The Villages - March 2008 - (Page 2)

PEDAL A RECLINED RIDE Joe and Martha Pfeifer of the Village of Woodbury are enthusiastic recumbent riders. They each have their own recumbent bike, plus a tandem that they have used on a trip around the Big Island of Hawaii. Joe traveled to Battle Mountain, Nev., this fall to crew for Damjan Zabovnik, a Slovenian who holds the European title. Zabovnik, riding a recumbent bicycle, set a new European record of 75 mph on the straight, ﬂat course. “The biggest difference between a recumbent and a conventional bike is comfort and visibility,” said Joe. The couple make a point of wearing light shirts, and have afﬁxed yellow ﬂags to their bikes so drivers will take notice. “The biggest thing is that you can see the driver’s (of a car) eyes. You can see if they see you, and know that they acknowledge that there is a person in the bike,” Joe said. POWER POWER OWE OWER W WE Imagine taking to the open road, the wind in your hair, a ribbon of asphalt before you just waiting to be conquered as you pedal down the highway. Yes, pedal. Central Florida, with its gently rolling hills and mild climate, is a bike rider’s paradise. Add the extensive network of off-road trails here in The Villages, including golf cart paths, and small wonder that many Villagers have decided to give bike riding a try for fun and to increase muscle strength. There seems to be a bike for every rider and purpose. You are not limited to the standard two-wheeler. Tandem, recumbent bikes and bikes not easily classified on first glance share the road in increasing numbers, as well. Armed with that information, both Pfeifers maneuver their bikes on long and short rides with conﬁdence. Joe rides a Lightning model bike, with his feet almost in front of the front wheel. Martha, on the other hand, favors a Gold Rush model by Easy Racers for her own bike, which is longer, and a tad heavier, than Joe’s bike. “Mine is a sportster, hers is a Cadillac,” Joe joked, adding that his bike is “sportier,” and “quicker off the line” than Martha’s. “I can make sharper turns,” said Joe. Martha seems to take the teasing with good grace. Joe and Martha became recumbent, or “‘bent riders” in biking parlance, about 10 years ago. “Until then, we were upright riders,” said Martha. “We were in Ohio,” said Joe, “riding the Little Miami 2 MARCH 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - March 2008

The Villages - March 2008
Contents
Unusual Ride
Polo Comes Back
Discover the Outdoors
Health
Come Play Jacaranda
Sports & Recreation
Food
Brain Exercises
Shopping & Dining Guide
Major Events
Entertainment Briefs
Snapshots

The Villages - March 2008

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