SpokEasy

September 2023

What’s in My Panniers?

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

What’s in my Panniers? 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.” What’s in my panniers when I get home from the salvage store? It can be quite a lot! Today’s trip was quite productive. As usual, I headed straight for the grab-bag bins; and this morning I hit the jackpot there! I got seven snack-sized packs of smoked roasted almonds; three chocolate-coated toffee bars that normally cost $1.69 apiece; and more. Twenty items for three bucks! Thus the savings on those candy bars alone more than paid for the other items. In fact, sometimes the savings on grab-bag items cover everything else I buy on that trip! More ride food! Elsewhere in the store, I found Zone Perfect bars, in a Salted Caramel Brownie flavor. Lately I haven’t found much at the salvage store that’s suitable on-bike food; so I pounced on those things and got six. I’ll try one for tomorrow’s ride! I also found a few Vital Performance collagen bars; and some Biosteel. Otherwise my haul today was rather mundane. In fact, I’m trying not to bring home too much! During the pandemic I fell into the habit of stocking up as much as I could, while I could. From what I heard in the news, stay-at-home orders might be handed out at any time; and if it came to that, I wanted to have enough supplies to tide me over. Now I’ve got the problem of using up all that stuff! So what’s in my panniers? For now, I’d better try to keep it to a minimum?

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Dare I Hope?

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Dare I Hope? 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.” Dare I hope that Fall is actually going to come? I rode out at 5:00 am this morning to see the moonlight on the river; and it actually felt rather cool! Not that I want it to freeze; but I’m more than ready for some relief from this heat! I kept it short and easy today. Yesterday I rode 19.6 miles — at a leisurely pace, to tell the truth — and as for keeping it short, I needed a few things from the supermarket. I had to get home and get out the hybrid and panniers. Anyway, I’m not yet up to putting in 19 miles every day! ROCKBROS Arm Warmers So, if the weather is going to turn cool, I’ve got to turn my attention to my cold-weather cycling wardrobe. I’m listing arm warmers first, because I’m likely to need to cover my arms before it’s too cool for bare legs. Arm warmers are useful if it’s chilly when you ride begins; but you know it will get too warm for long sleeves before you finish. BALEAF Women’s Cycling Jacket A good cycling jacket is a must as it gets colder outdoors. I’ve had models that feature removable sleeves; but more important to me are POCKETS! Especially on a cold day, when I know my nose will act up; and I need to carry a handkerchief or two. It’s handy to have extra pockets in case those in your jersey aren’t sufficient! Santic Women’s MTB Jersey Speaking of jerseys, there are long-sleeved jerseys for those days when it’s too warm for a jacket; but you don’t want to mess with arm warmers. I’ve never tried one myself; I’m still content with a long-sleeved blouse. GripGrab Leg Warmers Leg warmers are much easier to ride in that regular trousers. They allow a much better range of motion; and you don’t have trouser cuffs flapping around your ankles. That’s an annoyance; and a safety hazard as well. And now for the little stuff. At far left, a helmet liner. Once the temperature falls to the mid-60s or below, I’m miserable without one! Second from left, Pearl Izumi Lobster Gloves. I need these when the mercury drops below about 45! Second from right, Hand Warmers. Not even the heaviest gloves really keep my paws from getting cold when it’s freezing out there! At far right, cycling shoe covers are useful when it’s both cold and raining. Helmet Liner Pearl Izumi Lobster Gloves Hand Warmers Cycling Shoe Covers I hope the above suggestions give you a good start in developing that Winter cycling wardrobe. As I said, it was almost cool this morning. Dare I hope that hot chocolate season will arrive?

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Old MUDDY?

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Old MUDDY? 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.” It looks like our Old Muddy is becoming Old SALTY!! The local news reports a saltwater wedge making is way upriver; and I’m concerned that the water in my hurricane supplies may not be enough if our drinking water is impacted. I hope that saline water won’t mean people can’t shower. As a cyclist, I naturally can get very sweaty; and as a result, I don’t — well — smell so good. Especially after a rather hard ride. The continuing hot weather, of course, is no help. Last week I spent one ride doing 45-second intervals trying to pedal 15 mph or more. As it was calm that day, I didn’t do too badly. I must do it again soon; to get fast, you have to ride fast. It’s not always easy, especially for a lazybones like me. I need to do a ride of at least 16 miles before the end of this week; and maybe I’ll tackle it tomorrow. I hope the wind dies down overnight; at present, it’s blowing at 15 mph. And from the East; that means a headwind on the way back home! A ride over about 15 miles means taking the Camel-Bak; and something to eat, too. I wish I had a MET-Rx Cookie Dough bar on hand; but as I don’t, I have to use something else. Riding over 15 miles, especially when it’s hot, also means electrolyte drink. I like Biosteel; and have found it cheap at the salvage store. I wish I could keep an eye on Old Muddy as I’m cycling; but for miles at a time, the trees on the riverbank block the view. Thus if a ship is sailing past, I can’t see her; and I like to see the ships. It’s fun to look at their flags, and see where they came from. Sometimes it gives me blog ideas! I’ll just have to hope for the best as far as the river goes; and hope it doesn’t really become Old Salty. Even if it does, I can still ride!

