SpokEasy

August 2020

Vacation Journal Day 2

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Vacation Journal Day 2! This morning I went out on the road bike. It wasn\’t a recovery ride, but all the same I kept my pace pretty casual. My legs still feel sort of tired. After I got home and ate breakfast, I got ready to ride the hybrid over to the weekly farmers\’ market. It\’s less than a mile away, but I rarely get to go there. They open at 9 am, by which time I am usually at work. Another reason I seldom shop there is that it\’s expensive. Today a single creole tomato cost three dollars! It\’s a big one, though; I\’d guess about four inches in diameter. And good, too. I also got a loaf of sourdough bread. It\’s round; rather small; and cost six bucks. When I got  home from the market, I cut  off a small slice as a sample. Wow! It\’s much better than the sourdough bread from the supermarket. It\’s got real texture; something I can get my teeth into. It\’s more flavorful, too. I sliced up the entire loaf and put it in the freezer. Otherwise, I was afraid the bread would go moldy before I could eat it all. After lunch, I did some more editing on my site\’s pages. I added a new product to my shop, and watched a YouTube or two. It looks like rain chances for tomorrow are greater than today\’s were. I hope it holds off until afternoon. I\’ve got more errands to run! And that rounds off Vacation Journal Day 2.

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Vacation Journal Day 1

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Vacation Journal Day 1! Today I\’m mostly staying home. Not that my abode looks anything like the pic at left; I\’m nowhere near that tidy. My place isn\’t nearly that fancy, either. It was a great luxury to not get up until 7:30 am. I needed the extra hours of sleep. Then I put a pot of brown rice on the stove, and washed yesterday\’s cycling clothes while the rice was cooking. After that, breakfast; then a walk to the nearby Walgreen\’s. Remember how people were buying toilet paper like crazy when the COVID-19 shut-down began? I was not immune to that craze, and took to buying the stuff whenever I could. Today I got more. There was plenty \”TP\” in the store, so I guess the panic has subsided. A small restaurant near Walgreen\’s had been listed as a drop-off place for glass jars for recycling. Before going to the store, I went to look for the drop-off bin. It was nowhere in sight. I asked at the restaurant, and was told that they aren\’t participating any more. Speaking of glass jars — some years ago I bought an 80 oz jar of whole dill pickles. I wanted to use the jar to store rolled oats. I put the pickles in smaller jars so I could have the big jar for my oats right away. I\’m glad I did that before plastic containers became so common. Plastic absorbs and holds odors. Other things stored in such a container also absorb the odors. Pickle-tainted oatmeal doesn\’t sound very agreeable to me! After lunch, I began editing work on some of my site\’s pages. One of them is driving me crazy. I\’m having terrible time getting a Good readability score! So that\’s Vacation Journal Day 1.

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Doctor\’s Orders?

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Doctor\’s orders? That\’s what the RXBar sounds like! Today I tried several flavors, including Chocolate Sea Salt. It was pretty good, but I liked Blueberry better. I hope I get to try Chocolate Raspberry soon! Today\’s ride didn\’t go so well. I started out feeling rather tired, and probably should not have pushed for 42 miles. Maybe I ought to have sought out doctor\’s orders not to ride so far! Not only did my legs seem tired; I kept feeling like my heart was working too hard. I can\’t be certain, because I wasn\’t wearing my HR monitor; the new strap came, but I haven\’t gotten it properly sized yet. Lucky for me, there wasn\’t much wind today. As I rode, I watched more and more clouds appear in the sky. Now and then they briefly covered the sun, which gave me some respite from the heat. I seem to have gotten a mite sunburned, even though I wore sunblock. The directions say to reapply it every 80 minutes. When it\’s as hot as today, though, that doesn\’t seem to be often enough. When I glanced down at my legs, I could see that the sunblock was runny; and it\’s supposed to resist water! Today I stayed on the small ring most of the time. I tried to moderate my cadence, but that seems to go against my nature. My legs will move fast! I\’d better skip riding tomorrow. I almost hope it\’s pouring, lest I be overly tempted. The break will probably do me good. And now for the highlight of today\’s ride: I saw a roseate spoonbill in flight! It\’s odd that I never saw any around here before.  

