SpokEasy

July 2019

Fighting Spirit?

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A strong fighting spirit is required to ride Grand Tour races, that\’s for sure. \”Most Combative\” rider (see Tour de France) sounds rather like someone who\’s always at loggerheads with the coach; arguing with teammates; and constantly trying to run other riders off the road. Actually, it\’s not as negative as it sounds. Most combative rider is the one who\’s good at attacking. It sounds rather odd to call a sudden, hard acceleration an \”attack\”, but who am I to try to change the lingo of Le Tour? Incidentally, that YouTube reminds me of the saying that bicycle racing is like chess on wheels. There are attacks, and attacks, it seems. How about the sneak attack? Or a snack attack? Where did I put those Clif Bars? My fighting spirit seems limited to keeping fueled on a long Sunday ride, and keeping moving against the wind. It\’s hard to believe that this year\’s Tour de France is nearly over. I suppose it\’ll be a hard fight for that yellow jersey over the next few days! And the super combativity award, of course.      

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hybrid bicycle schwinn

Getting There

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Getting there doesn\’t always mean having to drive a car. Have you been commuting by bicycle since Hector was a pup? Or do you want to try it for the first time, but find the idea intimidating? Don\’t know how to get started? Not sure you\’ve even got the right bicycle for commuting? First, start out slow and easy. Getting there doesn\’t have to mean racing. Even die-hard, seasoned bicycle commuters were beginners once! You don\’t have to ride everywhere right away. It will be easier if you live within a mile or so of work, school, or wherever you want to go. That way you can ride the bicycle some days, and walk, take public transit, or drive on  other days. Over time, increase the frequency of bicycle-use days. At first, you might not want to ride in bad weather. That\’s sensible enough. Heavy rain makes it harder for you to see, and makes it harder for drivers to see you. That\’s why lights matter so much. If you need to carry things, you can install a rack over the rear wheel; and there are lots of bags out there: bicycle trunks, panniers, and so on. Just be sure your rack is compatible with whatever bags you choose — and don\’t try to carry too much right away. A heavily-loaded trunk, for example, noticeably affects bike handling. I\’m experienced enough that I adjust to it very quickly, but it takes time to reach that point. Don\’t rush yourself with this. You\’ll learn as you go, and one day NOT commuting by bicycle will feel weird.

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Paella, perhaps?

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Paella Perhaps? Is paella, perhaps, good ride food? It’s made up of rice (carbs); some kind of meat or seafood (protein); and veggies. But I never knew that this dish is named after the shallow pan in which it’s traditionally cooked! Along with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, Vuleta a Espana is one of the three Grand Tour bicycle races. It began more recently, in 1935; and was inspired by the TdF and the Giro. It, too, is three weeks long. The race is held in August-September. I suppose that’s to give riders who participated in the Tour de France a chance to recover, just as the TdF doesn’t begin immediately after the May-June Giro. Even so, that sounds like a grueling schedule. Three weeks of riding all around Italy; three more weeks of pedaling around France; then three weeks of pushing the pedals around Spain. There are intervals of about one month between one event and the next. Even so, the riders must recover from one race; build up to the next; and taper leading up to starting day. During the Vuelta, do the riders have paella, perhaps, for supper? Especially a variation including mussels. The mussels might help their muscles! ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wrong Call Again

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Doesn\’t making the wrong call — again — drive you nuts? The cycling lifestyle can be a balancing act in more ways than one. There\’s fitting in rides around less-than-ideal weather, which means weighing all factors. How do they balance out? Is rain expected? Is it already raining as ride time approaches, which is what happened this morning? How long will it rain? Do I really want to go out in the rain? On top of that, will lightning move in? If I must ride in the rain and I don\’t feel like getting totally drenched, a poncho will help. IF it isn\’t blowing hard. This morning it wasn\’t windy, and I didn\’t plan to ride fast. I was relieved when the rain stopped right about the time I usually start riding, so I didn\’t have to agonize over the poncho. The trouble with using a poncho is that I\’ll have the hood under my helmet, and unless it\’s a cold day, that makes me overheat. With a headlight atop my helmet, a helmet cover is useless. I did only a short ride, because I couldn\’t be sure that it wouldn\’t start to pour again at any moment. But I could have stayed out longer. Doesn\’t it drive you crazy when you get those things wrong? Just before I got off work, I checked a weather site. It said there was a T-storm in the vicinity. When I got outside, I could hear thunder. The sky looked rather threatening, like a downpour could be imminent. I took the short route home, and it turns out I needn\’t have. Wrong call again. In fact, TWO wrong calls in one day! Oh, well. Mañana…  

