CAL, Author at SpokEasy - Page 101 of 130

Off My Mind

Off My Mind It’s good to have some things off my mind — tax forms for one! I finally got mine completed today. A good bicycle helmet can help keep some things off my mind, such as head injuries. This Giro Register MIPS Helmet for adults is designed to protect against both direct-impact and rotational-impact injuries. It’s constructed of lightweight polycarbonate; and has a one-hand dial in the rear for size adjustment. Multiple vents help keep your head from overheating during hot-day rides. $59.95 Naturally I wore my helmet when I rode this morning. My legs felt rather sore and tired (they could use a session with the foam roller!); but I wanted to ride today in case the weather prevents my riding tomorrow. The forecast is for rain — possibly heavy — and the chance of T-storms. Naturally I don’t want to ride in such conditions! Things were tough enough today. The wind got up to 15 mph before I got back home; and of course it was a headwind on the way back! I hope it isn’t pouring tomorrow afternoon, when I have an appointment with the hand specialist. I’ll have about a mile and a half to walk; and that’s a real nuisance when I have a flapping poncho to deal with. It looks like Saturday’s weather will be much better, at least as far as rain goes; and that’s a load off my mind. Of course I want to ride to the salvage store! But it will still be rather rather windy.?

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Every Journey

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Every Journey Every journey begins with a single step; or, in the case of cyclists, with a single pedal stroke. This Sixthreezero EVERYjourney hybrid bicycle for women can make every journey a breeze. Its 500-watt motor is there to assist during tough climbs; or when battling a stiff headwind. There are seven gears, so you can adjust to various types of terrain; and full-electric mode allows a top speed of 15 mph. Electric-assisted pedaling makes 28 mph possible! Riding with full-electric power permits a range of 18-40 miles. The Sixthreezero has a rear rack, so you can carry home a load of groceries; or go for a tour. Two-inch wide semi-slick tires make for a stable ride; and the ergonomic frame lets you ride in a comfortable, upright position. This bicycle fit riders from 5-foot-zero to six-foot-two; and weighing up to 250 pounds. The bike weighs 66 pounds; color, gold coral. $1549.99 I have yet to try out an ebike; but maybe I’ll want one some day — say, in fifteen or twenty years. An electric assist from a Sixthreezero, I admit, would have been useful this morning. The wind was 13-17 mph; and gusts were as strong as 28 mph! It was so bad that I turned around several miles early, and rode several laps around the park to fill out my mileage. I hope things are calmer next Sunday.

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I Lucked Out

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

I Lucked Out! I lucked out with the weather this morning; at least, as far as rain goes. The forecast last night didn’t look good for the ride to the salvage store. Then this morning I checked an hourly forecast; and according to that, the rain wouldn’t set in until about 11:00 am. The sky didn’t look very friendly; but I decided to take the chance and go. And I lucked out. On the way home I ran into light sprinkle beginning around 9:05 am; but it wasn’t enough to warrant pulling out the poncho. In fact, it stopped after about two miles; and the sun actually came out for a while. The big problem was the wind! I was very glad that I wasn’t hauling the trailer. A set of panniers was enough of an impediment, with a headwind that reached as high as 16 mph. I finally was forced to shift down to the bike’s smallest ring; and shifting back to the middle ring was downright painful. I don’t think my hand is really ready for that yet! I got back home around 9:50 am; and after that I was on tenterhooks, listening for the onset of bad weather. By noon, I was still waiting; but I checked the NOAA site. A severe T-storm watch had been issued some 40 minutes earlier; and by 12:20 pm, I heard the grumble of thunder. It looks like things will be much better tomorrow morning; and that’s a good thing. Sunday is long-ride day; not that I’m back to doing truly long rides. But I hope to get in 20 or so miles. Today’s trip to the salvage store yielded some good grab-bag finds: a half-dozen Special K Protein Bars; and snack-sized packs of various nuts. And of course, some very junk-y candy bars! But now I have some more ride food; and that’s always good. OK, bad weather — if you’re going to happen, get it over with!

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Mirror on the Bike

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Mirror on the Bike Mirror, mirror on the bike, can you show me what I like? I use a product similar to this Evo Bar End Mirror on my road bike; and it seldom shows me anything. The problem with it is, I’m liable to knock it out of position every time I reach down for my water bottle. When I’m not using the Camel-Bak, that’s every few minutes; and it gets quite annoying to have to adjust the thing so often. I also noticed that, at certain times in the morning, that thing reflects strong sunshine right into my eyes! Otherwise, this gadget is quite useful. $10.78 The mirror on the bike works much better for my hybrid, for which I use a MTB mirror. I don’t have to reach past it to grab the water bottle; and that makes a big difference! Being able to see what’s behind me also makes a big difference; especially if I have to ride alongside traffic. $14.85 Leaving looking glasses aside, I had occupational therapy again this morning. I might be able to “graduate” in a week! Then my mornings will be more free for riding; and that will be a relief. It won’t be long before the temperatures are 80 degrees at 5:00 am; so I’ll want to ride earlier. That’s especially true as I’m trying to extend my distance. Today I rode 13.10 miles; and might have ridden a bit farther if I hadn’t thought I was running too low on water. As far as RAGBRAI prep goes, that’s nothing; but I know that it won’t help much if I try to ride too far, too soon. After all, I’ve only been back on the bike for a month; and my hand is not up to scratch yet. This ride, I was able to shift to the big ring; but veggie chopping later in the afternoon seems to have been overdoing it a bit.

