SpokEasy

February 2020

Who Is at Fault?

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Who is at fault? Who ran into whom? It doesn\’t sound pleasant, but do you want to REALLY be at fault? For once, it can be fun. Check out this ride from Midwest Cycletouring! Ride the Fault Line is a week-long, four-state tour, visiting Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. As the tour\’s name indicates, the path follows the notorious New Madrid Fault. Along the route,  birdwatchers can try to spot eagles at the Reelfoot Lake Wildlife Refuge. You\’ll have the chance to go kayaking through cypress groves. If history is your thing, you can visit important sites from the early days of the Civil War. Here\’s the catch for someone like me: you\’ll need drive between some towns. I\’d have to team up with another rider who has a car, with enough spare room for me and my bicycle. Daily cycling mileage ranges from 29 miles to 65 miles, with a long-option 74-mile route on Day 4. Some days even have alternate gravel routes. The terrain is mostly flat, and follows low-traffic roads. There\’s plenty to see and do along the way. This year\’s RTFL begins in mid-June; I hope it won\’t already be too hot and humid by then! So, who is at fault? I wish I could be, in this case. RTFL is another of the rides that I think I would love to do. It would be much more fun, I think, if I could blog about it from personal experience; especially if I enjoyed myself — well — to a fault.          

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Taiwan

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Taiwan This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Bicycle touring needn’t be “adults only”. This tour in Taiwan can let the entire family get in on the act. Over five days and four nights, you’ll cover 90 km (about 56 mi), with a wide diversity of things to see and do: mountain roads and beaches; hot springs and an aquarium. For a bigger adventure, there’s the Bicycle Adventures tour of the island. Over eleven days, ride alongside the eastern coast; and test your mettle pedaling through Taroko Gorge. (Or get a boost from an e-bike if necessary!) See rice paddies and aboriginal villages; visit temples and meet some of the local folk. Along the way, enjoy the local cuisine. This tour is well-supported; all you have to do is ride. When planning a bicycle tour, don’t forget to check its difficulty. You don’t want your longed-for trip to turn into The Bicycle Ride from H*** if it turns out to be too hard for you. Naturally, choose the right bike. If  I were going on such a tour, and didn’t have the luxury of a support vehicle, I’d probably want a touring bike, complete with rack, panniers, etc. If there were such a SAG wagon to back up the group, I could use my road bike. Taiwan might not be on everybody’s radar; but that could be a good reason to do a cycling tour there. You know, go now and beat the crowd.   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 Joyeux Noël! December 21, 2023 Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 20, 2023 Christmas Past December 20, 2023 Relearning December 19, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Kettle Moraine

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Kettle Moraine This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Huh? Kettle moraine? What kind of cookware is that? Actually, the Kettle Moraine is a geological formation in the State of Wisconsin. If you’re a mountain-biking enthusiast, it has possibilities for you! The trails range in difficulty from easy to difficult. Try the Brown Loop for an easy ride, 1.25 miles of mostly flat trails. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Blue Loop; 12 miles of trail with hard climbs and at least one very rocky section.  On my road bike, 12 miles is nothing as far as distance is concerned. But that climbing would do me in! I’ll happily stick to flatter trails. If your tastes don’t lean towards cycling, Kettle Moraine also offers camping. The Pinewoods Campground, in the Southern Unit, sounds wonderful: a 24-hour quiet zone! It’s so hard these days to find real quiet. Ottawa Lake sounds good too; it has special provisions for campers who have disabilities. Whitewater Lake? Maybe not after a long day’s cycling. Not with no showers on hand! The Northern Unit, too, has some great sites. Mauthe Lake and Long Lake both have access for people with disabilities. Greenbush is open to group campers up to 40 persons; New Prospect is for horse riders. Kettle Moraine offers a lot of variety; but “kettle” still sounds like cooking to me. 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 Quantum Leap December 12, 2023 Afternoon Ride? December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wet and Wild

