SpokEasy

SpokEasy

September 2026

Will It Fall?

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

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!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

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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I Dodged the Bullet

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

I Dodged the Bullet ⁍ Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Sports Stud Earring     New! Titan 60-Can Cooler For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I dodged the bullet this morning — sort of. I had a 10:30 am doctor’s appointment at a medical facility that’s only about two miles away by bicycle; but according to the forecast, rain and T-storms were likely. I didn’t want to be up there on the levee if a storm broke out as I was underway! Miss the Crowd 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 I wanted to miss the crowd, so I left home shortly after six o’clock to catch a public bus. There seemed to be a break in the weather then. I guessed wrong. I dodged the bullet as far as rain went; but as I walked to the bus stop (at least a mile away), the lightning began to move in! It got uncomfortably close before the bus arrived; and I was glad I hadn’t tried to use my bicycle. Unfortunately the weather meant that I wound up not riding at all today! I did put in a good two miles of walking; so I got some exercise. I hope to get out for a good ride tomorrow; but I’ll keep an eye on the weather. The rain threat isn’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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Endless Storms

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Endless Storms ⛈️ Today’s Featured Product! 😄 Vevor Dog Bike Trailer New!! Leikefitness Exercise Step Platform For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Of late, the forecasts predict seemingly endless storms. “Chance of showers and thunderstorms” comes up only too frequently; and every evening I’m wondering whether I’ll get to ride the next morning. Twenty-mile rides are becoming more frequent; and long distances aren’t fun in the rain. Even short jaunts can get miserable if it’s pouring; and that’s  before taking concerns about lightning into consideration. Oh, these endless storms! Going Places 🚦 When I need to be going places, weather comes into even sharper focus. Visibility is important any time; but it’s even more vital in rain and fog. Even if I have a backpack with light-up arrows on it, being seen is only half the problem. How about my being able to see?  Lens wipes help; but only so much. If it’s raining very hard; or the fog is “pea soup”; riding a bicycle is rather a nail-biter. It’s tiresome having to take a wait-and-see approach on a day-to-day basis; but what else can I do? This is one of the things that makes me glad to be retired. If I can’t ride early in the day, I can go out later. IF the heat index isn’t 100+ degrees!   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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Not Over Yet

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Not Over Yet 🥵 Today’s Featured Product! ☄️ Tom Danielson’s Core Advantage New!! Bicycle Handlebar Clock   For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Summer’s not over yet; and I won’t be reaching for heat wraps anytime soon. On the contrary, I need to keep that cool rag handy! This morning I didn’t ride; the forecast looked like there could be T-storms this morning. Wouldn’t you know, nothing happened; so I hope I can ride tomorrow morning. But I need to be home by nine o’clock; I’ve got a 10:00 am appointment to get this season’s flu shot. Unfortunately, T-storm season is not over yet; and neither is hurricane season. Regarding T-storms, I just have to watch the forecasts; and keep the poncho handy when I ride. As for hurricanes, we can only watch; and hope for the best. Hard Riding? 🚲 I’ve been trying to do some hard riding; but is it enough? I’m still on the hybrid; although I hope to get a new road bike  soon (how much longer will I keep saying that?) I’m trying to spend more time on the big ring; and it’s taken quite a while for me to reach that point. Sometimes I go by distance; other times I go by, well, time. It depends on how much of a headwind I’ve got. But I need to work up some more strength; especially if I hope to do RAGBRAI again next Summer. There’ll be hills; and I’d also like to be able to finish a day’s mileage by 5 pm. Maybe I could manage hard riding next July  if I can work up my strength now! 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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