SpokEasy

March 2020

Reincarnation

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Reincarnation might be another word for recycling. As cyclists who must be mindful of proper hydration, we could go through a lot of plastic water bottles. It\’s a pity to send them all to the landfill, right? Reincarnation is one of the tenets of Buddhism, and one temple in Thailand has come up with a novel way to recycle all that plastic. I had no idea that plastic could be recycled into clothing! It\’s a wonderful idea, though. It reduces pollution; helps keep sea animals from swallowing plastic and then dying from it; it provides the monks with their robes. I hope that this recycling practice spreads to other countries. We can reincarnate our bicycles, too. Some cities have programs that will buy your old bicycle; fix it up if necessary; and sell it to someone who can\’t afford a bike from a regular shop. If you can sew, you can reincarnate old cycling clothing into a quilt! That\’s harking back to the times when wornout clothing sewn into patchwork quilts, or rag rugs. I hope I remember that next time I have to replace a pair of cycling shorts. The catch is, it would take me years to save up enough discarded shorts (and jerseys and jackets) to have enough fabric for a quilt. Meanwhile I\’ll keep on participating in my neighborhood\’s recycling program. I just wish they didn\’t refuse glass jars.  

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South Dakota

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South Dakota 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.”   South Dakota is perhaps best known for Mount Rushmore. That was another of the places we visited on our shoestring-budget road trips when I was a kid. And two of the state’s top road biking rides takes you right to it! From Rapid City it’s a 23-mile route to the famous rock carvings. The mileage itself would be easy enough. But what is the gradient of this ride? You could also take the Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore.  This 17 mile-route includes climbing and so-called “pigtail bridges”. Coteau des Prairie (Hills of the Prairie) Tour at 93.5 miles is almost a century ride, and includes “rolling hills”.  This is a “loop ride”, which means it’s possible to do only parts of it. The scenery along the way would make the effort of climbing worth it. For a ride that lets the whole family participate, including kids, there’s the Sioux Falls Greenway Trail System. It’s many entry/exit points connects to shops, restaurants, and other small parks. If you’re really ambitious, the Burning Bluffs Tour is 130 miles long. Most of it is along paved country roads. At times the gradient is 5-8%; over what distance, it doesn’t say. Be prepared for “spotty” cell phone service. How about Spearfish? These 19 miles along the creek are spectacular during Fall-color season.  There are some beautiful waterfalls; rock-climbing and fishing, too. Badlands sounds like a place you would want to avoid, right? The Badlands Loop is actually quite a popular route. Its 39 miles include 16 scenic overlooks. Just be sure you have a full Camel-Bak, especially on a hot day. The usual precautions apply: wear a helmet. Be sure you have adequate water and food before starting. Ride safely. Most of all, enjoy riding in South Dakota! 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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Doing Your Research

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Doing your research is an important step after receiving a diagnosis. About month ago I learned that I have pre-diabetes; and I\’ve been scouring Google for articles about diabetes and cycling. Long ago I discovered Team Novo Nordisk. This sports team includes runners and triathletes as well as cyclists. I can\’t imagine how hard it must be to balance the demands of pro-level sports training with managing Type I diabetes. There\’s this article, for example; look at this excerpt: You see, aerobic activity leads to falling blood glucose levels. But if you push into what we call anaerobic activity, blood glucose can actually rise (and very quickly!). When you push into anaerobic level exertion (basically all-out effort, the kind you can’t sustain for more than a few minutes at a time), the liver sends out stored glycogen, which is very potent stuff designed to surge the system with glucose. On top of that, the body sends out stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to help your system further elevate blood sugar. It does this because your body assumes you’re pushing all-out to get away from danger. The end result can be a reading of 250 when you’re expecting 60!  I hadn\’t thought of that. I\’m not sure whether I need to be concerned about it at this point; first I\’ll see whether cleaning up my diet helps. Besides, I don\’t spend much time doing anaerobic efforts. Apparently doing your research means wading through a lot of material that seems irrelevant to your situation. For example, much of what I\’ve found by googling \”diabetic cyclist\” pertains to Type I diabetes. Not that it isn\’t interesting; and I\’ve no doubt that many people with Type I find it helpful. I only know that I have pre-diabetes; presumably Type II. My doctor told me to work on my diet, and get tested again in August. We\’ll see how it goes.