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Wet and Wild Singin’ in the Rain? (With apologies to Gene Kelly) Wet and Wild — not! As expected, it was raining this morning. The temperature was in the low 60s. It wasn’t raining particularly hard; but it still wouldn’t have been pleasant for a bicycle ride. So I’m glad I rode yesterday. No alarm clock this morning! I was very tired, and didn’t even get up until 9 am; very late for me. As I wasn’t trying to get out the door and onto the saddle, I did other things that too often get pushed aside. Cooking, for instance; although nothing à la Feed Zone. I made what I call “squashed sauce”; chopped squash (zucchini today), onions, and garlic cooked in canned tomatoes. I also threw in about a cupful of red enchilada sauce that I had in the fridge, and that needed to be used up. While the sauce was cooking, I washed out my new cycling shorts and a pair of leg warmers. After that I had to sally forth to pick up a refill from the drug store. I would have liked to ride the hybrid over there, just to get some movement into my legs; but the strip mall where the store is located is situated between two streets that flood when it rains. Thus I walked to the store. Sure enough, both streets were awash. Now, at 1 pm, the rain seems to be over. It’s still overcast, though, so I can’t be certain. There isn’t much wind, so it’s not exactly wet and wild, is it?

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Switching It Up

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Switching it up is good sometimes, as long as it\’s not a panic button switch like the one at left. They say it\’s good both physically and mentally to change your ride schedule now and then. The \”surprise\” helps your body to adapt and get stronger; and the change refreshes the mind. Otherwise the weekly plan gets to be too much \”same old, same old\”. This weekend I changed things around by going to the regular supermarket instead of the salvage store. I wanted to be sure of getting apples and bananas. That meant a ride in the opposite direction to the salvage store; and a much shorter ride, too. My usual long-ride day is Sunday, but the forecast predicts rain for tomorrow; so after I got home and put away the groceries, I went out on the road bike. I wish the weather had switched it up by giving me a tailwind on the way back home! The silicone grippers on the leg bottoms of the shorts I was wearing don\’t grip well any more. The shorts\’ legs kept sliding up, letting my bare thigh rub against the saddle. I\’m not a great fan of clothes-shopping; but I needed to switch my tactics, and visit the bike shop for a new pair of shorts. It\’s the second pair I\’ve replaced this month! Everything seems to wear out at the same time; I also need a new pair of leg warmers, but the shop had to order them for me. Then there\’s switching it up when you ride on a mountain road; namely, the switchback. Following such a route means you keep switching direction, doubling back and forth as you go up, up, up. I don\’t have the legs or the lungs for that at this point, so I\’ll switch to a nice, flat road.

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Affairs of the Heart

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Affairs of the Heart? Hey, today is February 14, after all. The day often seems to mean red roses; heart-shaped boxes of chocolates; and pretty cards. Maybe balloons, too. Many a cyclist is concerned with affairs of the heart in the course of daily training. Your heart rate can help tell you how hard you\’re working; a heart-rate monitor has been compared to the tachometer of a car. If you want to know whether you\’re progressing in your training, knowing your heart rate is helpful. For example, if a certain climb used to push your heart rate to the max, and now it doesn\’t, quite likely you\’re improving. Leaving such physiological measures aside, there\’s plain old love of cycling. That\’s why we ride, isn\’t it? It\’s why we layer up and ride when the mercury drops; even if we know that riding in the cold means a maddeningly runny nose. It\’s why we go for long rides when the temperature at 5 am is already 80 degrees. It\’s why we even ride in the rain! So wear your heart on your sleeve today. Go for a bicycle ride! Enjoy!!  

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Adagio?

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Adagio means \”at leisure\”. That is what a recovery ride should be; but it\’s easier said than done! We hear all the time about the importance of proper recovery. The harder you go on your \”hard\” days, the more important recovery becomes. That\’s not always so easy. It\’s frustrating to be on a \”recovery\” ride, trying to stay in heart rate Zone 1, and it\’s nearly impossible to go that easy because of a headwind. Or worse, a stiff sidewind. In such conditions, just trying to get a drink of water can cause my heart rate to rise because of the effort required to control the bike one-handed. There are times when I have to stop when I want a drink, because the wind is too much for me. In addition, you might have to get home and get ready to go to work, making it even harder to remain in Zone 1. Thus what is supposed to be an adagio ride could see your cadence increase to molto vivace! Naturally this causes your heart rate to increase, too. The only solution I can think of is to make a recovery ride very short. In its own way, that is another difficulty. Especially if you happen to have mileage hog tendencies!      

