June 2020 - SpokEasy

Packing a Punch?

Packing a Punch? Packing a punch? Sure! Delaware Punch! Why not pack some along to have with lunch while cycle-touring the First State? Check out southern Delaware’s Sussex Cyclists. The landscape is flat; the scenery is great; and the roads are excellent. Bikemap helps you choose from a variety of trail types, from flat to downhill to long tours. The state has a year-round moderate climate; or so the description says. Temperatures that can fall to sub-freezing aren’t my idea of “moderate”. I’d call that downright frigid! I would need some heavy-duty leg warmers; a good base layer; definitely a heavy helmet liner; and more! It’s a feather in any cyclist’s cap — pardon me, I mean helmet — to ride all the way across a state. Delaware offers an event that lets you cross the state twice in one day! Not many of the States can let you do the same. How’s that for packing a punch? 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Packing a Punch? Read More »

Beta-Carotene!

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Beta-carotene seems to be a big thing nowadays. Eat orange/red fruits and vegetables! So here I am, making up another new recipe. All of a sudden, I was tired of Hoppin\’ John variations. It occurred to me that I hadn\’t been eating much in the way of vegetables, aside from raw carrots. My mind drifted back to the Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash from page 87 of the ADA Vegetarian Cookbook. The result: Spinach-Sweet Potato-Jack mash! I made it yesterday. The sweet potatoes supply beta-carotene. The dark green spinach makes a nice color contrast with the sweet potatoes, as does the red onion. It\’s actually quite pretty, if I may say so myself. It tastes good, too. An hour after completing this cooking project, my imagination was already at work, conjuring up further variations. There\’s just no end to it!

Beta-Carotene! Read More »

Compulsive

BACK ISSUES / CAL

\”Compulsive\” doesn\’t always conjure up the most positive images. Compulsive eating disorder. OCD. Even compulsive training in athletes, including cyclists. I seem to be turning into a compulsive cook. I think up variations on Hoppin\’ John, and I\’ve just got to make them as soon as possible. Since trying out the original recipe in early May, I\’ve made four of those variations; the latest being Tardy Turtle. I still want to try variations using kidney beans, mayacoba beans, and maybe split peas. The trouble with this relentless urge to create new dishes is, I\’ll need a chest freezer if I don\’t bring myself to a halt; and I don\’t have anywhere to put such a thing! Getting back to OCD-style training, I don\’t seem to have it. That\’s something to be thankful for. From what I\’ve read about it, If I were training compulsively, I\’d be dead beat all the time; yet still pushing myself to train, Train, TRAIN! I\’d hardly leave myself time to eat; much less to cook. I would even be trying to sleep on the bike. And now, back to compulsive cooking. This time, it\’s another variation on Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash, from The American Diabetes Association Vegetarian Cookbook. Instead of cauliflower, 17 oz of frozen spinach, thawed (I\’m saving the \”juice\” for soup). Sweet potatoes instead of russet potatoes; red onion instead of scallions; and Monterrey Jack cheese instead of cheddar. Then I\’ll feel compelled to dream up even MORE variations!

Compulsive Read More »

Ozarks

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Ozarks The Ozarks lie, in part, in the state of Arkansas. I’ve heard that the Ozarks aren’t especially high; but that they’re steep. Better get your climbing legs prepared! Maybe a compact — or even super-compact — crankset would be a good idea, too. Arkansas ranks #39 among the States for bicycle friendliness; and there are eight cities that carry the Bicycle Friendly title. It sounds like finding riding companions ought to be fairly easy. The terrain varies from flat to mountainous, so there’s something for everyone. But remember those Ozarks! Arkansas has a moderate climate, with four distinct seasons. Add in the state’s varied terrain, and there’s sure to be a trail suited to you. Is road cycling your thing? The Winslow Death March Loop is not, I would say, for the novice roadie. It’ll really show you the Ozarks: steep climbs, plenty of switchbacks, and speedy downhills. That sounds pretty tough, doesn’t it? If it’s too tame for you, try the Jasper Disaster. This turn-packed route is one of the hardest in the entire state. I can easily imagine it becoming a disaster for me! For folks who want gravel, Pedal the Ridge might be a good choice. This path offers 20- and 50-mile options. Do you want mountain biking? Arkansas has five Epic Rides for MTB fans; just ask the IMBA. Mount Kessler MTB trails are among the state’s most difficult, with rocky singletrack. Upper Buffalo brings you in touch with native plants and wildlife. Boyle Park offers a variety of terrain. And those are only a few of the many cycling trails on offer in The Natural State! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

