SpokEasy

May 2022

modern history

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Modern History Not all history is ancient! The trike, as I said, is ancient history; but I have my modern history, too. Let’s take a look at the past few years, since the pandemic began. Last year’s Hurricane Ida, and its impact on my riding, immediately comes to mind; and I certainly hope there isn’t a repeat performance this year. My Love to Ride goal for 2022 is 5000 miles; and I’m not to 2200 yet! If I’m spared hurricane downtime this season, though, I believe I can make it to 5000. After all, I came close last year. To back up a bit, Tour de Cure 2020 was virtual, because of the pandemic. I did my TdC mostly on the MRT; and had my usual problems with the wind. Part of me wants to do more fund-raiser rides; but I’ve always had trouble finding enough donors to meet my quota. My employer doesn’t make matching contributions; and that doesn’t help. I’m at the point in my working life when I need to start serious planning for retirement, anyway. Pretty ironic; as after I’m out of the workforce, I’ll have more time to ride and to train up for big events! Maybe I can finally do another century ride of my own. The last one isn’t exactly modern history, and something in me wants to go for another one; but it’s getting too hot now for me to try a 100-miler. If I average 12 mph, it will take 8.5 hours’ riding time to complete the ride; and time taken for rest breaks will extend the time an hour or so. Even if I started at 4:00 am, it would be at least 1:00 pm by the time I finished. Near Present For some much more modern history, this past Sunday I rode 43.5 miles; and I need to work up to 60-70 miles if I have any idea of doing a century ride. If I want to get through it faster, I need to take the advice in this book more seriously: Helpful advice for improving your pace; but I’m too lazy! The trouble is, I’m really not awake enough when I go out on my weekday morning rides. But it’s that, or don’t ride at all; and then my modern history wouldn’t have much to tell!

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Hindsight

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hindsight IS hindsight 20/20? Hindsight may or may not be 20/20, but we can use a little of it while cycling; and especially if we have to ride alongside traffic. It helps if we can see what’s coming up from behind! I have a MTB rearview mirror for the hybrid. I hope objects in the mirror are NOT as close as they appear! It’s very useful; but I admit that sometimes I forget to watch that mirror. Riding alongside moving cars means traffic on my left, and parked cars on my right; so I also have to worry about the possibility of getting “doored“. It’s hard to watch on both sides at the same time. The road bike has a handlebar-end mirror. Not as useful as I had hoped, unfortunately. It may be different for you. The catch with this mirror is that it’s tricky to position it correctly; and every time I reach down for the water bottle, I bump it out of line! Another problem is that, if the sun is low in the sky, it shines right into the mirror; and both I and riders approaching from the rear can get blinded. In hindsight, I should have started yesterday’s ride somewhat earlier. It was 82 degrees by the time I finished; and today it reached 90! I must remember to drink more while riding; and I hope I sweat it out instead of needing frequent pit stops. Yesterday I strained something near my left knee; a tendon, maybe. The joint itself seems to be all right; and all I can do is to be careful for a while; and maybe ride in the park so I don’t have to ride up that access ramp to the top of the levee!

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Ancient History

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Ancient History Ancient history isn’t limited to Rome. The tricycle is ancient history, you might say. It seems like an eternity since the day I ordered it from the bike shop; and I didn’t expect to get into cycling as much as I did. I hope I never have to give up riding; and there are ways to keep riding even if you have trouble pedaling! Something to keep in mind in case my legs give out. The trike rode off into the sunset almost nine years ago; and I did my best to give it a second life. It was about worn out by then; but I figured somebody could use it for something. Some ride foods are ancient history, too. I’m always watching for new things to try; and sometimes I don’t find a certain product again. That’s a drawback to shopping at the salvage store. They have what they have; and the merchandise is unpredictable. I love chocolate; and I love cherries! I remember my early days with the hybrid. At first it seemed like I’d never get going; and that, too, seems like an eon ago. If I might say so, I wish I had had something like this to help me through that frustrating beginning on two wheels. History repeats itself; and I had to adjust all over again when I got the road bike. At first the road bike felt very twitchy. It’s much lighter than the hybrid; and even the riding posture is very different. But it wasn’t long before the hybrid began to feel slow and heavy; and I realized that the road bike had spoiled me for the hybrid! All that is ancient history now; and I can’t imagine not being able to ride a bicycle!

