SpokEasy

October 2020

Tire Woes

BACK ISSUES /

Tire woes are an unfortunate part of being a cyclist. After work today, I wanted to ride the hybrid over to the drug store. Before starting out, I decided to pump up its tires. For whatever reason, I gave the front tire a little squeeze before starting to pump; and it seemed soft. When I attached the pump\’s nozzle to the front tire valve, the gauge on the pump didn\’t budge, as it normally does. That seemed very odd. When I began pumping, the gauge didn\’t rise in the usual way. Then air began to rush out, even though the pump nozzle was still attached to the tire\’s valve. I knew then that I\’d be walking to the drug store! Not for the first time, I saw how much I take my bicycles for granted. Maybe the valve tore loose from the tube. Or did I roll over something last Saturday that caused a puncture? Either way, that front tire needs work. Unfortunately I don\’t dare try to do it myself. Since before last Christmas, I\’ve had tendonitis in my left thumb. I\’m sure it won\’t take kindly to the strain of getting a bicycle tire off of the rim. Tomorrow I\’ll call the bike shop. Tire woes aren\’t my only reason for going there. I bought a new chest strap for my Garmin a few months ago; and I still haven\’t figured out how to enter my heart rate zones into my laptop so that I can use the sensor during my rides! So I have to ask the guys at the bike shop for help with that as well. I sometimes feel like a helpless infant in the face of all this computerization. Did high-wheel enthusiasts feel like that about the newfangled safety bicycle?

Tire Woes Read More »

algeria blog post globetrotting page

Algeria

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Algeria 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.” Algeria makes me think first and foremost of Rossini. But how about bicycle touring there? If you stay near the coast, roads can be hilly; but not especially hard to manage. Traffic can be heavy near the  capital city of Algiers. Want mountain biking? You can tour the Atlas Mountains by bicycle. This mountain range crosses Morocco and Tunisia as well as Algeria; and it sounds like you can expect some stiff climbing! If you’d like to see something of the Sahara, there’s a loop through Ghardaia, Ouargla, Touggourt and Biskra. It isn’t the easiest route; but it’s doable. Actually riding into the Sahara is serious business; and potentially life-threatening. Better to rove the desert in a four-wheel drive; or on camelback. No, I don’t mean the hydration system! Even a full Camel-Bak won’t get you very far in that place. Be sure to take an ample supply of food and water, whatever  your transportation method. See here for more info about bicycle touring in this African country. Tours are on offer in all regions in the continent; primarily self-contained small groups. The people of Algeria are generally quite welcoming; honest; and helpful. However, this country is morally conservative; and women on bicycles need to be especially cautious, even in groups. And of course, check up on travel advisories before heading there. Me? I think I’ll stick with that Rossini overture! 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 Quantum Leap December 12, 2023 Afternoon Ride? December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Algeria Read More »

Nice Change

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

It was a nice change to have a tailwind on the way home during my weekly long ride. I still wasn’t fast; I did very little of pushing the pace. But I did, however, hit a max speed of over 22 mph when passing another cyclist! For once, I didn’t get home exhausted. The general weather today is also a nice change. It was in the low 70s when I started out, and about 80 when I got back home. That’s a welcome relief from the conditions of just a few weeks ago. Then, it was usually at least 80 degrees at 5 am! This morning it was cool enough for arm warmers. Unfortunately they kept slipping down, leaving a gap between arm warmers and the edges of my sleeves. I fear I’ll have pink bands around my biceps! That will look weird, won’t it? Today I tried two new foods: the RXBar Banana Chocolate Walnut; and the RXBar Coconut Chocolate. The Coconut Chocolate is better, I think. I also took along a Clif Bar; but I’m going to phase them out. Now that I have pre-diabetes and must watch carbs, I’m paying more attention to ingredient lists and the carbohydrate content of what I eat. Several days ago, I checked the ingredient lists for several flavors of Clif Bar. Every one shows brown rice syrup first! Clif Bars are also low in protein. The nutritionist says, look for at least 12 grams of protein in any bar that I want to use as ride food; and she says that RXBars are a good choice. Oh, and I almost forgot: I saw three roseate spoonbills in flight! Such sights make even the most grueling ride worth the effort.

