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SpokEasy

September 2026

Not Even Indian Summer

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Not Even Indian Summer 🌞 Today’s Featured Product! 👍 Fizik R5 Road Shoe New!! Full Circle Recycled Fenders For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Migosh, this is not even Indian Summer! I looked up the term; and technically, Indian Summer is a spell of unseasonably warm weather that occurs after a hard frost. We haven’t come near to having frost; so, no, this is not even Indian Summer. It’s just plain Summer that’s playing far beyond it’s curtain time. Tomorrow is the first day of Fall; and our forecast predicts a high temperature of 93 degrees! That’s a good reason to ride early in the day. Ride Early 🌅 “Ride early” doesn’t have to mean starting out before sunrise; but I sure don’t like it when I can’t ride early! If I go out early, I’m more likely to see a rabbit; and there actually are some patches of shade! Even when I don’t set the alarm clock, I tend to wake up by 6:30 am. Thus going out on the bike early in the day is quite natural. I guess my body still hasn’t really learned that I don’t need to rise at 4:30 am to ride. It’s easier to work on hard efforts before the day gets really hot. What drives me crazy in that the sun is still fairly low in the sky as I’m riding back home; and it’s shining right in my eyes! 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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Sailor Wannabe?

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Sailor Wannabe? ⚓️ Today’s Featured Product! 💫 CyclingDeal Bike Travel Case New!! Is My Bike OK? For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I must be a sailor wannabe. Why else do I feel the pull to pause a ride to watch a ship? And enjoy sea-salt chocolate? My father was a shipyard worker; and we got to attend the occasional ship-launching. I always like that; and I guess it’s stuck with me. Maybe I was already a sailor wannabe when I was still little? Adagio 🐌 I carried out my plan to go adagio today; so naturally my ride took longer than usual. Sometimes I need to make myself ease up! But there’s a place for long, leisurely rides in any cyclist’s riding schedule. I’ve read it all over the place: going all hard, all the time, is apt to do more harm than good. I spent a good deal of today’s ride on the small ring — I kept getting a headwind! My legs didn’t feel like pushing hard, anyway. My cool rag kept me from getting overheated; but I’d really rather have cooler weather. It’s the third week in September; and it still feels like the middle of Summer!  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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Derailed Again

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Derailed Again 🛤️  Today’s Featured Product! 💥 Ziploc Snack Bags New!! Jocauto Folding Step Stool For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! My plans got derailed again; but not because of weather this time. To put it briefly, I had to go to pay a bill in person at a brick-and-mortar store; and didn’t get to ride. It’s still hot; so I didn’t want to go to the salvage store first. The store I needed to visit doesn’t open until nine o’clock; and by the time I got home, it was getting too hot to ride. So my ride plans were derailed again. Clear but Hot 🌞 Tomorrow it should be clear; but hot. Gotta keep that cool rag handy; but I hope that it isn’t long before mornings are more like 70 degrees. Then I can sleep a bit later; and still not get broiled alive when I ride. And the coatings on my protein bars won’t get half-melted. I think tomorrow I’ll push for 20 miles; but omit the big-ring work. It looks like there won’t be much wind; 😌 and that’s always good. So it should be a good 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 © 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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Will It Fall?

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Will It Fall? ⬇️ Today’s Featured Product! 😃 ENCHANFIT New!! OptiPlus Anti-Fog Lens Wipes For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! The mercury is still high; will it fall? According to the calendar, Fall begins in four days; but the local forecast shows that Summer is far from over! Autumn makes me think of gathering nuts; and it also makes me think of relief from this endless high heat and humidity. So tell me, will it fall? And when? When? ⏳ When will the weather cool off? I won’t be surprised if we get blasted with a strong cold front when it finally does get cooler! That seems typical for Fall here. It’s 80 degrees when I go to bed; and the next morning, it’s 45 degrees! When Fall comes, I’d rather  have a more gradual cooling off; not an abrupt about-face from hot to cold. One day I’m riding bare-legged and in sun sleeves; the next day I’m in leg warmers; jacket; and a helmet liner! Cold weather often means a stiff East/Northeast wind; and a headwind on the way home! Bucking a headwind is a good way to improve strength; but that doesn’t make it fun. 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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Sneaky!

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Sneaky! 😈 Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Epsoak Epsom Salt New!! Qingdinu Cleat Covers For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Wind sure is sneaky. It can strenghen significantly without warning, as happened today. I took a ride to Walmart; and on the way there, the wind was maybe 7 mph. On the way home, it had risen to about 13 mph. And a headwind, wouldn’t you know. I’m glad I wasn’t on the homeward leg of a 20-miler! Unfortunately, I’ll have just such a wind on the way home tomorrow. Maybe I’ll be the sneaky one, and go ride in the park. That lets me avoid battling a headwind nonstop for miles; but it also keeps me from getting into better condition! Weekend 🎬 It looks like the weekend will be calmer; and I’m glad of that. I’ll want to go to the salvage store on Saturday; and take a long ride on Sunday. Maybe I’ll even push myself a little beyond 20 miles! Tomorrow maybe I’ll push the hard gears again. I took it rather easy today; and I don’t need to take it easy every day. On the other hand, I don’t need to ride hard every day, either! 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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Anticipating Future Rides

