CAL, Author at SpokEasy - Page 100 of 130

Hee Haw

Hee Haw? Hee Haw was the name of a TV show way back when. Anyway, I found myself thinking “hee haw” yesterday, when I tried out my new Camel-Bak Mule. I couldn’t figure out how to manage the drinking tube; so I guess I have to find a YouTube (no pun intended) that can show me what to do! My old Camel-Bak didn’t have any such complications as magnetic tube holders; and if it hadn’t developed a split in the shell’s fabric, I would have kept on using it. Aside from that split, it still had plenty of wear left in it. Why this model of Camel-Bak is called “mule”, I don’t know; unless it’s because the pockets can hold enough stuff to fell a mule. That would be great for a long ride, if you don’t mind the load on your back. I’m not back to a full load of water just yet; but I’ve begun to pack along the tube of Chamois Butt’r. I’m tying to extend my Sunday ride by a mile or so each week; and while I’m at it, I need to work back towards my full load (3 liters of water; Chamois Butt’r; toilet paper; and cable lock!) Gosh, I feel like a pack mule now. Hee haw! Yesterday I did 22.7 miles; and I think next Sunday I’ll aim for 25 miles. That’s still a long way from RAGBRAI‘s average of 65 miles per day; so it’s a good thing I’m not aiming for this year’s ride!

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Activ Life Wheel Lights

4 Comments / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Uncategorized / CAL

Activ Life Wheel Lights These Activ Life Wheel Lights would have come in handy yesterday! Ordinarily, stuff like this is too gaudy for my taste; but when it’s raining, visibility is extra-critical. These wheel-mounted lights have LED illumination that’s easily visible from any angle. Suitable for riders of any age; and they come in a pack of two. Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty. $26.99 I’ve seen bicycles equipped with such lights; and they certainly are eye-catching. Maybe I’d want some Activ Life Wheel Lights if I did a big ride, such as RAGBRAI; but then, as far as I can see, RAGBRAI riders don’t ride in the dark. I don’t ride in the dark much, now that I’m retired; except at full-moon time. This month I missed it, because yesterday morning it was overcast. Today was more than overcast — it rained like crazy for a while!

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I Lost

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

I Lost! I lost the gamble with the weather today. ? The forecast showed heavy rain and T-storms beginning late morning or early afternoon. I figured I would have time to get to the salvage store and back; and besides, yesterday’s forecast was similar. And then it didn’t storm; and it’s annoying to be on tenterhooks all day, waiting for all fury to break loose. On top of that, I wanted the exercise; so off I went. And, as I said, I lost the gamble. The sky already looked pretty stormy at 7:30 am; especially towards the North. While I waited for the salvage store to open, it kept getting darker. Naturally I didn’t like the looks of that! Before the store opened, the first flash of lightning came; and as I was going through the store, I heard rain and thunder. Just before I got finished at the checkout, it began to pour like mad. There was quite a lot of lightning, too; and some of it was pretty close! I waited at least 10 minutes for things to calm down a bit, along with several other customers who didn’t want to get soaked. When the rain eased up, I decided to head out. It was still raining; but the lightning had moved off somewhat. I was still nervous about riding on top of the levee; but luckily the atmospheric electricity didn’t give me trouble. In addition, I couldn’t be sure when things might turn really nasty again! By the time I reached home, the rain had almost stopped. There might be more coming; or else other areas nearby are getting heavy downpours. We’re under a flood advisory! So here I am, with a dripping poncho; and multiple cardboard boxes full of stuff — and I don’t need them to get wet. I hope it isn’t raining on Moving Day!