Nice Change Read More »

Random Thoughts

BACK ISSUES /

My random thoughts can make me feel rather like I’m lost in a maze. I shift from thinking about Hurricane Delta to mulling over future cooking projects to keeping an eye on the expected weather conditions for tomorrow! New Orleans got lucky once again. If my neighborhood had a power outage, it was during the night; and brief. I didn’t even look like it had rained very much. Today I skipped the salvage store, and hit Whole Foods instead. I wanted some things from the bulk bins; the salvage store is unlikely to have buckwheat. I decided to get tofu to experiment with; and I got cucumbers for snacks. I tried to remember to check labels for nutrition facts as I went through the store. Both the nurse-practitioner and the nutritionist have mentioned that. It’s important now that I must keep tabs on my carb intake. Cooking projects are on the back burner, so to speak. My freezer is still too full to hold them. After visiting Whole Foods this morning, I had to cram in hazelnuts, buckwheat, and sunflower seeds. When there’s enough room in there, I have another Hoppin’ John variation in mind: Liltin’ Limas! Tomorrow is long-ride day, and that’s when I really go overboard with the carbs! When I’m riding for several hours, I have to have the calories; and my answer to that has long been various bars: Clif Bars, and so on. When I was with the nutritionist last Tuesday, I asked about that. She says, look for bars with at least 12 (or was it 18?) grams of protein. RX Bars are good, she says, and Clif Builder’s Protein Bars. So, RX Bars tomorrow. I’ll try some new flavors; and continue my random thoughts as I pedal.

Random Thoughts Read More »

Stormy Thoughts

BACK ISSUES /

\”Stormy thoughts\” doesn\’t automatically mean that I\’m angry about something. With Hurricane Delta about to hit land, stormy thoughts are with most everybody on or near the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. I can\’t say how condition were early this morning. I shut off my alarm clock and fell back asleep — again😒! — and didn\’t have time to ride before work. At lunchtime, the wind seemed to be picking up. I rode to the drug store for a few things, anyway, so that I could get in at least some pedaling time. The sky was mostly cloudy, and I was surprised when the sun made a brief appearance. I was also surprised at the lack of crowds at the store, but of course was glad I didn\’t have to wait through a long check-out line. If there had been such a line, I would have left the store because I couldn\’t afford the time. The wind has now reached 25 mph. So far it hasn\’t rained, but I suppose it could begin at any time. This is, perhaps, the worst part of having a tropical storm anywhere nearby. I\’m on tenterhooks, waiting for all H*** to break loose. It\’s frustrating when nothing much happens; and I realize that I could have gone for a ride, or made a trip to the grocery store. It looks like things will be calmer tomorrow morning. I hope so! I want to make a grocery run, and then go for a real ride. It will probably be a short one; and Sunday I can do a long ride. So I still have Delta on my mind, but am less concerned that I was. Let\’s send some thoughts to the citizenry of Lake Charles. Two hurricanes in six weeks!

Stormy Thoughts Read More »

Pizza?

BACK ISSUES /

Pizza for breakfast? Well, sort of. A while back a local pizzeria had a sign out front, advertising cauliflower-crust pizza. Remembering that sign gave me an idea for this morning\’s breakfast. I need to use up the cauliflower in the fridge in any case, so I steamed a cup of chopped cauliflower. I put it over a layer of quinoa, another food item I need to finish. Meanwhile I heated a cupful of Boyardee. I poured it on top of the other layers; and put a little mozzarella cheese over all. It was pretty good. I sure get some odd ideas for breakfast, don\’t I? Strangely, I kept feeling hungry all day, and carb-watching fell by the wayside. Maybe I\’m simply overtired, and keeping my mind focused on work was stressful. That can easily masquerade as hunger. Perhaps I didn\’t eat quite enough yesterday. Have I been overly-zealous about my diet, and my body demanded a break? I certainly had a hankering after chocolate! Or was it that I didn\’t ride enough this morning? I didn\’t even feel like doing it; but I know that the weather tomorrow might prevent outdoor exercise. I just went to the park and rode around three times. That was better than nothing. Today\’s main preoccupation has been, of course, the hurricane out there. The latest forecast shows that Delta is heading for SW Louisiana; as if the poor people there haven\’t had enough already! They were slammed by Hurricane Laura only six weeks ago. A tropical storm warning is in effect for my city. We\’ll see how things go soon enough. In the meantime, I must think of some more exotic breakfasts!

Pizza? Read More »

Ahead of the Race?

