SpokEasy

August 2021

Special Bulletin

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Special Bulletin This is a special bulletin. I’ll have to go blow-by-blow, so to speak. To be exact, Hurricane Ida is approaching. I’m starting this on Saturday, August 28, even though it’s scheduled for Monday, the 30th. It’s presently just after 9:00 am on Saturday; and I’m expecting a ride out of town in about an hour. I’m not sure my laptop has remote Internet access; and I want minimal interruption to the blog flow! Hence this special bulletin. I got up very early, about 4:30 am; and really wanted to go for a ride. But the  laundry needed to be done; and I decided it was wise to get it done! So after I had something to eat, I did the laundry; and then I went for a short ride. And I do mean short: less than 8 miles. To compensate for the lack of mileage I did some short, hard efforts. I didn’t know when conditions might start to deteriorate; but I don’t think they expect that until later today, or even tomorrow. In fact, the sky didn’t look too bad. It was quite cloudy; but part of the time the sun was out. To Continue Sunday, August 29, 2021. To continue with this special bulletin, I had to shut down yesterday morning around 9:15. My ride came at about 10:00; and we headed for the Northshore. I was amazed that there wasn’t all that much traffic; and we made a rather quick trip. My friend had told me where she would meet me once I got across the lake; and I got to my friend’s house at about 11:00 am. She was very busy trying to get things ready for the storm; and also very worried about a Category 4 hurricane’s winds. There are numerous trees around the house; and she was scared of having trees fall on her home. We watched television coverage of Ida constantly; and this morning, a friend of hers suggested leaving if she could — again, because of the hazard of falling trees. Thus I’ve moved once again. It’s almost noon; and things don’t look bad. Yet. It’s coming, though; of that I’m sure. I brought my laptop with me, and my friend’s friend generously let me borrow her WiFi password so I could get on the Internet. I’ve got to look up how to get on WiFi once I’m back home! When I got back online, it occurred to me that I’m more attached to the Internet — and my web and my web site! than I ever thought. And On Special bulletin continuation. It’s shortly after 1:00 pm on Sunday. About half an hour ago, Ida hit the Louisiana coast; and they’re calling her a “monster”. As of 2:22 pm Sunday, it’s raining heavily. The wind is still pretty calm; and that surprises me. We have electricity so far; and just watched some footage from New Orleans. They’ve got downed trees already; and somewhere in Mississippi just got a tornado warning. I’m glad it isn’t here; but those poor folks in its path are in for a rough time. I sure missed going on my long ride today; and I hope I can start riding again very soon. I’m going to lose too much conditioning; and I need to continue practicing on-bike eating! I have no idea what things are like in my own neighborhood. I don’t expect street flooding; but power outages are a sure thing. I got online via WiFi; and won’t have it when we lose power here. Even if we did still have it, I don’t want to run down my laptop’s battery. I’d better keep that battery in case I need to send emergency emails!

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To Cook

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To cook; or no to cook? I really had to ask myself that Friday. My freezer was getting rather empty; and normally that means a weekend crammed with kitchen activities. But I wasn\’t sure it was a good idea to cook large amounts of food for the freezer. Not with a hurricane threatening our area! A full freezer stays cool longer; but on the other hand, a full freezer means more food that can spoil before the electricity supply is back. Instead of cooking, I filled quart yogurt containers with water, and froze them; and I made plenty of ice cubes, too. I thought about trying to fit in a pre-work run to the supermarket Friday morning; but after some thought decided to skip it. Given the situation, I had an idea that the store would be crowded even at 6:00 am. On top of that, I\’m not sure how well grapes will keep outside of the refrigerator; or cauliflower, for that matter. Friday I decided to leave work at noon. I didn\’t come home to cook; but I had to stop at the bank to get quarters. They close at 4:00 pm, so I couldn\’t wait to leave work at the usual hour. I also had to stop at the drug store to pick up a refill — and I got sodas, of course🙄 I\’m surprised that I didn\’t encounter long lines at either business. Maybe I got in just ahead of the crowds; but in the following 24 hours, things probably got really crazy! It\’s true what they say: don\’t wait until the last minute.