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Riding with John Bull

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Riding with John Bull 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.” Did you even think of riding with John Bull? A bicycle tour of London is a great way to start. I think I’d like the River Thames tour. I guess I just like rivers; after all, I’ve been near the Mississippi all my life. The River Thames tour is for small groups; and the things you’ll learn! I had no idea that a Native American Chief was buried by the banks of this waterway! The River Thames tour does include more riding on roads than some other tours; and isn’t recommended for the novice cyclist, nor for those under 12 years of age. A good complement to the Thames tour is the Royal London Bike Tour. Another small-group ride, this one makes use of bicycle lanes and parks; and is good for a family experience. (unfortunately, no trailers for toddlers are available). See royal parks and palaces; and learn some London stories! If you’d prefer to get out of the city, of course there are alternatives. The ride through the Eden Valley is six days of riding, with moderate to challenging climbing. You’ll roll past beautiful valleys, and enjoy quiet roads. For E-bike enthusiasts, there’s the Cotswolds tour. It’s seven days and six nights; and with a guide, you have no need to worry about directions. You just ride! Along the way are cathedrals; mansion houses; and ancient ruins to visit. Riding with John Bull sounds like a great  opportunity for adventure! 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 Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sunflower Fields Forever?

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Sunflower Fields Forever? 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 is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” I sometimes think, sunflower fields forever. As in pics of the Tour de France peloton rolling past seemingly endless fields of the yellow blossoms. Maybe I could see sunflower fields forever if I took a bicycle tour of France. Or lavender fields! France offers many cycling tours; and I think I might start with the Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour. If nothing else, some of my ancestors came from Normandy; and I think the D-Day Landmarks would be interesting. The oenophile on two wheels might enjoy the Bordeaux and Dordogne Bike Tour. It combines beautiful countryside with famous vinticulture. You can even visit caves to view Cro-Magnon art! How about the Seine River Cruise Bike Tour? You’ll get to explore Versailles and Rouen; visit Monet’s home; and more!  How to get my bicycle Over There? A Thule RoundTrip Case is costly; but I’d say it’s worth it to have your bicycle well protected. What else do I need? Well, to learn a little of the language. My French is of the most rudimentary! Spring and Fall are the best times to visit France. The weather is likely to be pleasant; and there are fewer crowds. In Fall you might get to see the leaves changing color; I think that would be neat. Above all, I’d need to remember that I’m on tour; not racing! I’ll leave that to the pros. 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 2024 January 1, 2024 Out with a Bang December 31, 2023 Seven-Up December 30, 2023 Feeling Sheepish? December 29, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Atacama Anyone?

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Atacama, Anyone? Want to cycle the Atacama, anyone? It might be interesting: volcanoes and salt flats are among its many features. Going by bicycle lets you cover more distance than hiking; and the various routes range in difficulty from Easy to Expert. Most or all of these tours are a half-day long. The easy Ayllus ride is 13.5 miles long; and takes you to visit the archaeological site of Beter. At the other end of the spectrum is the Expert-rated Tambo route. It’s 18.6 miles long; not too long even for me. But there’s some steep climbing on the way! You’ll ride to the Catarpe Valley; and see salt creeks. Keep in mind that the Atacama is very dry. Bicycle touring there isn’t a walk in the park. I’m accustomed to a humid climate; and this would be a drastic change for me! The site crazyguyonabike dot com (not secure) gives some pointers. I’d say the most vital one is to carry a lot more water than you think you’ll need. I fear my Camel-Bak wouldn’t hold nearly enough! A close second is to carry plenty of food. So, Atacama, anyone? I think I’ll give it a miss. 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! 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 Holding My Breath Again! January 8, 2024 Bolivia January 7, 2024 Beating the Weather January 7, 2024 Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lakes and Volcanoes

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Lakes and Volcanoes 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.” Nicaragua: the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes! This Central American nation contains stunning natural beauty; and, of course, there are cycle touring routes! Some are especially designed for the beginner at touring; and feature easy grades; clear directions; and manageable distances. These tours are good for families and seniors, as well as beginners. At the other end of the scale are tours for advanced riders. They present riders with more challenging terrain; longer distances; and less support. Or you might want to tackle this 15-day, 3-country tour. You’ll ride through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The fully-guided tour takes you through both towns and rainforests; and is suited to novice riders.  As to lakes and volcanoes, there are three active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Sensibly enough, visitors are advised not to try visiting them without an expert guide. When I was a kid, I used to think it would be great to watch an erupting volcano — from a safe distance. I know much better now. There’s no such thing as a “safe distance” from an erupting volcano. Pyroclastic flows can reach miles beyond the slopes of a “fire mountain”! Ergo I think I’ll stay away. The best time to visit Nicaragua is from November to May, when the weather is drier. Not surprisingly, the country’s climate is tropical. I expect you’d need a lot of sunblock! How about safety? That seems to be the snag about travel to many countries nowadays. I guess the best thing is to stay in a group; and don’t try to “wing it”. But if you can arrange that, the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes sounds like a great place to visit!

