SpokEasy

December 2020

Sizing It Up

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I\’m sizing it up; or, at least, I\’m trying to. I really need a new cycling jacket. Monday night I was checking some online. I found one that I liked, but the size chart gave me pause. For that particular jacket, an EXTRA small is for height 5\’2\” to 5\’3\”. That right there is taller than I am! But the waist measurement given is several inches too small. I\’m aware that clothing size charts might give measurements that are smaller than the actual size of an item. But why risk buying a jacket \”sight unseen\” — and being unable to fasten it around my waist? That\’s why I like to see things and try them on before buying. Unfortunately my local bike shop is out of cold-weather gear. It\’s going to get chilly by week\’s end; and I hope the jacket that I finally did order is here by then. I\’m sizing it up for 2021, too. Who isn\’t? What are my cycling goals for the New Year? Is it enough to just keep riding; or is it wiser to keep working to increase my pace? What more can I do if I want to get faster? Longer efforts riding a few mph faster than is comfortable? Tabata intervals? Of course I want to keep my weight under control; and I have to maintain my efforts to get my A1c level down. Since February it seems to be stuck despite my efforts to lessen it. But what do I have to do to get it to budge? Looks like my diet needs more sizing up, too.

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Scratching out Tradition?

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I\’m scratching out tradition; or I thought I was. Yesterday I got my \”New Year\’s\” dinner: Chinese take-out in the form of General Tso\’s Chicken combination plate. There\’s an old saying that, if you want to move forward in the New Year, you should eat pork for New Year\’s. If you eat chicken, supposedly you\’ll go backwards all year. This stems from the foraging habits of pigs and chickens. The pig pushes forward when looking for food; but the chicken scratches backwards. I\’m not too concerned about that; and I prefer chicken to pork or ham, anyhow. Besides, we\’re neither going into the Year of the Pig; nor just leaving it. Come to think of it, the Chinese New Year 2021 falls on February 12 of the Western calendar. Ergo it\’s not New Year\’s yet! So my having had General Tso\’s Chicken for dinner doesn\’t count — right? Besides, today I saw that I\’m not scratching out tradition entirely. I rode to the salvage store this morning. I though I\’d get some hot dogs; and while looking at them, I found single-serve packets of thin-sliced ham. I got one so I can make a ham sandwich on January 1. I\’m glad I went to the store today. As tomorrow is New Year\’s Eve, it might be pretty crazy. They might well be closed for New Year\’s (I forgot to check for that); and Saturday it will be much colder than it was this morning. I sure got the wind on the way home today, though. It got as strong as 20 mph, with some much stronger gusts. I was thankful that I wasn\’t hauling the trailer! I would have had to granny-gear it all the way!

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Iran

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Mesopotamia 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.” This article shows that cycling in Iran isn’t so impossible as one — read, I — might imagine. On the contrary, a bicycle journey through Iran can be inexpensive; the people are hospitable; it apparently is a good deal safer than I thought; and, judging from the pics, it’s a beautiful country. Quite mountainous, though. So, with that out of the way, what routes are there for prospective cycle tourists? You might want to start by considering one of these; especially if you’re a mountain biking enthusiast. Do classic sites interest you? Visit Shiraz and other cities; and tour nine UNESCO cultural heritage sites. Or, pedal through Dasht-e Kavir. There are numerous oases and villages along the way; and you’ll follow parts of the Silk Road. But be sure you have your Camel-Bak! If you want something wetter, there’s the Persian Gulf Coast tour. You’ll have the chance to explore some historic ports; and some UNESCO sites as well. This nation sounds quite fascinating. If you want to head there for a cycling adventure, here are some tips.  Taking along your own bicycle? You’ll need a travel case for it. Be prepared to dress modestly, men and women alike; and keep this in mind for your travel wardrobe. Learn some ta’arof; and a bit of lingo; and, finally, salaam. 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 I Traverse Afar? December 18, 2023 I Envy Time December 17, 2023 Holiday Food December 16, 2023 Glad I’m Home December 15, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Going Traditional