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Alternatives

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Alternatives are everywhere. It\’s human nature to think of what else we might have, or could be doing, isn\’t it? That\’s true even if we seem to have a dream job. \”The grass is always greener…\” What might I be doing is I weren\’t an accountant/barista/code-writer…? What would I be doing if I didn\’t have to work? If I won the lottery, or if I were retired? What are my alternatives? Pro cyclists do it, too. After all, they\’re human. I notice that coffee shop/bakery/goodies comes up several times. A stop at a coffee shop seems to be a ritual part of many a group ride, which might explain it. Pro cycling is a tough life. Behind the apparent glamor of shiny bicycles and colorful kit flying past is a lot of work; dedication; sacrifice; and preparation. There\’s the training, and being away from home for long periods of time. There\’s the diet, and worrying about making weight.  Pro cyclists sometimes have terrific headwinds to fight during a race; and they might race through pouring rain, or even snow at high altitudes. Racing through the rain can mean getting plastered with mud; and fans can be a problem (hanging out in the path of oncoming racers to get a better view, for instance). Not to mention crashes that sometimes result in serious injury, or even death. I can\’t blame pro cyclists for having dreams of what else they\’d like to do besides ride a bicycle; and of what they\’ll do once their racing careers end. I don\’t blame them for dreaming of goodies, either. In fact, those strawberry-white chocolate muffins sound most tempting!

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Starting Over?

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Do you ever feel like you\’re starting over? Again? \”Buch der Geheimnisse\”. Book of Secrets. Is these such a tome about cycling? What\’s the secret to changing several things about your riding, and all at the same time? At a recent bike refit, I could see on the video screen that my right hip sagged downwards with every pedal stroke. I had been aware that I sat rather far forward on my saddle, but not that such motion was going on. I guess that\’s why the inside of my left thigh has always been prone to rubbing against the top tube. This isn\’t a problem when it\’s cold enough for leg warmers, as they protect my leg. But when it gets warm and I leave the leg warmers off, it can result in serious chafing, especially during a long ride. I wouldn\’t mind getting rid of that! So, I began to work at getting both of my sit bones on the saddle. OUCH! I had to scoot backwards to get the pressure off the sensitive area. It\’s a move of only a few inches, but does it ever make a difference in my riding! My reach feels different. Bike handling feels different. Pedaling feels different. It even feels like my cleat position is \”off\”. What\’s the secret? I guess it\’s really quite simple: take my time so my body can adjust, because I\’m starting over again. I just hope it won\’t mean another bicycle refit. Speaking of secrets, this morning my chain got dropped when I was trying to shift onto the big ring. That happens sometimes, and I\’m not sure whether the problem is me or the derailer. Of course my hands got greasy while putting the chain back on the small ring. Want to know a good way to get grease off your hands? Sunblock! But don\’t tell anyone else! That\’s our secret.  

