SpokEasy

July 2020

Early Hours

BACK ISSUES /

Early hours don\’t always work. Especially when you got to bed an hour late the night before! This morning again, I fell back asleep. It was already 6:00 when I finally woke up. Too late to go out on the road bike? No, and yes. No, because I could have gone riding and still have been back home in time to clock in for work. Yes, because I wanted to take advantage of the 7:00 am to 8:00 am Senior Hour at Whole Foods. They have it Wednesdays and Fridays. I\’m old enough to qualify for that, or at any rate I think I am. Nobody has asked to see an ID so far. There were a few things I wanted that I don\’t remember seeing at other stores; and the plan for tomorrow morning is a salvage store run. By the time I\’m home from that, it will be at least 10:00, and getting beastly hot. The heat index is forecast to climb as high as 106! So this morning I got my fragrance-free shampoo. I bought some almonds from the bulk bins; two tubes of Nuun tablets; a couple of Clif Bars; and bananas. I could put everything but the bananas in my bike trunk. I brought along a pannier especially for those bananas. Here\’s why. One time I let some bananas ride home from the store in the bike trunk. The poor fruits got badly bruised, thanks to some rough riding over the rough streets around here. I\’m not going to transport \”nanners\” that way again if I can avoid it! That\’s one errand out of the way, before the weekend properly began. Whole Foods\’ early hours gave me a head start.

Early Hours Read More »

Slovenia

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Slovenia 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.” Coastal Slovenia, with its Mediterranean climate, is suitable for cycling year-round. Summers are dry; Winters are mild and wet. Elsewhere, Slovenia has varied topography and climate zones. Away from the coast, you’ll find continental or alpine climates. Whatever the climate region, you can choose from among many types of tours: uphill or downhill; flat or hilly; long or short. Spacalova Pot sounds like a nice warm-up; not quite 7.5 miles. There’s a little climbing involved, but the course profile looks like it isn’t very steep. Beautiful Istria? The adjective would attract most anybody; but get your climbing legs ready. This one-day, 72-mile tour means almost 4000 feet of climbs; and one look at the course profile tells me that the grades are far from gentle. MTB enthusiasts might enjoy the Sorgenti del Rio Bianco. This 24.25 mile hilly course tops out at nearly 3000 feet. It sounds like this one is a bit off the beaten path. Great for nature lovers! As usual, be prepared for the weather. Remember those wet winters! Take rain gear with you. An average winter climate that’s at the freezing point is more than “cool” to me; it’s — well — freezing! Be sure to pack cold-weather gear, too. Slovenia sounds like a beautiful place to go for a cycling tour. Although a small country, it has very diverse topography: mountains; flatlands; and coast. There’s sure to be a cycling tour to suit everyone! 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 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Slovenia Read More »

Kosovo

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Kosovo 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.” Kosovo sounds, to me, like an exotic place; perhaps because I barely know the country’s name. And after reading this, I’m not sure I could withstand a bicycle tour there. A number of routes are rated “expert”. These require very good fitness; and quite a lot of climbing is involved. Luckily there are some routes that are suited to any rider, such as the loop from Kosovska to Mitrovica Sever. Or browse this list to find a tour suited to your ambitions and abilities. As of September 2023, there are 1212 cycling routes available; so there’s likely to be one that’s right for you. Let me see. The Rugova Valley route, among the hilly ones, includes about 3428 feet of climbing. That means means some rather thin air at the top; thin for someone accustomed to sea level, at least. I’d want a hypoxic mask if I were to train for that! Although I didn’t find a note as to grade, the route profile that is provided makes it look quite steep. I’m not sure that even a triple crankset would let me make those grades. I’d be sure to flunk, big time. I think I’ll pass on that; and focus on the flat routes. Gazivod, maybe. Its 63 km means only a bit over 39 miles; a distance that I know I can manage. As always for group rides, I’m concerned about the pace. Would I be able to go fast enough for long enough to hang with the others? Let’s talk a bit about the weather you might expect to encounter. First, the temperatures. July in particular can bring high heat. Be sure to keep properly hydrated; and remember that you aren’t racing up Mont Ventoux! Kosovo gets some 270 days of sunshine per year. Even so, pack some rain gear; you never know. From café culture to gorgeous mountains, this small country has plenty to see and do. 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 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 2024! January 1, 2024 Out with a Bang December 31, 2023 Seven-Up December 30, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Kosovo Read More »

A Matter of Degree?

