SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Flexing Its Muscles?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Flexing Its Muscles? 💪 Today’s Featured Product! Mountain Biker’s Training Bible New!! Cyglo Safety Backpack For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I think our weather is flexing its muscles. Tonight, wind gusts are expected to reach as high as 35 mph; and it seems to be getting ready now. Getting back from the salvage store this morning actually wasn’t too bad — until that last mile atop the levee. Then I got the wind dead on my nose; and a direct headwind of even 10 mph seems very strong. My legs still feel rather stiff from Thursday’s 20-miler; so maybe I’d better haul out the massage balls!  If the weather really is flexing its muscles, I want to be ready for it. Or rather, I don’t want to go out in it! Tomorrow the wind will be strong; and it will be chilly. That’s a good day to skip the ride. Skip the Ride 🚫 If I skip the ride, what shall I do instead? I have too much stuff in the freezer already; so I don’t want to cook. I can’t tolerate staying in bed all day long, unless I’m sick. Housework is definitely not my favorite thing; but maybe I can fill in the time with YouTube viewing. By day after tomorrow, the wind will still be quite brisk; and it will still be cold. Last weekend I washed my cycling jackets; and I’m glad I didn’t pack them away. With the weather flexing its muscles for another cold blast, I still need them! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Dewy Was the Morning

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Dewy Was the Morning 💦 Today’s Featured Product! Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance New!! TIDEWE Rain Suit For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! “Dewy  was the morning; dewy was the day. Dewey was the Admiral at Manila Bay.” I don’t know where my mother got that; perhaps it was a memory aid she learned in school. Dewy was the morning early today, I’m sure. The forecast predicted patchy dense fog, but I didn’t go out until 7:30; and by then a lot of the fog had burned off. Ergo I didn’t get to see any spiderwebs bedecked in dew. Today I went to the park to ride. But I was tired; not so much energy-wise as leg-wise. I got a good workout yesterday; and before I finished one circuit of the park I felt my legs cry uncle. Cry Uncle 🛞 What do you do when your legs cry Uncle? Keep pushing onwards; or go home early? Today I chose the latter. Speaking of legs, it was almost too warm for leg warmers today. A long-sleeved blouse and my vest were sufficient for 68 degrees; and I used my lighter-weight skull cap. But there’s a big change coming. Tomorrow night, back down to 49 degrees; and on Sunday, wind gusts could reach 35 mph. I can easily imagine a case of Legs Cry Uncle if I try riding in that! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Tough Ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Tough Ride 😬 Today’s Featured Product! GU Energy Hydration Tabs New!! Zacro LED Reflective Vest For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store!  It was a tough ride this morning; the wind felt quite strong. I’m glad it wasn’t raining as well. Having the wind was quite enough! The wind was from the South; and if Johann Strauss II were around, he’d be composing Winds from the South; not Roses from the South. It was blowing at 15 mph by the time I got back home; and by early afternoon, the wind had increased to 17 mph! I was glad that I had finished riding by then. If I thought I had a tough ride this morning, it would be a lot tougher now! Hamstrings 🦵🏼 My hamstrings started feeling the effort today; luckily not until I had only a few more miles to go. Leg warmers had nothing to do with it; in fact, I got almost too warm, especially with the jacket. But I apparently need to do more hamstring stretches!  The wind meant, of course, that I had to work harder; and this morning I was determined to put in the 20 miles that I had planned. I’m glad I had meant to ride at a moderate, steady pace; because I couldn’t have ridden fast!  It looks like the wind will be calmer tomorrow; and I’ll be glad of it. My hamstrings need the 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Misuse?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Misuse? 🤕 Is it misuse to drag a trailer by hand? The local drug store had sodas on sale, and if I’m going to drink that stuff anyway, I might as well stock up while I can get it at a reduced price. But three 12-count cartons of 12-oz cans are too heavy for me to carry in my arms; so I got out the trailer and pulled it to the store. Even if that’s misuse, it’s a bigger misuse to force too heavy a load on my arms quite yet. My back wouldn’t thank me, either. Icky-Sticky Goo 🍯 If molasses is icky-sticky goo, so are Gu-Gels! I carry a few “goos” along on every ride; and this morning I needed one. I’m not sure why. I had breakfast before starting out; and today I did a rather short ride. But my head began to feel weird; so I figured it was a wise precaution to get the carbohydrate kick. Better to eat a GU when I don’t really need it; than to not eat one and bonk! Yesterday I tried to ride at a steady, moderate pace; and put in 20 miles. Today I rode under 11 miles; but included some two-minute bursts of intense riding. I need that to regain my legs’ strength and stamina. The forecast for tomorrow predicts dense fog. Again. Time to haul out those ARCHXX things!     TODAY’S FEATURED PRODUCT Pro Bike Tool Pump   NEW!!   Huffy Green Machine 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Biki Gras