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Cycle Ops

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The Cycle Ops Fluid 2 trainer is handy when you can\’t ride outdoors — such as when your area is under threat from a hurricane. In Winter, when the chill factor drops to freezing or below, being able to \”ride\” indoors is useful. We don\’t get such cold weather very often; so I haven\’t had the opportunity to get used to it, or really learn how to dress for it. Even with warming packs inside my gloves, my fingers can get numb from the cold. My feet also get miserably cold, making me worry about frostbite. Cycle Ops is useful in another way, too. When I need to clean a bike; or lube the chain, I can fasten the bicycle into the trainer. This is ever so much easier than struggling to hold the bicycle up while I work on it. I\’d say this item is worth the money!

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Hurricane Party

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Hurricane Party Yesterday I had a hurricane party; sort of. I was in the mood for ice cream; but I wasn’t about to wait for hurricane conditions to set in before indulging. By then, I’ll probably be too concerned about weather conditions to enjoy ice cream! I left work at noon yesterday, partly because I knew I wasn’t going to get much done. My mind was on Ida; and I wasn’t alone in that. Besides, I needed to stop by the bank; and the lobby closes at 4:00 pm. Then I had to visit the drug store to pick up a refill; and I decided to get a pint of ice cream. I ate it soon after I got it home, to be sure it wouldn’t get melted in a power outage; so in that sense it wasn’t a hurricane party. There wasn’t any hurricane yet. I remember hearing about the Hurricane Party during Camille. At the time (yes, I remember that), I thought it was dumb of people to stay right on the coast and have a party during a hurricane; but now, the story has been disproven. I’m glad to know that fewer people died there than reported. By mid-afternoon yesterday, residents of coastal areas outside of levee-protected areas were ordered to evacuate. Fortunately that doesn’t include me; and I was glad I didn’t have to go rushing off to who-knows-where. I was uneasy about the storm, all the same. Ida was shaping up to be a powerful system. Some models showed that Ida was making a beeline for New Orleans; others had her crossing the Louisiana coast farther West. Either way, we’re sure to get some rough weather. 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 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Wind Relief October 17, 2024 Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hybrid Engine?

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Am I a hybrid engine? Books about cycling nearly always mention that riding burns both fat and carbs, aka glycogen. The proportion of fat-to-carb used depends on intensity. Riding at a steady, low-to-moderate pace burns a higher proportion of fat to carb; and as you increase the intensity of your efforts, your body starts to use up its glycogen stores. Any rider has ample stores of fat in the body to fuel his or her rides; but this fat is comparable to a wax candle; and carbs are comparable to the candle\’s wick. The body\’s glycogen stores are quite small; and with intense riding are soon used up. Then, if you haven\’t been fueling — BONK! So we\’ve got to keep the wick from dwindling to nothing. I can\’t say whether my weekly long rides burn more fat than carb; or the other way around. Sunday before last I rode 37.5 miles; and I spent most of those miles in my steady-to-brisk heart rate zones; that is, Zones 3 and 4. If I\’m not in my max heart rate zone, does it mean that I\’m burning mostly fat? Or does it really matter? It looks like I\’m a hybrid engine, no matter what I do. Besides, for those watching their weight, the most important thing is to burn calories. Things do not look good for the Sunday ride. Ida is out there; and we were under hurricane watch before midnight last night. Trying to ride in hurricane conditions is foolhardy. Even if I have the strength to hold my own against such a wind, there are the hazards of flying debris and downed power lines. I don\’t want to hit a power line. Hybrid engine I might be; but not an electric one!

