SpokEasy

January 2025

Trashed?

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Trashed? 🗑️ For several days, I was afraid I had inadvertently trashed a week’s worth of blogs. Their titles vanished from the list of blog posts; and I didn’t quite dare compose further blogs until I knew what was going on. Apparently my web site needs some house cleaning; and I’m working with a web support service to be sure I don’t make things even worse. Speaking of cleaning, I ought to be working to get more of it done around here, while the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor riding. This place can easily start to look trashed, because I’ve never been a stellar housekeeper! Waiting Is Tiresome! 🥱 Waiting is tiresome; and I don’t mean “tire” as in GatorSkins. Thanks to the forecast, I was (figuratively) holding my breath all day, waiting for the predicted strong winds to begin. By 1:00 pm I wondered what had  happened to the wind advisory; and was fed up with staying indoors. I decided to go for a ride on the hybrid; I needed some exercise! I went to the park again, just in case things did start to get bad; and did five laps. That’s better than yesterday, when I rode around four times. During the final lap, the wind did begin to strengthen; and I was glad that I was about to head home, anyway.  There was a light drizzle during the entire ride; but thank goodness it didn’t pour. Even if it had rained hard, learning to manage a bicycle in bad weather is part of being a cyclist. Your ride doesn’t have to be trashed because it’s not sunny and calm!  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 ✍🏻 Trashed? January 10, 2025 Here Comes the Freeze January 7, 2025 Hibernation January 6, 2025 How to Time It? January 5, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Here Comes the Freeze

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Here Comes the Freeze! 🥶 Oh, boy — here comes the freeze. I won’t want Pickle Ice tomorrow, that’s for sure! The forecast for tonight shows a low temperature of 33 degrees. That’s barely above freezing; and the chill factor will be below freezing! Even though I feel like a sissy when I don’t layer up and go for a ride, I think I’ll “ride” in the trainer tomorrow. This morning my fingers felt cold despite the hand warmers; and my ears kept feeling the breeze despite the helmet liner. Tomorrow will be colder yet; and in fact there’s a freeze warning in effect. That’s why I say, here comes the freeze! Let It Run 🚰 So tonight I must turn on the faucet, and let it run. I wish I could catch that water for my bidons, rather than let it go to waste; but one can’t risk broken pipes.  Oh, wait — I have an idea. Put the 5-quart pot under the faucet; but position it so it’s not covering the sink’s drain. In fact, that will let me get an idea of how much water it costs to keep the pipes from freezing. It looks like tomorrow will be a case of too cold to ride! We didn’t even have a gradual cooling down to these frigid temperatures; as usual, they arrived all of a sudden. When that happens, I don’t get the chance to adjust gradually to the changing weather. At least the threat of rain is over for a day or two; so we don’t have to worry about sleet. In cold weather, my nose is an enormous nuisance; and drives me crazy. I can’t properly blow my nose while pedaling; so — please pardon the disgusting phrase — all I can do is let it run. I’m lucky I don’t have to go to work any more. When we’re all saying, here comes the freeze, it’s VERY hard to get up at 4:30 am to go for a ride in the cold and wind!  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.”  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 ✍🏻 Here Comes the Freeze January 7, 2025 Hibernation January 6, 2025 How to Time It? January 5, 2025 The Wolf Returns January 4, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hibernation

