SpokEasy

February 2025

RAGBRAI hydration

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

RAGBRAI Hydration 🚰 I’m already planning RAGBRAI hydration; never mind that the event is still over five months in the future. If anything, hydration is more important than food; so plan how you’ll get your fluids during a ride. For a long event, is a Camel-Bak or bottles a better choice? That depends on personal preference. Some riders find that a backpack full of water makes them too hot; and for a fact, a Camel-Bak does get hot. There’s also the weight of the Camel-Bak to contend with. I intend to use the Camel-Bak for my RAGBRAI hydration, despite the drawacks. Now that I’m doing 20+ mile rides more and more often, I’m using that hydration system much more often. If I’m to use it for RAGBRAI, I must train with it. Since it sounds like opportunities to refill your bottles, etc. are frequent, I won’t need to fill the reservoir all the way. That means more weight allowance for other necessities, e.g. a tube of Chamois Butt’r. If I have the Camel-Bak, I’ll have a drinking tube; and that tube is easier to grab than a bottle on my bicycle’s down tube. Even after a dozen years of riding that road bike, I still have days when I can’t seem to keep from swerving when trying to manage that bidon! And that’s on flat ground; I imaging that climbing would complicate matters considerably. What about Electrolytes? ⚡️ What about electrolytes? Hydration isn’t only about water, after all. Even on the coldest days, after about an hour of riding, plain water doesn’t cut it. If the weather is hot, I need electrolyte drink after half an hour or less. For RAGBRAI hydration, I’ll want my Camel-Bak ready when I begin a day’s riding. Over the years, I’ve tried many electrolyte drinks; and naturally some are more appealing than others. Regular Gatorade has fallen by the wayside; I have prediabetes, and need to watch my carb intake. Besides, I would rather eat my carbs than drink them. But there’s Gatorade Zero! I also like Propel. I’ve found this product in both powder and tablet form; and I lean towards tablets. They’re neater; and I think they’d be easier to use on a long ride. I’ve also tried Nuun tablets; and as a rule, I keep some GU-Gels with me at all times. What about hydration? There are many choices! 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 ✍🏻 RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

RAGBRAI hydration Read More »

I Took the Plunge!

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

I Took the Plunge! 🏊🏻 I took the plunge! This morning, I registered for RAGBRAI! I also signed up for the PBV (aka Pork Belly Ventures) charter service; and even booked my hotel room for the last night in Iowa before I fly home. It might be too early to book air travel; but that’s on my to-do list for the coming days. Ditto for Bikeflights; and maybe some kind of travel insurance. I’m not quite sure I’ll need it in addition to my regular medical insurance. I took the plunge; and now I’m working on my shopping list. Also, on my packing list. There’s a certain amount of equipment that I’ll need; and it’s amazing how many everyday things I use that I might easily forget. When those items are easy to access at home, I don’t think about them. The Equipment 🏕️ So, to gather the equipment. I already got a sleeping pad; but I don’t yet have a sleeping bag.  The pad that I have lacks a pillow; but I can take a pillow case and stuff it with clothes. I got one of those quick-dry microfiber towels; and I think I’ll get a washcloth, too. I’ll want to be sure I can clean off the sunblock at a day’s end! There are all those day-to-day things that, as mentioned, I don’t even think about: toothpaste; shampoo; and so on. PBV provides soap and towels with their showers; but I want to bring my own to insure that I have fragrance-free products. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a duffle bag! They say the 40-liter size is good for RAGBRAI. I just might be able to use it as a carry-on; it depends on how easily I can lift the loaded bag over my head! While I’m collecting the equipment, I must keep riding. So far the training plan for RAGBRAI 2025 doesn’t seem to have been published; but last year’s plan gives me some guidelines. After all, I took the plunge; and I want to do all I can to ensure a great First 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 ✍🏻 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

I Took the Plunge! Read More »

Edging Closer

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Edging Closer ➼ I’m edging closer to RAGBRI! In fact, I attempted to register today; but apparently I started an account several years ago, from my work computer. My old work email address popped up; and I no longer use that account. So I’m working to get that straightened out. Then I can pounce! I’m getting anxious to get my name in there, so I can register with Pork Belly Ventures; and I hear they fill up fast. I want PBV because then I won’t have to bother with managing a tent by myself. Today I found out more that can help me with logistics; so I’m edging closer! Logistics ✈️ Working out the logistics of any trip is quite the jigsaw puzzle. My biggest concern about getting to and from RAGBRAI has been, how to transport my bicycle. Not in a bike travel bag; that would mean hauling the thing through airports, along with any check-in bag I’d have. But there’s Bikeflights;  and I think I’ll use them. My bike shop says they use Bikeflights all the time. Today I spoke by phone with a PBV contact. They say, allow a good two weeks for shipping if I use Bikeflights. Lucky I have the hybrid to ride, so I can keep my fitness going during that fortnight. As I understand it, I’ll learn more about Bikeflights once I’m registered with PBV. We also spoke about airports and shuttle services between RAGBRI and those terminals. As to the ride itself, the day that I’m most worried about is the last one. It’s 61.2 miles; and the one PBV shuttle from the end town leaves at 3 pm. So I’d better start riding extra early that day! This morning I rode 20.5 miles in 1:50:13; so theoretically, seven hours (including breaks) ought to be enough for 61.2 miles. I mustn’t forget about the hills, though. I guess I’ll get it worked out. After all, I’m edging closer! 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 ✍🏻 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 He Saw! February 2, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Edging Closer Read More »

