Our glorious weather is back! It is not quite as warm today as most of last week was, when we enjoyed record-shattering temperatures on several days, but when I went out to ride at 1:00 it was 47°, and when I finished it was 51°—all in bright sunshine.
A few weeks ago the left inside handlebar cap popped out and was lost. This wouldn't have been a big deal—cosmetically, I don't notice at all—except when my left leg comes up on a pedal stroke, my thigh brushes it. The uncapped metal end (as shown here) ripped holes in and ruined several pairs of pants, as well as opening up a wound in my leg. So, last week, I sent TerraTrike (the manufacturer) a picture and explanation, and they mailed me a new cap under warranty. It arrived in today's mail.
My early morning ride yesterday (10 miles at 8:00 a.m., 22°) exacerbated the problem, moreover. I am not very perceptive, and so although I felt pain, I didn't realize what was happening. But the positioning of my keys in my left front pocket opened up the wound, and ripped that pair of pants, too. I didn't notice it though until, at church, wearing the same pair of pants, my hand dropped down onto my thigh a few minutes into the service, and I felt a crusty hole in the fabric. When I looked down, I could see the damage, ringed with dried blood. Here is the wound today (about an inch long), after cleaning it and letting it heal for a day.
Today I really wanted (and intended) to ride 2 round trips to Marsh Park (in part, to put me over 200 miles for the year). But once I got underway, the pain, discomfort, and difficulty caused by the wound coupled with the still-open handlebar made me judge it more prudent to restrict myself to a single round trip, so I did this 10 miles in 1:13. (I'm sure I could have forced myself to gut out the second round trip, but it didn't seem wise.)
So, although I had to ride today without the new cap, as the mail was not yet here when I left, it did arrive, so I'll have it in place for tomorrow's ride. YAY!
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