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Baltic

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Baltic 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.” Let’s return to the Baltic! We’ve done Poland, so how about something a bit more unusual? Lithuania doesn’t seem to be very well known in the USA. I certainly know very little about the country. I do remember what a cookbook I once had, said about new potatoes in Lithuania: when it came time to eat them, it was the custom for the people at the table to pull each other’s hair before beginning to eat! But vodka made from potatoes? I’d rather eat them! Not rushing through a visit to a cafĂ© sounds like a welcome change. So does letting kids be kids. As to buses, be sure you buy your bus ticket, or you’ll risk being smacked with a big fine. Perhaps above all, do not whistle! That sounds analogous to the superstition that whistling at sea brings storms. Aside from “things to know”, how is Lithuania for cycling? See here for 20 possible touring routes. Most are on the intermediate skill level; and mostly on paved roads. I notice that they all say, “Good fitness required”. What exactly is “good fitness”? For most tours, it seems to mean being able to ride 10-12 mph for several hours. I can do that as long as there’s little or no climbing. And no headwind! Immer an den DĂŒnen entlang (roughly, “always alongside the dunes”) sounds good. I like the distance; roughly 50 miles in a bit under 4.5 hours. As long as I don’t have to battle a stiff headwind, I think can do that. Bike Path along the River is another fairly short one; not much over 30 miles. But with some climbs! Some routes lead to the beach; but I don’t know whether I’d want to jump in. Even in the hot part of the year, the water temperature is only about 72 degrees. That’s probably too chilly for me. The Baltic is not the Gulf of Mexico! 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 Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Results? August 18, 2024 Shut off the Furnace! August 17, 2024 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Mount Mazama

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Mount Mazama 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.” Oregon’s Mount Mazama, best known for Crater Lake, is home to another physically demanding bicycle ride: Rim Drive. This route is becoming increasingly popular with cyclists. It must take some doing to prepare for the combination of high altitude and stiff climbs; perhaps a hypoxic mask would help? Rim Drive is not recommended for the novice cyclist. Road conditions alone are dismaying. At times of the year when the road is open to motor vehicles, there can be heavy traffic. Descents on steep slopes can get very fast. There are likely to be potholes. There are no bike lanes, and often no shoulders. Watch out for animals, too. They can be very unpredictable. I have a vague memory of one of our road trips when I was kid. My father had to slam on the brakes because a deer had suddenly appeared in front of our car.   There’s only one dirt road on Mount Mazama where MTB riding is permitted; but there’s no single track. Those who want to cycle Rim Drive are advised to plan their visits for Summer: July through September. During much of the year, road conditions are not favorable to cycling. If you can manage the ride, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views from the road’s numerous pull-outs and overlooks. That in itself makes the effort worth it. 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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Sunday Stuff

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Sunday stuff can vary. It nearly always means long-ride day, but I usually don\’t grocery shop on Sundays. I usually don\’t ride before daylight on Sundays, either; but this morning I did. Tomorrow is the full moon, and the forecast says mostly cloudy. I already missed two months of seeing the moonlight on the river, thanks to overcast skies. So I set off on the road bike at around 5:25 am. I saw what I wanted 🙂 I rode slow and easy, so I could get a really good look. I kept it short, too, so I\’d have the energy to go out for a ride later. Then breakfast; and off to Whole Foods on the hybrid. I should have eaten a little more breakfast! I got hungry and bought an oatmeal-raisin cookie to munch before riding back home. And I didn\’t remember about getting carrots until several hours afterwards! Fortunately I still have enough carrots to last through this week. After that, a banana for a snack; fill up the Camel-Bak; cut up a Luna Bar for on-bike snacking; and take off on the road bike! I put in 21.20 miles. As is all too usual, I had a headwind on the way back home. I put in some 40-second efforts of riding hard into the wind; also unusual for Sunday. It was mostly clear when I went out moon-watching, but during this ride it became increasingly cloudy. Now the sun is dodging in and out. Enough riding? Not quite. I rode the hybrid to the drug store. I hoped that they would have plastic food-storage containers; but they don\’t. Go to Walmart come Saturday. Next on the agenda of Sunday stuff: cooking. Brown rice, kale, and maybe another recipe from the ADA Vegetarian Cookbook!  

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Blow the Biker Down?

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Blow the biker down is what it feels like sometimes. This morning I rode the hybrid to the salvage store, hauling the trailer. I wanted to take the cooler, and that thing needs a fair amount of room. Unfortunately the wind was 15-16 mph; and a headwind on the way back home, of course! Gusts were as strong as 24 mph, causing me to swerve big time. It was most unlike the cheerful sea shanty, Blow the Man Down. The grab-bag bins were back today. I made a large grab-bag. One of my finds was a 6 oz bag of  nuts and chocolate trail mix that normally costs $3.59. Another was a snack mix that has a regular price of $2.19. The whole grab-bag, 40 items, cost $3.75! All those candy bars are certainly at odds with pre-diabetes. However, I plan to ration them out. Most of them are things that I\’ve had before; so I\’m much less tempted to taste-test them all in a hurry. Here\’s an example: a SnickersÂź Salty & Sweet double bar. I cut each bar in two, and I can eat one piece a day; MAYBE two. That\’s far less candy than I\’d been eating for at least a year. I got several kinds of salsa and enchilada sauce. I experiment with using them on rice and beans, instead of cheese. I found brown rice and dry pinto beans. As to the cooler, I wanted to bring home some frozen veggies. All I found were 10 oz packages of chopped spinach. I\’m no great fan of plain cooked spinach; but it\’s OK in tomato sauce. It looks like the wind won\’t be quite as strong tomorrow. That\’s good; I don\’t want to see blow the biker down. Especially not if said biker is me.  

