Recumbent Cycle Con Convention

Nashville, Tennessee hosts the recumbent cycle convention at their fairgrounds. We had ridden a rails to trails bike path in southern Illinois and decided Nashville was close enough to make the trip and see the bikes and trikes.

This was a really fun place to visit as all of the machines on display are available to take out for a ride on their test track. As a result there was a constant procession of machines moving about the convention floor. This was most interesting to watch and participate in.

There were two and three wheel recumbents with both human power and electric assist models available to try out.

Here is the link to the web site about the show: https://www.recumbentcyclecon.com/

This unique machine is stable like a trike, but leans into corners like a bicycle. It was built by University students to compete in the human powered vehicle competition

This fellow is trying out a two wheel recumbent for size

He must have liked the fit as he was heading out for a test ride

Several suppliers were there selling racks to allow  bikes and trikes to be transported behind your vehicle using the trailer hitch  receiver

This two wheeler had provisions for the steering arm to be used as well as the pedals to drive the wheels. You moved the steering arm fore and aft to give extra  power the the chain and give your upper body a workout.

Some of the trikes are set up for very high speed travel

At some point wind resistance limits speed, so a fairing is then used to reduce wind resistance

Finding a way to provide access to ride is the trick

Many folks are using the comfort of these machines to support long distance travel

We found out quite often trikes are sold as a pair for husband and wife exercise

You can get recumbents as a tandem - the back rider sits higher and can see over the front rider

This is the  simplest of all the recumbents there

All of these were available for test rides on the track

Julie had a ball testing the trikes

Clever way to provide shade

There are some folks who use these in place of a car and have a need to transport lots of gear

Electric mid drive on the front with lots of gear bags everywhere else

Bright banners to make you more visible

Demo-ing another rear rack carrier

Tandems and fairings

Tandem with electric assist

Riding to the test track

The little kid trikes were awesome

Julie riding the floor

Heading to the test track

The woman who owns this uses it for most of her transportation. We have watched the YouTube videos of the fellow who showed the development of the  sunshade she uses.

This machine has two separate electric drives giving her considerable range

One in the bed and one on the back rack

Hiking to the Mine

Just off of Colorado Road 25 near the Red Bridge campground are the remains of cabins that have recently had restoration efforts performed on them. The roofs have been replaced to preserve them for future hikers to enjoy. 

The railroad once ran along the road near the cabins and was a stop along the way. This was the Carr Ranch and was a homestead for decades.

Our friends Ted and Laura told us about a mine that was back along the wagon road that led away from these cabins so we hiked to find the remains of it.

Laura, Ted and Julie getting ready to hike to the mine

We speculated as to the purpose of this structure in the side of the hill and think it was most likely a cold storage area for food storage

Laura and Julie walking up the mine road

The remains of the track support from the mine to the access road

Great views of Round Mountain from the mine site

View looking down the valley

There used to be a sizable support structure that guided loaded carts down the hill to the wagon road

View looking down the remains of the support structure 

Ted checking things out

When you think of a mine entrance you usually think of a square portal hewed out of rock. This mine was accessed thru a split in the rock face

We enjoyed looking in, but didn't try access

Ted and Laura enjoying the day

One last look at the mine before heading back - Great day for a hike. Thanks Ted and Laura for the guidance!