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Sensitive Issues

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Cycling comes with its own sensitive issues. I\’ve probably touched on this subject before, but it bears repeating. Chafing is always a risk factor in cycling. How do we prevent it? Proper saddle fit. Shorts that are clean and fit well. Chamois Butt\’r. In late  June, I had a road bike re-fit. During the part where the fitter was filming me as I pedaled, I could see in the video screen that I was quite far to the right on the saddle. My right hip sagged downwards with every pedal stroke. I had noticed that, when I get home from a long Sunday ride and stoop to take off my shoes, that right hip cramps up badly. When I saw myself on the video screen, I figured I knew why. I began to make a greater effort to be sure that my sit bones are on the saddle where they belong. What happened? My \”tender parts\” took quite a beating, even though my saddle is a cutout model. And that, during a weekday morning ride that\’s an hour and a quarter long at most! Maybe that\’s why I got into the habit of riding \”sidesaddle\” to begin with. What do do? Cheapest thing first. Experiment with how and where I sit on the saddle. Sitting farther back on the saddle helps with crotch discomfort, but I noticed right away that the muscles at the very tops of the backs of my thighs felt rather strained. Have I been over using my quads all these years? And neglecting those glutes and hammies? Pedaling out of the saddle to give myself some relief works only for very short distances, and I can manage it only a few times within an hour-long ride. After that my legs refuse to do it any more. I can try using more Chamois Butt\’r in, well, the strategic place. Consider some new shorts. A new saddle with a larger cutout should be the last thing to try. My budget has sensitive issues, too.

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A Very Good Idea

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What is this very good idea? A universal derailer hanger! There are derailer hangers, and then there are derailer hangers. The one shown here is Shimano compatible. The people at my bike shop once said that most (all?) bicycles, at least road bikes, require model-specific derailer hangers, which makes replacing that hanger a bigger nuisance than I think it ought to be. You\’d think the manufacturers could get together for some brain-storming, wouldn\’t you? Suppose you\’re on a bicycle tour and your derailer hanger breaks; and the only bike shop you can find doesn\’t have the right kind? Adventure Cycling offers a Problem Solvers Universal Derailer Hanger! I discovered that my road bike\’s rear derailer hanger is quite vulnerable, and it galls me to have to miss the road bike for up to a week while the shop waits for the replacement to arrive. After the second or third time it happened I got, if I may say so myself, a very good idea. I began to keep a spare one at home at all times. If I\’m going to do a special event, such as Tour de Cure, I make a note to pack along that spare derailer hanger. I ought, in fact, to keep it in my road bike\’s under saddle pack at all times. Such a small part to cause such big headaches!    

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Lucky Again

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I got lucky again this morning. Sometime during last night I half woke and heard pouring rain and thunder. This morning it was still mostly overcast, and looked like it might rain again any time. I checked the weather site. It said, 60% chance of showers and T-storms. I decided to risk it and hook up my trailer for a trip to the salvage store. Just in case, I packed along my poncho. The overcast kept the temperature down, and it didn\’t rain! In fact, by the time I got back home about 10 am, the sun was coming out. But sometimes I think it would be nice to have a pack mule to carry my loads for me. My trailer can carry up to 50 pounds. I haven\’t ever weighed a load, so I\’m not sure exactly how much I\’m hauling on a trip home from the store. Even if it\’s less than 50 pounds, it can feel like a major drag. Today there was very little wind, and it actually seemed to be behind me on the way home 🙂 Usually it\’s the opposite. So that was good. I found Capri Sun Sport Orange Shock, a box of ten 6-fluid oz pouches for $1.50. I got it to try. It\’s pretty good. I \”bought ahead\” on peanut butter, ketchup, and dill pickle chips. At the rate I\’m going, I\’ll need an extra room just to hold my salvage store finds! I think that every time I get lucky again.

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Rides You Can Do!

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Oh, the rides you can do ! (To paraphrase Dr. Seuss…) I read about rides that sound so very tempting! Many of them nowhere near home. If I could get to North Carolina, maybe I could do one. The Coastal Ride would be my choice. It\’s flat! I can\’t seem to prod myself into doing the amount and kind of on-bike work that would prepare me for anything hilly. I so seldom get to do any hill-country riding that my muscles don\’t remember what climbing should feel like. Suppose I could make it to Maryland? The Seagull Century awaits. I\’ve heard that the ride is flat, but windy. That can be bad news, depending on how strong the wind is, and whether I\’ll have the headwind outbound or returning. Maybe it\’s past high time I checked out TrailLink. Or Backroads. I might find a suitable new route to ride! What I wish I could have now is a shady path to use. On a recent Sunday the heat index rose to 112! I was home before the worst of the heat, but I got hot enough. Afterwards I couldn\’t seem to get cooled down. This heat probably won\’t relent before October or even November. Meanwhile I\’ve got to keep riding. It gets me places.    

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