SpokEasy

April 2024

Bee in My Bonnet?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Bee in My Bonnet? 🐝 Have I got a bee in my bonnet about RAGBRAI? Maybe; but for a minute this morning, I thought I really had a bee in my bonnet. Or, to be more exact, my helmet. I was riding home from the salvage store; and noticed a buzzing sound. I felt something bump the top of my helmet; and was concerned that I had a bee or a wasp in there. I stopped and took my hemet off, but whatever it was had gone. That’s something to be aware of in warm weather. I’m not allergic to bee/wasp stings, as far as I know; but all the same, I don’t want to get stung! Breaking the Rules 📏 Today I went about breaking the rules. You’ve got to do that sometimes when you’re training up for something. I usually don’t go out on the road bike after I’ve made a trip to the salvage store; but today I decided it was time for an exception. The forecast for tomorrow isn’t so good; and I wanted my miles. Or some of them. It was nearly 10:45 am by the time I got going on the road bike; and in the low 80s. Let’s consider this training for RAGBRAI. It can get hot during that event; and if I’ve got any idea of riding it, I have to get used to long miles in the heat! But I need to start out with shorter rides; and today I left it at 19.6 miles. For the first few miles I thought I might get too thirsty; and it’s a good thing I used my Camel-Bak. I had Nuun as well. I was breaking the rules in another way, too. I took fig bars to eat, instead of the more usual bars. There was a slight breeze; and although my average speed wasn’t faster than usual, I felt stronger. Breakthrough? 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 Bee in My Bonnet? April 20, 2024 Farsighted April 19, 2024 Don’t Go to Sleep! April 18, 2024 Camel-Bak Neck April 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Farsighted

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Farsighted 🤓 Sometimes we have to be farsighted; and I don’t mean the vision you can get with binoculars. We’ve got to look ahead to the weather we might encounter on a ride. Yesterday evening I checked the forecasts for today; tomorrow; and Sunday. The first two days looked all right; but Sunday’s forecast is a different story. Rain, and even T-storms, all day long! That doesn’t bode well for my weekly long ride. I decided that a long ride today wasn’t the best thing, because I did some intense riding yesterday; and tomorrow I want to go to the salvage store. Of course I can go to the store; then go for a spin on the road bike afterwards. It looks like it won’t be too hot; and there shouldn’t be much wind. Then, if things are really foul on Sunday, I can take a day off from riding. I’ve got to be farsighted! Looking Ahead 👁️ Cyclists are also looking ahead in general; especially cyclists who are in serious training. They must be farsighted as they plan their season: choosing which races are the most important; setting up a training schedule that lets them “peak” as those important races come up; planning their diet; and whatever else needs attention. It would all be a bit too much for me; so I’m glad I don’t have to be looking ahead farther than a few days. Yeah, I know, I’ve got notions of RAGBRAI 2025 floating around in my head. That certainly requires some looking ahead. But I’ve got time to plan. 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 Don’t Go to Sleep! April 18, 2024 Camel-Bak Neck April 17, 2024 I’ve Begun! April 16, 2024 Why Get Faster? April 15, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Don’t Go to Sleep!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Don’t Go to Sleep! 😴 Don’t go to sleep while you’re riding! They say that aero bars can be very comfortable once you get used to them; and the position involved makes it easier to nod off if you get sleepy. Within the past week, I noticed that very thing while I as riding in the drops. I was working against a headwind, and starting to get tired. So I got my hands in the drops; and after a short time, I began to feel drowsy!  Getting sleepy while riding a bike can happen during longer brevets. Or during RAAM, which goes all the way across the USA. This ~3000-mile event has riders on their bikes some 22 hours out of every 24! So telling RAAM riders, don’t go to sleep, is rather a waste of breath. Not for Me! 👎 RAAM definitely is not for me. I doubt that I could function on an hour or two of sleep a night, for five or more nights. And just think of the training required!  RAGBRAI sounds great; and while it would be a challenge, preparing for RAGBRAI is much more within my sights than RAAM ever could be. In fact, I think the challenge of riding that route across Iowa is its main attraction for me. So I’m not yet ready to say thjat RAGBRAI is not for me. 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 Don’t Go to Sleep! April 18, 2024 Camel-Bak Neck April 17, 2024 I’ve Begun! April 16, 2024 Why Get Faster? April 15, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Camel-Bak Neck

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Camel-Bak Neck 🐪 We can add Camel-Bak neck to the list of ailments that might strike a cyclist; as if there weren’t enough potential problems already! There’s hot foot; and there’s cyclist’s palsy. The latter includes cyclist’s neck; but in that article it seems to mean pain resulting from poor fit/riding position. My version of Camel-Bak neck is a little different. When I rode my 50-miler last Sunday, I had more than water in my Camel-Bak. I also took my cable lock; and a tube of Chamois Butt’r. Naturally that was quite a load on my back. After about 40 miles, the back of my neck was feeling the strain; and I suppose it’s time for some isometric exercises for that neck. So Why? 🤔 So why risk Camel-Bak neck? It’s a matter of conditioning. As I extend my mileage, I’ll need to take larger quantities of water with me; and I need to reserve one bottle for electrolyte drink. A backpack-style hydration system is necessary when there aren’t many places where I can stop to get water; and I don’t need to go into a long event unused to carrying that load. Prolonged strain on the back of the neck leads to headaches; and an aching head can easily lead to nausea! So why do long rides, anyway? Because the bike path is there! 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 I’ve Begun! April 16, 2024 Why Get Faster? April 15, 2024 Big Five-Oh April 14, 2024 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I’ve Begun!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