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Lunatic?

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Lunatic? đŸ€Ș Lunatic sound like someone who goes berserk at the time of the full moon. Or somebody who loves to see the full moon setting over the river — like me! Lunatic might also describe someone who is very fond of these bars. Again, like me! As with Clif Bars, it’s fun to try different flavors of Luna Bars. A favorite of mine is Chocolate Peppermint. Luna Bars were designed at  Clif Bar & Company; and were the first nutrition bar designed  especially for women. The array of flavors is downright bewildering. There’s even chocolate-dipped coconut. It’s sort of like MoundsÂź for a bicycle ride; only not nearly as sweet as the candy bar. I suppose that’s to prevent a sugar energy spike-and-crash effect. Luna brand includes other products, too, but I haven’t tried any of them yet. Dark of the Moon? 🌑 If I don’t have any Luna Bars, is it the dark of the moon? 😉 But there are always Clif Bars. As a matter of fact, I usually get Clif Bars. That’s mostly habit, I guess; I became familiar with Clif Bars first. Again, there’s quite a variety of flavors. Tastes can wax and wane as the moon. What seems delicious and exciting at first can get tedious if you eat it for every ride. If you get bored with bars bought in stores, you can try making your own ride food. Feed Zone Portables is full of recipes for rice cakes and other nutritious, easy-to-carry snacks. But I wouldn’t want to go, well, overboard with the on-bike smorgasbord. I don’t want people to think I’m a raving lunatic. 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.” 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 âœđŸ» Facebook Twitter Youtube Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Fall? October 12, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Overboard

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I really went overboard with the \”naughties\” today. In addition to minimizing candy and other sweets, I\’ve been paying more attention to my portion sizes. It seemed to me that I started feeling a bit hollow a little too soon after eating, and suspected that I might need to eat a little more. Today I kept getting downright hungry. I had raw carrot sticks with me, but they weren\’t doing the trick. During my morning break I got a bag of corn chips; supposedly four servings. Over the next few hours, I ate at least half the bag. That\’s quite a lot of fat; not so good for cholesterol levels. For lunch I had brought along some of one of my hot dog concoctions; a slice of rye bread; and an apple. Hot dogs aren\’t exactly low-fat food, either. By afternoon break, my stomach was growling again; and I was hankering after a chocolate fix. I went and bought a candy bar. Fat + sugar! Then, by the time I left work, I was hungry yet again! For supper I fixed boxed mac n cheese, but fancied it up. I still had some raw cauliflower, and cut it into small pieces. There was about 1/3 cup of sweet peas in the fridge, and I needed to use them up. I steamed the cauliflower and peas; and set them aside. Then I drained a 5-oz can of chicken breast, and sliced up about 7 black olives. Meanwhile, I had water for the pasta heating on the stove. After I cooked and drained the pasta, I tossed it with one tablespoon of olive oil; put in whatever spices I wanted; stirred in 1/4 cup of plain low-fat yogurt and the cheese; then put the pot back over low heat. After the cheese was well blended in, I added the veggies, olives, and chicken. So I got supper, tomorrow\’s lunch, and a third meal for Saturday. Just don\’t let me go overboard in the kitchen, or I won\’t get anything else done!

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No Holds Barred

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No holds barred – er, I mean, No bars to hold. Did you ever consider learning to ride a unicycle? I sure haven’t! Not that riding on only one wheel means that you can’t do anything but ride around the backyard, or perhaps join the circus. People have used unicycles for cross-state rides. Even for high-altitude adventures. How does a body get started on a unicycle? It looks and sounds so easy, and some say that it really isn’t hard. I\’ll have to take their word for it. I suppose it\’s the same as learning how to ride on two wheels: once you get the hang of it, you wonder what was ever so difficult about it. At least a uni doesn’t have a chain to mess with, which I would assume makes maintenance a bit easier. A uni would be a lot easier to keep indoors, as it wouldn’t need nearly as much space as a bicycle. If you rode one to work, maybe you could even bring it in with you! I\’ve got a question. Is it possible to use a trailer when riding a unicycle? It looks to me as though the pedal crank would run afoul of the trailer\’s tongue, so I suspect that the answer is No. So, carrying capacity would be limited to whatever I could carry on my back. Otherwise, it seems that much of what you can do on two wheels, you could do on one wheel — no holds barred.  

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