June 2024 -

When You’re Broiling

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

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?

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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?

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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

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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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And They’re Off!

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And They’re Off! 🐎 And they’re off … no, not thoroughbreds; nor foot racers. Not even bicycle racers; but the named storms of the season. Tropoical Storm Alberto has gone ashore; but there’s been another system off the Florida/Georgia coast for a few days; and there’s a new system in the Bay of Campeche! It seems that, once the first named storm appears, further storms follow in rapid succession. And they’re off! They might keep coming as late as November, too. What a drag hurricane season is! Hurricane season means worrying about when the next hurricane will appear; how strong it is; and where it will go. It’s about concerns over having to flee on short notice; and a big question: how will my cycling be impacted? Indoor Cycling 🥱 I guess it’s time to think of indoor cycling, boring though is. This Mini Cross-Trainer is lightweight, and you can use it for both legs and arms. It even has an automatic stop in case of bad muscle cramps. The Mini Cross-Trainer is designed principally as a rehab tool; but I don’t see why it can’t substitute for a bicycle in a pinch. At least, for some gentle pedaling to prevent leg-muscle atrophy! For more vigorous indoor cycling, rollers might fit the bill. I personally found rollers too slick when combined with slick road-bike tires; but in retrospect, I think I was too tentative about my pedaling! 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 And They’re Off! June 20, 2024 Senior Cycling June 19, 2024 Dull Days June 18, 2024 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Senior Cycling

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Senior Cycling 👵👴🏼 Senior Cycling has been around for two decades, offering easy cycling tours for riders age 50 and over.These multi-day rides are primarily on Rails to Trails routes; and follow interesting and scenic places in North America. Tour groups are small (limit 13 riders); and led by experienced guides. SAG support is available; so you can feel safe. The Tours 🛣️ The tours offered by Senior Cycling are structured; yet allow ample time to enjoy things along the way. Some of this year’s tours are already sold out; so don’t delay! Cape Cod still has room as of 06/19/2024; and will let you enjoy late Summer on the beautiful coast. The North Idaho & Washington Rail-Trails tour still has room; and includes four scenic trails; some of the most beautiful in the USA. Or, you can pre-register for next year! Some of the routes on the schedule are: Dunedin Hub Tour; Uncommon Florida; and NC Outer Banks. Details are not yet settled; so check their web site later. These tours sound great, and I wish I could do some of them — the Katy Trail, for one. With SAG service available, I might not need to carry much on my bike. I guess I’ll have to add these tours to my bucket list! 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 Senior Cycling June 19, 2024 Dull Days June 18, 2024 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Dull Days

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Dull Days 🥱 I’ve got some dull days ahead; and with no tent to crawl into while I wait them out. I’ve got no park bench to rest on, either. This morning I had trigger finger release surgery; so of course for today I’m practically forced to take it easy. I’m still a bit groggy from the sedation; and the surgical site is “waking up” from the local anesthetic. I need to avoid putting much pressure on the site for at least a few days; and besides that, the dressing needs to stay dry. With more rain in the forecast, that would be quite a job if I were outdoors. The surgeon says, don’t ride until I can comfortably use the bicycle’s brakes. That’s a very important point; if I can’t stop safely, I’m an accident waiting to happen. And using a bicycle pump might be hard. After the hand surgery last year, I managed by using the forearm on the pump handle; but that caused bruising! Gosh, these are going to be some dull days! Waiting It Out 😐 I can’t even cook while I’m waiting it out. Cooking means washing and chopping veggies; and washing dishes and pots. My brother came for a few days to help; and I’m leaving kitchen duty to him. (Kind of nice to have a temporary slave! 😉) After today, I’d better start doing a lot of squats, to try to keep my legs halfway in condition. Lunges are a good exercise, but they’re still a problem because of last Fall’s bunion surgery. And I can keep planning future rides, to keep my mind active. From my reading about training, if you miss two or three days, there’s no big adjustment needed. More than that and you need to scale back. I hope I’m back on the bike by the weekend; but I might be wise not to attempt a distance much over 20 miles. So here I am, waiting it out; an all I can do is wait and see how things pan 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 Dull Days June 18, 2024 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 My Group June 15, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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False Alarm

