SpokEasy

April 2020

Hoosier

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Hoosier 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.” What’s a hoosier? It always sounded to me like someone who makes hosiery! I was wrong about that, but nobody seems to know for sure exactly how the word originated. When I hear “Indiana“, I think of the Bugs Bunny cartoon in which Elmer Fudd gets a robot to try to get rid of “that wascal wabbit” Bugs, who is always getting into his “cawwots”. I don’t know for sure whether either Bugs or Elmer ever rode a bicycle; if so, they could tell me what the cycling is like in the Hoosier State. It sounds like much of it would be nice and flat. There’s a two-day tour through Amish country. At rest stops, you can sample local produce; or enjoy baked goods. I, for one, would love to try shoofly pie! There’s a century ride that follows the shore of Lake Michigan; and which benefits the Visiting Nurse Association. SAG stops provide food and drinks. Bloomington is home of the Little 500, a two-day event that is the cyclist’s parallel to the Indy 500. Participation is restricted to full-time undergraduate students at the University of Indiana. There are separate events for men and women. Tickets are sold for the public. Whether you’re a native Hoosier or not, Indiana has a lot to offer cyclists.

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Happy Easter

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Happy Easter! I hope you\’re all having a wonderful day. When I got up at 8:10 am, I wondered where that bad weather had gone. It was overcast, but not the dark cloudiness that precedes a storm. It seemed to be windstill. Naturally I began to think that I could have gone riding this morning, after all. Fifteen minutes later the breeze was beginning to kick up. Not long afterwards I heard a brief splatter of rain drops. Right now the forecast is saying the greatest chance for rain is after 4 pm, but the wind advisory still holds. Maybe I\’ll brave a short ride to the drug store later; Easter candy should be going on sale. Meanwhile I have my Tour de Cure training plan to work on. Once again, Happy Easter!

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Road Work

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Road work? Since when have I turned construction worker? Let\’s look at it this way. I have a lot of road-riding work to do before Tour de Cure! You could say that my muscles are under construction. I did my weekly long ride today, Saturday. According to the forecast, I\’d be utterly crazy to try to ride tomorrow.  A wind advisory has already been posted. Severe T-storms are quite possible. This morning, on the way back home, I made several attempts to push 15 mph into the wind. It was blowing at 10-12 mph, and fighting that felt hard enough! Tomorrow the wind will be 15-20 mph. If I rode in the afternoon, I could face gusts up to 40 mph. Would I be able to make any headway at all against that? As to today\’s efforts at riding against the wind, it was very hard to maintain it for a full minute. I\’m not sure whether keeping such efforts short for now is common sense, or sissiness. I didn\’t reach my maximum heart rate, something I probably should work on more often. Every time I try to reach my max, though, my legs are screaming Uncle before I can get there! Is everybody like that? Today I put in 30.30 miles. Should I extend my distance by a few miles per week, or work on riding the same distance faster? Maybe ride a few miles farther every week for three weeks; then the fourth week, do a shorter but faster ride? Or, as I\’ve thought before, make weekday morning rides about speed work; and for the weekly long ride, \”just ride\”? Too many unanswered questions! When it comes to road work, it seems to me that I\’m merely feeling my way.  

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Through the Woods

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Through the Woods 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.” You’ll really be riding through the woods when you go cycling in Pennsylvania. It’s all in the state’s name; and Pennsylvania offers a great deal to fans of Rails to Trails. The Great Allegheny Passage runs through the state and neighboring Maryland. This one is a favorite! The Allegheny River Trail is a close rival, with great scenery and chances to spot wildlife. Like waterfalls and geology? Try out the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Fantastic rock outcrops for much of the way! Ghost Town Trail will appeal to history buffs. Historic markers tell stories of old towns, blast furnaces, and more. Heritage Rail Trail, too, is full of history. Have lunch at the restored New Freedom rail depot! D & H-Lehigh Gorge Trail gives 130 miles of riding; since this article dates back to 2014, I suppose the pedestrian bridge mentioned may have been completed. Want to get away from it all? Perhaps Sandy Creek Trail would suit you. This path is in remote northwestern Pennsylvania, and has some terrific scenery. The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is 20 miles of riding through the woods and over bubbling creeks. Oil Creek State Park Trail might sound like something that would upset the EPA. Apparently it’s quite the contrary. Along this trail you can find fly fishing as well as cycling; or, in winter, cross-country skiing! Finally, there’s the Redbank Valley Rail Trail, the 2014 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year Award. Choose your trail; pump up your tires and fill your water bottles (or Camel-Bak); and pack your ride food. Happy riding in the Keystone State! 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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Push Comes to Shove

