SpokEasy

May 2024

What Happened?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

What Happened? 😯 What happened to Summer? Yesterday I was sure it had come; but this morning it was almost chilly! Has Summer taken off on an epic bike ride? It seems strange to have it be so hot — nearly 90 degrees! — for a few days; and then cool off again. So often, when it starts to get hot like that, it keeps on until Fall. It looks like tomorrow will be nice for riding, although probably windier than I would like. I’d better ride tomorrow, too; the outlook for the rest of the week is gloomy. Yes, I need to learn to deal with riding in the rain if I’m serious about doing RAGBRAI; but if there’s lightning, I’d rather not ride if I don’t have to. Of course there’s rain gear, such as this Alpha Cycle Gear suit; but during RAGBRAI it might be too hot for something like that. I guess I’ll work out something that’s a happy medium between getting soaked and smothering. On the other hand, it can get cold in the rain, even during hot weather! But right now I’m saying, what happened to Summer? Five Years? 🗓️ Incidentally, it’s some five years since I first learned about RAGBRAI. What happened to all that time? I didn’t really begin to consider tackling the event until recently. Last year, hand surgery and foot surgery cut into (no pun intended!) my riding. But as my foot healed after the bunion surgery, I rather quickly began to ride more and more; and retirement means I have much more time for riding.😊 So I’m trying to train up! I’m trying rice cakes (made from a recipe in Feed Zone Portables) again as ride food. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to use protein bars all the time. The catch is, during RAGBRAI I won’t be able to cook! 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 What Happened? May 11, 2024 Make the Grade May 10, 2024 Forget the Calendar May 9, 2024 Disassembly May 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Make the Grade

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Make the Grade 📚 So, could I make the grade if I do RAGBRAI? I wouldn’t have to worry about racing literacy; but I’ve still got the RAGBRAI hills on my mind. My SIL sent me this link; and my brother helped me figure out the gradient of the nearby bicycle access ramp to the top of the levee. It looks like that ramp’s gradient is 5%; and I can ride up that ramp that fairly easily. In that respect, I can certainly make the grade! Here’s the catch, though: I’m not riding that ramp repeatedly all day long. That’s another exercise I that I can employ: ride up to the top of the ramp; turn my bike; ride back down; and then ride up again. Monotonous; but helpful for developing some climbing legs.  I Don’t Wanna Fail! 𝍐 I don’t wanna fail if I tackle RAGBRAI; and at some point, my legs will probably need a good dose of Jens Voigt. Not that there’s any shame in getting off the bike and walking; at least some of the RAGBRAI-related YouTubes that I’ve viewed show some riders doing just that. Not for Dream Team members, though. At the moment I can’t find it; but one video says that, to earn their bicycles, Dream Team members must ride the entire route. No walking hills; no getting on the SAG wagon. Sounds like quite a tall order to me. I bet those riders have, I don’t wanna fail, constantly going through their heads. I wish them well!   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 Forget the Calendar May 9, 2024 Disassembly May 8, 2024 Tired But Not Tired May 7, 2024 Done! May 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Forget the Calendar

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Forget the Calendar 🗓️ You can forget the calendar. Our weather doesn’t care what the calendar says, it’s Summer; and a baking 89 degrees. That means it’s time for sun sleeves; and finding ways to keep cool. Part of keeping cool is riding early in the day; at least, for the most part. At some point, I need to ride in the heat. That’s what RAGBRAI will mean; but for the time being, I can forget the calendar for RAGBRAI. I’m not aiming for the 2024 event. But adjusting to hours of riding in the heat is only half of it. What about hills? Sort of Hills 🚵🏽 I did some sort of hills while riding the hybrid to the store this morning. It wasn’t real climbing; but it was something. I won’t be surprised if it’s not enough, though. I wish someone could tell me how long/steep the RAGBRAI hills are! How do I do sort of hills? Shift into a hard gear; then try to ride faster. I could tell that my heart rate was climbing, even though I was on flat ground; but I noticed a tendency to extend my back. I don’t know why; but it’s something to keep aware of. I never noticed it before, so I hope that means I can nip it in the bud. My legs sure got a workout; and the plan for tomorrow is to just ride. There’s a 20% chance of T-storms before 9:00 am, so I’ll see what the weather is up to in the morning; and maybe ride in the park if things look really iffy. But it’s supposed to clear up as the morning goes on. And the weekend forecast looks good! 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 Forget the Calendar May 9, 2024 Disassembly May 8, 2024 Tired But Not Tired May 7, 2024 Done! May 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Disassembly