BACK ISSUES /

Hurricane Delta got ahead of the race this afternoon. At about 1:50 pm, the power went out. I though, \”Wait, this isn\’t supposed to happen until tropical storm conditions set in!\” Not until day after tomorrow. Luckily the outage lasted only about 10 minutes, but it took a half-hour or so for me to get back on the Internet. I forgot that, whenever the power goes out, I have to re-set the modem. Maybe I\’m getting ahead of the race, too: what if Delta knocks out the power? I\’m worried that an outage will last long enough for everything in fridge and freezer to spoil! But maybe it won\’t happen, after all. Can I ride tomorrow? Rain chances are 50%; and East wind at 15 mph. I\’ll wait and see how conditions are in the morning. I want to ride the hybrid to the supermarket; but what I most want is hummus, and hummus requires refrigeration. As things stand now, ride on Friday is out of the question. Winds of 25-35 mph are a bit too much for me. It\’s possible that my workplace will close for the day 😃 and my thoughts automatically went to cooking projects. Unfortunately the freezer is still crammed. On a brighter note: yesterday I bought a pint of Halo Top Sea Salt Caramel. Now I have a good excuse to finish it up!😉

Ahead of the Race? Read More »

Not the Airline

BACK ISSUES /

It\’s not the airline we mean down here just now, when we say \”Delta\”. There\’s a hurricane by that name in the Gulf, and it\’s heading in our general direction. Many years ago Delta Airlines had an advertising jingle on TV: \”Delta is ready when you are.\” Well, I can tell you that we are not ready for another hurricane, no matter what its name is. In fact, I think we have the equivalent of combat fatigue. We\’re certainly storm-weary. All these hurricanes; the pandemic; economic stress — we really need a break! Last time I checked, a few hours ago, Hurricane Delta is most likely to make landfall about 90 miles to the west of New Orleans. Good news for us; unfortunately, bad news for somebody else. Even so, the forecast says that tropical storm conditions are possible by Friday morning; and hurricane conditions are possible by Friday night. I must haul out the cable lock again, and hitch the trash can to the fence so it doesn\’t blow away. Meanwhile, conditions look all right for a ride tomorrow morning. Thursday? Maybe; maybe not. It\’s Friday when things will get really rough. It\’s time to set up the trainer. \”Riding\” that way is tedious; and if the power goes out, I won\’t want to do it because I\’ll overheat. If the wind is strong, opening a door to keep myself cool would be unwise at best. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best, the old saying goes. This is why I keep hitting the salvage store for more canned stuff. Having a good supply on hand at all times actually gives me a certain sense of security. So look out for Delta — no, not the airline!

Not the Airline Read More »

The Mother of Invention

BACK ISSUES /

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes. Just look at what need can lead to: vaccines. The light bulb. Even the forerunner of today\’s bicycles! Necessity is the mother of invention in the kitchen as well as the workshop. What can you do when it seems like there\’s nothing to eat? Or when the same old thing appears too often? I can\’t speak for anybody else, but I know what I do. I invent something! I\’ve already made up about six variations on Hoppin\’ John. Sometimes I make up something new. When freezer and/or fridge are getting too crammed with containers of leftovers, a garbage soup is in order. The freezer is now stuffed with things that I\’ve cooked; bags of cheese cubes; and frozen fruit and green beans. I certainly don\’t need to buy food for a while. Good thing; we might see hurricane conditions later in the week. Back to inventions. A few weeks ago I bought a package of two frozen, pre-grilled chicken breasts. One was still in the freezer, and I decided to use it and get it out of there. While it was heating up, I chopped a cup of cauliflower. Once the chicken was out of the pot, I put the cauliflower to steam. I chopped up the chicken while I waited for the cauliflower to cook. Then I tossed the chicken and cauliflower together, with a little sprinkle of ground ginger; a half-teaspoon of sesame seeds; and some chopped scallion top. Then I shook on some soy sauce, and dove in. How did it turn out? I\’d make it again. Maybe with broccoli instead of cauliflower. Or sweet potatoes. Or…

The Mother of Invention Read More »

Too Late?

BACK ISSUES /

Is it too late now to really improve my strength and stamina in time for Tour de Cure? Have I done too little? I have a suspicion that I\’ve been too lackadaisical about my training. Today I rode 32.3 miles, a little shy of the 35 miles I had planned. On the way back home, the wind got as strong as 13 mph. My overall average on this ride was a plodding 10.46 mph. I have to admit, though, that I was making a deliberate effort not to hurry! On the one hand, I seem to be doing a little better at battling headwinds. On the other, I can\’t hold the kind of pace that I want, for as long as I want. Especially not in the face of said headwinds. I think that means, more pushing the pace on my weekday morning rides; and start doing force intervals again. I\’ve rather let them go for a while because I kept feeling tired. But is it too late? I have only a few more weeks for them now. And, what shall I take for \”ride food\” on TdC Day? I continue to experiment with various on-bike foods. Speaking of food, this afternoon I finally got around to cooking quinoa; and yesterday I made a garbage soup. I have no idea what it tastes like, because it all went straight into the freezer. Well, not straight from the hot stove! Now that I have pre-diabetes, what else can I cook? Many of my hot dog variations are off the menu now; but I can still make tikka masala with chicken sausages and tomato sauce. In fact, I had better go mix it up right now; and then I can have some for supper.

Too Late? Read More »