SpokEasy

February 2024

Wrong Call

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Wrong Call ☎️ I think I made the wrong call this morning. Doesn’t it drive you crazy when you do that? Not that I got caught in the rain. In fact, I didn’t need to take the poncho with me. The problem was wind. When I checked the weather online at about 8:45 am, the wind was SE at 14 mph; and I considered riding laps around the park. The mere thought of riding against such a wind on top of the levee is tiring. But as I approached the turn onto the bike path, I made a split-second decision to ride on the levee, anyway. Maybe that was the wrong call! Going out wasn’t bad. It was coming back that got tough. For a while the wind was stronger than it had been while I was outward-bound; and for a mile or so it was directly against me. I don’t know why I didn’t think to ride in the drops for a while. I know very well that this tactic lessens the impact of the wind. But maybe my mind was tired, along with my legs. I have yet to get back to any really structured ride schedule; I’m still working to get back in shape post-lapiplasty. But I’m getting there! At least it wasn’t cold todat; the temperature was in the low 70s. All the same, I wore a jacket, because wind of course makes things seem colder. Tomorrow I might not ride. I have an appointment that’s a long way from here; and I’m debating whether to use public transit (which takes a ridiculous amount of time!), or arrange for a taxi. I hope I don’t make the wrong call! 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 Was the Groundhog Wrong? February 7, 2024 One Hundred Dollars? February 6, 2024 Room and Bored? February 5, 2024 Holler ‘Nuff February 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Was the Groundhog Wrong?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Was the Groundhog Wrong? 🐽 Was the groundhog wrong? Is that critter a poor weather forecaster? It sure seems like it. Our temperatures this week are more like April than February! Revelers are sure to be happy about that; and it’s also better for riding. I’m happier when I don’t need to don four layers atop; and slacks over leg warmers down below.   But that’s what I need to do when the temperatures fall to the 30s; which they sometimes do. I need hand warmers in addition to heavy gloves; and some cold days I wish I had lobster gloves! A strong wind, of course, makes things more difficult. If it starts to rain, I can get truly miserable. The upside now is that I don’t have to dry out at home; only to get wet again riding to work. It also helps that I no longer have to go out at 5:00 am if I’m to be sure of doing a ride. I can wait until the sun is up; and even if it really isn’t warmer, seeing the sunshine makes the cold more bearable. And as it’s early February, we probably have more cold weather in the future. So was the groundhog wrong? I don’t care as much about knowing whether we’ll have six more weeks of Winter, as I do about this year’s tropical storms. We need a groundhog that can predict the severity of hurricane season!   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 One Hundred Dollars? February 6, 2024 Room and Bored? February 5, 2024 Holler ‘Nuff February 4, 2024 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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One Hundred Dollars?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

One Hundred Dollars? 💵 Remember that Rachel Field  poem about, if I had One Hundred Dollars? Childhood innocence, perhaps; the poem seems to have been written from a child’s perspective. However, it was written nearly a century ago. Back then, one hundred dollars meant something! I think I’d have to change the words to, one thousand dollars. I’d want to hurry as fast as I could go to the bike shop! But a good road bike can easily cost several thousand bucks; so as long as the road bike I already have is still in working order, I’ll keep using it. Use it up, wear it out, make it do! If not a bike, what would I buy? At present, I’m pretty well set for bicycles; cycling clothing; and so on. Maybe a virtual ride on the Natchez Trace? That would be fun; but I don’t have the equipment for playing DVDs. As for riding, this morning’s weather wasn’t at all bad. It was 50 degrees when I went out; and the wind only about 8 mph. For much of the time, it seemed to be a sidewind. Sidewinds are annoying, because they can seem to be against me both going out and coming back! I wound up spending very little time on the big ring. But I rode! Now, what would I do, if I had a thousand dollars to spend?     “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.” 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 One Hundred Dollars? February 6, 2024 Room and Bored? February 5, 2024 Holler ‘Nuff February 4, 2024 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Room and Bored?

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

Room and Bored? 🥱 Sometimes staying indoors much of the day feels like room and bored — even when you hitch your bike into the trainer for an indoor pedaling session. Today I didn’t do even that much; although I did some errands on foot. It was chilly and gray; and the wind felt cutting. Speaking of room, if you own multiple bicycles, storing them can be quite a headache. The StoreYourBoard Freestanding Bike Rack holds up to five bicycles! It has scratch-resistant coating; and PVC-coated hooks that don’t damage the wheels’ rims. Height-adjustable, too — which ought to be useful to a shorty like me. The StoreYourBoard rack holds up to 300 pounds. Use in the home; or in a garage. Even if I adjusted this rack to the lowest height necessary to accommodate my longer bicycle, do I have the strength to lift that bike high enough? I’m not sure. My hybrid probably weights about 35 pounds; and to me, that’s heavy! All the same, this rack is very tempting. It would take up less space than one of my bikes uses now; and since I have just two bicycles, I could hang cycling clothing on the rack instead of more bikes. Gosh, the ideas I do get! See what room and board does to me? “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.” 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 Room and Bored? February 5, 2024 Holler ‘Nuff February 4, 2024 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Holler ‘Nuff