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Hibernation ? I feel like I’m going into hibernation mode. The weather is cold; and that makes me feel tired and sleepy. Today the wind is strong; and I just don’t feel like fighting it on a bicycle. I hope to come out of hibernation tomorrow. The wind will be less; but unfortunately it will be even colder than today! I don’t want to stay on reduced mileage for too long; so it’s time to haul out the hand warmers. Not to mention extra layers. Even with several layers, though, I often still feel cold. In a humid climate like ours, the chill seeps through everything. Tired of the Park ?? Oh, I do get tired of the park. Yes, it’s good to have it on days when the weather makes me want to stay off the levee; but riding laps gets very tedious! There’s also the 10 mph speed limit for cyclists in the park. Not everybody obeys it (to be exact, many don’t); but I try to be good. Unfortunately that’s not useful for improving my pace. On cold, windy days, getting tired of the park isn’t the only difficulty. Heavy gloves make on-bike eating awkward, no matter where I ride. They rob me of my fingertip sensitivity; and it’s hard to wiggle my fingers into a snack bag to pull out a bite. Then I have to be careful that I don’t snag the bag and inadvertently pull it out of the top-tube pouch! Anybody got any ideas on how to improve that? All this is a bit overwhelming. It tempts me to stay in hibernation mode! 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 ✍? Hibernation January 6, 2025 How to Time It? January 5, 2025 The Wolf Returns January 4, 2025 Have a Blast! January 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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How to Time It?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

How to Time It? ⌚️ How to time it over the next few days? We’ve got cold temperatures and stiff winds in the forecast for much of this week; and it looks like tomorrow will be especially blustery. I don’t want to skip too many days of riding; so how to time it to minimize my time spent struggling against the wind? Pedaling round and round the park means less headwind trouble than riding on top of the levee; but the tedium of doing laps makes it hard to get in the desired mileage.  I’m not a big fan of afternoon riding; probably because I spent years riding early in the day. Before I retired, that was the best way to be sure I did get to ride; but now I’m not as pressed for time as I was then. And for the time being, I sure don’t need to worry about excessive heat! Slow Start ? Actually, 2025 is getting off to a slow start. Today I rode fewer than 10 miles; and my legs felt tired besides. Do they need a lube job? I need to decide how to time it for my rides during the week. During the final months of 2024, I was working to bring my long-term mileage total to 70K; and rarely skipped a day. But now that I’ve met that goal, I can work out a schedule that lets me take off one day per week. I don’t want to take off too many days, though; and the weather in the coming week will make that hard. In addition, it’s time I started reintroducing intensity; especially if I have any idea of doing RAGBRAI. That will mean climbing! I suppose last year’s suggested training schedule will do for this  year; but before I decide whether to register for the event, I need to know where the start/finish towns will be. I might be able to manage if I go by Amtrak. How’s that for training? ? 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 ✍? How to Time It? January 5, 2025 The Wolf Returns January 4, 2025 Have a Blast! January 3, 2025 Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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The Wolf Returns

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Uncategorized /

The Wolf Returns ? The wolf returns, to plague us cyclists — including me — with his windy habits. Maybe strewing some Epic Snack Strips in my wake will distract him, and make the wind ease up? I’m none too happy with the forecast for the coming week. I guess the unusually warm weather has spoiled me, because temperatures down to freezing are a very unpleasant prospect. For a few days it will be windy, with gusts as strong as 30 mph. So it seems that the wolf returns. Sleet? ? Is there sleet on the way? I hope not; but tomorrow night it will fall to 37 degrees; and rain is in the forecast. I’m not sure that’s cold enough for sleet; but I think I’d better not risk going for an outdoor ride, just in case. Neither of my bicycles has tires designed for riding in icy conditions; especially not the road bike. Add strong wind gusts, and it’s a recipe for an unpleasant ride. Tomorrow will be another Spring-like day; but with a chance of showers. The wind will be pretty strong, too. It’s a good day for riding in the park, where I won’t have a headwind mile after mile on the way home! I got quite a headwind on the way home from the salvage store this morning; and I’m not in a hurry for more of it.  My usual plan for a ride in the park is to use the hybrid, so I can have the bike trunk. The trunk can hold my cell phone; poncho; and ride food. The catch is that I have to stop every time I want a bite to eat! 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 ✍? The Wolf Returns January 4, 2025 Have a Blast! January 3, 2025 Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Have a Blast!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Have a Blast! ? We all want to have a blast; whether it’s popping the cork to bring in the New Year; or having a terrific bicycle ride. That’s the kind of blast that most of us enjoy; but we’re about to have a blast of cold weather! Our current warm temperatures are expected to last through Sunday afternoon; but Sunday night, it’s down to about 37. The following night, the temperature will drop to barely above freezing! For New Orleans, that is COLD! This cold spell will come riding in on some pretty strong wind; and rain is possible as well. As so often happens, Winter is late; but will arrive with a vengeance. Bundle Up! ? So that means that it’s time to bundle up; and that presents its own difficulties. How many layers do I need? Two? Three? Will I need a poncho? Is it better not to ride if it’s both raining and barely above freezing? I don’t need for rain to turn to sleet when I’m far from home! Struggling to ride in icy conditions is definitely not my idea of having a blast. Neither is having to bundle up so much that my movement is restricted. Thick thermal socks can easily make my cycling shoes feel too tight; and tight shoes seem to make my feet get cold faster. As usual, I’ll have to play it by ear. And I might have to ride inside!  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 ✍? Have a Blast! January 3, 2025 Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash December 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tabula Rasa