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I\’m going traditional today! For years, I did my laundry after work on Wednesdays. Since the pandemic began, that pattern has shifted. I got very tired by the end of the day on weekdays. Other things kept me busy: cooking; meal planning; and logging not only what I ate; but calories and carbs as well. Even when I worked from home all week, that was a bit much. It still is. I wound up doing laundry on Sunday afternoons! This time, I didn\’t even get to it on Sunday. Thus I\’m going traditional; and did my washing today, Monday. I\’ve been off of work for a whole week, and that meant less of a load; especially as cool-to-cold weather means I can use the same blouse for several days. The job took about an hour and a half. Partway through, I had to grab a half-ounce of mozzarella cheese to hold me over until I could finish; and then I fixed a salad: two cups of mixed salad greens (purchased at the salvage store); half an avocado, sliced; a half-cup of Bald Eagle; with a tablespoon of mild green taco sauce; a chopped scallion; and sliced, garlic-stuffed olives as topping. It was worth the effort. Now then, what shall I do this afternoon? Go for a ride? I already rode to the supermarket this morning; but that was only about seven miles; and the weather is great for a spin on the levee right now.

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Popcorn!

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I want popcorn! But why? Preparing it means an oily pot to clean up; and don\’t get me started about the hulls sticking between my teeth. I\’m watching a YouTube about the destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD. It\’s a favorite subject of mine; but why does watching a video make me want popcorn? It\’s many and many a year since I last went to the movies! And did I even buy that snack then? This food isn\’t bad as an off-bike snack. Oil-popped, it has about 55 calories per cup; and just over 6 grams of carbs. Air-popped, the count is 31 calories per cup. Of course, that\’s without the addition of butter and other caloric toppings. Sort of like with potatoes … hey, that\’s an idea. Popcorn with cheese and chives! Popcorn wouldn\’t make good ride food, I\’m quite sure. It isn\’t sustaining enough for hours of pedaling; and I\’d have to cram my Camel-Bak full of it. Then what would I do for water? These weird cravings hit now and then, and I don\’t know why. If anything, they seem worst when I\’m not hungry! So what\’s up? Am I thirsty? Do I need to get up and get moving? Would green tea help? At the moment, I think I\’ll let hot chocolate go; I don\’t want to overshoot my carb count. Or am I tired? I was up too late last night, I admit. Having two weeks off from work is spoiling me rotten. I can sleep until 8 am if I want to! Whatever brought on this craving, I have to knock off other stuff and go wash the dishes. Thanks to my laziness in that matter, I have to leave laundry for tomorrow!

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Post Christmas

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Here we are, post Christmas. When I was a kid, that lasted quite a while. We never put up our Christmas Tree until after supper on December 23. Then, we put on the lights; and installed the angel on top. After breakfast the next morning, we hung all the ornaments. As we kids got older, it became difficult to find room for all of them! Then the Tree stayed up until January 6. After supper that evening, we\’d take it down. Santa had always \”forgotten\” a treat under the Tree; so Christmas didn\’t quite end until then. This holiday season — in fact, all of 2020 — has been weird, and not only for me. It\’s been strange for everyone, all over the world. COVID-19. There\’s been some wild, crazy weather in the USA the last couple of days, including tornadoes. On Christmas Day I usually get together with the folks who lived nearby while I was growing up; this year I decided to skip it. I sure missed seeing them, but why take unnecessary chances with that virus? Yesterday the chill factor was still in the 30s. Between that and my wardrobe problems, I decided to \”ride\” indoors again. I blew my diet big time, and I do mean BIG. Now I\’ve got to bring my palate back to heel. This morning I took a ride to Walmart, despite the cold weather. At least the wind was calm. I got some peppermint bark on sale; and wouldn\’t you know, I forgot to get Xmas cards for next year. The most important post Christmas item! Walmart wasn\’t crowded at all; in fact, it was rather empty. I was in and out rather quickly. In the store, I began to feel a bit hungry. I\’m proud of myself for having resisted the donut case!

