SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

OCD?

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OCD tends to run in the family, so a cousin once told me. Maybe I\’ve got a streak of OCD, myself. Not enough so that the sight of this disorderly heap of puzzle pieces would drive me crazy; but as I near the seventh anniversary of the day I bought my road bike, I\’m approaching the 25K-mile mark. I feel a compulsion to get there, too. At present I have a hair over 77 miles to go. And six days to ride those miles, so I should be able to make it. My weekly long ride will cover almost half of those miles. Incidentally, the forecast for the weekend doesn\’t look so great; this is the second weekend in a row. I\’ll be taking vacation tomorrow and next week, so maybe I can just switch the day. Doing a long ride tomorrow might not be wise, as I did force efforts today. Maybe Monday? Plan for tomorrow: an easy ride on the road bike; then ride the hybrid to get some groceries. I\’m gearing up for another cooking marathon! I\’ll see how the weather forecasts go for the next two days; it might be that the greatest chances of rain are for the afternoons. That means I can ride in the morning, and probably stay dry. And what else shall I do during vacation? Sleep until 8 o\’clock! Work on my web site; I\’m considering further reconstruction. Compose blogs! I just must watch that I don\’t get OCD about my wording.

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Mississippi

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Mississippi How do you spell “Mississippi”? My mother used to put it: “Capital M-I- Hump-back, Hump-back I; Hump-back, Hump-back I; Crooked-letter, Crooked-letter-I.” However you want to spell it, Mississippi is home to the Natchez Trace. From Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, the Trace is 444 miles of beauty. Roll past farms and creeks; forests; and interesting historic sites. For the most part, motor traffic is light. The entire Trace, in fact, is a designated bike route. Then there’s Tanglefoot Trail. Despite its name, don’t go getting tangled up in your bicycle chain! “TT” gives  you 43 miles of riding through farmland and small towns, with numerous opportunities to dismount and explore; or have a picnic lunch. Is the history of the Civil War your thing? Visit the Vicksburg National Military Park. This ride is more challenging than the Tanglefoot Trail; but beautiful. Fans of the paranormal might want to visit Windsor Ruins. These remains of an antebellum plantation house are said by locals to be haunted. It’s a hilly 10 miles to get there, so be sure you’ve got your climbing legs in order! Now how do you spell “Mississippi”, again? 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 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 Chop Chop Chop! June 21, 2026 Electrolyte Season June 19, 2026 Whirlwind June 18, 2026 Here Comes Number One! June 17, 2026 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In Training

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In Training ?? I’m in training now, preparing for Tour de Cure in November. As usual, working out a training schedule is quite a puzzle. There are so many questions I want to ask. How quickly should I extend the time I spend pushing super hard? Am I advanced/strong enough to do such efforts on back-to-back days? Do I really need to do that? Do I spend sufficient time on recovery? I’ve seen century training plans that are only a couple of months long. Maybe the riders who use them are already a lot stronger than I am? Am I too much of a sissy to push as hard as I ought to, as often as I should? This morning I worked at riding at least 15 mph for six minutes at a time. With a breeze of 8-9 mph at my back, it was quite easy. With that same wind in my face, it was far harder. The effort made my quads ache, which shows how badly I need such drills. But — how much is enough to help me to improve, without my going overboard? I don’t need to develop an overuse injury! If I can barely ride 15 mph against an 8 mph wind for sixty seconds, what will I do if TdC day sees me battling a 20 mph wind? And for mile after mile? The thought is sobering, and a bit scary. One aspect of riding into a headwind is gear choice. Don’t feel that you must ride on the big ring even when doing so fries your leg muscles. As I saw today, using the small ring and pedaling faster can let you attain the desired pace. All these unanswered questions! It makes being in training feel like I’m winging it.  