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Protein

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Protein is important for everyone; not only for cyclists. That article asks, are we getting enough? Am I getting enough of it? Many years ago I had a book about vegetarian cooking and nutrition; and it said, most people need roughly half a gram of protein per pound of body weight per day. But do very active people need more? From what I\’ve read, it’s quite possible to get enough protein without eating a lot of meat; or, in fact, any. Besides, constantly hearing about the hazards of E. coli; salmonella; and so on, make me glad to avoid handling raw meat and raw poultry. When I do eat chicken, I get pre-grilled chicken strips; or use canned chicken. Now and then I use a product called Taco Complete. I’ll cook up two cups of dried beans (pinto, kidney, etc.) with onions; and add one can of the taco stuff. Last night I cooked up “pinto taco”; and it has over 6 grams of protein per half-cup serving. But that\’s food that I eat at home; or carry along to work. What about on-bike food? Protein normally is not burned by the body as fuel; but hard-working muscles need it for repair. The nutritionist I worked with advised me to look for bars that have 8-12 grams of protein. That rules out Clif Bars as ride food, although I still like them. I\’ve turned instead to FitCrunch bars; Met-Rx bars; RXBars; and Gatorade Whey Protein bars. Drawbacks I like them all; but they have their drawbacks. Besides the fact that they get very messy in this heat, on an all-day ride I think I would get tired of eating them. Those bars are all on the sweet side; and after several hours of sweet foods I want something salty or savory. Last time I was at the salvage store, I found single-serve packs of smoked, salted almonds in the grab-bag bins; and stocked up. Next Sunday long ride, I think I\’ll try some in between bites of bars. Nuts have a bit of protein; and the salt will be helpful, too. If I stick with FitCrunch and Met-Rx, I\’ll get plenty of protein, too. Now for the big question: will I be able to get out for a ride come Sunday? Tropical Storm Ida has formed; she\’s moving fast; and will probably intensity rapidly. Maybe she\’s eating too many protein bars! We\’re in the \”cone\”; and I\’m weighing my options in case the city calls for an evacuation. This is one of the few times when I actually wish I had a car!

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In the Red

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They say that, in training, you need to push your heart rate in the red now and then; that is, into its maximum zone. It’s been a long time since I did much of that, if any. Often my legs are crying uncle before I can get my heart rate in the red. Is it like that for every cyclist; or does it mean that my fitness level is lower than I think? Yesterday morning I worked to ride 16-17 mph for 3 minutes at a time. Outward-bound I was against a 5-6 mph wind; and wasn’t able to get quite that fast. During the second effort, my Garmin’s screen showed that I was in HR zone 5. That’s when I start gasping for breath; and even after several minutes to recover, I couldn’t quite finish the third interval. That fast and hard breathing presents a hazard. We\’re in a \”buggy\” spell; and all those insects flying around make me worry that I\’ll inhale a bug and choke. Those little bugs can also get behind the lenses of my glasses, and threaten to get into my eyes. In fact, yesterday I encountered one kamikaze bug! I felt it hit my face; but didn\’t know until after I was back home that the impact had killed it. That insect was smeared on my cheek. More Red? I thought I might get more \”red\” this morning. Today I worked on force; and now I\’m aiming for 40-second intervals. Incidentally, such workouts are helpful for cyclists who don\’t have time to put in the miles that they would like. I thought that this morning’s force efforts would send my heart rate in the red; but they didn’t. Not enough for it to count, anyway; just one second. I suppose those 40-second intervals were too short to get my heart rate that high. I hit a max speed of 20.85 mph, and thought it was respectable enough; but I looked up some old ride notes from August 2018. One day when I did force work, I got up to 19.35 mph; so am I really that much stronger now — three years later? After work I had to visit the bike shop. My Garmin\’s sensor needed a new battery; and I always have a lot of trouble getting the battery compartment\’s cover off. When I left work, I saw a big, black could in the Southwest; and as I rolled up to the bike shop\’s door, I heard thunder. I rode somewhat harder than usual, because I didn\’t want to get caught in the rain. I didn\’t get in the red; but at least I stayed dry.

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Bellwether

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I fear the heat of the last fortnight is a bellwether of the month to come; and I\’m weary of getting so very hot and tired during my Sunday long rides! Yesterday we had another heat advisory; and by evening yet another had already been posted for today. If I had a crystal ball, I could see what\’s coming weeks ahead; and plan accordingly. Unfortunately I don\’t have a crystal ball; and have forecasts for only a few days to a week in advance. So far this week it\’s still very hot; and I hope Sunday won\’t bring more excessive heat warnings. I already made last Sunday\’s ride very short; and the Sunday ride before that was also rather short. I don\’t want to miss any more mileage. I don\’t need that if I have any idea of riding a century in the next month or so! Maybe this \”wearable A/C\” would help during those hours-long rides; but it would also spoil me! There’s another bellwether or two of Fall’s approach; even though the weather doesn\’t feel like it. For several weeks, I’ve seen that it gets light later in the morning; and I\’ll be glad when I don\’t have to put sunblock on my face before my morning rides. It gets dark earlier in the evenings, too; and I like that! When it stays light until 8:00 pm and later, evening doesn\’t look like evening; and often I don\’t realize how late it is. The way the blue jays holler now sounds like Fall, too. I must remember to watch for Orion during the homeward-bound part of my morning rides. When I see him sliding downwards towards the western horizon, it means that Autumn is on the way — and maybe some relief from the heat.