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Holler ‘Nuff! 🥊 Sometimes my legs holler ’nuff; and sometimes it’s better to listen. Day before yesterday I rode well over 19 miles; my longest ride in several months. Yesterday’s trip to the salvage store was just short of 11 miles; and I had a pretty stiff headwind on the way home. Today my legs felt stiff and a bit sore; and I figured it was a case of holler ’nuff. Is it better to ride anyway when your legs are tired? That’s a hard call, especially for someone who doesn’t have a personal trainer on hand. “No pain, no gain” isn’t necessarily good advice.  What does “pain” mean? If it’s muscles that are a little sore from hard work, I’d say go ahead and ride; but take it easy. Be cautious, though; pain can mean an actual injury. Maybe pro riders work through/around injuries; but most of us aren’t pro cyclists. I didn’t want to skip riding entirely today, because I’ve been thinking of taking tomorrow off. The NOAA forecast since yesterday is for strong wind tomorrow; 15-20 mph, and gusts up to 30 mph. So I made it short today; and I came home and made another “garbage soup”. Using up all that canned stuff is an ongoing project! Tuesday it shouldn’t be as windy; so I can pump up the road bike’s tires and take off! Maybe 12-15 miles? Just not so much that my legs start to holler ’nuff! 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 Holler ‘Nuff February 4, 2024 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sometimes a Gamble Pays

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Sometimes a Gamble Pays 🎲 Sometimes a gamble pays off; as did this morning’s trip to the salvage store. The forecast didn’t look so good. Rain was predicted; especially in the afternoon and evening. It was overcast this morning; and who knew when it might begin to pour. But I wanted to go to the store; not least for the ride. Going for a ride in circumstances like today’s feels like entering a game of chance with a shady opponent who may have loaded the dice. So I took along the poncho, just in case. But sometimes a gamble pays off! I got some good stuff today, too: a jar of pesto; colby cheese; and I even found a new kind of energy bar to try: The Boss! It tastes pretty good; but its light texture makes me suspect that it might not be very good as on-bike fuel. I felt a drop or two on the way back home; but so far there’s been no heavy rain. That may change if a few hours. The wind is up to 18 mph; and was already 15 mph as I was riding home. Heavy rain is in the forecast; and some parades have been rescheduled to roll several hours early. Wind gusts could reach 35 mph; and those “floats” (double-decker, decorated trucks) are very vulnerable in such conditions. I think I would be, too — especially if it were a sidewind! 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 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Prognostication

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Prognostication 🔮 Our local groundhog has made his prognostication: six more weeks of winter. Despite a forecast for patchy, dense fog, it was bright and sunny when I went out riding at around 7:45 am. It won’t last, though. By tomorrow afternoon, it’s likely to be raining. Tomorrow night, we could get heavy rain and even T-storms. As for temperature, it’s in the 60s right now; so at the moment, it doesn’t seem like the groundhog’s prognostication was correct. As of yesterday, the forecast for Sunday predicted winds of 10-15 mph; while saying the wind today would be about 3 mph. So I did a long ride this morning; well over 19 miles. That’s the farthest I’ve ridden since before the bunion surgery; and it’s good to get my mileage up again. This time I took ride food: a FitCrunch Bar that I found in the grab-bag bins at the salvage store. I though that a ride of nearly 20 miles would require electrolyte drink, even in cool weather; so I used my Camel-Bak for water, and took along Biosteel White Freeze in a bottle. Today I was quite squirrely, especially on the way back home: I was having a hard time holding a straight line. Maybe I was getting tired; possibly my (rather weak) core was to blame. Whichever it was, I’m glad I got in some miles today. Even if the groundhog’s prognostication is accurate; and we get more intensely cold weather; I want to get back to my regular mileage! 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 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Not So Angelic?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Not So Angelic? 😇 The forecast for the weekend is not so angelic; so don’t think a solar halo means great weather. Rain is likely by Saturday night. I saw the halo while out riding. It was quite faint; but it was there. That was around 10:00 am; and I was surprised to see that the halo was still there some four hours later! Thin, high clouds seem to create the right conditions for halos. It’s supposed to clear up tonight; only to get cloudy again tomorrow night. The not so angelic weather is expected by Saturday night, with possibly heavy rain. Morning might be OK; so I ought to do all right on the ride to and from the salvage store. I’m thinking of shooting for a long ride tomorrow. Long relatively speaking, that is — maybe 20 miles. I’m not ready yet to extend my mileage to 30-40 miles! I can cut up a protein bar and take it along in my top-tube pouch, instead of eating a banana and peanut butter before I leave home. It’s good to have a change sometimes. One reason for doing a long ride tomorrow instead of Sunday is the wind. According to the forecast, there won’t be much wind tomorrow; but on Sunday, it’ll be blowing 10-15 mph! I know — pushing into a headwind is a good way to develop better strength; but I sure get tired of it sometimes! “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.” 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 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Cozy January 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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