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False Alarm 😱 I got a false alarm this morning. I checked the weather forecast at about 6:15 am; and it showed that T-storms were possible from 8 am onwards. I decided there was enough of a weather window for me to go for a ride. The sky looked very stormy; and it was making me nervous. I can’t crank a weather radio as I ride, so I couldn’t know what might happen. As a result, I turned back a few miles early. It was a false alarm, even though it briefly got quite dark. It’s annoying to lose those miles; but I didn’t want to take chances with lightning! More Forecasts ⛈️ There are more forecasts comparable to today’s in the coming week. Sometimes I think I should invest in some good rain gear; but I wouldn’t be surprised if the legs of a rain suit were too long for me. If they aren’t too long, they might well not be wide enough. I’ve long had the impression that manufacturers of these items think that short legs mean skinny legs. Not automatically, they don’t! In hot weather, a rain suit might cause me to get overheated; and that does no good. It has the potential to lead to dehydration. That’s a more serious problem than bonking. At least I did get in a ride today; and I included four 5-minute efforts at pushing for 15 mph or over. I don’t know how it will go for the rest of the week, though. I have trigger-finger release surgery scheduled for tomorrow; and my brother is here. We’ll probably be doing some visiting; and as I said, there are more forecasts for stormy weather! If I can fit in rides around all that, I’ll ride. If not, well, we need a bit of downtime now and then! 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 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 My Group June 15, 2024 SAG June 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Thwarted Plans

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Thwarted Plans 🚧 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.” Thwarted plans are part and parcel of a cyclist’s life. How often have we had to postpone or cancel a ride because of bad weather? Or change a planned route because of some other event in our path? It’s hard to enjoy the ride under such circumstances! Today was one such time. I wanted to take the hybrid to the park; do a few laps; and then go home. This was a case of thwarted plans! As I approached the park entrance that I planned to use, I saw that the street alongside the park was full of parked cars. This is unusual for 8:30 am on a Sunday; and I knew immediately that something was going on. What now? Change of Plans 🤔 I soon realized that some kind of foot-race was about to start; and that meant a change of plans. I knew that, if I continued riding laps, I’d be caught up in that crowd. It’s happened before; and is quite frustrating. Foot traffic on the jogging/cycling path is supposed to stay to the left; but not everyone does it. Especially not during an event that draws a big crowd. I wasn’t a quarter of a way through Lap 1 when I heard the cry of, “On your marks; get set”; and a blast on a trumpet. I decided to get around the park to the entrance I’d used; and then leave the park to the runners. Some of those runners were FAST! About halfway around the park, someone on a bicycle came along calling out that the lead runners were approaching. I was going 9-10 mph; and those guys were passing me! So I stuck to my change of plans; and got out of the park. 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 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 My Group June 15, 2024 SAG June 14, 2024 Grease June 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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My Group

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My Group 🚴‍♀️ 🚴🏿 Have I found my group? Today I did a ride (not on a Tommaso, though) with four other riders, at least two of whom have done RAGBRAI. It was great to chat with some folks who have actually done the ride. One of them says, RAGBRAI is a go-at-your-own-pace event. When we first started pedaling, we had a bit of a tailwind; and I had no trouble hanging with them at 13 mph. After 6-7 miles, we hit a bit of a headwind. Then I wound up lagging behind; but not by too far. Ergo I should do OK on RAGBRAI; at least, when the ground is flat and the wind doesn’t act up! I have more questions; and I’ll be glad to get “insider information”. Do or don’t I need to bring a bicycle lock? From videos I’ve watched, opinions vary on that point. Are bicycle pumps available; or must I bring one with me? It looks like “bike jams” are most likely at the start of the day’s riding; and when coming in/out/through towns. I get the impression that riders spread out much more after hitting the open road. Is that right? Plenty of Time ⏰ I’m glad I have plenty of time to work on this; to sleep on it, so to speak. RAGBRAI seems like one of those things that, the more you find out, the more questions you have! I hope my group can help me answer them. When a group of riders does RAGBRAI together, do they stick together on the road; or regroup at stops? Some riders are faster than others; and I don’t want to hold back my group by being a slowpoke. On the other hand, it won’t do me much good to be continually pushing beyond what I can do. And, do charter services provide air mattresses? If I don’t need to bring one, it’ll save space and weight in my luggage! And more and more. Good thing there’s plenty of 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 My Group June 15, 2024 SAG June 14, 2024 Grease June 13, 2024 How about Some Joplin? June 12, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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