End of July Rides, sadly summer is going FAST!

 Well, it's almost the end of July, the summer is waning fast as usual, RATS.  Here is the rest of the rides for July 2026, August is on it's way, just like the afternoon Monsoon Rains here in Southern Colorado! And away We GO!

July 24- Cottonwood Creek Trail and Creekside Coffee House Ride

It has been a bit since we stopped at the Creekside Coffee House for iced tea, the CCH is part of a church outreach program, so they aren't open on Sundays. LOL, it seemed every time we thought about heading up there it was a Sunday! So, this Friday we headed north on the Pikes Peak Greenway up to the connector for the Cottonwood Creek Trail and stopping at the Creekside Coffee House on another 90F+ day. The covered patio really felt good as we sipped out iced tea and ate our brown bag special lunch. 

We rode northeast on the CCT to a turnaround point, just off the trail at a Circle K convenience store and then headed south back to the Cottonwood Creek Park and then south on the CCT. It was getting hotter as the afternoon came on so we rode to the Vincent St. bridge, picked up the Vincent Frontage Road Trail to the Nevada Ave trail over to the "Cracked Trail" and the double wide sidewalk to the UCCS underpass and stopped at the University Village Colorado Center, Panera Bread for more iced tea and an Atkins Bar snack in the inside to bask in the Air Conditioning!! Time to head back to the apartment to get out of the HEAT for the rest of the day!

Video-Short:

Video-Long:

July 25- T-Gap Trail kick back SOLO Ride

I am sure by now that you have figured out it's been "HOT" here in Southern Colorado for a few weeks now! Severe drought conditions, ultra-high UV, etc. Jo, being a type 2 diabetic, the heat is even worse for her, she got very little sleep the night before, had a headache and felt lousy so she decided to stay home in the AC and be mellow for the day. I headed out for a ride a bit earlier than regular. Decided to jump on the Pikes Peak Greenway and head for the junction with the Templeton Gap (T-Gap) Trail for my days ride! 

It's a mellow ride with good views and a lot of open spaces for an "urban trail", stopped at Portal Park to use the facilities and a bit of a "shade break"! Then back into the partly sunny and kinda humid day, through the Union Blvd underpass tunnel and continued on the T-Gap down into the belly of the drainage canal and north to the current end point at Ranch Drive. A quick U-turn and headed back down the T-Gap Trail, onto the Union Blvd access path and Templeton Gap Road and bike lane. heading west to pick up the Rock Island Trail to the junction and then south on Shooks Run Trail and end up at the Tasty Freeze Drive Inn for iced tea and an excellent grilled hotdog and bun, YUM! 

Back on the Shooks Run south to the junction and bridge over the creek to hook up with the Pikes Peak Ave. bike lane through downtown Colorado Springs. After downtown, got on the Colorado Ave. bike lane and turned into America the beautiful park to get on the Pikes Peak Greenway, north. Stopped in the shade at Monument Valley Park Picnic Pavillion for a water and Atkins bar break. Heat was 97 F, decided to head home to the AC myself!

Video-Short:

Video Long:

Relive Video:

July 26- Cloudy day ride to Manitou Springs, hang'in out at the park

Jo felt better after the rest day, so we headed out to Manitou Springs. Heading south on the Pikes Peak Greenway to the Fontanero St. bike lane and jumped on to the Mesa Springs Greenway heading south, back street to the Walnut St. bike lane over to the Cuchruess St. Trail, (otherwise known as the world's shortest trail), to the Midland Trail, then heading west towards Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. 

Continuing past 31st. St. to Ridge Road and the Manitou Springs underpass and then it quickly changes to the "Creek Walk Trail" as you enter Manitou Springs proper! The trail heads through Fields Park to Scheyver Park and all the way to Memorial Park and the 7-Minute Spring. We only took it as far as the old wooden bridge turnaround at the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce building, got back on the Creekwalk Trail, now heading east and stopped at Scheyver Park and had our brown bag lunch on benches by the creek. 

Luckly, for us, there is a very close, Subway shop so I walked up and got a large, unsweet iced tea and walked back to the bench. We enjoyed the babbling brook mini-waterfall and the shade. Back on the trail and headed back out of Manitou and to America the Beautiful Park to catch the Colorado Ave. bike lane back into downtown, the Pikes Peak Ave. bike lane to pick up Shooks Run Trail, north and head to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for herbal berry iced tea and our Atkins bar snack. Had enough of the HEAT again, headed home to the AC, so nice!

