SpokEasy

June 2024

Turn Off the Oven!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Turn Off the Oven! 🔥 Hey, turn off the oven! Who left the dratted thing on? We aren’t cooking pizza; or anything else, for that matter. The heat index continues to hover over 100 degrees. It makes cycling harder; and I went out early today. Well, I usually ride early, anyhow; and that’s more important for longer rides in hot weather. Today I did 19+ miles; and I wanted to shout, “Turn off the oven!” It was in the high 80s or even 90 degrees when I got back home shortly before 9 am. By early afternoon, the heat index was 105! They’re predicting more of the same for tomorrow. 🥵 I don’t know what the succeeding days will bring; maybe it’s too soon to tell. But I do hope it cools off just a bit. Calling All Fans! 🆒 Calling all fans! We need all the help we can get to keep cool. The Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan ought to make a good team member. The Lasko is quiet; and includes a remote control. It has three speeds; and quiet operation makes it a good choice for the bedroom. If we’re calling all fans, I have a small, 4-battery fan that I plan to take along if I do RAGBRAI next year. Last year’s event saw unusually hot weather; and the interior of a tent can be sweltering when it’s 80 degrees all night long. I have a larger, 6-battery fan to use in case a hurricane knocks out our power. A cool rag isn’t a fan; but it helps keep the heat at bay. I was glad I had it during this morning’s ride! 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 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Raising Alarms

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Raising Alarms 😱 The forecast is raising alarms around here. There’s an excessive heat watch for tomorrow, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. I plan to ride early; but I’ll still want a way to keep cool. I have a cool rag; but even with that, I can get pretty hot. In fact, the heat is reaching the point where I want the cool rag and electrolyte drink, just for the ride to the salvage store; and that’s not far. Round trip, about 11 miles. Before you know it, I’ll be using the Camel-Bak for that short trip. Sounds crazy? I’d rather have that load of water on my back, than risk having too littlte water. Summer is here; and raising alarms before I need to is better than keeling over from dehydration. I’ll see how things are tomorrow morning. Eighty degrees or more at 6 am is getting very tiresome. I also still have to be careful with my hand; but this minimal riding is driving me crazy! What about intense efforts in hot weather? Maybe make them shorter; and allow more recovery time between efforts. Keep hydrating. Stop and rest, if necessary. Not the Gem 💎 On top of all these heat problems, Beryl is out there; and not the gem. This tropical storm is expected to develop into a serious hurricane; and I’m glad it doesn’t seem to pose a threat to us. So far.  A tropical storm means heavy rain; in fact, often too much rain! So, even when we’ve been drier than usual, we don’t want a tropical storm! All that downpour leads to street flooding; and more than enough times, city pumps have conked out during heavy rains. But those poor islands in Beryl’s path! Hurricanes are a NIMBY thing. Nobody wants them; but unfortunately they’ve got to go somewhere. T.S. Beryl is not the gem; but if only I could harness those winds, and use them to propel my bicycle. I’d set a speed record, for sure! 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 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Glutes and Quads

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Glutes and Quads 😬 Glutes and quads are important for the cyclist. No, I’m not suggesting that we take up ballet; but it seems to me that these exercises ought to be helpful. Incidentally, if we did start ballet classes, I bet we’d need TONS of hamstring stretches. We hear all the time that cycling causes the hamstrings to shorten and tighten; and that wreaks havoc on extension!  Fit Simplify bands are good for this sort of thing. They come in five different weights, from X-Light to X-Heavy. You can progress from one weight to the next as you strengthen your glutes and quads. Handy storage bag included. Building Back Up 🚲 I’m building back up now; or trying to. Today I used the road bike; and put in 12.4 miles. I did some efforts at pedaling 15 mph or over; but made them much shorter than usual.  When you’re building back up, you need to rein yourself in a little! Unfortunately, I forgot to wear my heart-rate strap. That’s what comes of using the hybrid several days in a row! Also, I don’t have a FitBit; so I can’t be sure exactly what my heart rate was. How did my hand do? I could hold the handlebar on the hoods without aggravating it; but using the brifter is still uncomfortable. It’s a good thing I wasn’t shifting gears all the time. 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 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Wanna Ride!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