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Noonday Sun

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Noonday Sun I was out in the noonday sun again, just like that mad dog. But if you want to take your pooch along on a bicycle ride at any time of day, this Rotating Dog Bike Leash helps keep your pet safe. It has a movement range of 180°; so your pet can move from one side of the bike to the other. It’s quick and easy to attach/detach. I don’t have a dog; but if I did, I think I would want one of these leashes. Sometimes I see people riding a bicycle one-handed, while hanging onto a standard leash with the other hand. What’s going to happen if the rider suddenly HAS to use both hands? That might mean a nasty crash; or having “Rover” end up under the wheels of a car. Or even both! My noonday sun expedition was a hike to the drug store. I rode over 14 miles this morning; and my legs were rather tired. And sometimes I simply don’t feel like having to lock up a bicycle. It’s about 84 degrees; and starting to cloud up a bit. Maybe I ought to go for another ride, because there’s chance for severe T-storms tomorrow. On the other hand, we’ve got an air quality alert in effect. It’s level “Orange”; so I would probably be OK as far as air quality goes. Ultra-violet rays, however, are another story; and sometimes I get tired of slathering on sunblock!

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Next Winter

BACK ISSUES, equipment / CAL

Next Winter Next Winter?! Why am I already thinking about that when May is only just begun? It doesn’t hurt to plan ahead! I, for one, don’t want to be frantically scrambling to find Winter gear when it’s freezing outside. These GripGrab leg warmers sound like a good choice for a chilly morning; or for a chilly afternoon, for that matter. Fleece lining keeps your leg muscles warm; yet these warmers are breathable to help prevent overheating. That sounds good for those long rides when your legs do start to feel too hot; but it’s still too cold to take your leg warmers off! GripGrab leg warmers are machine washable; and their spandex composition allows them to stretch in any direction. In other words, they move with you! Silicone grips at the top prevent slipping. Sizes Small; Medium; and Large. $47.99-57.99 I must confess that I’m glad to be able to pack away leg warmers, arm warmers, etc. for a while. I get tired of having all those things draped from anywhere that I can drape them; and incidentally, during Winter I have full-finger gloves of three different weights to deal with! But I have only one pair of each kind; and as I hand wash them, I can’t wring them out as thoroughly as I would like. That means that the gloves might not be dry enough for the next ride; so I don’t wash them often enough. We know what happens to our noses during cold-weather rides; so you can guess the condition of those gloves after a few months! Next Winter will be here in no time; so it’s not too soon to think about it. A pair of cozy, new leg warmers might be exactly what I need!

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Am I Blue

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food / CAL

Am I Blue? Am I blue; or was it only the bird? During my ride this morning, I saw what I thought was a bluebird! It wasn’t a jay; the shade of blue was wrong; and the bird was smaller than a jay. I could see only the bird’s back; but if I had been able to see the bird’s breast, I would have known whether it was a bluebird. Today, for once, I had a tailwind most of the way home. It was cool enough for leg warmers; but am I blue? Not blue with cold, thank goodness. That would have been utterly miserable! I got in 21.10 miles; so I’m making progress on the distance aspect of my riding. Over 15-20 miles is enough of a ride for me to need on-bike eating; and my latest ride food is the Tahoe Trail Bar. As often happens, I found a Tahoe bar in a store (I think it was the salvage store); and got it to test as potential on-bike chow. I liked it; so I got more. The Tahoe bar is all plant-based; not that I care much about whether it’s vegan, but for some people that is important. For me, the important thing is: Does It Taste Good? Incidentally, a hunt through the grab-bag bins at the salvage store yesterday yielded three FitCrunch bars! With a find like that, there’s no reason for me to feel blue!

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Don’t Count Your Chickens

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Don’t Count Your Chickens Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched, as the saying goes. This morning I rode to the salvage store. There wasn’t much wind; and on the way there, the wind was against me. I was counting on a tailwind on the way home. Guess again. While I was waiting for the store to open, I noticed that, 1) it seemed to be getting cooler; 2) the breeze was getting a little stronger; and 3) the wind was changing direction. The sky was mostly overcast; and I hoped the rain would hold off until I got home. Several other customers were also waiting; and one of them said there was some bad weather out in the Gulf, with plenty of lightning strikes. When I got out of the store, it wasn’t raining yet; but as they say, don’t count your chickens. As so often happens, I had a headwind on the way home. I had thought that I would have a tailwind! Riding felt like hard work; and I didn’t even have much of a load! It’s a good thing I won’t be out there this evening, though. There’s a wind advisory posted, starting at 7:00 pm. It looks like tomorrow will be pretty windy, too. Not so great for riding; but at least it won’t be cold.