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Good Question

BACK ISSUES, Food / CAL

Good Question What Do I Eat Now? is a good question when you’re faced with a diagnosis of prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes. I was diagnosed with the former some two years ago; and admittedly haven’t done at all well with my diet for the last year or so. Late February last year, I began intensive re-working of my website. I’d get home from work and plunge right into it; and usually didn’t take time to prepare a proper meal. Weekends were similarly occupied; and proper eating habits went out the window. Before I could get back on track, I had the hand surgery. I cooked things to freeze beforehand; but that supply ran out before I was really able to cook again. On top of that, we’ve just gone through Easter-candy season! So, start all over again. Today I made Hoppin’ John; and this time I put some worcestershire sauce in it. I also was a bit short on dry black-eyed peas; and filled in with pinto beans. I must clean the carrots I have in the fridge, and try to munch on raw carrots instead of chocolate eggs! They have fewer calories; fewer carbs; and far less fat than chocolate. Riding more miles will help burn some of those calories; but I have to watch that I don’t overdo the post-ride meal! Now — what is the weather going to do over the weekend? That’s another good question. For several days the forecasts have looked like it will rain; but so far we haven’t had much of it. NOAA shows heavy rain for Saturday; and if it’s storming, that means no trip to the salvage store! I can only wait and see what’s happening Saturday morning. Meanwhile I have occupational therapy tomorrow; and at least it’s supposed to be sunny tomorrow. But Sunday? Good question. It might be raining again!

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Daily Ride Nutrition

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food / CAL

Daily Ride Nutrition Daily ride nutrition is something to which I haven’t given much thought. Before I retired, I ate a pre-ride snack (usually a banana and peanut butter); went for my morning ride; and after that it was just off-bike food for the rest of the day. Now, however, things are different. With hopes of RAGBRAI 2024 in my mind, I’m working to lengthen my daily rides. As those rides get longer, I’ll need to start eating on the bike. The question is, what should I eat? It was one thing to pop bites of assorted protein/energy bars during my 40-mile Sunday rides. That won’t do as I advance to the point of several 40-milers per week. I suspect that MET-Rx bars and their ilk aren’t the best idea for almost-daily use. For one thing, freehanded use of energy bars can be very expensive! I’ve gotten spoiled by finding them cheap at the salvage store; but lately I haven’t found very many of them. What alternatives are there? Meat snacks aren’t cheap; and for on-bike fare, they’re harder to chew than I like. They also make me too thirsty; and aren’t filling enough. Sandwiches are bulky, and hard to manage while rolling; even if I cut them into quarters before setting out. I guess it’s time to haul out Feed Zone Portables again. Rice cakes (made from sticky rice) might well make better daily ride nutrition than store-bought energy bars! And, my gut needs training. This morning I ate a banana; two tablespoons of peanut butter; and a cup of almond milk before setting out. I rode about 8.2 miles before turning back for home. As usual, I had a headwind. With six miles left to go, I began to feel hollow; and wasn’t sure I could reach home before I got too hungry. I stopped to eat a GU-Gel; and after a few more miles my stomach suddenly felt uncomfortable. I wasn’t even working to push my pace today! RAGBRAI seems to involve a LOT of eating; and if eating one “goo” makes my stomach feel weird after a few miles, I’ve got a long way to go! So daily ride nutrition is important!

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Travels with Bicycle

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Travels with Bicycle Travels with bicycle (with apologies to John Steinbeck may well require special protection for your “ride”. Sure, such protection doesn’t come cheap — but neither does replacing a good bicycle. Airplane luggage holds can be perilous places. I remember hearing about a saxophone that was allowed to go into an airplane’s luggage hold — and something punched all the way through the hard case and the sax! Why let that happen to your bicycle? The Thule RoundTrip Case, transition model, protects your valuable ride; is easy to pack; and even has wheels so you can pull it along. That last characteristic is especially important if you’ve got other baggage to lug, too. The Thule RoundTrip Case weighs 39 pounds, which some users find bulky and heavy. Suppose I get to go to RAGBRAI next year? Will travels with bicycle require one of these cases? I guess that depends on how I’ll get to and from Iowa. If I have to fly, I’d better get a special travel case for my bike. If I don’t have one, arriving in Iowa with a ruined road bike will be an absolute nightmare! The cost of the Thule might save me several thousand bucks! $999.95

