usual the Blog is behind, but we have had lots of chilly, windy and snowy weather! So here are the last rides of 2024 and the first ride of 2025! And away we go!

December 28, the day was a bit iffy, so we decided to just get in a short ride and headed up to the Vincent Street Bridge via the Pikes Peak Greenway and a little bit of the Cottonwood Creek Trails. Instead of turning left over the bridge to continue on CCT, we took the uphill trail to the right that gets you on the Vincent Frontage Road and over to the Dublin Blvd/Nevada Ave Pathway. We headed to the Nevada Ave portion down to the Cracked Trail (Old asphalt trail) over to the University Village Colorado Center to head to Panera Bread for much needed Hot Tea and our brown bag lunch! From there, headed south on the PPG, Fontanero St. bike lane to the Mesa Spring Greenway to head to Monument Valley Park.

Chilly Ride, time for a hot tea and lunch!

Heading South on the Pikes Peak Greenway heading to the Mesa Springs Greenway

Ending the Video at Monument Valley Park

December 29, finally a really nice day so we headed to Manitou Springs. The usual route via the Pikes Peak and the Cascade St. bike lane over to the Midland Trail. Got to the Creek Walk trail in Manitou Springs, through Fields and Schryver Parks to the end of the concrete, at Mayfield Street, turned around and headed back. Always enjoy this ride, we stopped at Starbucks at 30th and Colorado Ave for a hot tea. Headed back to the storage unit, tucked in the trikes and took the slow 1.2 mile walk back to the apartment.

Heading west on the "Singing Blvd" on the way to the Chachras St. bike lane to America the Beautiful Park. (Olympic/Paralympic Museum in the back 

ground) The light poles have speakers and always play music!

Heading down under the Adams Crossing Bridge on the Midland Trail into Manitou Springs

January 3, 2025, we decided to head east to the Templeton or T-Gap trail. Heading up to the bridge that crosses over the drainage canal and hooks up with the Flintridge Road bike lane up to Academy Blvd. Day was warm enough in the sun for a iced tea at McDonalds. This one has little tables outside in the sunshine. Ate our brown bag lunch and drank our tea then headed back west on the Flintridge Road bike lane back to the T-Gap Trail. heading south then west all the way to the Pikes Peak Greenway. North on the PPG up to University Village Colorado Center outdoor eating area for our late afternoon Think Bar snack! Temps started dropping and breeze coming on stronger, headed back to the T-Gap over to the Cascade St. bike lane over to the storage unit. 

Lot's of cold, gray, windy and a bit of snow since then and for the near future. Who knows when winter will back off a bit and let us ride again! 2025 isn't being very friendly so there's going to be more "Indoor than Outdoor Rides" for the New Year, RATS! Till next time, "HAPPPY TRAIL'S".