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Biki Gras? 🎭 Today is Biki Gras, if such a a term is possible. Some folks like to celebrate Mardi Gras with wine; or beer; or going to a parade. I celebrated with a bicycle ride; hence Biki Gras! It was gray and cloudy; and in the mid-50s. I’m glad it didn’t rain; and I’m also glad there wasn’t too much wind. What there was, was enough of a nuisance! So I put in a 20-mile ride; and for a change it wasn’t foggy. There was a lot of fog last week; so I was happy that there wasn’t any today. Tomorrow I can put in some intense efforts; I haven’t done much of it for a week or so, and I need to do some more. Do Some More 🚴‍♀️ Most days I want to do some more on the bike; but let’s face it, there are other things that must be done. Few of us can avoid such chores as washing dishes; sweeping; and doing laundry. Ergo Biki Gras can’t last forever. I think it’s about time to do some more for my longer rides, i.e. add a few miles. It looks like tomorrow and Thursday will be pretty good for riding. But Thursday night, the chances for rain will increase. It might be a wet ride to the salvage store come Saturday! TODAY’S FEATURED PRODUCT Jileon Ankle-High Rain Boots NEW!!   Rhinowalk Bike Handlebar Bag 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR Eye or Aye? Jackets Jerseys Shorts Shoes Rain Gear Reflective Gear Home Hamburger Toggle Menu

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Not Waiting to Spring

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Not Waiting to Spring ⚡️ I’m definitely not waiting to spring today. I feel tired and sleepy; and I’m not sure coffee bars would help. Especially as I’ve never liked coffee! It’s chilly, in the mid-50s; and overcast. That alone has me not waiting to spring! If I weren’t tired, I’d go for a ride now anyway, and skip tomorrow; because tomorrow there’s supposed to be more wind. I’m sure you all know by now how I feel about wind! But after all, I’m trying to get back into my pre-accident riding schedule; and Mondays were typically my off-bike day. Maybe I’ll go for a walk later, though.   Food! 🍫 🥘 🧑🏼‍🍳 It’s Carnival Time; and that sounds like street food. There’s food everywhere in New Orleans; but if I were at a parade, I wouldn’t want to try to eat while trying to manage myself in the crowds. I’d rather enjoy my food peacefully, at home. Or practice eating on the bike; a skill necessary for long-distance aspirants. I hope it’s not long before I can get back to that; and putting in 20-milers several times per week (along with shorter rides) is a step in the right direction. TODAY’S FEATURED PRODUCT Mastering Mountain Bike Skills NEW!! Ambrosia Planta 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Lazy Ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Lazy Ride 😴 Today I did a lazy ride: short and easy. I wasn’t worrying about time; and I didn’t feel like fighting the wind. So I went to the park; rode two laps; and headed home. I might have done another lap or two; but the wind seemed to be getting stronger. I checked the weather when I got home; and found that my perceptions had been correct. Sometimes it seems that Mardi Gras attracts strong breezes! With Mardi Gras the day after tomorrow, I thought the park might be much more crowded than it was. I had to steer around some sizeable ponds; last night it rained hard. Good think it rained then; and not this morning. I think I’ll take an even more lazy ride tomorrow; that is, a day off the bike. My legs felt tired today; so I’ll give them a bit of a rest. Lazy Gras 🥤 So tomorrow will be Lazy Gras — well, Lundi Gras. A nice time to kick back with a large soda; and enjoy a good video. Now, which video? I enjoy YouTubes about volcanoes; RAGBRAI; shipwrecks; and more! In fact, it’s too easy for me to get absorbed in viewing, instead of doing other things that I ought to be doing! Chores such as tidying and cooking can easily fall by the wayside. That will make tomorrow Lazy Gras in more ways than one. TODAY’S FEATURED PRODUCT Youngfly Mini Analog Clock NEW!! Aero Tech Luna 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Who Loves Bikes?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