 

Video-Short:

Video Long:

Relive Video:

Due to the 80% chances of heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday, we decided to take morning WALKS instead of riding! Probably won't ride again till Sunday, August 2nd. as we have a "Colorado 150th. Birthday Event at the Pioneer Museum Event" we have scored tickets too. Easier to walk to downtown and not have to find a safe place to park and lock up the trikes! So, until we Come Together, Again, HAPPY TRAILS, may your August be awesome! BJ & Jo :)  

Catching up on July Rides during this HOT DRY Summer

 It's been HOT & Dry since our last blog entry so there's a bit of catching up to do, so let's get at it!

July 11- Angletech, then just out for a ride on a HOT-DRY Day:

Headed up Sinton Trail to Angletech, then we just kinda pointed the wheels in a direction and headed out here and there. We headed for the Garden of the Gods Rd. Mavrick Station cafe for iced tea and lunch. Then, headed north on the double-wide sidewalk to pick up 30th. Street and the Foothills Trail that goes in front of the access to Garden of the Gods Park. Down to the Midland Trail and west to the Creek Walk Trail and into a portion of Manitou Springs. Headed back going east on the CWT/MT into downtown and headed back to the apartment.

Long Video:

Video-Short:

Relive Video:

July 12- Rode to the Starsmoor Visitor & Nature Center in North Cheyenne Canyon Park to check out the upgrades made to the Center entry and Parking lots.

Another HOT-DRY day, 90F we decided to head up to the Starsmoor Center so we jumped on the Cascade St. bike lane to get to the Tejon St. bike lane and finally the Cheyenne Blvd. bike lane heading up into North Cheyenne Canyon. Normally we stop at the Sacred Grounds Cafe but on Sundays, they only serve a great but expensive BRUNCH menu! So after checking out the upgrades we headed back the same route, except we took back streets over to the Southgate Center and the Panera Bread for iced tea and the brown bag lunch. Back on the Tejon St. bike lane we headed thru town to the Shooks Run Trail, north for a bit more shade along the trail to the Drive Inn for more iced tea and a Atkins Bar and then home via Shooks Run/Rock Island!

Long Video: 

Short Video: 

July 15- Mission Ride, then rode the Templeton Gap (T-Gap) Trail and Austin Bluffs Trail

Jo made a computer tablet cover for a friend, but it needed a repair so we dropped it at their apartment on the using the T-Gap trail. Got back on the trail and rode it till we veered off and picked up the Austin Bluffs Trail till it dead ends. Headed back but went off trail using a smooth as glass paved back road to a different entry point on the T-Gap trail heading southeast. We then picked up a pathway to Templeton Gap Road, got on the bike lane and rode past Nancy Lewis Park, picked up the Rock Island west to Shooks Run south and made our way to the Good Neighbors Meeting House for Herbal Berry iced tea and a Atkins bar, then home to cool off from the 90F+ temps!

 Long Video:

Video-Short: 

Relive Video:

July 17- Food Run and Lunch Ride:

Alas, we were running out of FOOD, so it was time for a Food Run and Lunch Ride. Headed east on the Rock Island Trail to the Union Blvd. Walmart Market. Hooked up the cargo trailer (I call TUGGER), did the dirty deed of Food Shopping and loaded up the cargo trailer and the Panniers! Decided we wanted a Hot Dog, but we've had a problem of them not having any at our normal Mavrick Station Store/Cafe so we headed out on the Pikes Peak Greenway (PPGW) to the University Village Colorado Center, Smashburger for their Americana Big Dog, YUM, a really good dog from a hamburger joint! Again it was screaming HOT out so we just headed back down the PPGW to the apartment to get into the AC and out of the Heat!!

Long Video: 

Video-Short:

Relive Video: 

July 18: July PPRRN Meet & Eat Ride to Red Leg Brewery:

It's time for our Monthly, Pikes Peak Region Recumbent Network (PPRRN) Meet & Eat Ride and Gather! A meet and eat is where an Eating Destination is picked and a Time to meet is set and YOU can ride your favorite route to the meet point or Myself (BJ) and Jo set up a 2nd. meet point so we can all ride in together to the Destination. 

We chose the Legacy Loop Trailhead off the PPGW and Fontanero St./Recreation Way. It was Jo and I and Mark and Dianne, we left at 11:10 am and headed up the PPGW to the Sinton Trail west. The destination was the Red Leg Brewery Complex, not only a local pub but it has several different types of cafes in different metal compartments so you can PICK what kinda food you want! They put up a large shade tent due to the heat, so we didn't have to melt while trying to enjoy our food. We all chose Gordon's Deli and the Turkey Club we had was awesome, sadly no cafe severed unsweet iced tea, RATS!