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Road Warrior?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Road Warrior? The State of Illinois seems to have “road warrior” built into its name! Not that this means that you have to hammer away all day. Why not take your time, and enjoy yourself? And even use an e-bike? For example, there’s the 46-mile Tunnel Hill State Trail. Along the way you’ll find a variety of scenery, trestle bridges, and even ghost towns. The George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail is comparatively new. About four of its nine miles run through Fort Massac State Park. Here the history buff can enjoy re-enactments and living history. Mountain Bike Trails at Touch of Nature includes paths suited to both the beginning rider; and those who are more advanced. These trails are also open to hikers; runners; and walkers. What do you do when all this easy pedaling gets to be too dull? You might want to shake things up a bit and Ride the Fault Line! This week-long event takes you through parts of four states, including Illinois. Learn about the New Madrid earthquakes. Experience Civil War history, and ride along the Mighty Mississippi. Do your tastes lean toward urban riding? The Windy City has plenty to offer. You can ride along the lakefront. Ride the Major Taylor Trail, commemorating the African-American cyclist who both set world records and broke through racial barriers. If you’re daring enough, there’s the June Naked Bike Ride, meant to promote positive body image as well as cycling. Or, it you like, you can always abandon casual riding paths, and be the road warrior. 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

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Hoosier

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Hoosier What’s a hoosier? It always sounded to me like someone who makes hosiery! I was wrong about that, but nobody seems to know for sure exactly how the word originated. When I hear “Indiana“, I think of the Bugs Bunny cartoon in which Elmer Fudd gets a robot to try to get rid of “that wascal wabbit” Bugs, who is always getting into his “cawwots”. I don’t know for sure whether either Bugs or Elmer ever rode a bicycle; if so, they could tell me what the cycling is like in the Hoosier State.  There’s a two-day tour through Amish country. At rest stops, you can sample local produce; or enjoy baked goods. I, for one, would love to try shoofly pie! There’s a century ride that follows the shore of Lake Michigan; and which benefits the Visiting Nurse Association. SAG stops provide food and drinks. Bloomington is home of the Little 500, a two-day event that is the cyclist’s parallel to the Indy 500. Participation is restricted to full-time undergraduate students at the University of Indiana. There are separate events for men and women. Tickets are sold for the public. Whether you’re a native Hoosier or not, Indiana has a lot to offer cyclists. 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

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Happy Easter

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Happy Easter! I hope you\’re all having a wonderful day. When I got up at 8:10 am, I wondered where that bad weather had gone. It was overcast, but not the dark cloudiness that precedes a storm. It seemed to be windstill. Naturally I began to think that I could have gone riding this morning, after all. Fifteen minutes later the breeze was beginning to kick up. Not long afterwards I heard a brief splatter of rain drops. Right now the forecast is saying the greatest chance for rain is after 4 pm, but the wind advisory still holds. Maybe I\’ll brave a short ride to the drug store later; Easter candy should be going on sale. Meanwhile I have my Tour de Cure training plan to work on. Once again, Happy Easter!

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Road Work

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Road work? Since when have I turned construction worker? Let\’s look at it this way. I have a lot of road-riding work to do before Tour de Cure! You could say that my muscles are under construction. I did my weekly long ride today, Saturday. According to the forecast, I\’d be utterly crazy to try to ride tomorrow.  A wind advisory has already been posted. Severe T-storms are quite possible. This morning, on the way back home, I made several attempts to push 15 mph into the wind. It was blowing at 10-12 mph, and fighting that felt hard enough! Tomorrow the wind will be 15-20 mph. If I rode in the afternoon, I could face gusts up to 40 mph. Would I be able to make any headway at all against that? As to today\’s efforts at riding against the wind, it was very hard to maintain it for a full minute. I\’m not sure whether keeping such efforts short for now is common sense, or sissiness. I didn\’t reach my maximum heart rate, something I probably should work on more often. Every time I try to reach my max, though, my legs are screaming Uncle before I can get there! Is everybody like that? Today I put in 30.30 miles. Should I extend my distance by a few miles per week, or work on riding the same distance faster? Maybe ride a few miles farther every week for three weeks; then the fourth week, do a shorter but faster ride? Or, as I\’ve thought before, make weekday morning rides about speed work; and for the weekly long ride, \”just ride\”? Too many unanswered questions! When it comes to road work, it seems to me that I\’m merely feeling my way.  

