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SpokEasy

July 2026

WHAT Do I Believe?

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

WHAT Do I Believe!? 🤨 Today’s Featured Product! 🎊 Cuvccn LED Reflective Vest  New!! RXBAR High Protein   For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! WHAT do I believe? The local forecast keeps changing; and watching this video hasn’t increased my certainty. Will we be getting tropical storm conditions; or won’t we? What do I believe? One thing is for sure: don’t stock up on microwavable meals! A tropical storm might well knock out the electricity; and then 1) I won’t be able too cook at all (electric stove here); and 2) if the outage is more than brief, I’ll have to worry about my food going bad! Don’t Stock Up! 🛒 I have to remind myself, don’t stock up until after this weather crisis is past. Don’t even go get a new cabbage right now! The heat index is over 100 degrees anyhow; so why go out if I don’t really need to? There’s plenty of canned stuff here; and even some Star Kist Beef Creations. They’re a salvage-store find; are shelf-stable; and actually taste pretty good. How about riding? Not as of 3:00 pm today! It is HOT out there; and today I’m rather tired. Normal after two consecutive 20-mile days, I suppose; but it shows how far I need to go before I’m really back in shape! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Wary Eye

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Wary Eye 👁️ Today’s Featured Product! 📣 Master Lock Cable New!! Schwinn  Volare 1300 For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! It’s wary eye time again! It was bound to happen at some point. I wonder, will scanning the sky with binoculars keep that tropical system away? If it know it’s being watched, will it back  off? If only it were that simple! We might have tropical storm conditions by Wednesday night; but the good thing is that this system is already hugging the coast; so I guess it won’t be able to develop much. Even so, we’ve got to keep a wary eye out. I have an appointment downtown on Wednesday morning; and I hope any foul weather waits until at least noon to move in. That ought to give me time to get home. Braced? 😬 I hope I’m sufficiently braced for anything that the tropical system might bring. My guess is that we’ll have heavy rain; possibly some street flooding; and of course a power outage is possible. So I’m not too worried — the forecast keeps changing, anyway! If anything, I should be more concerned about heat: the heat index day after tomorrow might reach 112 degrees! 🥵 Tomorrow I’ll do a short ride; after two consecutive days of 20 miles, I need to ease up for a day. For Tuesday, I’ll play it by ear. Wednesday I think I’ll skip the ride — I’ve got to keep a wary eye 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Made to Move

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

Made to Move 🏃🏽‍♀️ Today’s Featured Product! Nature Valley Granola Bar New!! Gooch Guard For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! The human body is made to move, they say. Is that why my legs enjoy pedaling? It took about ten minutes for me to become addicted; and I’m so glad I have a good place to ride! Today I did some work to try to improve my leg strength. I went for a 20-mile ride; and during the first half, I practiced pushing against the wind for two minutes at a time. I did two or three sets of three efforts each; with two minutes between efforts. I’m made to move, right? So I might as well move! Gosh It’s Hot! ♨️ But gosh, it’s hot! I made an extra effort to get going earlier; it was already 80 degrees before 7:00 am; and a heat advisory was set to go into effect at 10:00 am. Indeed, before I was halfway back home, I could feel how hot it was getting. I’m glad I had a tailwind then; usually I get the headwind during the inward-bound half of a ride. The next few days look like repeats of today; so I’ll have to continue getting up by 5:30 am. That’s rather tough; since my retirement I don’t want to get up so early! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Sweltering,

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Sweltering 🥵 Today’s Featured Product! 🎆 Sparthos Training Mask New!! Shimano Tourney FC-TY501 For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Afternoons are becoming sweltering. The heat index today reached 100+ degrees; and I didn’t want to go out to ride in such heat. Normally I ride early in the day to avoid the hottest hours; but today I had to go downtown for a 10:30am appointment. It was noon by the time I got back home; and I didn’t want to ride then. It was rather sweltering out there; and I was tired, too. Baked Cyclist? 🥖 Riding at midday during this season can result in a baked cyclist; and I’m in no hurry to get baked. But “baked cyclist” sounds like some kind of dessert — akin to Baked Alaska. It looks like RAGBRAI riders will have plenty of heat to cope with; but as I remember, it got hot enough during last year’s ride! A cool rag helped; and I was very glad to have it. I ought to be used to heat and humidity; and if I head to the park to ride, I usually find at least some shade. So, am I getting overly concerned? It’s not as though I go out and try to ride 20 miles in 90 minutes or less!     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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Tire Saver

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

Tire Saver 🛞 Today’s Featured Product! 👍 Schrader Bike Tire Liner New!! Venzo Multi-Use Pedals For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! A tire liner is a tire saver, I can tell you. I’m  so glad I have them for both tires! For the past week or so, every ride has been accompanied by a steady bump, bump, bump as I rolled along. It seemed to be coming from my front tire; but I couldn’t find anything in that tire. Today I finally wheeled my bicycle over to the bike shop; and why didn’t I look at the rear tire? (For one thing, it’s hard to hold the back end of that bike in the air!) The rear tire was badly worn in two spots; and only the tire liner had prevented a flat. So a tire liner sure is a tire saver! Heat Coming 🥵 I believe I already mentioned that we’ve got heat coming. I for sure won’t want hot curry! The predicted heat is why I rode to the store today. I want get in some miles extra early while this heat wave lasts; and it looks like it will hang around for at least three days.  I have to go somewhere tomorrow; and I’m not sure I”ll get to ride first. I’ll need to head out for the appointment by 8:30; and I don’t want to get up at 4:00 am! Time to head to the park for some slow laps, where I might have some shade. 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ Click here