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Bijoux

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Bijoux Fancy stuff, mais non? Bijoux isn’t my thing. It costs way too much; and I have nowhere to keep it. As for the Hope Diamond, I’m only too happy to let it alone. Let it stay in the Smithsonian. Some people enjoy jewelry, though; and bicycle-themed jewelry isn’t lacking. This necklace serves as inspiration; and every purchase helps worthy causes. Encourage yourself and others. Some folks like to make jewelry; both for themselves and as gifts. Here’s a kit to help you get started. Create your own jewelry; or make gifts. Come to think of it, it’s not too soon to start making Christmas gifts! Let your imagination run wild: bracelets, necklaces, and so on. Incidentally, for fans of bracelets, there’s the Alex and Ani Bracelet. It can be adjusted to fit the wearer; and each purchase benefits the Pan-Mass Challenge. For the bicycle history lover, this not-quite-bijoux watch might fit the bill. Keep an eye on both history and time! I like the analog face. Somehow I remember the time better when I’ve seen it on a dial; and I hope analog never dies out. Maybe it’s because digital devices weren’t around when I was growing up; and analog got thoroughly burned into my brain! When analog clock faces were new, did older folks used to sundials feel at a loss? Today Fortunately, I don’t need bijoux to ride; and today I put in 41.5 miles on the road bike. On the way out, the wind was calm for once. But coming back home, the wind got up to 7-8 mph — stronger than predicted — and for the last five miles, pedaling was quite a chore. Today I tried a new ride food: Honey Stinger Energy Chews. Tangy fruit flavors! I alternated these chews with bites of sweet energy bars. I was worried that chews might be tough, and too hard on my dental work; but they aren’t as tough as I though they might be. Maybe I’ll use them more often in the future!

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Good Intentions Again

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Good Intentions Again Always so much to get done! I’ve got my good intentions again. But they don’t always bring about the desired results. I typically plan for some off-bike exercises five days a week. They aren’t long sessions; and I certainly don’t go for HIIT-style workouts! But I need my off-bike exercises to keep my core and upper body more or less toned. For the past few months, though, I’ve been too busy with web work to do them regularly; and when I do them, I can tell that I’ve lost conditioning. I use small hand weights for some of the exercises; and some moves are body-weight style. An alternative to having lots of equipment taking up space. Maybe one of these days I’ll get some resistance bands. They need little storage space. Versatile bands for use in many exercise programs It’s back to good intentions for my diet; but such plans don’t always get proper eating very far. When I’m embroiled in web site work, meal preparation is usually the first thing to fall by the wayside; and that’s very unfortunate. It can’t be doing my A1c levels any good. Soups, salads, and more! I try to cook ahead on weekends. But for the time being, I have too few food storage containers and too little freezer space to prepare any more stuff. I hope good intentions keep me from bring home a big load from the salvage store tomorrow. I plan to leave the trailer at home; and that should help. My look-for list is very short this time; but no matter how short the list, I usually see something that I can get to store away until later. That stock-up-while-you-can mentality can be quite a burden!

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The Undercarriage

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

The Undercarriage Gotta keep things comfortable! Cycling involves more than just legs; and that includes the “undercarriage”. We have to take care of it, or we risk losing time in the saddle to saddle sores. First, always wear clean shorts for every ride. Sometimes I get tired of washing out cycling shorts; but I have to do it. I have five pairs; but they won’t last for a whole week! Second, use an anti-chafe product, such as Chamois Butt’r. These little packets are handy when you don’t want to drag along a large tube! Incidentally, inflation has struck. I’ll soon have to start using my spare tube of Chamois Butt’r; and today I bought another tube at the bike shop. Their price used to be $17.99; and now it’s $20.00! I haven’t tried Enzo’s; but it’s another product that helps reduce chafing. Try several to see what works best for you. Some cyclists like to wash with an antimicrobial soap before and after each ride; but what if saddle sores develop in spite of all our precautions? Using an ointment can ease the pain and help healing. I’ve been lucky, I guess. The only time I had a saddle sore was when I went for a ride on the then-new road bike; and it still had its stock saddle. That saddle was very flat; and miserably hard; and didn’t fit me well, either. Sometimes a rider can avoid taking time off the bike by doing a lot of out-of-the-saddle riding; but I’m not strong enough for that. If I got saddle sores, I’d have to stop riding to let the undercarriage heal. And now that hot weather is moving in, we have to be more careful about all this. Yeah, I know — it’s an indelicate topic; but it’s still important.