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Using It Up

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Yep, I\’m using it up; the stuff I\’ve had in the freezer, that is. It was taking up space, so I had to do something with it. I made a trip to the salvage store first thing today, as I often do on Saturdays. Sometimes I ask myself why I keep going to that store, when I\’ve already got so much stuff from there. Why don\’t I use it up before buying more? Back home from the store, I had to unload and make a run to the bike shop. I had ordered a new chest strap for my Garmin, and it was ready for me to pick up. When I completed that errand, it was time for lunch; and also to calculate how much this morning\’s excursion to the salvage store saved me over regular supermarket prices. Finally, I could start the soup. I was able to get five containers of odds and ends out of the freezer: cooking liquid from black beans, for one. I put in lentils, and carrot and potato. It tastes pretty good, if I may say so. Around noon I thought I heard some faint grumbles of thunder. I was soon too busy cooking to pay attention to the weather. I finally did hear thunder for sure. The sky had become gray; welcome relief from the sun. A town not far from here had a Special Weather Statement about a severe T-storm. Far better to get something like that over with now, I say. Tomorrow is long-ride day, and I don\’t need lightning cracking overhead then. A long ride means getting an electrolyte drink ready; I did that while I was busy in the kitchen anyway. I need to make a recovery drink, too; I\’ve got that whey protein powder, and I must be using it up.    

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What Shall I Do?

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What shall I do next week, while I\’m on vacation? One of the first things I thought of was Central Grocery, and a half-muffuletta (say, \”muffa-lotta\”). It seems that they\’re operating, but on reduced hours. I suspect that the lunch counter is off-limits. It would be rather a nuisance to buy my sandwich, and have to get it home before I could enjoy eating it. Seven days is hardly enough time for an epic-style bicycle ride. Sure, I want to get in a few extra miles, but if I were to do a cycling tour, I\’d want it to be at a slow enough pace that I could enjoy the scenery! I intend to do my Sunday long ride as usual, but maybe a long, leisurely ride during the week would be fun. It might be fun to take a ride of 10-15 miles and have lunch at a new restaurant! COVID-19 unfortunately makes such a venture seem improbable for the foreseeable future. More cooking is on the agenda. I\’ve been working the last two weeks to eat up what was already in the freezer, before cooking more stuff. First on the list is a \”garbage soup\”, to use up such items as juice from canned tomatoes. I\’m thinking of making another Hoppin\’ John variation; this time using mayocoba beans. Of course I must visit the salvage store tomorrow. Maybe I\’ll even go a second time during the week, just for a change of pace. Sometimes, however, I find myself thinking, what shall I do with all the stuff I get from there? I could probably live for a month or more on what I\’ve already got! I can get a little extra sleep; listen to music; enjoy reading my favorite books. Then, before I know it, it will be back to the salt mines!

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Frenemies

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Frenemies abound in the cycling world. Wind. Hills. Bad riding surfaces. The trick is to find ways to turn something bad to your advantage. I\’ll start with wind, since it\’s the one I know best. It\’s also the one that any cyclist in any location is bound to encounter. We all know the groans of having to turn into a strong headwind; especially on the second half of a long ride. Riding hard into a headwind is way to turn that enemy wind into a training opportunity, i.e. a frenemy. If you need to train for a hilly event, but live where the land is flat, such efforts are one way to get your \”hill training\”. Even if you aren\’t training for hills, this is a way to build better strength. Getting too tired to push hard into the wind? Shift to an easy gear, and work on your spin. Souplesse is worth developing. It\’s satisfying to watch, and allows you to pedal more efficiently. Let\’s move on to hills. Some cyclists love them; some cyclists hate them. Others love to hate them.  To complicate matters, there are many different types of grade; length of climb; and I don\’t know what all else. My accustomed riding route has a few humps to get over, as well as the access ramp. Since Easter, my \”climbing\” technique has changed. All of a sudden, while getting over a hump, I was pulling upwards on the handlebars and pushing my feet harder against the pedals. I\’m not actually rising out of the saddle, but you could say that I\’m \”light in the saddle\”; my full weight isn\’t on it. Where did that come from? Bad riding surfaces are all but inevitable. While they aren\’t fun, they can give us a chance to practice our bike handling skills; especially if we\’re into mountain biking and can\’t easily get to the single track to practice. So there you are. Three frenemies of cyclists!  