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Disassembly 🔧 EVOC Bike Travel Duffle I’m going to have to learn some disassembly if I’m to travel with a bicycle. This EVOC Bike Travel Duffle bag means removing wheels; pedals; and handlebars. Disassembly always makes me nervous, because I’m afraid I’ll ruin something. I’m OK with removing a bike’s front wheel; but less  comfortable with the rear wheel. It isn’t removing it as much as replacing it that makes me feel uncertain about what I’m doing. After all, there’s the chain and cassette to deal with! I know how to remove and replace pedals. The thing to remember there is: for the pedal on the left-hand side of a bicycle, the old lefty-loosy/righty-tighty is the opposite. I’d need the proper wrench, though. But handlebars? I’d have to make some kind of markings so that I could replace those bars exactly where they’ve been for years. My body is thoroughly adjusted to that particular set-up; and right before a major ride is no time to have it change. Combinations? 🩰 Combinations sounds like ballet class to me — or maybe trail mix — but there’s no reason I can’t work up some combinations of my own. Such as, mix a ride to the store with some RAGBRAI training! I use my hybrid for running errands; but training doesn’t have to be done on the road bike. In fact, the hybrid might be better for simulated hills, thanks to its greater weight. I think I’ll try it tomorrow on the way to Walmart. My route has me away from road traffic for much of the way; so can keep my mind on the workout! 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 Disassembly May 8, 2024 Tired But Not Tired May 7, 2024 Done! May 6, 2024 Halfway May 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tired But Not Tired

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Tired But Not Tired 😴 You know that tired, but not tired feeling? That’s me today. Over yesterday and the day before, I completed my first attempt at back-to-back long rides; and I’m not sure whether I can say I’m tired or not! Fatigue in the sense of can’t-get-put-of-bed exhaustion, no. Even my legs don’t feel very stiff and tired, until I try to ride. I made a short trip to the local farmers market; and later rode to the bike shop. My legs did feel rather tired then. Maybe I need to do some stretching? The bike shop called to say my derailer hanger was in; and I went to get it. I like to keep a spare on hand at all times. While I was there, I got some gloves; and stopped to buy bananas on the way home. Total mileage today: barely over 5. Maybe tired but not tired means I’ll be in fine fettle for tomorrow’s planned pace work. How about efforts at 15 mph for six minutes? We’ll see how it goes! Taste of RAGBRAI? 🌽🥧 Have I gotten a taste of RAGBRAI? A slight nibble, I’d guess. RAGBRAI is about averaging some 70 miles per day — seven days in a row! Two consecutive days of 30-32 miles is a far cry from such distances; and I have a tendency to try to build up slowly to long rides. Maybe too slowly! That’s why I’m taking a start-training-up-now approach. Training aside, if I do RAGBRAI, I’ll want something larger than the top-tube pouch I have. At the bike shop today, I saw handlebar bags similar to the one at left; but I don’t want to buy one until I can get to that store with my road bike. Might as well be sure the bag will fit on the bike; and riding with more of a load on the handlebars will be another taste of RAGBRAI! 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 Done! May 6, 2024 Halfway May 5, 2024 Do-si-do? May 4, 2024 Rain Drill? May 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Done!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Done! 🎇 My do-si-do is done! Yesterday I rode nearly 32 miles; and this morning I put in 30 more. There’s my back-to-back long rides. Not that 30 miles is so very long stacked against the daily mileages of RAGBRAI; but it’s a beginning. Today’s ride was harder than yesterday’s, which is no surprise. I’m not used to doing 30-mile jaunts two days in a a row; and the wind was stronger than it was yesterday, too. But I got through without feeling like I was dying; and that’s important. This do-si-do did point out the importance of improving my pace. I think I’ll work on my pace Wednesday; tomorrow I want to take an easy ride to the farmers market. My legs need to recover from these two days of long rides. What’s Next? ⏭️ What’s next, now that I’ve done back-to-back long rides? Obviously, keep working up to longer do-si-do riding. Keep trying various electrolyte drinks and foods. As already stated, work to improve my pace. This morning I averaged a plodding 9.18 mph; and at that un-speed, I couldn’t get through a 71-mile RAGBRAI day on time! How soon is too soon for another shot at back-to-back long rides? Is once a month too much? Too little? Just right? Maybe I should go ask Goldilocks. But if I’m aiming for RAGBRAI 2025, I still have plenty of time to work up to it; and to figure out what’s next.