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Push comes to shove if you wait until too late to begin preparing for a major event. Maybe some folks can train up from almost nothing to being able to ride a century within two months; but I know very well that I cannot. That is why I began training up for Tour de Cure this week, even though TdC isn\’t until November. Day before yesterday I practiced riding 15 mph or more for 5-minute intervals. Thanks to there being only a light wind, I did quite well. There was a time when touching 15 mph even with a good tailwind was hard! Yesterday I set out to try to repeat Tuesday\’s workout.  It was much harder to reach 15 mph; my legs were protesting, and my heart rate shot up much faster than it had the day before. I had been thinking that I need to work at pushing my pace more than once a week; but I don\’t seem to be ready to do it on consecutive days This morning I began working on force intervals, making them 20 seconds long. I had a headwind, which actually was not a bad thing. I was telling myself that I NEED to learn to push hard into a wind. Once a week is enough for efforts like this. Over time I\’ll work up to making these force intervals longer. I saw that I need to do more gut-training. After I had done those hard intervals my stomach started to feel rather uncomfortable; and all I ate before going out to ride was a medium-sized banana. During my weekly long ride, I must work at keeping the fuel coming in while pushing the pace. I certainly have my work cut out for me, and it\’s better that I make the main thrust now. After all, I don\’t want push to come to shove.

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Southern Ease

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Southern Ease 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.” Southern ease sounds to me like sitting in a shady porch in a nice rocking chair; and sipping at my favorite cold drink. If that’s a little too much ease for you, South Carolina has ten easy bicycling trails that the whole family can enjoy. Swamp Rabbit Trail sounds rather like cottontails running (or do I mean hopping?) all over the place. This 13.5-mile trail is fun for cycling, walking, and jogging. And who knows? You might spot one of those long-eared critters. A funny aside: not long ago my sister told me of a joke that her brother-in-law told her: Q. What do you call a line of rabbits hopping backwards? A. A receding hare line! If the thought of all those rabbits makes you hopping mad, don’t let them become a pain in the neck. You can Bike the Neck instead. This 16-mile trail runs between the Atlantic and the Waccamaw River. If you’re a nature lover, this would be a good trail for you. For those looking for a more challenging ride, it sounds like the Ravenel Bridge might fit the bill. It says you’ll “burn some calories” getting across it. It’s less than three miles long, but is steep. Or, depending on your direction of travel, can you count on having to battle a strong headwind? That doesn’t exactly sound like southern ease to me. Or ease from anywhere. When I want some southern ease, I’ll just stay in the old rocking chair and be lazy. 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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Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico 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.” Puerto Rico is a great way to combine love of cycling with love of Nature. You can ride mile after mile along beautiful coastlines. Wildlife refuges and nature preserves offer scenic trails for every skill level. The folks in Puerto Rico are serious about cycling, so you should fit right in! If you’re keen to visit San Juan, the capital city, cycling is a wonderful way to get around. You’ll find many interesting things to see and do. Don’t care for the hustle and bustle of a city? Try the western coast of the island. The coastal boardwalk at Isabella focuses on natural beauty rather than hawking souvenirs and hot dogs. Sounds good to me! Cabo Rojo takes you past something unusual: red salt flats! Well, come to think of it, Himalayan salt is pink, right? So why not red salt? Cabo Rojo also features wildlife refuges. Head to Guanica for some MTB riding. This trail is a long one, so come prepared. Bring the sunblock, Camel-Bak, and so on. There are many other cycling tours available; including at least one for the newly popular electric bikes. These tours sounds like great getaways for someone whose cycling activities are frustrated by cold, snowy weather!