Ozarks Read More »

Lesson Learned

7 Comments / BACK ISSUES / CAL

Lesson learned doesn\’t have to be as basic as the alphabet. I\’d rather get beyond that. In fact, one of my more vivid memories from first grade was how tired I got of my class having to sing the ABC song several times a day! (I KNEW my ABCs.) There are other lessons, too, and they don\’t have to have a thing to do with formal education. For example, when you\’re first learning how to ride with clip-in pedals it can be scary. When I began I didn\’t know that you do not wait until you\’ve come to a full stop to unclip! On one attempt I fell and got a nasty gash in my left leg. It soon began to sink in: unclip while I\’ve still got some momentum going. Lesson learned. Then there are my antics in the kitchen. When I tried the Hoppin\’ John recipe, I was rushing back and forth between stove and counter (they\’re on opposite sides of the kitchen), trying to juggle cooking rice on one burner; cooking black-eyed peas with celery on another; and chopping cheese, onion and bell pepper on the counter. Trying to keep all that going was dizzying (literally!) and exhausting. When I made Br\’er Joe several weeks later, I had figured out that I need to make \”HJ\” and its variations in stages — a Petite Tour, if you will. This takes two days. One for cooking the rice; doing all the chopping work; and, if I\’m using dried legumes, putting them to soak. Day two is for cooking the beans with the celery; and assembling the final product. It works much better that way; I don\’t get so tired and frazzled; and I can even do the dishwashing involved in stages. Lesson learned.

Lesson Learned Read More »

New Mexico

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

New Mexico New Mexico, “The Land of Enchantment“, offers opportunities for adventure and touring; both for roadies and mountain bike enthusiasts. For transporting your bicycle to New Mexico, how about an EVOC Bike Transport Bag? And, of course, choose your trail. For cycling families, the Chaco Culture National Historical Park Loop sounds like a terrific way to begin exploring New Mexico by bicycle: eight miles long; flat; and paved. You’ll have opportunities to park your bicycle and take a stroll through the archaeological sites along the way. If you want a bigger challenge, Sandia Peak Summit might fit the bill. This road climbs some 3000 feet over 15-17 miles! Be sure to take along some kind of jacket; high altitudes can get cold even in mid-Summer. MTB-ers sweltering in the hot, humid conditions of Summer might find the prospect of the Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon alluring. Once there, the bike-run-ski-snowshoe race should keep you plenty warm amid all that snow. Keep an eye peeled for wildlife: deer and wild turkey, among others. The South Boundary Trail is physically quite demanding; you’ll need intermediate or higher MTB skills for this one. Take along plenty of water and food; and don’t forget your tools. Stay safe; when on the roads, ride single-file. Watch for traffic. Carry a first-aid kit. Even if you’re riding with a group, depend on yourself. With proper planning and common sense, your bicycle tour of New Mexico can provide plenty of enchantment. 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

New Mexico Read More »

Mishaps

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Mishaps occur. No matter what we do to prevent them, sooner or later something untoward happens. Take yesterday, for example. I don\’t mean my jaunt on the road bike. That actually went well, if you discount the fact that I got going a good 20 minutes late. Another morning of almost no wind! How I wish that happened more often. Today I tried one-minute intervals of pushing for 16 mph or more; two easy minutes in between those efforts. Three intervals to a set; 10 minutes between sets. I already forgot how many sets I did; five or six, I think. Riding 16 mph is still quite hard for me, but not grueling. In fact, I touched a top speed of 20+ mph! Skip ahead a few hours. I wanted to fix squash (zucchini this time) cooked in tomatoes. While chopping up the onion, I got a bit too energetic. I suddenly had a nasty cut in my left thumb. I had to suspend operations while I put a bandaid on it. Two, in fact. I was bleeding through the first bandaid in no time. About four hours later, the bandaids had become soaking wet. I decided to change them; and when I took them off, that cut began to bleed again. I figured the cut needed some liquid bandage stuff on it; but why go to the ER for that? So, I called an Urgent Care center. They said I could come in at any time until 7 pm. That would work fine; go to my 2:45 pm dental appointment, and then head for Urgent Care. By the time I got out of the dentist\’s office, I looked like I might have mishaps with the weather. The sky appeared quite threatening, and I heard thunder grumbling. Well, I got to Urgent Care still dry. While I was there, I heard it pouring like crazy for a while. It had died down to a drizzle by the time I was ready to go home, thank goodness. But I put on the poncho, anyway. No telling when it might start pouring again. On the way home, I got worried about the possibility of mishaps with brakes that weren\’t catching. I\’m glad I had a paper towel stuffed into a pocket. I got off the road and gave the wheels\’ rims a quick wipe-down. Then they worked better; but I think I\’d better have them checked, before they cause a major mishap.