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Halfway

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Halfway ½ I’m halfway there with my do-si-do! Today I rode almost 32 miles; and I’ll try for another 30 or so tomorrow. It looks like the weather will cooperate; but I won’t set out as early as I did today. The calendar shows that tomorrow is the dark of the moon. Years of pre-dawn riding taught me that, the morning before the dark of the moon, there’s a low-hanging, orange-y crescent moon. I wanted to see that; and it was worth getting up at 4:30 am. Today I must have lucked out with the wind. During the time I was actually on top of the levee, I averaged about 12.5 mph. That’s slightly better than usual; and I didn’t seem to get as tired halfway through. 😊 Now, what shall I do tomorrow? Ride Plans 🤔 Of course I have to consider my ride plans, as well as recording ride data. My “training” structure is actually quite loose; but then, I’m not training for competition! So I don’t think I need to lose sleep over it. Overall, my ride plans include one ride per week when I work to develop better force; one or two rides when I focus on increasing my pace; and one long ride. Once a week I’ll ride short and easy; but I’m trying not to skip any days during May. Love to Ride’s Bike Month Challenge is in progress! Everybody here complains about the heat; but in a way, I’m looking forward to it. I don’t have a cooling beanie like the one shown here; but I want to try wetting a helmet liner to see how it works. Use what you have! 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 Halfway May 5, 2024 Do-si-do? May 4, 2024 Rain Drill? May 3, 2024 Enough Rest? May 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Do-si-do?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Do-si-do? 💃 Do-si-do sounds like square dancing; not a move to be executed while cycling. Not even on a tandem!  But I thought of do-si-do while viewing this YouTube. About 6:55 minutes in, the narrator mentions doing back-to-back long rides during RAGBRAI training. And what does do-si-do mean? It’s from the French for back-to-back! I must start doing some such rides soon. I think I’ll take my longest weekday distance as a starting point. That’s around 21-22 miles; and let’s see how it goes. Frankly, 21-22 miles isn’t all that long; but I can build up over time. Which Training Plan? 🚴‍♂️ Which training plan shall I use? The RAGBRAI official site includes its own plan; but it doesn’t look like my own riding. Not that that’s a big deal; which training plan you use is less important than consistency. RAGBRAI’s plan  shows four days of riding a week; two week days, and Saturday/Sunday. I ride nearly every day. Several days per week, I do shorter distances than the RAGBRAI plan says; but my weekly overall mileage is keeping pace well. Not this past week, though; I eased up, and skipped speed work; force work; and I did somewhat shorter rides. Tomorrow I’ll aim for 30 miles; that’s not excessive. My Garmin’s screen will let me know if I’m pushing too hard for too long; I just keep an eye on my heart rate. After tomorrow, it’s back to the regular rides. And it looks like the weather will be pretty good for 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 Do-si-do? May 4, 2024 Rain Drill? May 3, 2024 Enough Rest? May 2, 2024 Experimenting May 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Rain Drill?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Rain Drill? 🌧️ I thought I might get a rain drill today; namely, that I’d get caught in a downpour. And without a poncho! Anyone who cycles regularly for exercise; fun; or transportation, does need to learn how to deal with riding in the rain. Hence the term rain drill.  When I set out this morning, the sky was overcast; and it looked quite stormy in a northwesterly direction. However, I got lucky. I was back home before we any rain began. A former co-worker once told of cycling home in rain so heavy that it threatened to wash his contact lenses out of his eyes! It makes me glad that I don’t use contacts. An occasional rain drill is also good practice for RAGBRAI. We can’t count on having clear weather all week. If I do that big ride, I must remember to bring along chain lube! If it does rain, I’ll need it. Weekend Outlook ☀️ The weekend outlook, fortunately, is much better. Tomorrow I’ll want to hang my panniers on the hybrid’s rack; and make my usual trek to the salvage store. I must look for ride food; and I hope I find almond milk. It’s also time to think about laying in supplies in case we have a hurricane (oh, that loathsome H-word!) Sunday I want to go for a longish ride. A high of 86 is predicted; so I won’t need leg warmers. But I will need plenty of sunblock! 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 Rain Drill? May 3, 2024 Enough Rest? May 2, 2024 Experimenting May 1, 2024 Goodbye Leg Warmers? April 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Enough Rest?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Enough Rest? ⏰ Have I had enough rest now? After four low-mileage days, I went out this morning and rode nearly 17 miles. I was fueled by a MET-Rx bar; I just wasn’t in the mood for a banana and peanut butter. The ride went all right, although the wind was pesky. No news there! It was already 75 degrees at 6:30 am; and it’s been cloudy all day. I could still use long sleeves, especially heading into the wind; but I had to stop on the way home to reapply sunblock. I’m not using leg warmers now! It looks like the wind won’t be quite as strong tomorrow; and that’s good news. Even after enough rest, I don’t enjoy riding against headwinds! Planning 🗓️ Soon I’ll be planning next week’s rides. I keep track of ride data in notebooks; and also jot down my intended ride plans. Not that I always follow them; but it’s good to at least have a plan. Especially if you’re preparing for something big, be it a triathlon; RAGBRAI; or a personal century. So yes, planning is good; even if you can’t always follow the “blueprint”. You simply don’t know when something might throw a monkey wrench into the machinery.  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 Experimenting May 1, 2024 Goodbye Leg Warmers? April 30, 2024 Old Tease April 29, 2024 Time to Back Off! April 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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