I Wanna RIDE! 🚴‍♀️ I wanna ride; and I mean a real ride! These short jaunts around the park are getting tiresome. Unfortunately my hand is still sore and tender. I’m better at holding the handlebars; but going over any rough surface causes painful bumping. This morning it was raining; and I decided not to use my cool rag. I donned the poncho; but the thing flaps around, and doesn’t keep me all that dry. I guess wearing it gives me a bit of a psychological boost. So when the weather isn’t good, but I wanna ride, rain gear helps me get out there. Dare I Hope? 🤞 Dare I hope to be able to do a long ride this weekend? Well, 15 miles, anyway, instead of 10 miles. Or will I need to ride inside? I, for one, find indoor rides in a trainer a terrible bore. There’s always the concern that I didn’t secure the bicycle properly; and because of that, I don’t dare pedal really hard. Indoor pedaling causes me to get very hot, very quickly. Time to get out that cool rag! And the electric fan. Dare I hope that I can get out to ride? I’m getting out of shape! As to rain, how do I manage sunblock? Do UV rays penetrate rain? Even if they don’t, the rain washes off my sunblock; and if the sun comes out, I need to stop and reapply it. When I can start real rides again, it’s time to begin working to extend my mileage; and let pace development go for a bit. But whether I’m fast or slow, I just wanna get out there and ride. 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 Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tired of Sitting

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care /

Tired of Sitting 🪑 I sure got tired of sitting today; and I don’t mean on a bicycle saddle! I had some appointments this morning; and wasn’t sure about the bicycle parking situation there. So I decided to use public transit; and I was sitting on the bus; and sitting in waiting rooms. Then, when I got home around 10:30 am, there was more sitting on a chair! By then it was about 93 degrees; and a heat advisory was in effect. I also felt tired; and thought I’d skip riding again today. 😞  Would I get tired of sitting if I did a long bicycle tour? Who knows; maybe I would, especially if I developed saddle sores. I use Chamois Butt’r; (also available in Her’); but I expect problems could arise if you ride for seven days — literally! — on end. Nobody wants saddle sores to ruin a ride; so here are some tips. So far I’ve been lucky, and had only one sore; developed when I took a ride on my then brand-new road bike. It still had the stock saddle on; and that saddle was both too flat and very hard! Had to Get Out ➡️ It rained for a while about 3 pm; and then the upstairs neighbor started practicing drums! Again, I was tired of sitting; and with that percussion going on, I had to get out for a while. The rain had cooled things off a bit; and I decided to go ride around the park a few times. The sun was dodging in and out; and while it was out, I saw some intensely black clouds around. That made me a bit uneasy. Getting to my route meant riding over railroad tracks; and as I approached the crossing, I heard the rumble of a locomotive.  I was unable to get a break in the traffic; and had to wait for that train to clear the crossing. My route ran alongside the tracks for almost a mile; and wouldn’t you know, that dratted train stopped and blocked the way! I would have waited longer for it to move on, but it started to thunder; so I went back home. I wanted to fix a sandwich; but the drumming hadn’t stopped yet. And it was right over my kitchen! So I had to get out. 🙄 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 Elementor #174729 June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Big Uneasy

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

BIG UNEASY 🌀 New Orleans is the Big UNeasy this time of year. With hurricane season in progress, we’re on tenterhooks! Who know when a bad storm might head our way? In case one does, an Emergency Crank Weather Radio is a good tool to have; especially if you stay in town. It would be great if you could charge it up by hooking it to a bicycle! For less  powerful hurricanes, staying put means avoiding the crush of evacuating; although an electricity outage is all but certain . No using laptops and cell phones except in an emergency; and probably no getting out to ride for at least a few days. How tedious! But we don’t always know until quite late how bad a storm might be. To go, or to stay? No wonder we’re the Big Uneasy! On top of that, fleeing for every hurricane that comes near can lead to evacuation fatigue. Scram 🏃🏽 For a storm above Category 2, it’s probably better to get out; aka scram. I’m tempted to think that it would be fun to make the evacuation a bicycle tour; but I’d have to leave town at least a week prior to expected landfall. Plus, I don’t know of a safe way to do it. Riding a bicycle along a busy interstate highway is suicidal! And I don’t have a touring bicycle such as the SixThreeZero, either; but the hybrid that I already have ought to suffice. The SixThreeZero does have seven speeds, and a built-in rack. But that soft foam saddle? I’d want something firmer, especially if I needed to trek several hundred miles. If only there were a way to make a hurricane scram! Then I could stay put; and continue to train for next year’s 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 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Loose Change? June 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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When You’re Broiling