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Rhode Island

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Rhode Island 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.” How is the Ocean State of Rhode Island for cycling? Rhode Island is a very small state, to be sure, but cyclists have a number of choices. For the time being, maybe plan to hit those trails just for the ride. With COVID-19 apparently making a resurgence, who knows might be shut down.  I think I’d like the Blackstone River Bike Path, as it runs along a river much of its length. Maybe I’d see some water birds other than the ones I see around here all the time. The Quonset Bike Path is 2.5 miles of entirely off-road riding; great for a family outing! I must admit, however, that 3.7 miles isn’t much more than a warm-up for me. The western two-thirds of Rhode Island are rough and hilly. That sounds like MTB territory! For riders who find flat trails much too tame, there are some mountain bike trails out there. Big River/Carr Pond has trails for all levels of riders, from beginners to experts. Burlingame State Park also has something for MTB enthusiasts of moderate ability. This Yellow Dot Trail sounds interesting. It’s open to hikers; and to snowshoeing and skiing in Winter. As always,  if you plan to be out more than an hour or so, use a Camel-Bak to be sure you have enough water. Pack along some ride food: protein bars, GU-Gels, and so on. You certainly don’t want to get That Virus; but you don’t want to bonk, either. 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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Yin/Yang?

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Yin/yang has been around since ancient times. This Chinese philosophy is about the balance between opposite forces in nature, humanity, and so on. You might say that cycling has its own yin and yang. Yin is associated with cold, dark, female, receptive. Yang is the opposite: bright, male, passion, growth. It feels like yin when little misadventures occur. I was getting a piece of Clif Bar out of the plastic bag in my top-tube pouch. Somehow my groping fingers got ahold of the bag, which I dropped, spilling four pieces of bar. I was able to retrieve the bag, but had to leave the Clif Bar bits for birds and ants to clean up. This is why it\’s a good idea to carry an extra snack; Combos today. Today I extended my Sunday ride to a bit over 29 miles. I was riding against a headwind much of the way home. That wind got up to 14 mph before I was finished. More yin! I\’m glad I didn\’t have a flat; that would have been big-time yin! Part of the yin/yang concept is that nothing is either all yin, or all yang. So, what was the yang today? It didn\’t rain. The temperature was comfortable. Even though my speed was sometimes below 9 mph, I can ride a little faster against the wind than I used to be able to. Now for the yang of cycling. A clear day! Calm winds. Feeling well-rested and strong, and knowing you can do whatever distance you want to ride. No flats; and not dropping your ride food! For those who enjoy group rides, it probably seems like big-time yin just now; all that social-distancing makes group rides rather harder. When COVID-19 has finally run its course, the yang of group rides can return.  

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Essential?

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So what\’s \”essential\”? We\’ve been hearing for weeks now to avoid \”non-essential\” trips. If I go to a grocery store for carrots and apples, is it non-essential because I haven\’t yet run out of carrots and apples? Replenishing my supply before I run out seems like common sense to me. After all, Murphy\’s Law would dictate that, if you wait to get more of something until you\’ve run out of it, there won\’t be any to be had, anywhere. Especially in these COVID-19 days. Finding store shelves empty of brown rice is what led me to order groceries online. It\’s very expensive, but I didn\’t know how soon those store shelves would be full again; and I\’ve been going through my brown rice supply rather quickly. Then there are canned goods. I certainly have enough to last for a while; why do I keep getting more? It\’s the same answer. I want to keep a supply going, in case things do get really drastic, and everybody is ordered to stay indoors at all times. It doesn\’t look like it will come to such measures, but you never know. As to the essential business of cooking, I need to take a break from making big batches of stuff. I need to cook a pot of brown rice to be used during the coming week. Otherwise, I\’ve simply got to eat up what is already in fridge and freezer. I\’m about out of room for more!

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