BACK ISSUES /

A matter of degree? Sure! Neowise sounds like a newly-minted PhD. I have to remind myself that it\’s a comet. As soon as I read about this comet, I hoped I would be able to see it. Alas, my efforts bore no fruit. The first day I tried was Wednesday, July 15. My alarm clock didn\’t sound, and it was already past 5:30 when I got up. There was far too much daylight to make comet-gazing possible. The next morning I tried again. Unfortunately I didn\’t remember exactly where in the sky to look for the comet. What looking I could do between force intervals had me eyeing the wrong part of the sky. Friday, I thought I remembered reading something about looking close to Venus just before daylight. Still no luck. I checked online again. It said to look near the Big Dipper just past sunset. I tried it; again no success. Saturday at noon, the forecast for the evening said it would be mostly clear. Even so, I decided to skip the comet-chasing. My legs were tired, and I had a long ride planned for Sunday. The forecast for that Sunday night was a stormy one; but then I read online that Neowise will be visible until mid-August. That gave me some hope. Perhaps I\’ll get to see the comet, after all? Sunday, July 19 it was cloudy much of the day. Monday night I decided it would be wise to skip it; I had oral surgery scheduled for the next morning. \”Wise\”, eh? Remember that PhD. It\’s a matter of degree.

A Matter of Degree? Read More »

Helmet Head

BACK ISSUES /

Helmet Head Helmet head isn’t only about a bad hair day. Other problems can crop up as well. For instance, an itchy head. That’s been bothering me a lot lately. I’ve no doubt that the cause is a sweaty head. Many a day the temperature at 5 am is already in the low 80s. Even a well-ventilated helmet doesn’t keep my head from becoming hot and sweaty. I wear the thing, though; better a sweaty head than a concussion or a skull fracture! One night last week, before getting in the shower, I mixed up a rinse: 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar in a pint of warm water. I put the lid on the jar so the solution wouldn’t get diluted, and took it into the shower with me. After shampooing and rinsing my hair, I poured the vinegar solution over my head; rubbed it in a little; and rinsed it out. It seemed to help relieve the itchiness a bit, so maybe I should do it more often. Not that I truly enjoy it; vinegar doesn’t smell so good. In cold weather, use of a helmet liner keeps my hair smoother; but that, of course, is not my real reason for wearing one. My head is very sensitive to cold. If I didn’t have that helmet liner, rides on cold days would be absolutely miserable. Helmet head isn’t a big deal to me. My helmet-crumpled hair brushes out easily. I’m lucky in that respect; my hair is fine and soft. If it were thick, I might have more trouble. I also wonder whether avoidance of helmet head is why so many pro cyclists have such short hair!

Helmet Head Read More »

In a Hurry

2 Comments / BACK ISSUES /

In a hurry is pretty much the story of my life. I started trying to run as soon as I had found my own feet; or so my mother always told me. On the days when I want to ride easy, it\’s very hard for me to pedal slowly. I might be in an easy gear; but my legs are still cranking away at over 80 rpm. Even my inventions in the world of food can be in a hurry. Yesterday I created Gallopin\’ Garbanzos! Not that this is exactly a \”fast\” dish; all the elements need to be prepared. Brown rice needs 30-45 minutes to cook. Pre-soaked and frozen garbanzos, I found, took only 20-30 minutes to cook \”al dente\” once the pot had come to a boil. I had to grate carrot and cheese; and chop onion and bell pepper. I don\’t dare try to do that chopping in a hurry; I\’m liable to end up with chopped fingers if I do! Today, for a change, I\’m not hurrying. I was worn out and slept late; and it\’s rainy, too. When I\’m on tenterhooks about the weather for days, it\’s actually a relief when bad weather comes! There won\’t be much of a weather window today when I could ride; but maybe after a while I\’ll don the poncho and ride the hybrid to the grocery store. When I went there during lunch break last Friday, I was in too much of a hurry to look for everything that I wanted.

In a Hurry Read More »

Like the Tortoise

BACK ISSUES /

I\’m like the tortoise. I got a slow start yesterday morning. It was already 5:45 when I got up! Gee, what a slacker I am! I decided to skip the ride, and do other things. I was a bit nervous about the weather. There was a tropical storm out in the Gulf (it\’s now a hurricane), and the forecast was for possible T-storms and heavy rain. It was another day of work-from-home. By lunchtime, I was getting restless. I wanted a few things for some cooking projects, so I rode the hybrid to the grocery store less than a mile away. Wouldn\’t you know, that is when it rained quite hard. When clock-out finally came at 4:30 pm, I plunged into cooking. Thinking about my hot dog concoctions got my mind onto trying something similar, but using cauliflower. After all, I had the cauliflower in the fridge, and it needed to be used up. Chopping cauliflower, I must admit, is a messy job. The vegetable crumbles all over the place! I used a 28 oz can of tomatoes; I had to chop the tomatoes, too. Earlier in the day I had chopped the onion and celery; now I chopped some yellow bell pepper, and minced three cloves of garlic. Once I tried to stir it all up in a pot, I saw that there wasn\’t enough liquid. I added a 15 oz can of tomato sauce to the mix; plus some white pepper, dry chimichurri, and salt. The name of my new invention: Chimiflower! When the chimiflower was finished cooking, I went out for a short ride on the road bike. I\’m glad I did. I didn\’t know what the weather might be doing today; and besides, I\’m still like the tortoise. I got off to a slow start again!  