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Tabula Rasa ?  A new year is tabula rasa, a chance to start anew; and of course that includes riding plans! Not that anyone has to coax me to give riding a try. I’ve been cycling for 15+ years now! But it’s still a good time to work up a new training plan; and to consider some new cycling adventures. When the route for RAGBRAI 2025 is finally announced, I’ll be able to figure out whether travel to Iowa by train for the event will be feasible. It’s also tabula rasa as far as my eating habits go. I pretty much let things slide for the week between Christmas and New Year’s; but now I’ve got to get back to work on it. Sometimes it’s a bit of a problem, though, such as when I’m not sure of the nutritional info of a home-made soup. New Ride Food ? ? I’m considering new ride foods, too; and I’m especially looking for things that aren’t too high in saturated fat. It might be more cost-effective to make my own on-bike food; and I was once again looking at some of the recipes in Feed Zone Portables.  I’ve tried rice cakes, and am not at all sure I made them correctly. Mine tend to come out too soft; and that sushi rice gums up my teeth in a most annoying way. And then the rice tends to stick in my throat; something I don’t need while cycling. If I want to try other recipes in Feed Zone Portables, I’ll have to make an expedition to a supermarket for flour; and possibly other ingredients. New ride food can take careful planning; but after all, wasn’t I just talking about tabula rasa? 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 ✍? Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash December 31, 2024 Something Is Rotten December 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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2025 Already?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

2025 Already? ? Can you believe it’s 2025 already? How time flies! I went for a ride, or course; and was surprised that there wasn’t much litter from fireworks. Some years the mess left on the bike path is incredible; and bad enough to provoke me to carry my bike through it! It was a bit chilly, in the low 50s; and it’s a shame that Campfire S’mores GU-Gels don’t make me warmer. The wind was a nuisance, too. But now that I’m home, I’m thinking of having some hot chocolate later. It’s 2025 already; and why not celebrate the new year? Blueprints? ⏩ How about some blueprints for the upcoming year’s cycling? Maybe some long-distance rides? Can I still hope to do RAGBRAI? It’s 2025 already; and time flies. For all I know, registration for RAGBRAI is already full. I started thinking about RAGBRAI almost two years ago; and a major hurdle is how to get to and from Iowa. Perhaps by Amtrack? The fare alone wouldn’t be too bad; and from what I could find out, the travel time to Des Moines is less than seven hours. But that’s only half the story. The RAGBRAI route won’t be announce until January 25; and I need to know the nearest train station to that point. Even then, how do I get from the train station to the RAGBRAI start town? Is there a shuttle service? Do I need a bicycle travel case to safely transport my bike? So much to think of! This is why it’s vital to start your blueprints early. You’ll need “wiggle room” to make changes if need be! 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 ✍? 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash December 31, 2024 Something Is Rotten December 30, 2024 Rev It Up December 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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