What Hills?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

What Hills? 🚵🏽 What hills are there around here to practice on? I’ve about decided to register for RAGBRAI 2025; and although this will be one of the flattest RAGBRAI routes ever, there will be a total of 10,400+ feet of climbing. I don’t want to get to Iowa and find myself in deep water, so to speak; so I must practice climbing now. But how? They say, if you want to get better at climbing, you’ve got to ride hills. But what hills? It’s flat as can be around here! Burn My Quads 🔥 “Hill” practice means burn my quads time; and today I began working at it. Harder than actually doing it, is getting myself to start! I did it by shifting into a very hard gear; then working to ride in that gear for two minutes. Then, after two minutes of easy riding, I’d do another hard effort. In all, I did 7-8 such efforts; and by the third one, my quads were really feeling the work!  Next week I can extend the efforts by 30 seconds, and so on. I just hope I can be sufficiently conditioned by mid-July. After that, it’s too late for anything but fitness maintenance. As to getting my bicycle to and from RAGBRAI, I might use BikeFlights. The catch is, I’d be at a loss as to how to disassemble my bike. Ditto for putting it back together. But I plan to use Pork Belly Ventures; and I believe they provide this service. Or, at the Expo the day before RAGBRAI actually starts, I can get it taken care of. I’m still looking up info about the event; and during the ride, I’ll probably wish I could say, What hills? I just hope the work I’m doing now will mean I don’t burn my quads to a crisp. 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 Hills? February 4, 2025 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 He Saw! February 2, 2025 Predict the Groundhog February 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

What Hills? Read More »

Rikki Tikki Tavi

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Rikki Tikki Tavi 🏃‍➡️ Where’s Rikki Tikki Tavi when you need him? He always said the mongoose family motto was, “Run find out!” And I have a lot that I want to find out. About RAGBRAI! This Mongoose Malus Fat Tire bicycle could let Rikki Tikki Tavi be even faster; and then I’d get more RAGBRAI facts, and sooner. It seems that, the more I find out, the more questions I have!  Court of Inquiry? 🤨 It all feels like a court of inquiry. Get one question answered; and follow it up with rigorous cross-examination. Not to mention getting answers for all the additional questions that each answer generates. At present, my main course of inquiry is, how to get to and from RAGBRAI; especially the latter. As I scrutinize possibilities, getting TO the start of RAGBRAI is becoming clearer. But how to get from Guttenberg back home? That’s still up in the air. I’m glad I began thinking about all this last April. Today I was browsing the (lengthy!) page where I’ve been recording my questions; the answers, as I find them; and links to useful articles, videos, and so on. It’s a lot of material, and I want to go back over it all. If Rikki Tikki Tavi won’t go, I’ve got to; and conduct a court of inquiry as I go.  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 ✍🏻 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 He Saw! February 2, 2025 Predict the Groundhog February 1, 2025 Deep End January 30, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Rikki Tikki Tavi Read More »

He Saw!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

He Saw! 👀 Well, he saw! Our local groundhog says we’ll have six more weeks of Winter. It was a bright, sunny day; a good time for Ray-Ban Sunglasses. The temperature before I began my ride was 43 degrees; and I wore two layers on my legs. I forgot how fast it’s been warming up these days; and I was almost too hot before I got back home. Our high temperatures will continue to rise into the 70s for the rest of the week. Time to bring out the warm-weather gear! That groundhog — he saw his shadow; but it looks like the shadow was wrong. Extension 🫳🏻 Extension sounds like stretching — like you can do with Fit Simplify bands. Set of five bands of varying resistance levels lets you start easy, and work your way up. I decided it’s time for some ride extension; namely, more miles. Today I put in 26 miles; and I think I’ll leave the Sunday long ride at that for about two more weeks. Weekday rides can go up to 21 miles. I’ve got RAGBRAI in mind; and it doesn’t hurt to take a good look at the training plan. My weekly total is often 100+ miles; so the biggie for me is developing my climbing ability. This year’s RAGBRAI is relatively short. I can’t remember exactly what the daily distances are; but I think one day is close to 80 miles; and another day is under 40 miles. The upcoming Spring-like weather will be good for riding. Maybe it’s just as well that what he saw (i.e. the groundhog’s shadow) was wrong. 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 ✍🏻 He Saw! February 2, 2025 Predict the Groundhog February 1, 2025 Deep End January 30, 2025 Out of Shape January 29, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

He Saw! Read More »

Predict the Groundhog

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Predict the Groundhog ❄️? 🌷? Can I predict the groundhog? According to our forecast, he’ll see his shadow. After some patchy fog, it will be mostly sunny; and not much wind, either! It should be great for riding. That does mean we’re supposed to get six more weeks of Winter; and after the recent snow, I think we’re ready for Spring. And weather for loading the bikes onto a bicycle rack to get to the trails! Even if we can’t predict the groundhog, we can plan the upcoming season’s rides. If racing is your thing, it’s time to consider Spring training. I myself am looking at RAGBRAI training. This plan is last year’s; but it’s a way to get started. Ride into Spring 🌷🚴🏿 Around here we can ride into Spring, if today’s weather is any guide. Some folks are already out there in sleeveless shirts! Currently, my aim is to get back up to my end-of-2024 mileage. I backed off for a while after New Year’s; and last week I had to make do with pedaling in the trainer for a few days. I didn’t quite dare to try riding in snow/ice/slush; but “riding” in the trainer is no way to get in serious miles! Now I’m getting out again; and after I predict the groundhog tonight, I can see whether I was right. 😉 I’d also better enjoy riding into Spring while I can; because here, the weather typically skyrockets into mid-Summer heat as early as March!   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 #192058 February 1, 2025 Deep End January 30, 2025 Out of Shape January 29, 2025 It’s a Start January 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Predict the Groundhog Read More »