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Anticipating Future Rides🚲 Today’s Featured Product! 👏🏻 Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration New!! Bike Safety Flag For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I’m anticipating future rides; although not without a degree of nervousness. Today I ordered a new road bike; and after a long time — a whole year! — of being off the road bike, I hope my body hasn’t forgotten what to do! Thank goodness I’ve had the hybrid to ride, to keep my leg muscles from becoming totally atrophied. But a road bike, as I found out in 2013, is very different from a hybrid! Just Go for It ➡️ When my new bicycle is here, I’ll just go for it. In anticipating future rides, I think my biggest worry is pushing off while in the street. I don’t want to apply so much force that I veer all out of control! I hope we don’t get a rainy spell right when I’ll  be breaking in my new “steed”.  Of course I don’t want my bike to get all mucked up right away; and naturally I don’t want the weather to keep me from riding. Oh, well. One day at a time, they say!   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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Turn off the Steam!

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Turn off the Steam! ♨️ Today’s Featured Product! 🧲 Magnetic MTB Pedals   New!! Origin8 Pro Lite Bar-Ends For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Hey, somebody turn off the steam! When I want a steam bath, I’ll go to a spa! It’s impossible to avoid steamy conditions when I don’t ride until late morning; but today I had to run some errands. That meant I didn’t get on the bike until about eleven o’clock! The humidity level was high; and the sun was intense. Even with sunblock on, the tops of my thighs felt like they were scorching before I got back home. I wasn’t out that long, either; not quite six miles. So I want somebody to turn off the steam. I hope for relief in another few weeks; but Fall comes later every year. Climate Change 🌀 I know there’s debate as to whether climate change is genuine; but it’s hard for me to not believe in it. Summers are longer and hotter; and most years, hurricane activity is high. This year the tropics have been freakishly quiet; but that only makes me nervous! I guess I’m helping, in a very small way, to slow climate change. I walk or ride a bicycle for most errands. But what about my using a refrigerator? In this hot weather, it seems me that we can be excused for wanting to have cold food and drinks! 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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Misfire

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Misfire 💫 Today’s Featured Product! ☀️ Biosteel Zero Mixed Berry New!! WILDKEN Bike Stand For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! The weather forecast was yet another misfire. I ought to expect it by now; don’t you think? It’s happened often enough! I took today off from riding, though. Almost three weeks after catching a cold, my head is still stuffy; and it’s rather sapping my energy. My legs needed a rest, too, I think. They felt tired and stiff yesterday. Can I Believe It? 🌞 The forecast for tomorrow morning says it will be sunny; but can I believe it? Weather forecasts often seem like one misfire after another. I hope any rain waits until afternoon, because I have errands to run early in the day; and I want to go riding afterwards. Since I won’t be riding until later, I also hope the worst of the heat holds off until afternoon. I probably will do a short ride in the park; then I’ll have some shade to keep me a bit cooler. The next day I can push for 20 miles again. I’m trying to spend more and more time riding on the big chain ring, trying to improve my strength. 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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Stormy Day Coming?

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Stormy Day Coming? ⛈️ Today’s Featured Product! 🎊 Aik Cheong Cappuchino New!! Beautiful Ride MTB Tote For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Is there a stormy day coming; or isn’t there? The forecasts are as capricious as ever; and I’m tired of the wait-and-see game. I like to know ahead of time whether I’ll be able to ride; and what days will be good for taking a day off from riding. I thought we had a stormy day coming when I went outdoors at about 1:30 pm. I opened the front door; and immediately saw a huge, very dark cloud. But as of 4:30 pm, we’ve gotten little from it. Looks sure are deceiving! Easy Does It 💤 Sometimes, easy does it. I’m working to build up my mileage; and today my legs feel stiff and tired. Easy does it tomorrow; and I hope it’s not storming in the morning. I like to ride early, partly to be sure I get in the miles; and partly because the weather is still hot.   For some reason, it felt stifling as I was riding to the salvage store. The dog days aren’t over yet! 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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SUN Day?

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SUN ☀️ Day? Today’s Featured Product! 🎉 Kind Kids School Friendly New!! Fischer Weather Keeping For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Is day after tomorrow going to be SUN day; or rain day? The forecast seems to indicate the latter; but I hope it won’t be a fog day. Come to think of it, fog season should be here soon. If Sunday isn’t SUN day, I can take a day off from riding; or watch for a break in the weather, and sneak in some miles then. As always, however, I’ve got to watch out for lightning! Lightning is so unpredictable! I might hear faint thunder as I’m beginning a ride; and fifteen minutes later, it can be almost on top of me! Keep an Eye Out? 👁️ So I’ve got to keep an eye out for weather developments; and also be mindful of my eyes. Day before yesterday I was out riding; and my right eye suddenly felt painfully dry. I don’t know why; I was wearing glasses, and the wind wasn’t especially strong. But I sure wished for eye drops; and I hope I’m not developing Sjogren’s disease! Maybe I spend too much time in front of a fan? It’s a good reason for me to wish that cool weather would hurry up and come.     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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