After a great lunch we headed back down the trail as Mark and Dianne needed to stop at Angletech for some supplies. We said our so-longs and headed off down Sinton and ended up at the T-Gap Trail and headed to the S. Nevada Ave. Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for the large Iced Tea and the Atkin's bar, so life was good, again too HOT to ride further so we again headed home via trails to the relief of AC and ice-cold water!

Long Video: 

Video-Short: 

Relive Video:

That's All Folks, for this Blog entry so stay tuned for more July stories, photos, etc. Till we come together, again-MY FRIENDS, "Happy Trails"! 

Is it possible, it's JULY already??

 Not a lot of riding due to the SMOKE from Wildfires and 90 F temps! Hoping that July will bring a bit of rain to help put out the fires and we can get back to riding again!

July 4- Being lucky, a cold front came through and changed the wind direction to take a lot of smoke in the air away! We normally, ride with the kids in the local area 4th. of July children's Parade! Just down the block at Boddington Soccer Field along Wood Ave., the Parade's starting point. They had an excellent turnout for the parade this year, kids on bikes, scooters, striders and family pushing strollers or pulling wagons all decorated in Red/White/Blue colors!

We decorated our trikes a bit and then joined in the fun, the route is short, 5-6 blocks but winds around the neighborhood and back to the Soccer Field where tables are set up with snacks and drinks, etc. We left the parade and headed over to pick up the PP Greenway (westside) trail and then north along the trail to Criterium Bike Shop to turn around and come back to get on the Rock Island (east) and Shooks Run (south) over to the Tasty Freeze Drive Inn for a grilled hot dog and crispy French fries with what else, unsweet iced tea! Back on the Rock Island (east), we headed up to the Academy Blvd Path and over to Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for more iced tea and our Atkins Bar snack. 

The HEAT really jumped up by 1 PM. so we rode back down the Rock Island then back to the apartment, to get out of the sun and into some AC! Fun day, totally different kinda ride so it made our Independence Day a bit special!

Video Short: 

Video Long: 

Relive Video: 

July 6- Food Run and Lunch Ride

Had to get out and head to the Walmart Market on Union Blvd to get FOOD! Between HEAT & WIND, it's been tough to find a decent day to do the bi-weekly shopping. As usual, heading east on the Rock Island Trail over to Union Blvd. then south using the sidewalk nobody actually walks on down to the entryway to the store. Jo played Guard Dog and stayed out in the shade with the trikes, and I went in and did the shopping. Loaded up the cargo trailer and even Jo's panniers with provisions for the next 1.5 weeks. 

Headed back on the RIT to the apartment and unloaded food and supplies, then decided to head north on the PP Greenway to the UVC Center and get a good burger at Smashburger, YUM. After that we headed up the Nevada Ave Access Path to the Vincent Street Bridge and then west on the Cottonwood Creek Trail back to the PP Greenway and headed home! I made up a "Music Video" so kick back and enjoy!

Video Short:

Video Long:

Tuesday, was our day at the PACE Explorer Center and afternoon Tai-Chi Class, Wednesday was HOT, SMOKEY then on and off quick ending rains! Today, Jo has a dental appointment so we did a walk and then came back and pulled the trikes to the shady spot in the back of the apartment complex to clean and lube the chains and do a full trike lubrication of all the moving parts before she got picked up for her appointment. Me, well I'm updating the BLOG as the gray clouds have taken away the sunshine and the "Thunder Rolls" outside the window of the front room. Happy Trails, the weekend is looking hot and dry, LET'S RIDE!

Last ride in June 2026-90F+ temps, WIND and smoke from wildfires has caused us not to ride so far in July!!

 Hello again, well I'll be posting the last ride we did for June 2026. July has been extremely HOT, WINDY and Smokey due to wildfires burning all around the State of Colorado! :( The smoke makes it much harder to breathe easily while riding and irritates the eyes! So, no July rides as of yet, hopefully by the 4th. (Independence Day) so, on with the last ride in June!

June 28- The TRAIL that TIME (and the city) FORGOT

We headed up to do a video of a couple of standalone portions of the Sand Creek Trail. This ride starts on the Rock Island, then taking the Homestead Trail South to Galley Rd. From there, it's going thru parking lots, sidewalks and finally an "access road" Over to Wooten Rd and a stop at a Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for iced tea and the brown bag special. Taking the Wooten Rd bike lane back up to Galley Rd. and then sidewalk heading East almost to Powers Blvd.