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light up her ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Light Up Her Ride Light up her ride with the Schwinn Girl’s Lighted Basket! The motion-activated flowers require no batteries; and the adjustable velcro straps make installation and removal quick and easy. If I had done much cycling as a kid, I bet I would have loved to have one of these baskets. Now, though, it certainly won’t fit a load of groceries! With the end of school approaching, it’s time to be gearing up for Summer fun. This Schwinn basket can let your child carry a picnic lunch to the park; or take a favorite toy to a friend’s house for play. It can light up her ride; and perhaps her spirits, too. But — this is a girl’s basket. What about the boy who wants a bicycle basket; but thinks a basket decorated with flowers is sissy? Not to worry; the boys needn’t miss out! The ANZOME Kids Bike Basket is an alternative. It’s made of sturdy, impact-resistant, rust-resistant metal mesh; and fits most children’s bicycles and tricycles. Velcro straps make taking it on/off the handlebars quick and easy. The handle lets this basket be easily carried off the bike. The ANZOME is roughly the same size as the Schwinn basket; and is available in four colors: Black; Pink; Royal Blue; and White. As this basket is plain, you can decorate it your way: flowers, if you like; or perhaps attach your youngster’s favorite action figures. So there’s a bicycle basket for everyone — kids and adults alike!

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Verbal Gymnastics

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Verbal Gymnastics Verbal gymnastics are a lot of fun; and you don’t need any space-hogging aparatus, either. The English language is great for this, thanks to the abundant homophones available. Several years ago, I was playing around with this; and wrote down the definitions I came up with. Reasonable fee: fair fare Trouble with window glass: pane pain Receive word on the spot: hear here Jackrabbit’s coat: hare hair Entire excavation: whole hole Best a red veggie: beat beet Smokey without fur: bare bear The gang’s yonder: they’re there This isn’t a complete list; but I think I’ll save some for later. After all, there are days when I can’t think of a blog subject; and it’s nice to be able to fall back on this stuff. Today was a rather odd day. I didn’t get up until about eight o’clock; and this morning I didn’t go out on the road bike. Not because of occupational therapy — in fact, last week I was “graduated”; but I’m continuing the exercises. But I needed to run some errands. Getting ready to move means clearing out stuff; and burnt-out compact fluorescent light bulbs had piled up for a couple of years. So I took them to a drop-off place; then took a few items to the Salvation Army. After a stop at the drug store for a soda and a bag of chips, I headed home. First I had something to eat; then spent a couple of hours packing. That’s quite tiring, I can tell you! And, I’m running short of boxes. Finally, about 3:45 pm, I went out on the road bike. No; not a fancy electric bike. I’m not ready for that yet; but I was ready for a ride. The sky was getting cloudier; and the forecast for tomorrow is not favorable. Heavy rain is predicted; and it’s not fun to ride when it’s pouring so hard that I can hardly see. Hmm. Pour — pore — maybe it’s time for some more verbal gymnastics.

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Rack up the miles

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Rack up the Miles Rack up the miles? I’m sure not doing that this morning. My head feels all stuffed up; and I feel dragged down in general. I’ll see how I feel later; and then maybe I can ride. If you have a car; and need to go some distance to reach your favorite bicycle trails; the ERKUL Bike Rack can get your bicycle there so that you can put in that distance. The ERKUL fits most car-top racks; and can hold most road and mountain bikes. It needs no tools for installation; keeps the bike frame free of contact; and can hold up to 35 pounds. Color: Black; or Silver. Product of Turkey. $179.00 I really need to rack up some miles; I’ve got RAGBRAI 2024 on my mind. That means some serious training! I only began riding again in mid-March; and my legs seem to be taking their time getting back into condition. Maybe I’m what some coaches call a “slow responder”! But I do try to ride every day, as April is a Love to Ride challenge month. May is their Bike Month Challenge; so I’ll want to rack up the miles during May, too. But without the ERKUL, because I don’t have a car!

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Author name: CAL