SpokEasy

August 2023

What Day Is This

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

What Day Is This? What day is this? I keep thinking that it’s Saturday, because I went to the salvage store; but today is Thursday! It’s funny how such a small thing can throw off my sense of time. But when I checked the NOAA 7-day forecast yesterday afternoon, I saw that tomorrow through Monday looked quite stormy. Ergo I decided to go to the store today. I don’t want to be up there on the levee in a T-storm! Yesterday morning I rode at 5:00 am so I could see the full moon over the river. It was worth getting up at 4:30 am! The moon was low enough in the sky that I could see the reflection of the moon, instead of only moonlight on the water. That happens only a few times per year; so when I see it, it’s something special. Getting back to the weather, it’s been clouding up since about noon. Tomorrow the T-storms might begin about three o’clock in the morning. So if you’re determined to ride — but it’s pouring — what do you do? In warm weather, maybe just go out there and ride, even if it means getting soaked. During heavy rain,  the wind can get quite strong and gusty; and a flapping poncho makes bike control harder. From that point of view, it’s better not to have the poncho. With a windblown poncho you’ll still get wet, anyhow. In cold weather, you might want to consider using a rain suit. So far I haven’t tried one; but one of these days, maybe I will. I keep thinking that the Sunday long ride is tomorrow; but it isn’t. So what day is it, anyway?        

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Labeling Pics 2

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Labeling Pics 2 japan georgia laos? pakistan? india hawaii kansas kentucky louisiana maine maryland south korea sweden mesopotamia iran michigan minnesota illinois missouri montana nebraska nevada new hampshire NM NC ND OH OK PA SC UT VT VA WV WA WI WY UK IN

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labeling pics 3

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Labeling Pics 3 canada philippines indonesia china puerto rico greece mexico austria germany ukraine taiwan maylasia croatia nigeria kosovo switz venezuela cambodia UAE kuwait senegal hong kong NL/Holland belgium russia india lithuania moldova egypt slovenia norway kenya myanmar/burma cycling tour algeria peru jamaica guatemala poland bangladesh vietnam thailand/siam australia ukraine chile albania spain ireland singapore italy czechia sweden aruba andorra marshall islands malta South Korea PA

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Costa Rica

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Costa Rica 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.” Costa Rica has a number of cycling tours to offer, with durations of six to fifteen days. These tours rely quite heavily on the mountain bike; and you’d better get your biceps in shape for the white-water rafting! The 8-day Coast-to-Coast tour crosses the country from East to West. You’ll ride past villages and farms; fields of sugar-cane; and banana plantations. There’s even a volcano along the route; and coffee plantations as well.. If you want a longer Coast-to-Coast tour, there’s the 15-day route. This tour is physically challenging — you’ll engage in mountain biking; kayaking; and white-water rafting. Included is a bicycling climb over the Continental Divide. For a 10-day jaunt, you can undertake the Pacific, Arenal & Caribbean Coast tour. It includes cycling and river rafting; and hikes to view waterfalls. You can take a soak in the Arenal area’s hot springs to ease out those kinks in your muscles. These are only three of the tours available; and I must say that they all sound strenuous. I don’t even have a mountain bike; but maybe my hybrid would do? Costa Rica can get very wet, especially in the southern part of the country. In that warm climate, you might be able to get through the rain without a poncho, unless you’re at  high altitude. January through March is the dry season; so I, for one, would prefer to schedule a tour during that time. The average annual temperature is 89 degrees; and having a way to keep cool sounds like a wise precaution. From beaches to mountains; white-water to coffee growing areas, Costa Rica offers a wide variety of adventures! 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 Here Comes the Chill December 28, 2023 Frumenty December 27, 2023 Twelve Days December 26, 2023 Season’s Greetings! December 25, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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labeling pics

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Labeling Pics boy doll yuk tongue mini pump phone talk yell shout clouds levee bridge belgium cook wok food grass book daisies blowers bike bicycle ride road fireworks celebration display thailand? siam? india? temple scotland cliff sea penguin bird antarctica south pole shop store door entrance book kindle? thailand taiwan laos Singapore maylasia cambodia greece ohio australia israel california franc japan pakistan mongolia austria switzerland matterhorn mexico firth of forth scotland texas fire mississippi