We pick up the 2-sections of the Sand Creek Trail, 1. goes under Galley Rd but dead ends in 100ft. Turning south, 2. the second section heads south and under the Platte Ave/Hwy 25 Bridge and then goes 200 ft and dead ends. Someday, the north section will hook up with the Rock Island Trail, the south section will hook up to the rest of the Sand Creek Trail as it heads back to its ending point at Las Vegas St., it will be a 30-mile trail, when and IF ever completed! We headed back having to use the sidewalk along Galley Rd. due to heavy street construction adding new massive water pipes.

Now, heading north on the Homestead South Trail back to the Rock Island Trail and over to the Academy Blvd Path heading north. LOL, headed to a different Mavrick Station Store/Cafe for, yep, more Iced tea and snack, 90F+ temps and quite windy conditions but still a good ride and day of exploring! Back on the Rock Island and then to the apartment to put the trikes away and get out of the HEAT!

Video-Short:

Video-Long:

Relive Video:

Well, we have gotten through June already, the summer goes by so fast! It's a PITA when wildfires cause you to miss beautiful but HOT days of summer riding but that's the "way the cookie crumbles", LOL! Hopefully we will be riding in the "historic old Northend" 4th. of July (Independence Day) Parade on Saturday, Happy 250th. USA Independence Day to all of YOU! HAPPY TRAILS. :)

June 2026- Trike Broke!!

 Saturday afternoon, while putting the trikes back under the inside stairs in our apartment complex, I heard a strange noise, sounded like the chain jumped off the cassette so I checked it out. BUMMER, somehow the rear derailleur WIRE pulled out of it's holder so the chain was pulled from the 2nd to the 9th COG!! I had to grip the derailleur to get enough slack in the chain to put it back on the top little wheel of the derailleur cage, the whole derailleur was loose.

Tighten the derailleur to the frame and went to re-hookup the wire. Noticed that the actual tiny square shaped wire hold fell out of the upper derailleur arm?? New Shimano CUES type derailleur so I had NO IDEA on how it fit back in, tried several ways but it wouldn't fit back into the derailleur arm. Gave up and went and cleaned up from the ride. Tried to get Angletech to come pick up the trike but they are SUPER busy, said they would try to get to me if it slowed down any. They are closed Sun and Mon, Tuesday came and went, no pickup, RATS!

I decided to give it "one more try" and finally figured that you turned the wire holder and bolt "backwards and put it into the ARM, backwards to"!! Got the wire attached and tighten down, the shifter now is working but it's a bit off for some reason. Called on Wednesday, asked if I could ride it up on Thursday morning, could they check the little bit of chain skip and make sure I "Routed the Cable" to specs, they said yes, YEA! 

June 25- Angletech-Sinton Pond-Home before the afternoon thunderstorms

Headed up to Angletech to get there before they opened, Joshia came out early and checked out what I did and LOL, well I was at least close on the proper cable mounting. He did a fine tuning and WALA I was back in the saddle again! The heavy black clouds were coming in fast, so I just headed home via the Sinton Trail and PP Greenway! 

Video-Short

Video-Long 

Friday is supposed to have more chance of Thunderstorms so we won't ride but Saturday and Sunday look awesome so we will now be able to get back out and RIDE! There is nothing sadder than a "Broke Trike"! Until we come together again My Friends, HAPPY TRAILS!

June 2026 Continued

 As usual lots of personal stuff and some REALLY HOT weather made getting in a ride a bit tough since last blog entry! So, I will get you up to date, and away we go!

June 18- Food Run and Lunch Ride

We really needed to get in a Food Run as supplies were getting to a real low point, headed out via the Rock Island over to the Walmart Market off Union Blvd. 

Once all the stuff was put away, we headed over to the Pikes Peak Greenway and got in a lunch ride. Rode up to the University Village Colorado Center Panera Bread for iced tea and our brown bag lunch. We did get a new trike accessory, Trike Name Plates! You can order yours from North Texas Recumbentz.Com   It's a new AZUB recumbent dealership and Mike makes these Name Plates if you're interested! 

Video-Short: 

Video-Long: 

Relive Video: 

We headed up to the Vincent St. Loop and onto the Cottonwood Creek Trail south back to the Pikes Peak Greenway south and slowly made our way home!

