SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

Cycling enthusiast; classical music lover; experimenter in the kitchen!

Go Homemade?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Go Homemade? 🏡 Should I go homemade with the electrolyte drinks? It’s been so hot that I’ve been taking such beverages along even when I’m only riding to the salvage store. Store-bought electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade, can get quite expensive, even when I get them from the salvage store at a lowered price. Can I make my own electrolyte drinks? I once decided to go homemade; and tried a drink recipe that I found online. As well as I can remember, it had a bit of maple syrup in it; and I love maple! But highly-diluted maple syrup with a bit of salt in it tasted rather odd. And I can’t keep fluids chilled when riding in hot weather. Even a frozen bottle of electrolyte drink thaws and melts quite quickly. How Does Cool Feel? 🥶 How does cool feel? After weeks of unrelenting heat, I think we’ve forgotten; and we need to find ways to keep from melting. An Arctic Air Fan is an alternative to a cool rag; but what if it runs out of charge in the middle of a hot ride? I would get most uncomfortable if it did! I think having the cool rag has spoiled me; but on the other hand, we’ve got to do what we can to avoid heat-related illnesses. The heat index today is below 100 degrees; but it’s still plenty hot. So how does cool feel? Maybe we’ll find out when October arrives!  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 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 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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If I Were Fortune

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

If I Were Fortune 🥠 If I were fortune (but I’m not!), oh, how different things would be!  I’d banish this persistent heat; and conjure up pleasant temperatures in the low 70s. If I were fortune, there would be no frigid days when my toes go numb after half an hour. There would be no headwinds; and our rides would never get rained on! My ride food would never get half-melted, either. Alas, that cyclist utopia doesn’t exist. If it did, I’m sure I would have made a beeline for it many years ago! Didn’t Beat the Heat 🥵 I didn’t beat the heat today; and in fact, doing so would have impossible. I was too tired to get up at 5:00 am; and the overnight temperature was about 79 degrees. It was hot before I even began my ride! I increased my mileage back up to 19-20 miles, but still didn’t do hard efforts — partly because of the weather. I didn’t beat the heat, after all! But it seems that, no matter what I do, I spend most of my ride time in heart rate zones 3 and 4. So it looks like I burn mostly carbs when cycling.  If you’re interested in cycling for weight loss, Ride Your Way Lean states that your primary concern should be burning calories. I’ve also read that, the more intensely you ride, the more you burn carbs rather than fat. My knowledge of this subject is quite rudimentary; and I think I’ll keep on doing what I’ve been doing. If a sports nutritionist tells me different, then I’ll work at changing things. 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 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 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Remain a Camel

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Remain a Camel 🐪 I must remain a camel for a while longer; and use the Camel-Bak even for shorter rides. With a large-size bite valve, so I can get more fluid per sip! In this weather, I need about one liter of water per hour; and a full Camel-Bak (about 3 liters) is quite a load. But better that weight on my back, than collapsing from overheating and dehydration! Today I did a comparatively short ride, and covered less than 13 miles. I didn’t ride either hard or fast; and took two bottles of water, instead of the Camel-Bak. But after half an hour, I wished I had used the big hydration system, and taken along electrolyte drink. The air temperature was already in the low 80s when I set out; and the sun was blazing down. Plain water wasn’t quenching my thirst; so it’s obvious that I need to remain a camel for about two more months. Waterworks? 💦 Waterworks are vital during hot weather, especially when you’re outdoors and active. Many a YouTube about RAGBRAI mentions some kind of waterworks: Slip ‘N Slides; wading pools; even kids with hoses ready to spray you with water. By all accounts, RAGBRAI 2023 was very hot; and riders needed every chance they could get to cool off. Part of of my waterworks is a cool rag. I don’t know how I got along without it; and I’ve even bought a second one to have as a back-up. Don’t think that using a cool rag is “sissy”. When the heat index is already 94 degrees before mid-morning,  you need some kind of cooling device. It’s also a good idea to pull back on distance or intensity, or both. Cutting the mileage goes against the grain with me; but I think I need a bit of a break. 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 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 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tic Tac Toe?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Tic Tac Toe? 🎲 Is our weather playing tic tac toe? The forecast predicts three consecutive days of extreme heat! Heat advisories have been going into effect at 10:00 am almost daily. I try to be home from cycling by then; but for now I don’t want to start before it’s fully daylight. My helmet-mounted headlight died; and my backup light can’t be put on my helmet. The light’s bungee won’t fit around the road bike’s handlebars. It’s a good thing I planned shorter, easier rides for this week! If I have to be outdoors, a Solar Fan Hard Hat would be a great addition to my cool rag. This helmet doesn’t seem to be intended for cycling. It doesn’t even have a chin strap; but that built-in, solar-powered fan sounds great. It could keep my head cool while the cool rag keeps my neck from overheating. When the weather plays tic tac toe with the hot days, we need to be prepared! Keep up the Pressure? 😰 Keep up the pressure?! Who enjoys being under pressure? Let’s look at it this way: we need to keep up the pressure in our bicycles’ tires. A Pro Bike Tool Pump is good for that; especially when you’re on the road, and carrying a floor pump is impractical. The Pro Bike Tool Pump can be used for both Presta and Schrader valves; and can reach 100 psi. Good for road bikes; BMX; and MTBs. Despite being tired of broiling hot weather, I hope the atmosphere will keep up the pressure for a while. It looks like we’ve got high air pressure; and that should help keep that new tropical disturbance away. They say that the recent heat dome is what kept Debby away. If it’s going to reach 100 degrees, I’d rather not have it when the electricity has been knocked out. 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 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 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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How Much Longer