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On Parallel Courses

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

On Parallel Courses When riding a group, you want to stay on parallel courses. It can get disastrous if riders swerve into each other! They say that riding on rollers is a good way to develop the skill of holding a straight line; and maybe I need to work on that. In fact, I did have a set of rollers years ago; but never got confident on them — especially not on the road bike. I think I was too tentative when I started pedaling on those rollers; and slick tires on non-rubberized rollers are tricky! But what’s going to happen when two tropical systems are on parallel courses? Both Franklin and Idalia are headed northwards; and the former seems to have been overindulging in Energy Shots. He’s up to Category 4! Unless Idalia drastically changes her course, New Orleans probably doesn’t have too much to worry about; although I suppose we’ll feel some effects (wind, rain). But Franklin? I hope he curves out to sea and dissipates. If he continues on his present path, it looks like he’ll slam into Connecticut; and my brother lives there with his family. I hope they’ll be OK. Is it possible for weather effects from these two storms to combine forces? I certainly hope not! I suspect that the results would not be good. As long as they stay on parallel courses, they probably won’t meet; and although they’re moving at about the same forward speed, Franklin is a good bit farther North.  I might have a few windy days ahead of me. Maybe it’s a good time to practice riding on the drops.

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Hutch

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

Hutch? Rabbitroom sounds like a hutch to me. I’ve never had a pet rabbit; but of course I’ve heard about a rabbit hutch. These gloves sound like great wear for Winter rides. So far I’ve never found any gloves that really keep my hands warm on cold days. Even if they did keep my hands warm, full-finger gloves make eating on the bike awkward. It might sound like insanity to be talking about heated gloves now. Our afternoon high temperatures have been at or near 100 degrees nearly every day for weeks; and excessive heat warnings have become the norm. These warnings go into effect as early as 10:00 am; and I try to be back home from riding by that time. Going out to ride when it’s baking hot is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you have to be extra careful about hydration; and the you certainly want to avoid heat stroke! On the other hand, riding in such heat is the only way to get acclimated if you’re aiming at an event such as RAGBRAI. Iowa can get hot and humid; and the average daily mileage for RAGBRAI is something like 60+ miles! That means riding during the heat of the day. How to get acclimated? It’s a matter of starting with short, easy rides; and building up distance and speed. Use a hydration system; and take a electrolyte drink. Allow youself plenty of time to get used to hot rides. But don’t drive yourself crazy about it; you don’t want to make yourself into a basket case. Or should I say, a hutch case?  

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Waterproof

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Waterproof? When I see a product touted as “waterproof”, I’m frankly skeptical. Too many times I’ve been caught in a heavy downpour that soaks my jacket and everything else! Rain here is typically heavy enough to penetrate the “waterproof” zipper on a bicycle trunk! All the same, I wish I could try out some waterproof jackets, such as this BALEAF model. It would be nice to ride through the rain and stay at least halfway dry! If the jacket doesn’t cut it, a rain suit might work.  We’ve had so little rain in the last few months, though, that we’re going to forget how to ride in it. A major annoyance of mine is the visibility problems that come with riding in the rain; especially if there’s a wind to drive the rain into my face. That was especially annoying when I was still riding before daylight. Dark + wind-driven rain has me pedaling almost blind! At least my skin is waterproof; but that wasn’t much consolation when I had gotten soaked; and it was cold out; and I had to go to work — often getting all wet again in the process. I don’t have that particular pain in the neck now that I’m retired; but I know I’ll get poured on one of these days. At least now I can stay put after I get home; and if it’s cold, I can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate. Incidentally, do you find it easier to cope with riding in the rain, if the shower begins when you’re already out? I certainly do; probably because the only course of action I have is to keep going. And if I’m still home when the lightning starts a-crackin’, it’s wise not to go out until things settle down!    

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Watered Down

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Watered Down? Proper hydration is important; but you don’t want to get watered down. It’s actually possible to drink too much water; and that can lead to hyponatremia. So while a Camel-Bak is great to have for any long ride — especially in this heat — it’s important to take along electrolyte drink, too. Even when it’s not hot, after I’ve been riding an hour, plain H-2-O stops working. No matter how much I drink, I’m still thirsty. My stomach starts to feel uncomfortable, too, with all that fluid squelching around inside. Who needs an upset stomach on top of being too hot? An electrolyte drink is what you need then. I’ve tried a number of such beverages: Nuun and BioSteel among them. GU-Gels contain sodium; but here’s the catch: those things make me thirsty! I’ve also heard that downing too many energy gels can cause gastric upset. Not fun. Speaking of watered down, what do you do when you get caught in the rain while riding? Some riders look for a place to wait out the shower; others keep plodding on. I generally opt for the latter course of action. Around here, there’s no telling whether rain will stop in 15 minutes; or continue for hours!

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