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RAGBRAI Thoughts

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

RAGBRAI Thoughts RAGBRAI thoughts are very much in my mind lately. I’m thinking of going for the 2024 event. Why not the 2023 ride? It would be terrific if I could go this year: after all, RAGBRAI 2023 is the fiftieth anniversary of this ride! But for several reasons, I think it’s wise to wait until next year. For one thing, I’m not sure my hand will be able to tolerate it. I had CMC arthroplasty barely three months ago; and my hand hasn’t yet returned completely to normal. Yesterday I wasn’t able to operate my road bike’s left-hand shifter! The occupational therapist has said, take it easy; if it hurts, don’t do it. Can I be sure that my hand will be up to the stress of a week-long ride a few months from now? For almost ten weeks, all the “riding” I got was very short sessions on a WattBike®. It kept my leg muscles from becoming completely atrophied; but now I’m pretty much starting over from scratch. I have to re-condition those muscles! That’s a gradual process; it will do more harm than good if I try to build up my daily mileage too quickly. My longest ride since surgery has been about 19.3 miles; and I need to be used to riding at least 60 miles per day if I don’t want to suffer during RAGBRAI. My concern is not only building up my daily distance; I know I’m not ready at present for hills! I’ve made a bit of a start on hill-training by trying to pedal faster than is comfortable when I’ve got a headwind; but so far, only for very short intervals. I need a lot more than that! Then there’s the question of transportation between here and Iowa. I’m a non-driver; and if I fly, or take a train, I’ll need a sturdy case for my bicycle! And I’ll need a duffle bag for clothing; a sleeping bag; and if I don’t use a charter service that will set up tents, I will need to borrow or buy a tent! I’m sure there’s more; but that’s why RAGBRAI thoughts have me saying, hold on — not so fast!

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Where Is It

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Where Is It? Okay, where is it? Where’s that rain the forecast was talking about? Is it over there? We’ve been under flood watch since 7:00 am this morning, and no rain so far; except I thought I felt a few drops on the way to Whole Foods. But that hardly count as “rain” — not around here! The forecast seemed rather grim to me; but I’m glad I took the chance and rode to the store. Sunblock was on sale; and I bought two tubes. I also got bananas; an avocado; and bread. When I got home the sky was still gloomy gray; but it didn’t seem like a cloudburst was imminent. I decided to try a jaunt on the road bike. While I was preparing for the ride, I started to hear a train’s horn. Oh, great, I thought. Where is it? Is that train going to keep me from accessing the bike path; or is it still far enough away for me to beat it? Just as I was going out the front door, I heard the thrumming sound of a locomotive’s engine; and then the blasting loud horn. I decided to ride to the railroad crossing for a look; and I saw that the train was a long one! It was moving slowly, too; and I didn’t want to stand there waiting. I took the detour to the park; but by that time the park’s walking/cycling path was rather crowded. I made one full circuit; and the way to the bike path meant another half circuit. By then the train was gone; and I could get to the levee bike path. The wind was blowing at about 12 mph; and the clouds down near the horizon had a banded look. The sun was trying to come out; but I didn’t like the look of those clouds! So I didn’t ride very far before turning towards home. Now here it is, noon; and I’m still waiting for the skies to open. I hope they don’t decide to do it tomorrow morning; and keep me from riding to the salvage store. It looks like the weather on Sunday will be nice; but over Sunday night more rain is in the forecast. I wish it would rain now, and get it over with. I’m getting tired of wondering, where is it?

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That Crazy Garmin

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

That Crazy Garmin What’s up with my bicycle computer? This morning that crazy Garmin suddenly gave a screen reading that said, “Incident Detection”; and I couldn’t get the screen to return to its normal riding readout. I had no idea what that readout meant. Had my heart rate strap come loose? (It hadn’t). Was there (oh, please, NO!) an active-shooter incident ahead? Fortunately, there wasn’t. Maybe I accidentally bumped one of the Garmin’s buttons while steering the bike one-handed. Whatever it was, that crazy Garmin drives me crazy sometimes! Electronics can do some strange things, that’s for sure. Maybe it will be back to normal for my next ride, whenever that may be. It depends on what’s up with the weather! The forecast for tomorrow shows a high chance of rain; and the next day doesn’t look much better. I might have to haul out the trainer. I still forget sometimes that I’m retired, and don’t have to ride at 5:00 am; if the weather forbids an early morning ride, I might be able to ride later in the day. But this morning I did ride very early. It’s full moon time; and luckily the clouds didn’t obscure the moon the entire time. I saw the moonlight on the river; and I’ve really missed that. The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look good at all. T-storms are likely; and I don’t like to ride when lightning is around. I guess all I can do is wait for tomorrow morning, and see how things are; and if conditions are OK, I can ride to Whole Foods. I want bananas; and at the rate I’ve been going, I’ll soon be out of sunblock! It will be great if I can also get in some miles on the levee bike path; but I’m not counting my chickens. Weather around here is so capricious!

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Author name: CAL