💖 Who Loves Bikes? 💖 Who loves bikes? I sure do! Cycling is a great way to get exercise; and with a set of panniers, you can bring home a load of groceries on two wheels. This morning I did just that, with a trip to the salvage store. I didn’t get any fresh produce; but I brought home canned stuff and snacks. The store didn’t seem to have the unsweetened almond milk that I wanted; so I had to go to a different store for it. Things are gearing up for Mardi Gras, which is just days away. I want to get my errands done before Fat Tuesday arrives! I avoid parades; while waiting for the salvage store to open, I heard someone chatting about the craziness that goes on in parade-watching crowds. Asking who loves bikes makes it sound like riding a bicycle to viewing grounds is a great idea. I wouldn’t dare; can I be sure of securing my bike well enough so that it’s still there when I come back for it? Gearing Up ❄️ I can tell that things are gearing up. Neighborhood business are busier; and I see people walking around in purple, green, and gold attire. Incidentally, I never noticed before; but a snowflake looks sort of like a gear! Carnival season isn’t the only thing that’s gearing up. The weather is gearing up, too — or yesterday the forecast looked like it. The wind hasn’t gotten as strong as they were predicting; and it looks like the rain will wait until after midnight. That’s good news for tonight’s parades! The weather on Mardi Gras will be nice, which is good for riding. Who loves bikes? Let’s go pedaling instead of parading! TODAY’S FEATURED PRODUCT It’s Valentine’s Day; and as they say, Sweets for the Sweet! There’s chocolate, naturally; but how about a taste of Scandinavia? 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Keep Pedaling

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Keep Pedaling 🚴🏿  Sometimes you just have to keep pedaling; even when your legs don’t like it. Today I wanted to put in 20 miles. Tomorrow’s ride to the salvage store will be rather short; and day after tomorrow I want to skip riding. The forecast is for some pretty wild conditions. After I had gone two or three miles, my legs began to feel sore and tired. Why? I rode less than nine miles yesterday! But I decided to keep pedaling; my inner mileage hog was acting up. On the way back home, I really began to feel tired. For a while, I even wondered whether one of my tires was low. An under-inflated tire certainly makes pedaling harder! Mileage Hog 🐖 But keep pedaling I did. It was the only way to get home; and when you’re a mileage hog, you just want the miles. Plateaus are normal when you’re working to build fitness. And, as I already said, the weather outlook for Sunday isn’t so good. I figured I might as well get in some distance while I could. Riding while tired isn’t all bad, though. I heard a bald eagle warbling! (I guess it’s mating season; and time for birds to stake out their territories.) I have the satisfaction of knowing that I put in the distance; and the fog was mostly on the river. My mileage hog tendencies will kick in again soon enough; and then I’ll want to keep pedaling. Let’s hope the weather cooperates! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Carnival Feast

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors, Training /

Carnival Feast 🥪 I decided to have my Carnival feast today — or part of it. Next Tuesday is Mardi Gras; and I figure that any eatery that’s open will be mobbed. That’s not exactly my cup of tea. So I went to a shop that’s just a few minutes’ walk away; and got a sandwich. Those sandwiches are enormous — a foot long — and come with a serving of rosemary roasted potatoes. That’s at least two meals; more often three or even four. I’ll need to do a twenty-miler tomorrow to compensate for this Carnival feast, even though I ate only one-quarter of the sandwich (along with the potatoes). Today I did a short and easy ride, under 9 miles. I don’t think I’m quite ready to do 20 miles every day. Short and Easy 😴 Short and easy is important after a long ride, especially when you’ve been away from long rides for several months. Soon, though, 20-mile rides will become the norm again; and I’ll be glad of that.  I want to get in another such ride tomorrow, because I’ll continue my Carnival feast: another piece of the sandwich; and I’m very tempted to get some ice cream, too!  Calorie-burning isn’t the only reason to get in some long miles tomorrow. Sunday’s weather doesn’t look so great for outdoor activity; and Saturday I want to ride to the salvage store. That’ll be a short and easy ride!   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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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