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

How Much Longer? 🥵 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.” How much longer will this heat continue? That, of course is quite the rhetorical question; and I know the answer, anyhow. It’s apt to continue until October! So don’t pack away the cooling beanie, and other cooling items, just because school is about to begin. Take the usual precautions when cycling in this heat. Ride early in the day if at all possible. I prefer going out very early, because after sunset, it’s still very hot from the heat of the day. If necessary, hold back your pace and/or cut your mileage. Yes, it’s hard to shorten your rides, especially when you love doing those miles; and when you don’t know how much longer this excessive heat will last. Some parts of the USA might begin to cool off fairly soon; other parts — well, as I said, we’re likely stuck with hot weather until October. Maybe even later! Not Only Heat 🌀 It’s not only heat itself that we have to worry about. What about hurricanes? We in New Orleans can breathe a sigh of relief as far as Debby is concerned, but now there’s a new system out there; and who knows where it might go. I have to set aside some non-perishable foods (refried beans, anyone?) in case I have to evacuate for a storm. Then I can just do a grab-and-go. I have an ample supply of bottled water; so if I have to hunker down at home for a few days, I should do OK. Getting back to the not only heat thing, this is a humid climate. At the moment, our humidity is 49%; which is rather on the dry side for us. But it’s still 95 degrees; and the heat index is still 105! At 7:35 pm! Guess why I ride early in the morning? 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 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Plan for Heat

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Plan for Heat ♨️ We’ve got to plan for heat; and I don’t mean being sure the heater is in working order for Fall. According to the forecast, we’ll get some afternoon high temperatures at or near 100 degrees later this week. That’s only air temperature — before considering the heat index! I hope I can haul myself out of bed in time for some pre-dawn rides. Today I didn’t get going until 8:30 am; and a heat advisory went into effect at 10:00. I didn’t get home before then; but the wind helped cool me a bit. Along with my cool rag, of course!   So plan for heat. Freeze your electrolyte drink the night before your ride; fill up that Camel-Bak before starting; and wear that cool rag! Take a Break 😴 I think I need to take a break. I don’t mean that I won’t ride all week; if I did that, I’d get too out of shape. But this week, I plan to “just ride”. That means skipping hard efforts; and reducing the mileage. Today I was in my heart rate Zone 3 most of the time; but it felt like I was working harder than Zone 3. That probably means I need to ease up!  With the super-hot afternoons ahead, I want to ride earlier, so I get home before the worst of the heat. It would be great if we could take a break from this heat; but the only way to do that is to stay indoors with the air conditioning. Oh, and my headlight still doesn’t work. I had it plugged into the charger overnight, with the new cable. But it only turns on when it’s plugged in. I didn’t get off so cheap, after all!   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 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 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Got off Cheap

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

I Got off Cheap 🪙 I got off cheap today; not just once, but twice. First, I got some good stuff at the salvage store. I found a box of a dozen Special K Protein Bars; and for a couple of dollars less than they’d cost elsewhere. That was good, because my stash of ride food was running low. I also found hummus; and Gatorade Zero powder. So now I’m all set for protein bars and electrolyte drink for a few weeks.  I got off cheap at the bike shop, too. I thought my headlight had died; and went to the shop for a new one. But first they did some troubleshooting; and it turned out that the charging cable needed replacing. They didn’t even charge me for it (no pun intended)! Trouble-Free Ride? 🙃 Naturally I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow. Unfortunately I feel a bit tired; and maybe I need to plug myself into a charger block overnight! Joking aside, the big worry is — again — the heat. By midday today, the heat index was about 110 degrees; and there’s another 🙄 heat advisory tomorrow, starting at 10:00 am. Can I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow, then? Hard to say. It’s been so hot that I’ve taken to using the Camel-Bak for the ride to the salvage store, lest a single bidon be too little water. I even took electrolyte drink today. According to the forecast, there won’t be much wind tomorrow; and that always helps. But the overnight low is predicted to be 80 degrees; and it heats up fast. Should I take a day off from riding? I usually take Mondays off; and besides, Tropical Storm Debby is out there now. Who knows what the weather might do in the next few days? Debby is expected to make landfall in Florida; but these storms are capricious. She might change her mind and make a beeline for us; and then the wind would probably make outdoor riding impossible! 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 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 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Everything in Its Place