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Under the Northern Lights

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Under the Northern Lights 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.” Go riding under the Northern Lights? Norway makes me think of cold; snow; thermal wear; and the aurora borealis. In these dog days of Summer, such thoughts might help to cool us off! Norway seems to offer a great deal for adventurous cyclists. The country even has its  own big event: The Arctic Race! This Scandinavian land is warmest in late July. If I wanted to see Norway without the bitter cold of Winter, I would have to go then. Otherwise I would need to invest in some good polar sports clothing; and maybe a fat-tire bicycle for riding over the snow. Where shall I start? Perhaps not with Rallarvegen! I’d love to see the waterfalls; and I’ve never had the chance to see a fjord. Steep descents, on the other hand, aren’t my cup of tea. If I were an avid mountain biker I might enjoy it! The big allure of the Rallarvegen tour, for me, is that it includes Bergen. I’d like to go there, and visit Troldhaugen. Mid-July through late September is the best time to tackle Rallarvegen; but be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Also be ready for some rough stretches of road. There are other options, naturally. These national cycling routes offer a great deal of variety.  Some are relatively flat; others are quite rugged. Norway is home to some stunning scenery, as well as plenty of chances for cycling adventure. But roll with a troll? I might want to pass on that! If you want to ride under the Northern Lights, Spring and Autumn are the best times. How marvelous it would be to ride under a starry sky, with the borealis flickering above! 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 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 2024! January 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Thermogenesis

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Thermogenesis is what makes us humans warm-blooded. It\’s how we burn calories, especially when we exercise! It\’s why we don\’t have to park ourselves on sunny rocks to keep warm on chilly days. I\’m quite amused at the designation EAT for exercise-associated thermogenesis. Exercise burns calories, but can also make us hungry. And what do we do then? We EAT! Be careful not to depend on thermogenesis alone to keep you warm in cold weather. Assist it with proper clothing, lest hypothermia set in. Oddly enough, severe hypothermia can make the sufferer feel hot; resulting in possibly fatal shedding of clothing. Just because we\’re still in the dog days, and it\’s swelteringly hot, doesn\’t make it inappropriate to discuss cold-weather cycling gear. In fact, it\’s a good time to start putting together that Winter wardrobe. Then we\’ll be ready for that first cold front a few months from now. An even better time would have been late Winter, when things were likely to be on special sale! What all do we need for our cold-weather cycling wardrobes? That depends on several factors. How cold do Winters get where you live? Is your Winter season typically wet, or dry? Does it snow, and how much? What is your tolerance for cold temperatures? Some cyclists enjoy riding in snow. As long as I live here I\’ll probably never get the chance to try it. In fact, on the rare occasions when it does snow, it\’s too cold for me! For one thing, the humidity makes the cold penetrate right down to my bones. My hands and feet especially feel the cold. Maybe my thermogenesis needs a boost. Or perhaps I just need some good thermal socks!    

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Drawing a Blank

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I\’ve been drawing a blank! Don\’t we all know that sinking feeling when we\’re about to begin a long ride; and see that we forgot to recharge the bicycle computer? It happened to me yesterday. As a rule, I recharge my Garmin on Friday night. This past Friday I overslept, and didn\’t go out on the road bike; I wanted to get a few things from Whole Foods. That made it only too easy to forget about the recharging. This morning, while preparing to ride, the thought suddenly struck me: DID I charge up that Garmin? I couldn\’t remember for sure. I found out when I turned the thing on. I had forgotten! I couldn\’t take the time to recharge right then. I wanted to get going early, before the heat got bad; I had a ride of 42 miles in mind. In addition, I knew that T-storms were possible starting from about 11:00 am. The Garmin held out at least to my turnaround point, so I could easily calculate my total distance. Determining time was trickier. I had to check the clock when I got home, and go from there. Starting out at barely 6:00 am turned out to be a wise move. The heat didn\’t begin to be really bothersome until I had only 5 miles left to go. I made it home two hours before the first rain. Speaking of drawing a blank, let\’s be glad it resulted in an under-charged bicycle computer. Suppose I had taken off without my Camel-Bak? That would have been a very short ride; I would have had to return home to get my water supply. How did cyclists manage long rides before the \”CB\” was invented? Somebody will have to tell me that. I\’m drawing a blank.

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Going Teutonic

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Going Teutonic I’m going Teutonic again! Cooking up Kooky Kookaburra; and listening to the Kookaburra song, immediately had me making up a parody. My brain refused to let it go at that. The leaven soon went to work, as the old saying goes, trying to create a version in German! It’s taken more than two weeks, but I think I’ve got it: Kookaburra wohnt in der alten Eiche, Jagt die kleine Fische in dem tiefen Teiche; Singt! Kookaburra; Singt! Kookaburra; Singet schön für mich! I hope I’m not unwittingly pirating somebody else’s version. In English, it means: Kookburra lives in the old oak tree, [And] hunts the little fish in the deep pond; Sing! Kookaburra; Sing! Kookaburra; Sing beautifully for me! To be honest, I suppose most people would not find this bird’s call “beautiful”. I’m sure Wagner would have had no use for that voice. It sounds to me more like monkeys than a bird. I’m afraid I must cut this post short. Going Teutonic sometimes short-circuits my brain.

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