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Fleet

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Fleet Not all fleets are ships! Some folks out there have an entire fleet of bicycles. I’m quite content with just my hybrid and road bike; and it’s a good thing, too! I don’t have the space to keep more than two bikes; and I don’t have the money to build a fleet of bicycles. But if I could have more bicycles, what would I choose? The options are many. It’s probably wishful thinking, but a touring bicycle is high on my list. Maybe I can do some tours one of these days? I became interested in long-distance cycling fairly early; and touring naturally interests me. However, I need far more time to train up to such efforts; and we can’t yet let down our guard against COVID. We hear a lot about e-bikes nowadays; especially with all the concern over CO2 emissions. I intend to rely on muscle power as long as possible; but I might need one of these some day. As long as my legs work, I intend to keep using muscle power; and besides, $4000+ is way too hefty a price tag for me. I often see a couple who ride a tandem. Tandem riding looks like fun! When I see them, I can’t help thinking of Daisy Bell! I guess riding a tandem takes some adjustment, especially when you’re so used to riding solo. Maybe I’ll get to try it sometime. Stay Flexible? How about a ‘bent? Don’t get bent out of shape! A recumbent bike lets you recline while riding; and your upper body gets less strain because it isn’t supporting your weight. Ditto for your hands. I’ve seen a few ‘bent riders around here; and they sure can move! There are some drawbacks, such as not being able to pedal out of the saddle; and a ‘bent’s low profile makes it less visible to drivers. To Continue To continue, there’s the gravel bike. I’m lucky I don’t have to ride through lots of gravel! Gravel surfaces feel too skiddy for me; and I think I’ll stick to paved pathways. Recovering from an injury? A knee cycle can be helpful. I’ve seen people using these; and they look very handy. I’ve got an idea that a knee cycle is better than crutches if you’re unlucky enough to have arthritis in your hands. I hope I never have to find out! There are better-known “rides”, such as hybrids and road bikes and mountain bikes. But so far I’ve only discussed bicycles for adults. Children’s Corner With all due apologies to Debussy… A balance bike is a good choice for a very young child who is just starting out. No need for training wheels! I’ve read that a child on a balance bike learns balancing and steering; and can “graduate” to pedals quite easily. Second step on the path to cycling? Some children have physical issues that make using a two-wheeler impossible; but they don’t have to miss the joys of pedaling: An alternative for a child who can’t use a regular bicycle. Want to fancy up that bike a little? I remember having tassels on a bike when I was about eight. I could keep on with still more bikes; accessories; and what not; but this post is getting too long already. I can see how a bicycle fleet can grow and grow!

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Passengers

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Passengers I’ve never had passengers on my bicycle; so I can’t speak with authority. Some cyclists, however, do need to carry passengers; and here are some products that can help. I’ve mentioned the trailer many a time. In fact, I fear I’ve become quite the squeaky wheel about it! I don’t have either kids or pets; and have never used mine for anything but cargo. I did have a child, though, I’m sure I’d be glad to have the trailer. Some riders prefer to transport a child in an over-the-wheel child seat. I think I would prefer to use a trailer, because I have an idea that the trailer is more stable. Even a heavily loaded trunk seems to affect bike handling. A passenger over the rear wheel, I suspect, makes bike handling even more of a challenge; and who wants to land on the ground while the little one is riding along? Whether you go for the trailer or the over-wheel seat, don’t forget the child’s helmet! Other passengers are – well — not quite passengers. Some riders want to bring “Rover” with them, so the dog can get a good run; but how safe is it to ride one-handed while holding a leash with the other hand? This no-hands leash is one solution! And now I’ve gotten to thinking of the passenger pigeon! I’ve really got to be careful what I write about, don’t I?

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Double Dose

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Double Dose I’ve gotten a double dose, you might say; and it isn’t pretty like this double rainbow. I have arthritis: both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis! I got some OA in my knees many years ago; and they used to crackle like crazy. Now they do it far less; and maybe all the cycling helped! The RA was diagnosed only a few months ago; but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have it much sooner.  Maybe what I thought was “tendonitis” was actually RA! I’m not sure the bone spur in my hand is a result of arthritis; but I suspect I may need surgery for it. That won’t be fun; it will probably mean several days off the bike; and that, in turn, will mean more difficulty in reaching the year’s mileage goal. I’ve also got a double dose of bicycles: the hybrid and the road bike; and that’s far more pleasant that having two types of arthritis! The hybrid is my “work pony”; and the road bike is the “fancy trotter”. The hybrid gets me to and from work; and helps me bring home the groceries. It’s also there if the road bike is out of service for a while; so I don’t have to miss riding altogether! I can hardly believe that bike is ten years old already; and I hope it lasts many more years. The road bike is my “gym membership”; and it’s how I get in most of my miles. I ride for the heck of it; and entering races has never been on my bucket list. Speaking of racing, aka speed, I need to get back to my “force work”. I made one effort to reach 20 mph this morning; and couldn’t get there!

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Forty Percent

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Forty Percent Today, my ride to and from work boosted me to the forty percent mark. My Love to Ride goal for 2022 is 5000 miles; and now I’m up to 2000! I’m glad the chances for rain in the next few days are below forty percent; and right now, it looks like Sunday won’t be bad. Yesterday I did 42.1 miles; and next Sunday  I want to push for 45 miles. Maybe a bit more! But I think I need to be more careful about hydration; and maybe I needed to eat more, too. Yesterday afternoon I was prone to feeling a bit lightheaded and dizzy; and during my ride I gained only a half-pound. Usually I gain at least one pound. I hope hurricane season won’t be bad; but that may be a vain hope. There’s already a tropical wave off the coast of Africa; so again, the season is off to a premature start. It’s time to begin making plans in case another Ida heads our way. Luckily I have plenty of canned goods; and I always use a manual can opener. I don’t want to rely on electric power to get my food out of the can! As usual, my biggest worry is what I’ll do if we have to evacuate. This is one of the very few times when I can’t help wishing I had a car! It would be much easier to leave town. But I digress. Getting back to my mileage goal, maybe I did a bit too much yesterday. I rode so little during the preceding week; and suddenly cranking out 42+ miles was a big leap. My legs were tired and sluggish today. Or is it just because it’s Monday?

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