SpokEasy

September 2023

Cycle Vanuatu

Cycle Vanuatu? Cycle Vanuatu? Not so fast. I’m not sure I heard of Vanuatu before now; but yesterday I spotted a ship while I was out riding. For a wonder, I was able to remember her name after I got home. I did a Google search; and the ship is registered there. Naturally I immediately thought about Cycle Vanuatu! This archipelago is rather isolated; and unfortunately has few cycling routes to offer. Apparently there’s climbing involved; but both routes are rather short.  The land there can be rugged; and earthquakes are quite common. There are even active volcanoes on several of the islands. I don’t mind keeping my distance from volcanoes! Vanuatu seems to have more to offer scuba divers than cyclists. I don’t think I want to take up diving; I can barely swim! So I’ll have to do my cycling elsewhere.

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Give It Up

Give It Up I might as well give it up when it comes to seeing the comet. There’s simply too much light pollution around here. The time frame for spotting it is nearly past, too. I hope I never have to give it up when it comes to cycling. For one thing, I really need the exercise! With Fall — and, we hope, cooler weather — approaching, it’s time to get that cold-weather cycling wardrobe ready. With the right clothes, there’s no need to go into hibernation for the Winter! When the morning temperatures are still around 70 degrees, a long-sleeved blouse often suffices; but as it drops below 70, I’ll need a jacket.  The jacket shown has elastic cuffs; but I prefer one with velcro sleeve openings. It’s easier to get it on even after I’ve donned heavy gloves. Keeping my hands warm during cold-day rides has always been a problem for me. Not even heavy gloves do the trick. Two seasons ago, I began using hand warmers; and they help a lot. Unfortunately my feet still get cold, even with thermal socks. That doesn’t automatically mean that the socks aren’t any good; I just get cold easily. Once the temperatures start falling below the mid-60s, I want leg warmers. They’re far less binding than regular slacks; and if it warms up during a ride, leg warmers are easily removed. They also take much less space in a Camel-Bak pocket than a pair of jeans. Keeping your head warm is very important; we hear all the time that we lose a lot of body heat through our heads. A helmet liner works well; and is especially useful if your helmet is well ventilated. Jacket, gloves, leg warmers, and helmet liner are just a few of the items that come in handy when the mercury begins to drop. The problem is, none of it keeps my nose from running!

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Extending

Extending I’m extending my Sunday ride! Up to 25 miles today. And I think I need to start isometric exercises for my neck. That loaded Camel-Bak was pretty hard on me; and on top of that, I think I did something weird to my lower back during my off-bike exercises. It doesn’t exactly hurt; but when I make certain movements, it feels like something’s popping a bit. Not good. Ever think of using these for ride food? I had another try at finding that comet this morning; but I think I went out too late. It was already 6:15; and the horizon was reddening from the rising sun. But I just couldn’t get myself moving earlier. Of course I had to think (no pun intended) about ride food; and cut up a Think! bar. I also brought along another small protein bar, in case I needed it. As always, I had a few GU-Gels along. Today, as a matter fact, I ate two! That’s a lot for a ride of under 30-40 miles; and I might have done better to cut up two Think! bars instead. Maybe I was under-fueling a little; I got quite tired before the end. I wasn’t exactly bonking; but I didn’t feel all that strong, either. I need to start extending my weekday rides, too. One of the things I looked forward to in retirement was more time to ride. In any case, the Love to Ride September challenge is on! I hope the weather continues to cooperate. A few days ago, we had an afternoon T-storm that was right on top of us; and I was very glad I wasn’t out riding! 

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Still No See

Still No See Still no see; the comet, I mean. I rode early again; but had no luck spotting the celestial visitor. Maybe I was looking in the wrong part of the sky. There may well have been too much light pollution; or maybe the comet is still too faint. Binoculars would have helped, maybe. But as I said, still no see. As I rode, daylight began to grow; and that meant the end of this morning’s viewing. I did only a short ride, anyway, so I could make a trip to the supermarket before there was too much traffic. I can have another try at seeing the comet tomorrow morning; and I hope the weather cooperates. The hour-by-hour forecast says, mostly clear; so maybe I’ll have a chance. It probably would help if I were more familiar with the constellation Leo. Good weather means a good trip to the salvage store! Last week I went there on Thursday, because the forecast for Saturday was none too favorable. I’m glad I wasn’t riding home from there at about 5:00 pm yesterday. A humdinger of a T-storm broke out; with a heavy downpour and some very close lightning! Being on top of the levee in weather like that makes my skin crawl.  Today it didn’t get quite so  hot; and afternoon overcast helped. Once we get some real Fall weather, maybe I can start making short afternoon rides in addition to regular morning rides? I’ll need such training if I want to tackle RAGBRAI some day!  