June 20- The June, PPRRN Meet and Eat Ride

It was time for a monthly PPRRN Meet and Eat Ride, I decided to go to a new place, it's called Codswhopple and it's a British Style Fish & Chips place on the Westside of Colorado Springs! The meet is set up so we met at 12:00 Noon at the shop or you could ride in with myself and Jo at the Julie Penrose Fountain, in America the Beautiful Park at 11:20 AM and ride in on the Midland Trail.

We had 5 recumbent trikes and 1 recumbent bike, two new PPRRN members came, and we headed off down the trail heading west to 30th. Street. Had to use a little bit of sidewalk to get to the restaurant safely but the fish (we had Cod) and fries were great! The only thing was it was another really HOT day 95F and with our group size we at outside, but the company was great.

As one of the new members lives a bit out east of Colorado Springs, we decided to head back to her truck the reverse way and said our good bye's at the Fountain. Fun folks, good food and a ride, made for a really good day! Jo and I headed over to pick up Shooks Run Trail and get herbal-berry iced tea and eat an Atkins bar to cool down in the shade and then headed home!

Long Video:

Relive Video: 

Sadly, after we got back home and I added a second taillight on Jo's trike, as we put the trikes away, I heard a noise when backing up my trike! I thought the chain had slipped off the rear cog but somehow the "wire" pulled out of the rear derailleur! Then a small squarish metal holder fell out of the derailleur arm itself? Couldn't get it to fit back in and that piece helps hold the cable, bummer! Have to wait for Tuesday, when Angletech opens and have them come pick up the trike and fix it so no ride on Monday. Till we come together next time, HAPPY TRAILS.  

Welcome back my Friends, to the show that Never ENDS! More June 2026

 June 7- A rather HOT Ride on the T-Gap Trail

It was hot, 90 degrees out and lots of sunshine, been a bit since we've ridden the Templeton Gap or T-Gap Trail. Heading east past Portal Park to the trail underpass at Union Blvd. We rode the right fork down into the trail along the canal and then north to its ending at Ranch Drive. Turned around, heading south to the Flintridge Rd canal bridge and the bike lane up to Academy Blvd and Starbucks for iced tea and brown bag special. 

Back down to the T-Gap and headed on a couple of different trails to work our way to get a 2nd. iced tea and eat our Atkins Bar in the shade on this hot afternoon. PP Greenway back to the Apartment. A hot but still enjoyable late Spring day, reminding us SUMMER is on it's way, YEA! 

Video-Short

Video Long 

June 11- The Never-Ending Search for More YARN!!

Headed out to do an Errand Ride, heading up to the Walmart Super Center on Platte Ave, via the Rock Island Trail over to pick up the Celton Rd. bike lane to Platte Ave, then a bit of sidewalk (Cleton and Platte intersection is NOT trike friendly), and up to the Walmart to get Jo her monthly load of YARN! 

She is making baby blankets and bennies (hats) for newborns at the city Children's Hospital! Found our shady spot and Jo got her yarn, loaded up her saddle bags to the max!! We headed back up the Chelton Rd. bike lane up a hill with a 16% grade, e-assist is really handy on this monster! Back to the Rock Island and to the Academy Blvd Path over to the Mavrick Station Cafe for, what else, iced tea and the brown bag special! Decided to head back and take Sinton trail up to the Starbuck's on Garden of the Gods Rd. for our late afternoon iced tea and snack bar. Flying back down Sinton to the PP Greenway and home!

Video-Short

Video-Long 

Relive Video
 

June 13- MUSIC VIDEO #5- Angletech, Lunch, Loop Trail Route

Jo's trike has had a real show leak on the rear tire for a while, decided to have Angletech repair it so they could add Orange Sealant to the new tube. We also picked up our new Angletech T-shirts from Jackie! Then headed to the Mavrick Station Cafe for a pizza slice and iced tea lunch. Using the GoG Rd. double wide sidewalk as a trail up to 30th. St. and get on the Foothills trail. 

Next, the 31st. bike lane to jump on the Midland Trail heading west to America the Beautiful Park, back streets and bike lanes to pick up Shooks Run Trail to Good Neighbors Meeting House for herbal berry iced tea and snack bar. The heavy clouds were coming in so we got back on Shooks Run to Rock Island Trail and back to the apartment.

Video-Short 

Video Long  

Relive Video 

The 6/13 videos will be on YouTube at 5 PM and 5:15 PM tonight (Sunday) Mountain Standard Time. Thanks for checking in at the Blog, it's greatly appreciated! I know most are into videos, but I still enjoy doing this written blog and just adding the video's as "icing on the cake", LOL! Till we come together, next time My FRIENDS, Happy Trails to YOU! All the best, Get off the Couch and go RIDE!