Like the Tortoise Read More »

AM I?

BACK ISSUES /

Am I? Or am I not? A narcissist, that is. Narcissism is a hot topic these days. Only yesterday I read something about it in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic; and it made me wonder. The article said something about hoarding goods such as toilet paper and food; and refusing to obey wear-a-mask mandates. Supposedly these behaviors are \”narcissistic\”. OK, let\’s get at it. When I first began to hear about the virus having cropped up in the USA; and reports of that notorious toilet paper \”flying off the shelves\”, I decided I\’d better lay in a supply. Further speculation that we might have to remain indoors for months prompted me to buy more toilet paper whenever I could; and Ivory Soap®, too. You know: Just In Case. Does that mean I\’m narcissistic, or merely a sensible person who looks ahead? And food! I\’ve built up quite a supply of canned goods, thanks to my trips to the salvage store. Am I a narcissist because I don\’t go running around giving it to people? I don\’t think so. If a hurricane threatens, I don\’t want to have to make a frantic trip to the store, hoping there will be SOMEthing left on the shelves. Incidentally, there\’s a tropical depression out there in the Gulf of Mexico right now. We might get some rough weather, or even tropical storm conditions; although coastal Texas looks like it will take the main brunt of it. And masks! I wear one when I go into a store; or have to see a doctor; need to use public transit; or am going about on foot. On the bicycle it\’s different. A mask is too smothery during strenuous exercise! Does such thinking mean I\’m a narcissist? Am I narcissistic because I continue to ride at all? I don\’t know. I\’m just glad it\’s Friday.      

AM I? Read More »

What Does It Mean?

BACK ISSUES /

What does it mean when you dream certain things? It is often said that dreams are trying to tell you something. Of late I\’ve been dreaming more often about riding a bicycle. At least twice I\’ve dreamed that I was suddenly able, with no effort, to bunny-hop my bike! In actuality, I think I\’d need a powerful lucky charm to help me with that little trick. After ten and a half years and more than 49,000 miles, it should come as no surprise that I sometimes dream about cycling. But dreaming about bunny-hopping? Is my subconscious telling me to get to work and learn how to do it? I really don\’t know. I personally have never attached much, if any, meaning to my dreams. Some believe that dreams are the subconscious trying to send a message, or even that dreams are prophecy. That could be true. The story goes that the mother of a prospective passenger on the Titanic dreamed three nights in a row that the ship would sink in the middle of the ocean. She told her son about it, and convinced him to cancel his booking. As it turned out, Mom was right. Then there have been times when I woke up from a dream and wondered, \”What made me dream THAT?!\” So what does it mean when I dream really weird stuff?    

What Does It Mean? Read More »

Don’t Waste It

BACK ISSUES /

Don’t Waste It! “Don’t waste it” is what it’s all about. I don’t want food to go bad, forcing me to throw it out. As a rule, I try to avoid getting drawn into cooking projects on weeknights. A week ago last Monday, I felt that I had no choice. The previous Saturday I had bought some potatoes at the salvage store, and needed to use them up. For one thing, the bag that they were stored in was on the floor, where I kept stumbling over it. The potatoes didn’t seem to be the best quality, either; and I didn’t want them to rot before I could eat them. I made Potato-Spinach-Jack; a variation on Cauliflower Potato Cheddar mash. This recipe is on page 87 of The American Diabetes Association Vegetarian Cookbook. This is quite a simple dish; yet it takes up a surprising amount to time to prepare. I have to scrub, peel, and chop the potatoes. After putting them to cook, I have to grate the cheese and the nutmeg; drain the spinach (a messy job!); and chop the onion and bell pepper. I like freshly ground white pepper; I have to prepare that as well. When the potatoes are cooked, I use a large, slotted spoon to remove them from the cooking water. I put them in my 5-quart pot, and mash them using the back of the spoon; easy enough if I do it immediately. Then the rest of the ingredients go in; cheese first so it can melt. And I forgot to add salt! You may wonder why I’m so concerned with “use it up”. My mother, who was a youngster during the Great Depression, repeated this quote many a time: “Use it up! Wear it out! Make it do! Or do without!” So don’t waste it. Use it up instead.

Don’t Waste It Read More »