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Through the Woods

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Through the Woods You’ll really be riding through the woods when you go cycling in Pennsylvania. It’s all in the state’s name; and Pennsylvania offers a great deal to fans of Rails to Trails. The Great Allegheny Passage runs through the state and neighboring Maryland. This one is a favorite! The Allegheny River Trail is a close rival, with great scenery and chances to spot wildlife. Like waterfalls and geology? Try out the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Fantastic rock outcrops for much of the way! Ghost Town Trail will appeal to history buffs. Historic markers tell stories of old towns, blast furnaces, and more. Heritage Rail Trail, too, is full of history. Have lunch at the restored New Freedom rail depot! Lehigh gorge Trail is a 26-mile (42 km) multi-use trial from White Haven to Jim Thorpe; and is part of the much longer D & L Trail. Want to get away from it all? Perhaps Sandy Creek Trail would suit you. This path is in remote northwestern Pennsylvania, and has some terrific scenery. The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is 20 miles of riding through the woods and over bubbling creeks. Oil Creek State Park Trail might sound like something that would upset the EPA. Apparently it’s quite the contrary. Along this trail you can find fly fishing as well as cycling; or, in winter, cross-country skiing! Finally, there’s the Redbank Valley Rail Trail, the 2014 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year Award. Choose your trail; pump up your tires and fill your water bottles (or Camel-Bak); and pack your ride food. Happy riding in the Keystone State! 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

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Push Comes to Shove

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Push comes to shove if you wait until too late to begin preparing for a major event. Maybe some folks can train up from almost nothing to being able to ride a century within two months; but I know very well that I cannot. That is why I began training up for Tour de Cure this week, even though TdC isn\’t until November. Day before yesterday I practiced riding 15 mph or more for 5-minute intervals. Thanks to there being only a light wind, I did quite well. There was a time when touching 15 mph even with a good tailwind was hard! Yesterday I set out to try to repeat Tuesday\’s workout.  It was much harder to reach 15 mph; my legs were protesting, and my heart rate shot up much faster than it had the day before. I had been thinking that I need to work at pushing my pace more than once a week; but I don\’t seem to be ready to do it on consecutive days This morning I began working on force intervals, making them 20 seconds long. I had a headwind, which actually was not a bad thing. I was telling myself that I NEED to learn to push hard into a wind. Once a week is enough for efforts like this. Over time I\’ll work up to making these force intervals longer. I saw that I need to do more gut-training. After I had done those hard intervals my stomach started to feel rather uncomfortable; and all I ate before going out to ride was a medium-sized banana. During my weekly long ride, I must work at keeping the fuel coming in while pushing the pace. I certainly have my work cut out for me, and it\’s better that I make the main thrust now. After all, I don\’t want push to come to shove.

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Southern Ease

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Southern Ease Southern ease sounds to me like sitting in a shady porch in a nice rocking chair; and sipping at my favorite cold drink. If that’s a little too much ease for you, South Carolina has ten easy bicycling trails that the whole family can enjoy. Swamp Rabbit Trail sounds rather like cottontails running (or do I mean hopping?) all over the place. This 13.5-mile trail is fun for cycling, walking, and jogging. And who knows? You might spot one of those long-eared critters. A funny aside: not long ago my sister told me of a joke that her brother-in-law told her: Q. What do you call a line of rabbits hopping backwards? A. A receding hare line! 😆 If the thought of all those rabbits makes you hopping mad, don’t let them become a pain in the neck. You can Bike the Neck instead. This 16-mile trail runs between the Atlantic and the Waccamaw River. If you’re a nature lover, this would be a good trail for you. For those looking for a more challenging ride, it sounds like the Ravenel Bridge might fit the bill. It says you’ll “burn some calories” getting across it. It’s less than three miles long, but is steep. Or, depending on your direction of travel, can you count on having to battle a strong headwind? That doesn’t exactly sound like southern ease to me. Or ease from anywhere. When I want some southern ease, I’ll just stay in the old rocking chair and be lazy. 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

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