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My Timing Was Off

My Timing Was Off My timing was off when I rode very early yesterday morning, hoping to see the comet. Today I learned that it should be visible early tomorrow; so I’ve got to set my alarm clock early. Light up the night! That means making sure my headlight is fully charged; and wearing my reflective vest. It also means using extra caution; all the more as I no longer ride before daybreak all the time. I hope I remember to turn on my tail light this time, too! Yesterday I got my road bike back from the shop; and it was great to be riding it again. Unfortunately my legs felt tired. In addition, I didn’t get going until about 7:30 am; and it was already quite hot. Before I got back home, I wished I had electrolyte drink with me. I guess my timing was off again. It looks like the weather will be clear early tomorrow; good news for star-gazers. And, of course, good news for riding! But it will be hot again tomorrow. Good grief, it’s September! It ought to be cooling off a little bit. If it did get cooler, it might help push hurricanes away. Fortunately Hurricane Lee doesn’t seem likely to head our way.

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Back to School

Back to School Back to school means getting back into the groove. Books; pens; and many other items. And, of course, back to school means getting the kids to school. If you opt for active transport, there are a number of options. To take a very young child to daycare, the Copilot Child Carrier is an option. This seat can carry up to 50 pounds; and its sides are a bright, highly visible color. Copilot Child Carrier works best with recreational bikes.  For a child who’s ready to do some pedaling, the Kent Wee Ride lets your youngster ride behind you. The Kent Wee Ride has a saddle and handlebars as in a regular bike. Twenty-inch wheels; coaster brakes; and a chain guard to keep clothing from getting snagged. The Kazoo Bicycle Trailercycle is designed for children ages 4-10; and up to 85 pounds. Excellent stability; with reflectors for better visibility. Oh, and how about humming a tune on the way to school? If your child is ready to pedal independently, there’s the Huffy Upshot. This bike is for kids ages 3-9. The quick-release seat clamp lets you adjust the saddle height as your youngster grows. For carrying lunch or other needs, the Anzome Kids Bike Basket fits most children’s bikes. Velcro fastenings make it easy to attach/remove; and it has a rust-resistant coating. Easy to clean, too. Naturally, getting to and from school by active transport means being mindful of safety. If possible, avoid routes with heavy motor traffic. A safety wing and lights enhance visibility. Lighting will be increasingly important as the days shorten, and kids might be starting out when it’s still dark. If your young ‘un enjoys the creepy, there are Spider Spoke Lights!

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Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day My saying, “Happy Labor Day” sounds rather like a cruel joke. I’m retired; so you might say that every day is a holiday for me! Of course I went for a ride. I used the hybrid because the road bike is in the shop for a tune-up. The hour-by-hour forecast predicted rain and T-storms from 10:00 am; so I went out early. Even at 7:15, the clouds were already building up. My legs started to feel a bit tired after about seven miles; so I acted like a wimp, and turned for home. But 15+ miles isn’t all that bad. Part of any long ride — or even a very short ride — is Chamois Butt’r. I find that it makes riding more comfortable. If you prefer, there’s also Chamois Butt’r Her’. I tried it; and personally, I think the original formula is better. With no handlebar bar, I had to rely on my bike trunk to bring along a few things: the poncho, in case it began to rain; cell phone in case of an emergency; and a protein bar in case I needed it. I did eat a GU-Gel at my turnaround point (Salted Caramel, a favorite of mine); but I got home with the protein bar unopened. Aero bars I’ve got not; but that’s OK. This shows the “cockpit” of my old hybrid; and the new one that I got a  year ago is similar. Even when I’m using the Camel-Bak, I take along an extra bottle of water; and for rides over 10-12 miles, electrolyte drink is a must in hot weather. Stretching ahead is the levee bike path. On the way home, I kept an eye on the sky. The clouds were building up; but I had sunshine most of the way. I arrived home about 9:00; and then the waiting game began. When would it rain? I began to hear thunder shortly before noon; but as of 12:30 pm, it looks like somebody else is getting the rain. That’s not fun for people who want to participate in outdoor activities; so is it unkind to say, Happy Labor Day?

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Not Much Prep

Not Much Prep There was not much prep for today’s ride. The road bike is in the shop for a tune-up; and the weather forecast wasn’t so great. Thus there wasn’t much to get ready. I didn’t get out until at least 9:00 am; and it was quite hot by then. I knew that T-storms were possible from 10:00 am onwards; so I didn’t want to go too far from home. Indeed, as I rode I could see dark clouds in my rearview mirror. They seemed to be getting darker; and I turned around a few miles early. As I rode homewards, I kept an eye on those clouds. I could see that somebody was getting rain; and I was glad to be home before my neighborhood was in the line of fire. I expected it to rain hard; but as of 1:30 pm, all we’ve gotten is a little drizzle. The sky is still overcast, though; and we still might get rain. I actually hope we do; we need it! It’s hard for me to remember that this is Labor Day weekend. That’s what happens when you’re no longer in the workforce! Typically this is a weekend for outdoor barbecues; but the Governor of Louisiana has asked that people not use any outdoor fires. That’s how freakishly dry the state is; and the risk of wildfires is too great. Maybe I can do a longer ride tomorrow. The greatest chance for rain is after 1:00 pm. But I suppose there will be not much prep; I’m not back up to 40-mile Sunday rides yet!

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