SpokEasy

March 2020

BRAN

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

BRAN 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.” BRAN? Are we talking about muffins? No; we’re talking about Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska! BRAN takes place the first full week in June, passing through small towns in the rolling countryside of the Cornhusker State. Participation is limited to 600 riders. If you want to shoot for this one, register early! There are three route options: 3, 4, or 7 days. All types of bicycles are allowed, as long as they have two working brakes. E-bikes? Yes, provided they conform to the state’s laws. The Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska is fully supported. The SAG wagon will be patrolling the route should you need assistance. Towns along the way have meals for a cost. Of course, feel free to carry your personal supply of energy bars, etc.  What kind of bike should you use? With the SAG wagon available, a touring bicycle might not be necessary. That depends on how much you want to keep with you at all times. If I were to do this ride, I think I’d like to have a pannier or two; or at least a bike trunk. As BRAN is an all-weather event, keeping rain gear handy is a good idea. Mornings might be cool enough for a jacket; and I’d need someplace to stash it as the day warmed up. BRAN is another one of those pie-in-the-sky dream rides for me. Nebraska is a long way off. But one never knows. 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 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Cape Cod

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Cape Cod 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.” Cape Cod, Massachusetts, looks like it would be a windy place to ride. This “hook” of land is only 20 miles across at its widest. With ocean all around, it seems to me that wind would be inescapable. Leaving wind aside, the Cape looks like a beautiful place for bicycling. Contrary to my expectations, the Cape isn’t all flat. Its highest point is 306 feet up! Parts of the Cape are, in fact, more or less flat; others feature steep hills. The Cape Cod Canal Bikeway is wide and flat; great for beginning cyclists and kids. At the other end of the spectrum, the West Barnstable Conservation Area offers off-road trails for MTB riders; difficulty ranges from beginner to advanced. This tour from Sojourn combines bicycling with sightseeing. Shingled cottages; views of the shore; wildlife. Daily distances range from 19 to 33 miles, with opportunities to visit a lighthouse; the oldest lifesaving station in the USA; and a salt marsh. The five nights of the tour will be spent at inns. and three covering only 15-20 miles. Day two has options of  27, 36, or 50 miles. You can opt for a family-friendly tour of Boston, if you prefer something more citified. Riding new trails is fun. I could travel to a part of the country that I haven’t yet visited. It would be wonderful to have a chance to familiarize myself with some bird species that we don’t have around here. The catch is, I would very quickly forget what I had learned! 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 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Taking Liberties

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Taking liberties is something I do quite often when cooking. Why not? For the greater part, recipes are general guidelines; not carved-in-stone rules. It can be a lot of fun to see what you come up with! Take The American Diabetes Association Vegetarian Cookbook. Day before yesterday I made Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash (pg. 87); and not exactly according to the recipe! At Whole Foods this morning, I bought the two pounds of russet potatoes, and a head of cauliflower. My question here: the recipe says to peel the potatoes and cut them into large chunks. How big is \”large\”? And as to the cauliflower, how big is a \”floret\”? I started checking them for doneness after about 10 minutes of cooking, instead of 15-18 minutes as the recipe says; and the potatoes were done enough! Oh, well — that cut down on prep time a bit. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup 2% milk; I substituted plain, low-fat yogurt. Because I wasn\’t using liquid milk, I reserved some of the cooking water; but used only 2-3 tablespoons of it. Instead of the 2 teaspoons of butter in the book\’s version, I used 2 teaspoons of olive oil. I had some Progresso® Broccoli-Cheddar soup in the freezer. I thawed it and used 1/4 cup of it, rather than the 1/4 cup of shredded, reduced-fat cheddar that the recipe specifies. I have to use up that soup somehow! The 4 chopped scallions I left as is. I didn\’t measure them, but I estimate they made about 1 cup. I also didn\’t change the freshly-ground (OK, grated) nutmeg, nor the salt and pepper. I\’m planning on taking liberties again next time I prepare this dish. There are many ways I could do it!  

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Not So Sweet

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Not So Sweet Sugar is not so sweet when you’ve just learned that you’re pre-diabetic. That’s what mid-February blood work showed. In addition, my cholesterol is slightly elevated. I can’t say that I was surprised. My diet had been absolute c*** for at least a year. With those cheap snacks I was getting from the salvage store, I was eating far too much junk. On top of that, I often ate them when I wasn’t really hungry. I was tired; or bored; or stressed. Can you believe that I often ate several snacks AND several candy bars per day? I’ve been working to minimize the candy and other sweet foods. That even includes what I put into my hot dog concoctions. Sweet and sour sauce is on the sidelines; hoisin sauce’s first ingredient is sugar; I wouldn’t be surprised if gochujang sauce is high in sugar. Back to plain old tomato sauce. Buffalo sauce is probably OK, too. The last few times I’ve been to the salvage store, the make-your-own-grab-bag bins weren’t there. Now, at least, that temptation is removed. I continue to visit the store for things such as dry beans, brown rice, and canned goods. Want a vegetarian cookbook for diabetes? Meatless eating has interested me for many years, and now I have The American Diabetes Association Vegetarian Cookbook. The author, a chef, created this book when he was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I tried an approximation of Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash (page 87). I’ve got to use up some of the huge pile of canned stuff I have, and I had a can of potatoes. I used them, and instead of cauliflower I used peas. I didn’t have any onions on hand, and can you believe I forgot to put in the cheese? Not so sweet, you might say.

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Climb!

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I just added a new book to my Shop. Climb! is the latest from Selene Yeager, aka the \”Fit Chick\”. I bet this is an interesting read. There aren\’t hills where I live, much less anything approximating Mont Ventoux. All the same, I\’m sure I could use the advice about developing strength in my climbing muscles by doing off-bike exercises. With no hills around, why am I thinking about training for climbing? I\’m considering riding this year\’s local Tour de Cure; the 63-mile route. I\’m not too worried about the distance itself, especially as I have about nine months to work up to it. My concern is my pace; especially if event day means a stiff headwind! So why didn\’t I practice riding hard into the wind this morning? I could have, and maybe should have. I certainly had the opportunity! Answer (excuse?): I\’ve felt \”off\” for about four days now. At first it felt like I was getting a cold, but this hasn\’t progressed like a cold. Maybe it\’s allergy. Whatever it is, it makes me feel tired and unenergetic. Climb! isn\’t entirely about the physical aspects of riding uphill. It\’s also about proper fueling and recovery; how to choose the best gear/cadence for your climbing needs; and turning off negative thoughts. Now if only I had more room in my bookcase!  

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