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Everything in Its Place 🚲👟 Everything in its pace, they say; and that makes a good deal of sense. This morning I lost a good 10-15 minutes hunting for my heart-rate monitor chest strap, because I hadn’t put it in its usual place. I finally found the thing tangled up in my Camel-Bak! It was especially annoying to get started late because of the heat. Again today, we were under an excessive heat warning; and from 10:00 am. That’s rather early; and I wanted to get home before then. Once I did get home, I was careful to put that heart-rate chest strap into its usual spot. Everything in its place! I want to be able to lay my hands on it tomorrow morning, and not waste time hunting for it. Was It the Heat? 🥵 Today’s ride didn’t go very well. Was it the heat? Did I push too hard early on? Should I have eaten more on the bike? During the first half of the ride, I did some two-minute efforts of pushing for 13 mph or more; with two minutes’ easy riding between efforts. It felt very hard, because I had a bit of a headwind. Did I need to ease up even more than I did between hard efforts? Should I have left those efforts for the return leg of my ride? Prior to setting out, I ate my usual pre-ride snack: a banana 🍌and some peanut butter. For ride food, I brought along two cut-up protein bars; and I’m sure I hydrated enough. Yesterday I rode short and easy; but it didn’t seem to help me go harder today. Was it the heat? I want a few items from the grocery store; but don’t feel inclined to go out now.It’s 95 degrees; and the heat index is 108! They say, stay indoors if possible during such conditions; and for once I’m inclined to agree. 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 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 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 I Did the Split July 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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August Already?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care /

August Already? 🗓️ It’s August already?! Where did 2024 go? August means that it’s almost back-to-school time. Locally, school begins on August 12. Until then, there’s still time for some fun in the sun; and that means sunblock. Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen is broad spectrum, SPF 50; and hypoallergenic. Tested by pediatricians; and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen has a tropical fruit scent; is 100% vegetarian; and water resistant. A good addition to your family’s personal care arsenal. Of course, don’t forget sun protection for yourself. KINeSYS SPF 50 is a clear spray for sensitive skin. Broad spectrum; hypoallergenic; and provides UVA/UVB protection. Available in Fragrance Free (shown);  Kids SPF 30; and others.  When School Starts 📘 📏 ✏️ When school starts, I’ll be very glad that I’m no longer trying to get to work amidst crazy get-to-school traffic! How will your kids get to their classes? I hope they can safely walk, or ride a bicycle. When I was a kid, I had no option other than the school bus; and I wish now I could have ridden a bicycle; or at least walked. And in Grades 1-8, the only lunch option was the school cafeteria. I would’ve been much happier if I could have carried my own lunch! So when school starts, I hope there’s a bike bus on a safe route; with little or no motor traffic. For short distances, a safe sidewalk can let your kids walk if they don’t want to cycle.   My August Plan ✍🏻 My August plan has nothing to do with school; and the more I hear about school these days, the gladder I am that I needn’t worry about it.  So what is my August plan? Keep riding, for sure; and work towards possibly doing RAGBRAI 2025! Would I do better if I actually wrote down a training plan? Maybe; but I do keep some notes about my daily rides. One year I tried a pre-printed training diary, with the idea that it might make it easier for me to keep said notes better organized. Was I wrong; my notes were as disorganized as ever! And a regular spiral notebook has bigger pages, anyhow. Today I worked to keep my heart rate in Zone 2. I think I might be spending too much time in Zone 4; and perhaps that’s why I’m not getting any faster. We’ve got to avoid burnout! 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 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 August Already? August 1, 2024 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 I Did the Split July 30, 2024 New Approach July 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Am I Old?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Am I Old? 👴🏼👵 Am I old? That depends on what you mean by “old”. I remember when 25 seemed unimaginably old; and here I am, with age 25 far behind in the rearview mirror. That doesn’t mean I can’t ride; and in fact, I began after I was 50! But fast? I seem to be stuck at 11-12 mph. Maybe I need to put in more really, really easy rides, so my muscles can recover. Other factors make me ask, am I old? I don’t have arthritic wrists; but I’ve had trouble with bunions. Good thing my shoes don’t bother me much while I’m actually pedaling! Too Old for Cycling? 😳 But too old for cycling? No way! If you’re an older beginner; and have concerns about balance; a MOPHOTO Adult Folding Tricycle is a possible solution. Maybe I would have been better off with a MOPHOTO when I was starting out. The trike I bought was a single-speed; and the MOPHOTO has seven speeds. At the time, however, I did not forsee that I would become interested in long-distance rides! Getting back to age, you’re never too  old for cycling. One of the many RAGBRAI YouTubes I watched included a brief conversation with a rider who was in his late 90s! So — am I old? Compared to him, I’m still a kid. 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 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 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 I Did the Split July 30, 2024 New Approach July 29, 2024 Frozen July 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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