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Cycle Sweden

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Cycle Sweden 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.” Want to cycle Sweden? It sounds like you’ve come to a good place! This bicycle-friendly nation has well-developed cycling paths; and cycling routes are well marked. Here are five major routes: The Kattegattleden route explores the western coast of Sweden. Its 242.33 miles run from Helsingborg to Gothenburg, and affords beautiful views of the sea; wonderful dining; and world-class cycling. There are eight stretches to this route, so you can choose just one; or ride it entire. Sydostleden, with 167.77 miles, begins inland; and leads to the East coast of the country. You can visit fishing villages and small towns; and buy fresh produce from farm shops. The Gotlandsleden route is a long one at 310.69 miles. It includes quite a diversity: soft-sand beaches; meadows and forests; and more. Thinking of those “white gravel roads of limestone glittering in the sun”, however, makes me squint. Don’t forget the sunglasses! The Mälardalsleden Trail sounds like a good one for me. Much of its 273.40 miles lead through plains; and that sounds like it’s nice and flat! Finally, there’s the 223.69 mile-long Dalslandsleden. This rural route is also quite easy to ride; and there’s not much traffic. Sounds great! When is the best time to cycle Sweden? That depends on what part of the country that you’ll visit; but in general, for warm weather, May to September is best. For a cycling tour, that’s when I’d go! But despite the country’s northern location, Summer temperatures can reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit. That sounds cool when your locale has been getting extreme heat warnings; but if you’ll be riding all day, don’t forget to take it into account. Of course, don’t forget about the budget! Maybe make this a cycle-camping trip?   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

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Steamed!

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I got steamed today! Big Boy came into town Friday evening; and departed from the Fly this morning. I wasn\’t able to see it Friday, although I heard that steam whistle (it\’s LOUD!). The moon is at the full, and of course I wanted to see it. In fact, this is the first time in several months that my moon view hasn\’t been thwarted by cloudy skies! So I did a very short ride to see the moonlight on the river; came home for a bit to get my Camel-Bak and ride food; and went out again. The forecast predicted another heat advisory for today; and I decided to make my ride rather short. I wound up making it even shorter than I intended, because I wanted to see that train. Something in me still hasn\’t grown up! I could have done some more miles, because the train was late in departing. It was supposed to leave at 8:00 am; and it was more like 30-40 minutes later when Big Boy at last got moving. But I rode out six miles or so; turned around; and rode to the Fly. Here is where I did a bit of cheating. I walked my bicycle alongside the parked train, because I\’m not at all confident of my ability to ride on a grassy surface; and I left the Garmin on. I finally turned it off, because I forgot to charge it up Friday night; and I knew it was running low. Escorts I admit I was a bit steamed about having to stand around so long while I waited for Big Boy to start. The sun was already getting hot; and I was getting hungry. I don\’t know what the delay was. Some of us bystanders were joking that Big Boy must have spent last night in the French Quarter. When the train finally came past, I (and a mob of other cyclists) rode alongside of it. We were escorts to a bit of history! I would have loved to see the train going over the Huey P., but I had no idea how long it might take the train to get there; and besides that I needed a bathroom break. Hence I decided to go home. Back to my pre-Fly ride. I made several 5-minute efforts at pushing for 15 mph or more; and couldn\’t complete the third one. My legs were really feeling it; and my heart rate had edged into the max. I noticed that eating at that effort level is definitely harder! The food tended to stick in my throat. Or was it because of the Clif Builders Bar texture? It\’s 10:15 am, and already 89 degrees. If I were still out there, I\’d really be getting steamed!

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