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Chill Factor

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We\’ve got the chill factor today! All right, not as cold as in the above pic; but certainly cold enough for me. Yesterday it was warm for December; it reached 71 degrees, and it was overcast all day. The forecast was for rain and T-storms overnight; and strong wind (wind advisory!), with dropping temperatures today. This morning, at 7:15, it was 53 degrees. Strong wind of 23 mph. It was still overcast; and I hoped any further rain would wait until at least noon. I had errands to run! By 10 am the temperature had dropped several degrees; and as of noon, the wind is still going strong. There\’s even a gale warning out for small craft, and the sky is still overcast. But by evening it should be clear again; and it looks like I might get to go for a ride tomorrow! Not in the park, though. On Christmas morn, the youngsters with their new bikes are likely to be out in force at 6 am; I\’ve seen that in the past. I know they\’re excited, and eager to try out their \”wheels\”; but let\’s face it, that can make things perilous for other riders. You never know when a child might suddenly swerve out in front of you! On second thought, I just checked the forecast. The chill factor tomorrow will still be in the 30s. Along with our usual high humidity, that will make it bone-numbing out there. I might have to be content with a spin in the trainer.

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Christmas Eve Eve

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Here it is, Christmas Eve Eve; and a gloomy, gray day. Not that it\’s especially cold. In fact, it\’s warm for December; about 71 degrees. That, however, will soon change. Rain and T-storms are expected tonight; and tomorrow the wind will get much stronger. The temperature will drop into the mid-40s. Knowing the forecast, I rode a few extra miles this morning. It looks like I won\’t want to ride outdoors tomorrow! Time to set up the trainer again. Gee, aren\’t I a wimp? As to rain, it started earlier than I expected. About half past noon I walked over to the drug store. When I came out, it had already rained a little. I was glad I had my umbrella with me; and I\’m glad I used it during the walk home. With still a block to go, the rain began again. The slightest amount of rain elicits groans from me for the time being; even if I\’m not cycling. Who knows how long the neighborhood road construction will take; and in the meantime, there\’s mud, Mud, and MUD. It can take several days for it to dry out; and that\’s only if we don\’t get any more precipitation. This afternoon I can stay indoors. There\’s nothing I absolutely have to buy now, so I don\’t need to go to the stores; and for \”sport\” I plan to concoct another garbage soup. What else is there to do on Christmas Eve Eve? I could do some sweeping, for once. I\’m terrible about keeping up with housework; and if I tried to keep up with the dust, I\’d do nothing else! It\’s a matter of priorities: nutrition and blogging matter more than a clean apartment to me. Baking cookies? No; I don\’t have the ingredients. Sorry, Santa.

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Railroaded Again

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This morning I got railroaded again, you could say. I rode the hybrid to Whole Foods. As I was leaving home to go to the store, I heard a train\’s horn. It sounded very close, and I figured I wouldn\’t be able to cross the tracks to the bike path. So I took a different route to the store. On the way back home, I decided to take the longer route; and that meant I had to cross the railroad tracks to reach the bike path. That was a bad move! I was almost to the crossing when a freight train entered it. The locomotives were hardly well across when another freight train came along, going in the opposite direction. Two trains at once! Talk about getting railroaded; and railroaded again! It\’s lucky it wasn\’t too chilly, because it took at least 10 minutes for both trains to get past. While I waited, I lost most of the heat I had generated by riding. Less than halfway home on the bike path, I saw that the first train had stopped. I knew that it was blocking both of the crossings between me and home. I had to turn around and ride back to a crossing that I could use. What a nuisance! Some days there seem to be more trains than others. Or maybe I simply timed my trip to the store badly, and this was the result. Then again, there are days when everything seems to go wrong. I\’m glad there wasn\’t a train blocking the crossing yesterday evening. I would have been chawing my fingernails clean back to my elbows with impatience. Yes, I know; trains are vital for the transport of goods. But that doesn\’t mean that I have to like them.

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