I’ve Begun! 🎬 I’ve begun working to improve my pace! I don’t have to follow The Cyclist’s Training Bible; after all, I’m not preparing for the local bicycle races, much less for Le Tour. Besides that, my copy of The Cyclist’s Training Bible fell apart at the spine several years ago; and I’ve never bought another copy. Many a website I’ve read says, don’t do too much too soon. I don’t think it’s too soon to start working to ride at least 15 mph for three minutes at a time (with five minutes’ recovery time between efforts); as long as I don’t try to do umpteen such efforts a day. Three attempts is enough for now; and in a week or two I can lengthen those intervals. So what if my current efforts are short? The important thing is that I’ve begun. Let’s Get Basic ⚾️ Fortunately, I’m not a time-crunched cyclist. I can ride five hours a day if I want to! Long, moderate efforts are an important aspect of a cyclist’s training; it’s called building a mileage base. More intense training builds upon this base. So, let’s get basic. How much of a base do you need? They say, at least 1000 miles. As I ride year-round, I don’t think I need to worry too much about building that base; and between the hybrid and the road bike, I’ve logged 1200+ miles so far this year. So my basic cycling fitness ought to be decent; but I’m still quite a slowpoke! 🐌 Yes, we know about the tortoise 🐢 and the hare 🐇; but sometimes I get a little tired of being a snail! 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 I’ve Begun! April 16, 2024 Why Get Faster? April 15, 2024 Big Five-Oh April 14, 2024 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Why Get Faster?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Why Get Faster? ⏩ Why get faster? That question may well have as many answers as there are people who ride bicycles! Maybe you commute to work by bike; and want to spend less time doing it. Or you want to get your errands done faster. Perhaps you’re an aspiring bicycle racer! I want to get faster partly for the heck of it; and partly because I’m doing longer and longer rides. I don’t remember where I read this; but as you increase your distance, riding will eat up more and more of your day unless you improve your pace. And no matter how much we love to ride, we have other things that we must do. The Why and Wherefore 🗣️ The why and wherefore of increasing my pace is, my interest in long-distance rides. This interest goes back many years; and it doesn’t seem to be waning. With thoughts of RAGBRAI nudging at my brain, I’ve watched many a YouTube about the event. It isn’t a race; but some riders do take it fast. One video showed the rider’s handlebar cyclecomputer; and it read 21+ mph! If I do RAGBRAI, I don’t think I’d want to take it as fast as that. They say, don’t miss things along the way, from scrumptious food to chatting with the local folks. All the same, I’d want to maintain a decent pace. In fact, if I’m able to ride faster, I’ll get to stop-over towns sooner; and be able to spend a little more time taking a breather. I could enjoy some ice cream, and munch on some corn. And, naturally, eat some pie! So why get faster? Looks like there are some good reasons! 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 Why Get Faster? April 15, 2024 Big Five-Oh April 14, 2024 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Reconnaissance April 12, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Big Five-Oh

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Big Five-Oh 🎂 Today was Big Five-Oh day; and I don’t mean birthday #50. I rode fifty miles! It’s the longest ride I’ve done since before my hand surgery last year; and it sure felt good to ride way out there again. My average speed was half a hair’s breadth over 11 mph; and once, while passing a slower rider, I hit nearly 19.5 mph for a second. My average speed still needs improvement; but today’s performance wasn’t too bad. I started out in leg warmers; a helmet liner; and a jacket. About halfway through, I needed to remove the leg warmers and the helmet liner. Before the end, I wished I could pull off the jacket, too; but my Camel-Bak’s pockets were already stuffed. Intensity 😬 If you want to get fast, how do you go about it? The book shown at left is packed full of advice. But to put it simply, you’ve got to ride fast! After today’s half-century, I think it’s wise that I do an easy ride tomorrow; and the next day, I want to pedal over to the farmer’s market. After that, though, I can start to add more intensity to my weekly riding schedule. OK, so what’s intensity? For me, it can mean working to ride faster than is comfortable, no matter what gear I’m using. Or, I’ll work to increase my cadence while in a hard gear. I don’t do this exercise for prolonged periods; but maybe it’s time to start trying for 40 seconds, instead of 10-30. Maybe bicycle racers in training do this for mile after mile; but I’m not trying to make a racer of myself. Approach this with caution, though, I’d say. If you have knee problems, consult a health professional first. Mashing too hard a gear puts a lot of strain on those knees! 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 Big Five-Oh April 14, 2024 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Reconnaissance April 12, 2024 Getting Shortchanged April 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Feel Stuffed!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

