Before today’s ride I managed to get the cadence sensor installed.

I’ve always had problems installing the garmin combined cadence/speed sensor on a recumbent. I only use the cadence sensor and basically ignore the speed sensor part (using the garmin GPS for speed).

Because of the large boom size on recumbents I’ve never found a way before to mount the sensor such that you get a reliable reading.

Well today I ignored the mounting instructions from garmin and mounted the sensor on it’s side - see picture below.

Upside is the sensor is extremely reliable, downside is I have to snip the tie wraps when replacing the battery.

The 175 mm cranks only seem to have lowered my average cadence by a couple of RPMs!

After a week of riding the F-40 I seem to be acclimating to the effect of wind on the bike.

I can now ride my normal training route on the roads and not worry about the bike itself.

On my normal training route there is a Strava KOM segment that is 3.8 miles. The KOM is done by a professional triathlete at 31.5 mph. Today I pushed it on this segment and got 10th place out of 651 going 28.3 mph.

I would like to get my normal training rides to always be in the 20 mph range.

I have my garmin configured to split on every mile. This allows me to analyze my 40 mile training route and quickly find my slow areas. After several thousand miles on my Musashi I can count the number of split miles above 30 mph on one hand. Now, on every ride with the F-40 I usually get at least one split mile that is > 30 mph. Today, pushing it a little one of my splits was 31.8 mph - highlighted below on the garmin snapshot.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/359336611

http://app.strava.com/activities/74905995#1487418987

Just an easy ride today.

The easy speed of coast the downhills, peddle softly the uphills seems to be ~ 18 mph on the F-40

The legs are getting really tired and need a rest day. So, today I decided to just easy peddle it on my normal 41 mile training ride.

41 miles @ 18.2 average speed.

Had to stop for a few minutes after the first couple of miles to tighten down the left side rear view mirror. I’m going to have to get a bunch of lock washers because the rough Texas chip seal can vibrate pretty bad sometimes.

This was my first experience in busy traffic, stop lights, left hand turns, etc. My handling of the F-40 has become mostly second nature at lower speeds. I’m still working on the high speed flying part.

My heart rate on this bike is much greater than my heart rate on the Musashi or Baron. I wonder if it is because I’m sitting up in a much higher position?

Strava marked me as having 250KM for the month (158 miles) - 60 miles as a P-38 and 98 miles as an F-40.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357127392

Today was a no-wind morning and I really able to open up the speed on the F-40.

Did an hour ride averaging 20.1 mph including stopping to put back on a jumped chain.

On my favorate strava segment I only pulsed the brakes when the bike got over 35 mph a couple of times on the downhills.

This got me to number 2 on the strava segment KOM. I missed being first by 3 seconds - bummer.

I’m sure that when I acclimate to the bike I’ll be faster.

The best I ever did on this segment with the Musashi with fresh legs and wind at my back was 21.1 mph giving me 49th place on the KOM.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/356417429

http://app.strava.com/activities/73578895#1453965224

Prior to installing the 60oz beer growler I was using a cambak un-bottle.

Last summer in Texas I had over 30 hours of riding in temperatures above 100 degrees and several hours riding in temps above 110.

This summer in late August I’m planning on taking the F-40 to HHH (Hotter’n Hell Hundred miler) in Wichita Falls Texas. The temps are expected to be around 110 in the afternoon.

Well they now sell 64 oz Wide Mouth Insulated Stainless Steel Growlers for beer.

I bought one of these and did a Texas sun test yesterday. Yesterday noon I filled the growler up with ice and water and set is outside on the driveway in the afternoon sun and heat. Most of yesterday afternoon the temps were above 100 degrees and the outside of the growler became very hot to touch.

I left the growler in the garage overnight and this morning I took it as is on my 20 mile ride. It still had ice in it when I started riding. Here is a picture of it installed on the F-40:

The tail of the F-40 basically has a storage area that I have installed a top of the rack saddle bag. Then I cut a hole in the front of the saddle bag that I can slip the growler in and out.

Here it is a day later and the growler still has ice in it!

Looks like I have a solution for HHH.

The only negative is that it probably weighs 5 pounds loaded with ice and water.

Well, I could not stand it any longer, this morning I got up early and took the F-40 in the minivan out to a remote section of smooth, wide road to see what it could do!

Without even trying hard, and riding the brakes a lot, I got a personal best on a Strava segment and became number 7 on the KOM for a 5.2 mile segment at 23.3 mph.

Still learning how to ride this thing. Winds were a steady at 13 mph so I just had to watch for breaks in the trees where the wind would accelerate through. Kept hitting the brakes every time the speed went above 25 mph - which was often.

I did not like the windshield - it is coming off. I did not like the helmet mounted mirror - time to mount one to the fairing.

With the fairing on the bike is BIG. I have not yet found a quick, convenient method of getting it into and out of the minivan.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/355930593

http://app.strava.com/activities/73356528


Another F-40 training day in the neighborhood. Winds 14 mph gusting to 19 mph. Finally got the boom length dialed in. Camelbak installed and hydration is good. Now I need to get some rear view mirrors installed.

Switched from bicycle shorts to running shorts - much more comfortable and cooler.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/354943083

How do you learn to ride a bike where you cannot see the peddles or the road right in front of you? Clip the spandex fairing partially open so that you can see your feet. Rode this way today for the first couple of miles around the neighborhood. Starting, stopping, clipping and unclipping.

After a couple of miles I zipped up the sides and rode with just the top open so that I could still see my feet. A couple of more miles and then I buttoned it completely up and rode the last four miles streamlined.

Pretty challenging today: Winds 16 mph gusting to 22 mph. Really glad I read the F-40 User’s Manual and now I understand what they mean when they say ‘stick your elbow out on the windward side when a gust hits’. When going through the neighborhood I’d be going slightly downhill riding the brakes around 26-29 mph with houses hiding the wind then POW, open area and the wind would gust me from the side pushing the bike 4 to 8 inches sideways. Once I could anticipate when the wind could possibly hit I’d already have my elbow out pretty much negating any wind gust.

There is no sensation of speed. On the straight and level, easy peddling, the bike is doing 15-17 mph. With the least little bit of decline the bike quickly accelerates to mid 20s. There is no wind noise. I kept riding the brakes every downhill and downwind because of the wind gusting.

People stop and stare. Not two minutes riding and I hear: “Wow, that is awesome looking!”. People take their earbuds out and start talking to me as soon as I get close. Lots of attention.

I’m going to need a few more training rides in the gusting wind before I’m ready for the open road.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/354469174