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Skyline DRIVE?

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Skyline DRIVE? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Skyline Drive runs the length of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I remember we went over at least part of it on one of our Summer road trips when I was a kid. We stopped to look down into the Shenandoah Valley. I took a photo of it, which is probably still around here somewhere. Looking at it, I always thought of the song. Oh, and how’s this for a memory? For the first time, we saw a live skunk. Isn’t a shame that the skunk has such an unsavory reputation? It’s really a pretty animal. This one was ambling along near the road; heading home to sleep the day away, I suppose. Enough about driving now. How would it be if we could leave the car behind and bicycle that route? It’s not the easiest road, and isn’t for the beginning cyclist. Neither would it be a good choice for a cyclist whose climbing legs aren’t so good (here’s looking at me!). Taken from North to South, the route is 105 miles; and there is almost 15,000 feet of elevation gain, including 19 categorized climbs. To balance this out, there are numerous scenic overlooks; remember to take along the camera and get some great shots. Take from South to North, this road “has another jagged profile”. With all that climbing to do, a compact crank set is recommended. Be sure to bring along sufficient hydration and fuel. You might even want to split the distance into two days. If I were crazy enough to try a bicycle ride with so much climbing, I might need three or four days! Finally, check the weather ahead of time. Skyline Drive might close during bad weather. But if you have fair weather, enjoy pedaling your way through the Blue Ridge Mountains! 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 Afternoon Ride? December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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With Hoe and Spade?

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With Hoe and Spade? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Why with hoe and spade? New Jersey is the Garden State, that’s why! New Jersey, like so many states, has some beautiful countryside. Why not see it from the saddle of a bicycle? A variety of tours are available; among them Farm to Table tours. I think it would be interesting to visit a small-scale farm, and see how they do things; sort of how-does-your-garden-grow. How is the soil prepared for planting in the first place? How do they decide what crops to plant; and when? Do they practice crop rotation? What do they do to minimize use of toxic pest control agents? I might even get some good ideas in case I can one day have a garden of my own. For would-be gardeners out there, wouldn’t it be neat if you could hook up your bike to a rototiller? You could prepare the soil for planting without burning fossil fuel; and get some good exercise into the bargain! The catch is, how does one keep the rows straight? I bet I, for one, would have some difficulty riding in a straight line. I couldn’t do much with hoe and spade to correct those crooked rows. I guess the tomatoes and kale wouldn’t care, but it wouldn’t satisfy aesthetics. Anyway, let’s get ready to roll through New Jersey; and when we’re ready for a break, we can enjoy taking our ease in some country gardens. 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 Elementor #155451 December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Whole Enchilada

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The whole enchilada sounds like lunch at a Mexican restaurant; and yes, I like a cheese enchilada with mild salsa for dipping. This food item takes on an entirely different meaning in Utah. Read about it here. The Whole Enchilada ride is far, far  beyond my strength; endurance; skill; and sea-level lungs. I don’t even have a MTB to begin with! It makes me cringe to look at the maximum grade of that event: 37%! Ay, Chihuahua! Even the minimum grade, 5%, would probably seem quite steep to me. That’s the disadvantage to living where “grade” means a highway overpass. I get very little opportunity to develop climbing legs. The altitude alone would present a significant challenge for me. The lowest point is almost 4000 feet up, which is very different from sea level. Then the route tops out at over 11,000 feet! If I were to try Enchilada, I’d have to either find a way to go train at altitude; or train with a hypoxic mask. That would not be fun at all. How would I get a drink of water when I’ve got that thing over my face? OK, that’s my view of this challenge. It’s obviously not for me! If you’re up to it, see here for a more detailed description of the route. The author(s) make no bones about the difficulty involved in riding this trail. That’s only fair; riders who are interested need to know what they’re getting into.  As for me, I’ll stick with the kind of enchilada that I can eat!

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