I Feel Stuffed! 🥙🌭🍧 I feel stuffed when I view YouTubes about RAGBRAI, and they talk about all the can’t-miss-it foods along the route. Sweet corn dipped in melted butter. Huge pork chops. Ice cream; and pie, pie, and more pie! (I keep saying, maybe that ride ought to be called RAGpie!) To be sure, cyclists need ample food during long rides; but we have to find a way to eat enough, yet not overdo it. An overloaded belly can make a ride miserable. When you’re pedaling, your body’s circulation sends your blood to your legs; and that means less blood to work at digestion. The more intensely you ride, the more true that is. Many a video about RAGBRAI tells of the hills; and that means some intense riding. Or, it sure would for me! For years, I’ve practiced on-bike eating when I do rides over 15 miles; and with the rolling hills of Iowa in mind, maybe it’s time to start working at eating a little more. But here’s the catch: I don’t want to eat so much that I gain weight! I feel stuffed thinking about it. Time for a 50 ½ I think it’s time for a fifty-miler; that is to say a 1/2 century. Today would have been a great time for it, as the wind is calm. Unfortunately I was a bit tired this morning; and anyway I was planning to do the ride tomorrow. So, what shall I take along as ride food? I still haven’t gotten around to trying to make rice cakes; and I’m getting rather tired of energy/protein bars. I’m going to try some Clif Bloks; but for the rest of it, I’m stuck with those bars! 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 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Reconnaissance April 12, 2024 Getting Shortchanged April 11, 2024 Paraphrase April 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Reconnaissance

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Reconnaissance 👀 It’s time to start some reconnaissance! If I want to do a 100-miler, I need to find out where I can stop for a restroom break; and buy more snacks if I need them. There’s that pocket park about 15 miles from here; but I need more potential pit stops. So this morning I made my hybrid a spy bike! Along my route, there are places where neighborhood streets dead-end at the levee; and at one of them I rolled my bike down to street level. Less than half a mile away, there’s a filling station. It’s annoying to have to go out of my way like that; but what else can I do? By late May/early June, it will be too hot for me to take it easy with liquid intake. A little reconnaissance now might pay off big time in a couple of months! Half Measures 🥝 Maybe it’s time for  some half measures, too. I don’t think I’m ready for a full century yet; but I might be able to knock out 50 miles in a day. My weekly long ride is up to 25-30 miles; and they say a cyclist can manage a one-day distance equal to twice the longest ride in a week. The long-range forecast doesn’t look bad; but I’m watching for a day when the wind won’t be too strong. How tired I get of wind! Naturally I have to plan what food to take with me; and no half measures with hydration! Even when the temperature is still in the 60s, I notice how quickly I can start to feel parched; and dehydration is no joke. A cooling beanie sounds like a good idea, too; but first I think I’ll see how my lightweight helmet liner works. I’ve got it; so why not use it? 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 Reconnaissance April 12, 2024 Getting Shortchanged April 11, 2024 Paraphrase April 10, 2024 Hotheaded April 9, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Getting Shortchanged

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Getting Shortchanged? 🩳 Am I getting shortchanged? It feels like it when I have to replace a pair of cycling shorts. After all, they aren’t cheap; but at the same time, I must admit that they’re worth it. With their built-in padding, cycling shorts are much more comfortable than regular shorts for anything more than a very short ride. That’s especially true if those regular shorts have a zipper up the front; I don’t have to say why! Cycling shorts also help support your leg muscles; and they typically have silicone grippers around the bottoms of the legs. Those grippers help keep your shorts’ legs from sliding upwards as you ride. Over time, however, those grippers stop gripping; and the fabric of the shorts gets overly stretched out. Then it’s time for a new pair. Then there are days when I feel like I’ve getting shortchanged on my mileage. That’s frustrating when you’re trying to work up to a big ride! Am I Merely Lazy? 🥱 Sometimes I wonder, am I merely lazy? Do I just want to stay in the sack all day? I especially think about that on days when I cut my intended mileage, for whatever reason. This morning I had a strong wind — on the way out, for a change! — and I planned to ride 10 miles or so before turning for home. As I approached the 9.5-mile point, the wind suddenly seemed to get much stronger; and I decided to turn around and head for home. It was glorious having a strong tailwind; and for a while I was doing 17+ mph. On the way out, I averaged only about 9.9 mph; quite pokey. On the other hand, the wind was as as strong as 21 mph. Time was when that would have slowed me to a plodding 6 mph! Today I didn’t feel like working hard agains the wind; even though that’s a good way to improve strength; and to get fast. It’s also good as simulated climbing; and I need that.  So was I tierd? Or am I merely lazy? 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 Paraphrase April 10, 2024 Hotheaded April 9, 2024 Shady Dealings Again April 8, 2024 Blockage April 7, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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