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Banana Run

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Banana Run Today’s ride was just a banana run; little over one mile long. I do like to have one day a week when I take it easy; or even take the day off from bikes. But when a Love to Ride challenge is in progress, I try not to miss a day. Riding to the nearest grocery store to get some bananas let me get moving. The day after a long ride is a good time to ride easy; they say it helps flush lactate out of your muscles. Not that I rode particularly hard yesterday; my Sunday long rides are about improving endurance more than developing speed. Yesterday for about three miles I had a good tailwind; and averaged almost 15 mph! I love it when that happens. Now if only I could improve to the point where 15 mph is all in a day’s ride. Thinking of that yellow fruit brings to my mind the expression, “Going bananas”; that is to say, something is driving me crazy. Then there’s this game. Bananagrams is fun to play; and I learned it while at my sister’s home post-Ida. That reminds me; hurricane season is not over. We have over two months to go; and a lot can happen on that time. Nigel, at least, is currently no threat to New Orleans; but it looks like New England might have to go on the alert again. If a storm did threaten us here, it would mean more than a banana run for me if I didn’t have the salvage-store habit. When I was a kid, there was something exciting about rushing to the supermarket as a hurricane approached; but not at my age! It’s far better to lay in your supplies as soon as hurricane season begins; if not earlier.  But I’d better stop thinking about hurricanes, or I’ll drive myself bananas.

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Heart Rate Training

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Heart Rate Training Heart rate training is another method for improving fitness; incuding, of course, on the bike. But what do you do when your heart rate monitor’s battery runs low; and you don’t have the tool you need to open the battery compartment? There’s the RPE scale; but of course that’s very subjective. It’s better than nothing; but not like having the hard numbers provided by using a heart-rate monitor. In fact, in my opinion, RPE and a heart-rate monitor are complementary. When you have a fair amount of experience watching your monitor’s readouts, you get to know what different heart-rate zones feel like.  For a couple of weeks now, I have to go by RPE. I don’t have the proper tool for opening my hear-rate monitor’s battery compartment; and neither does the bike shop. I might have to find a jeweler to do the job; and hope it doesn’t cost too much.  Today I was out on my road bike; and I could tell that I was in upper Zone 3/lower Zone 4 a good part of the time. At least once I briefly reached my heart-rate max when I “put down the hammer” to pass another rider. For the best heart rate training, though, I’d rather have those hard numbers. Without then, it’s easy to think you’re working harder than you actually are — or that you’re going easier than you are when on a recovery ride!        

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What’s Up?

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Add Your Heading Text Here What’s Up? I’d like to know what’s up with the tropics. Hurricane Lee seems to be dissipating; but Tropical Storm Margot is crazy. She keeps changing direction;  and it’s a good thing she’s not close to land. If she were, people in her potential path would be having fits: will she strike here; or not? We’re at the peak of hurricane season; and have to stay alert. Of course hurricanes bring the prospect of an electrical outage; perhaps for days or even weeks. In a hot, humid climate, that’s miserable. I have a battery-operated fan, plus a supply of batteries; but a wearable device such as Ontel Arctic Air would be great! But here’s the snag: after six hours, the device needs recharging; and you can’t do that if the power is out! I have to think about what’s up with the weather for tomorrow. Low of 75 degrees tonight, they say; a little cooler than it’s been lately. Is Fall going to come, after all?  For my ride, I think I’ll wear sun sleeves again; but I’ll still need plenty of sunblock. I just tried KINeSYS; and it’s less heavy on my skin than my usual sunblock. Several weeks ago I was in a sports shoe store; and they had sample-sized bottles of KINeSYS. The drawback was, this version of the sunblock was only SPF 30. The spray-top kept twisting around as my hands got slippery from the sunblock; and I’d wind up spraying the stuff at nothing. That was quite annoying; not to mention wasteful. Alba Botanica has been my go-to sunblock for years. I like the shorter-size tube, because I can fit it into my under-saddle pack. This sunblock does feel a bit smothery, though; and it’s rather hard to wash off. What I like most about it is, it’s fragrance-free! Of course, what’s up with on-bike food? Lately I haven’t had much luck finding ride food at the salvage store; and today I had to buy some protein bars at a different store. MET-Rx Bars seem to be quite sustaining; but some of them are more crumbly than I like. Those crumbs tend to stick in my throat. I don’t know why, but electrolyte drink seems to wash them down better than plain water. I don’t need to drive myself crazy planning tomorrow’s ride, though. It’s not as though I were arranging an expedition to Antarctica.

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