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Marvelous Twenty

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Marvelous Twenty 😊 Today’s Featured Product! 🧨 David High Protein Bars New!! WINSPACE For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! What a marvelous twenty miles! It was great to be able to ride that far again; and for the most part, the wind cooperated. In think I might go to the salvage store tomorrow, though. The forecast for Friday through Sunday is: HOT! I’ll be sure to keep the cool rag handy; and maybe a cooling beanie, too. Hot Weekend! 🥵 I hope to get another marvelous twenty miles again very soon; but I’ll sure have to start my ride very early! I expect we’ll have more heat advisories over the next few days; and a trip to the salvage store won’t let me get home much before ten o’clock. When it’s very hot, I like to start a ride by 7:00 am; even earlier, if I can get myself going that soon. This morning overcast skies kept me a little cooler; but that won’t last. Naturally, I was curious about the weather that’s expected for RAGBRAI. It says, daily high temperatures in the low- to mid-90s. Sounds just like home! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Back to Square One

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Personal Care /

Back to Square One 🔲 Today’s Featured Product! 🎉 Massage Balls New!! Shimano Oval Traction Chainring For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I sure feel back at square one; and I don’t think anything with coffee will kick-start me. A year or so ago, I went for a Health/Fitness evaluation. Among other things, it tests strength/endurance for so-called floor push-ups; the kind you do with knees on the ground. I had drifted into doing them incorrectly; and then there was the hiatus forced by the accident. Now, as I say, I’m back at square one; but as the saying goes, I have nowhere to go but up! Wall Hugger? 🤗 So, I was shown an alternative to this exercise: wall push-ups. Makes me feel like a wall hugger. Another suggestion was to spend more riding time pushing a hard gear. I had already begun to work on that, anyway; so I’ll keep it up. I also saw the dietitian again. We discussed ride food, as well as what I eat at home: be sure to get sufficient veggies; and include a bit of protein with each snack. That might even help curb my sweet tooth! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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In Order

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

In Order ✔️ Today’s Featured Product! 🎊 ROCKBROS Photochromatic Bike Glasses New!! Garmin Vivosmart®️ 5 For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Even though I’m sitting out RAGBRAI this year, I thought I should be sure my equipment is in order. To be more specific, I wanted to be certain that nothing was developing unwanted growths. Happily, nothing was; and I can check the things again in a few months. Fortunately this place isn’t as damp as the one I rented before; and silica gel packs help. So I expect that everything will stay in order. Waiting for Weather ⚡️ I’ve been waiting for weather all day. It was, in fact, raining this morning; and I needed to walk to Fed-Ex. Fortunately I didn’t need rain boots; but even with an umbrella, I got sort of damp. By early afternoon, I was tired of waiting for weather to go crazy. I finally went to the park for a short ride; and I was surprised that there weren’t more huge puddles on the ground! When I got the wind behind me, I practiced riding on the big ring. I need that to develop better leg strength; and as my rides have been short the last two weeks, I need something to make up for the missing miles! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Free Way

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Free Way 🛣️ Today’s Featured Product! 🌟 ROCKBROS Water Bottle Cage New!! MERACH NovaWalk W50 For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I got a free way at last. The barricade across the bike path was gone this morning! As it turns out, they were paving a hitherto dirt-and-gravel access road that leads to a mini-industry on the riverbank. Today I let my ride go at >11 miles, because my Camel-Bak wasn’t full. I didn’t take lots of water because I expected that barricade to still be there; and didn’t plan for a 20-miler. I don’t know about riding tomorrow morning. The forecast doesn’t look favorable for outdoor activity; and neither does the next day. But I’ve got a free way, at least for now. Who knows when there will be another closure! Quiet in the Tropics 🌀 At least it’s quiet in the tropics for now. I have to remind myself of that when I get aggravated by local T-storms that dump large amounts of rain. Such storms usually pass quickly; a hurricane can mean hours of punishing wind and ferocious downpour. The thought of a hurricane is when I wish I had a trainer that can hold my hybrid’s rear wheel. I don’t have space in here for an indoor walker, so I don’t intend to get one. I hope I can do a 20-mile ride soon. I’ve missed those long jaunts for almost two weeks! Let’s hope I continue to have a free way.   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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Listen to the Storm

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Listen to the Storm ⛈️ Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Cueclip New!! Aeac Smart Watch For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I’m glad I got to listen to the storm from indoors. That’s better than having to hear it while cycling through it; and early this afternoon a Special Weather Statement warned of strong T-storms. I hope RAGBRAI has better weather than this! Riding past fields of corn and soybeans has cyclists just as exposed as riding on top of the levee;  and even if ditches are available, are they long enough for tens of thousands of people get into them? Listen to the storm means staying alert for any weather warnings. About 1:30 pm, there was a Flash Flood Warning. I was gladder than ever to be indoors! Is It Over?🔚 When a storm seems to calm down, I always wonder, is it over? It’s a good thing I rode this morning! As of 2:30 pm, the rain had slacked or even stopped; but the Flash Flood Warning was still in effect. If I still needed to get out for some miles, I would have been most nervous about riding! When I ride now, I watch my cycle computer; and imagine where on my normal riding route I’d be. It gives me some diversion, and helps alleviate the monotony. Oh, and speaking of rain, the hybrid I used to have, had rim brakes. My current hybrid has disc brakes, which do much better in wet conditions. 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Cecile Levert. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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