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

When You’re Broiling 🥵 🔥 When you’re broiling, the Lasko Cooling Tower Fan can help you beat the heat. But that’s indoors. What about outdoor activities — cycling or otherwise? I ought to be used to hot and humid conditions. This is New Orleans, after all; and I’ve been here all my life. But when it’s hot enough that NOAA posts heat advisories, it’s hard to keep cool. This South Sport Cooling Rag is very helpful. If my neck is cool, the high temperatures are a bit more tolerable. That means a lot when you’re broiling on 90+ – degree days. More Heat Beating 🥶 With overnight low temperatures near 80 degrees, we need more heat beating measures than cooling rags. When you’re outdoors and riding, plain water won’t do except for very short rides. You need electrolytes, too; and there are many choices available. Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few of them. Since I carry bars to eat during long rides, I look for electrolyte drinks that are low in carbs. Propel is one such option;  Gatorade Zero is another. For more heat beating measures, ride early in the day. Sun sleeves help keep you a bit cooler. For me, not riding is hardly an option. I need the exercise; and I’ve always got RAGBRAI in the back of my mind. I’ll need to be in proper shape for that! 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 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Loose Change? June 22, 2024 Pedal and Sea June 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Camel Or Not?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Camel Or Not? 🐪 To camel, or not? A Camel-Bak is a great way to take along a large amount of water; but on a prolonged ride it can be somewhat of a nuisance. The weight of all that water can cause strain on the back of the neck; not to mention whatever I put in the Camel-Bak pockets: cable lock; tube of Chamois Butt’r; and so on. And in hot weather it sure makes your back sweat! So how about using one on RAGBRAI, when you’ll ride all day for seven days straight? Opinions differ. Some riders say, you don’t really need a Camel-Bak. They’d rather have weight on their bikes than on their bodies. So, to camel, or not? Me? If I do RAGBRAI, I want the Camel-Bak! When climbing, I believe it will be easier to drink from a tube, than to have to reach down for a bidon. Besides, no matter how much they talk about availability of water on the RAGBRAI route, I don’t want to risk being unable to find that water! Hot Ride 🥵 I had a hot ride today; and was wishing for the Camel-Bak and electrolyte drink before I finished. I wore my cooling rag; and it helped. But this morning I didn’t get started until almost 9:00 am; and it was already nearly 85 degrees! I’m used to riding earlier, when it’s a bit cooler. Not that I did a long ride; less than 11 miles. My legs are rather out of condition after last week’s minimal riding; and that didn’t help. My hand is still tender, too. I hope things improve in the coming days. But a hot ride is going to be the norm for at least three months! 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 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Loose Change? June 22, 2024 Pedal and Sea June 21, 2024 And They’re Off! June 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Loose Change?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Loose Change? ¢ Penny-Farthing makes me think of loose change. It also makes me think that riding one at all takes some doing. And riding a penny-farthing all the way across the USA? Wow! Although a solid-tire bicycle won’t need a pump! Danny Davis rides to raise autism awareness; and also to get special bikes to special kids. My nephew is on the autism spectrum, so this is interesting to me. I myself have Asperger’s; but didn’t know it until well into adulthood! Oh, and loose change?  Maybe it’s a good thing a penny-farthing isn’t loose change; or it would probably fall apart as you’re riding it! As to the penny, don’t throw your pennies away. They add up! Can’t Wait to Ride! 🚴🏿 I can’t wait to ride again — really ride, I mean. Easy pedaling around the park isn’t much riding, although it’s better than nothing at all. This morning I bummed a ride to the salvage store, because I don’t think my hand is ready for me to be riding alongside a 3-lane highway. I might need to make some sudden moves and/or do hard braking; and that still doesn’t feel good. When I can get back to my usual cycling, I’ll start working to increase my daily distances; and leave pace development on the shelf for a bit. They say it’s better not to try to work on both increased mileage and greater speed at the same time. It will take at least a few day for me to get back into the groove, anyway.  But I miss riding; and I can’t wait to ride again!  

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Pedal and Sea

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Pedal and Sea 🌊 🚴🏿 Pedal and Sea — or, pedal and see? As in, see what you can see while cycling alongside water? PedalAndSeaAdventures.com lets you do just that. This travel company, based in Canada, offers bicycle tours both in Canada and abroad. Along the routes are gorgeous sea views; and tiny villages that conjure up images of bygone days.  You can choose from guided tours in Europe; Croatia; or Atlantic Canada/Quebec; or you can do a self-guided tour in Atlantic Canada. Visit Prince Edward Island of Anne of  Green Gables fame; try out the valleys and whale-watching on the Cabot Trail of Cape Breton Island; or head for Nova Scotia. Two tours are available here: Best of Both Coasts; and the South Shore. The European Cycling Tours include, among others, tours of Ireland; the Azores; and Andalusia. Hand Out ✋ Doesn’t it all sound marvelous? Beautiful scenery combined with pedaling; and delicious food along the way. Pedal and Sea means a lot of adventure! But at the moment, I’ve got a hand out of order; and can’t yet tolerate much gripping. It’s a nuisance; because the two short rides I’ve done have me feeling like my legs could tear up the bike path! I hope it’s a long time before I have a hand out of order again!   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 Pedal and Sea June 21, 2024 And They’re Off! June 20, 2024 Senior Cycling June 19, 2024 Dull Days June 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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