Mishaps Read More »

Trenching

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Trenching came to my attention just last Wednesday. Most cycling enthusiasts have heard of Everesting by now, I suppose. Now, along comes its inverse: Trenching! Both of them strike me as a Mont Blanc kind of thing: Because It\’s There! The term \”trenching\” is, at least in this case, quite the paradox. It wasn\’t a downhill-all-the-way thing. On the contrary, it involved some brutal climbing. I\’m glad that, at least, it wasn\’t like the trench shown at left. The rider\’s gearing makes my road bike\’s drivetrain look hard, indeed. He used a 32 chain ring; my road bike\’s crankset is a 50/34 (keep in mind that, for chain rings, smaller is easier). And an 11/42 cassette? Mine is a 12/30 (on the cassette, bigger is easier). Of course it helped that this man is a professional cross-country racer. No doubt he\’s in much better shape than most of us recreational riders. I\’d better not dream of trying to duplicate his feat! Some who take up Everesting and Trenching do so in order to raise funds for a worthy cause. Others enjoy doing it as competition. So-and-so \”climbed\” Mount Everest in X amount of time; can I do it in X-1 amount of time? It that\’s your thing, that\’s great. But I don\’t seem to have much in the way of the competitive spirit in me. I don\’t care whether or not I can do any one ride faster than so-and-so. For me, trying to outdo everyone else takes a lot of the pleasure out of cycling. So far, anyway. Who knows? Maybe one of these days something will kick in, and I\’ll try my first bicycle race. Before that, though, I need to learn how to \”read\”!

Trenching Read More »

Thick as Thieves?

BACK ISSUES / CAL

It seems that we\’re thick as thieves with our bicycles, doesn\’t it? Especially when you enjoy putting in those miles, and lots of them. That\’s fine, but we don\’t want out precious \”rides\” getting thick as thieves with bicycle stealers. How do we guard against such illicit relationships? If possible, keep your bicycles indoors when you\’re at home. If that isn\’t possible, what else is there to do? Good locks, to begin with. In fact, two locks are better than one. Not only that, but more than a single type of lock. A bicycle thief might have the tools to defeat one kind of lock, but not another. There are U-locks. There are cable locks. Some, such as this Kryptonite Cable Lock, use a key. The Master Lock Cable Lock uses a number combination. So somebody tell me: which is worse; forgetting the key, or forgetting that combination? If you can\’t keep your bicycle inside of your home, can you lock it to a sturdy fence post? Is there good lighting? It seems to me that a thief would prefer to work in the dark. To protect your bike from the weather, try a bicycle cover. When you go somewhere by bicycle, do your best to lock up your ride in an area where there will be a lot of people around. Potential witnesses might deter a potential thief. Also, be sure to secure your bicycle to something solid. If no bicycle rack is available, try the post of a streetlight, for instance. I can\’t say for sure which type of lock is \”best\”. According to various sources, it depends on the rate of bicycle theft in your area; how valuable your bicycle is; and so on. Here\’s an idea. If you want to know which kind of bicycle lock is just right — ask Goldilocks!

Thick as Thieves? Read More »

Forty or Fight?

BACK ISSUES / CAL

\”Fifty-four forty or fight!\” was a campaign slogan some two centuries ago. \”Forty or fight\” might describe my ride this morning: do 40 miles, or fight to keep going for a lesser distance. Today, fortunately, I didn\’t have to fight much. When I started out at 6:30 am, there was almost no wind. After having achy legs all last week, I suddenly felt stronger than usual. For an 11.4-mile segment of my ride, I averaged a shade over 15 mph! That\’s definitely an improvement. I\’m not yet capable of maintaining 15 mph for several hours at a time, and my overall average speed for 40.40 miles was a modest 12.77 mph. The weird thing is, although I seem to have gotten stronger, I still felt slow! Without the chest strap for my Garmin, I don\’t know for sure what my heart rate was. I tried to be aware of my RPE. I\’m sure that, at times, my heart rate was in it maximum range: rapid, deep breathing is a pretty good sign. Of course the temperature had climbed well into the 80s by the time I got back home. The wind was getting stronger on the return journey, but was more or less behind me most of the time. Forty or fight is to be the Sunday ride program for the next month or so. Tour de Cure is just five months away. But here\’s the rub. Do I work to ride 40 miles faster; or work to extend my mileage?

Forty or Fight? Read More »