SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Drag Chute

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Drag Chute ? No cyclist wants a drag chute; be it flapping jacket sleeves or a loose poncho. Flapping clothing is a nuisance; and if you’re interested in speed, it can slow you down. I had a drag chute this morning, in the form of a loose poncho. As a matter of fact, that poncho delayed my ride by at least ten minutes. I bought it some years ago, in case I needed it; and in the meantime, the poncho sat around it its store packaging. It’s made of thin plastic; and I guess the long storage period wasn’t very good for it. The plastic was stuck to itself; and while I was struggling to unstick it, I also had to be extremely careful not to tear it. Saturation ? The humidity is at saturation level; and I’m sure to need rain gear when I head out for tomorrow’s appointment. We’re under flood watch until noon tomorrow; and I think I’ll arrange for a taxi ride to the appointment. I can take public transit back home; but I don’t like to arrive at a medical facility soaking wet. That’s a bit too much saturation! I hope I can get in a ride; but it really depends on how hard it’s raining. A poncho can keep some of the rain off; but unless the weather is really cold, you can get very hot under a poncho. And as already stated, poncho = drag chute. T-storms are also possible; and that’s not my favorite riding weather! 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 ✍? Drag Chute December 9, 2024 One or the Other December 8, 2024 Change of Pace December 7, 2024 Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Drag Chute Read More »

One or the Other

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

One or the Other! ? ? I wish our weather would settle on one or the other: is it Fall (almost Winter); or is it still Summer? The temperature is see-sawing back and forth. Yesterday morning it was 40 degrees; and this morning it was close to 60! That’s very annoying when you’re trying to plan your rides. It doesn’t have to be epic rides, either — even if you’re only riding to the store, you want to be dressed for the weather. I’ve often heard people complain about these crazy switches between heat and cold; they say, with justification, that “you never know how to dress”. No wonder we all want one or the other! Keep the Layers Handy! ? The only thing we can do is to keep the layers handy. Unfortunately, that means having all sorts of items scattered all over the place. One day I’ll need leg warmers; the next day, I won’t. I’m not about to shove sweaty items of clothing back into storage; so I end up with leg warmers, helmet liners, etc. draped over furniture; the bicycles; and so on, so they can air out. That’s another reason I wish the weather would be one or the other. And what of longer rides, when the forecast indicates a sudden change during the day (aka your ride)? Keep the layers handy, if at all possible. It can get quite miserable if cold rain and wind suddenly begin, and you’re still miles from home. The action of pedaling does only so much to keep you warm, or such is my experience. And I’d rather be a tad too warm, than a bit too cool. If it’s the latter, what happens if you have to stop before you get home? 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 ✍? One or the Other December 8, 2024 Change of Pace December 7, 2024 Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

One or the Other Read More »

Change of Pace

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Change of Pace ⏩ It’s quite a change of pace to go somewhere and not use a bicycle; but at least I didn’t need to carry along ride food. Running errands by bike is rather nerve-wracking if I do it later than, say, nine o’clock in the morning; especially if it means riding along streets with no marked bike lane. Such streets are often parked solid with cars along the curb; and I don’t enjoy pedaling past them. I always feel like I’m too close to the cars to avoid bumping them; and there’s alway the danger of getting “doored”. Feet It Is ???? I had to get to a FedEx store to ship off a modem that I won’t be able to use much longer. The FedEx nearest to me doesn’t handle such returns; and I had to go to one much farther away. So, should I ride there on my bike; or opt for a combination of public transit and walking? I decided, feet it is; and the change of pace (and route) let me see things that I usually can’t. It’s unwise to sightsee while cycling; especially if you’ve got to stay hyper-alert for traffic! But walking from the streetcar stop to the FedEx store (a good mile or so, I’d guess) made it possible for me to view the homes along the way. Now I’ve got that modem off my mind; and the FedEx is located in the same strip mall as a large Winn Dixie. So I picked up a few groceries while I was there. It’s great to be able to combine errands! 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 ✍? Change of Pace December 7, 2024 Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Change of Pace Read More »

Remember the Sunblock

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Personal Care /

Remember the Sunblock! ☀️ Remember the sunblock! It can save your ride; not to mention your skin. This morning’s ride plan was a few laps around the local park, before heading for the grocery store. Half a mile from home, it suddenly occurred to me that I’d forgotten about applying sunblock. I’m glad I remembered then, even though it meant missing some miles.  If I’d been on the road bike, I would have been all right; a tube of sunblock is part of my under-saddle pack’s inventory. But this morning I was on the hybrid, because I wanted to take along a pannier; and I didn’t have any sunblock with me. Just think of what my face would look like now if I didn’t remember the sunblock when I did! Wind Burn? ? I’m not sure how well KINeSYS — or any other sunblock — would help with wind burn. I imagine you’d have to be out for many hours, in very strong wind, before wind burn develops; but that’s not much consolation when you’re out there on a bicycle fighting a headwind.  Wind-wise, it looks like tomorrow won’t be bad; but early in the day the temperature will be around 40 degrees. As far as I’m concerned, that’s cold! I’d better dig out the hand warmers. The next day, the wind will be a bit stronger; and after that, it looks like we’re in for several rainy days. It makes Winter Wheelers a much bigger challenge! 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 ✍? Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Remember the Sunblock Read More »

Lost Gamble

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Lost Gamble ?   Sometimes a ride is a lost gamble. Like today, for instance. At 8:00 am, the weather site I checked said there was a 40% chance of rain; and I decided that that was a low enough chance for me to go out riding. It was a roll of the dice; but that’s weather for you. I used the hybrid, because it rained last night; and I knew the surface would be wet. Riding the hybrid lets me take along the trunk; and I carried a poncho (still in its store packaging) with me. The sky had me rather nervous; it looked like rain. On the way home, with some five miles still to go, the rain began. I knew that this was a lost gamble!  When that happens, I wish I were home and dry; perhaps playing a game of Bananagrams! The rain lasted for about three miles; and the wind seemed to be getting a little stronger. That’s not the most fun thing in cycling! Getting Dry ? There was no getting dry until I could arrive at home. Heck, I couldn’t even keep dry! Yes, I had the poncho; but it’s hard to don a poncho when it’s already raining, and the wind is blowing. So I just kept riding. Once I had gotten damp, my leg warmers didn’t even seem to exist; and my legs felt quite chilly. My socks and shoes got soaked; and was I ever glad of the skull cap! When I at last reached home, getting dry had to wait until I could lube the hybrid’s chain. It was overdue for it; and if I had waited until I  could dry myself off, I might not have done it.  It’s supposed to clear up overnight; and get much cooler. Below 40 degrees! ? Then more rain early next week. I might get caught up in another lost gamble! 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 ✍? Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Lost Gamble Read More »

Growing Gray

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Growing Gray ☁︎ The sky is growing gray. It was already quite cloudy at 8:30 am; and now, about six hours later, it’s looking even grayer. Rain chances are increasing from now through tomorrow morning; so I’m glad I no longer have to go out at 5 am if I want to get in my miles! Today I did some hard efforts; the kind where I shift into a hard gear and push the cadence. A word of caution: that kind of workout is not for every day; and everything I’ve read about cyclist’s training says, take off from such work every fourth week. If you’re under forty years of age, that is; for riders older than 40, take off every third week. Let’s face it, I myself am growing gray. (Or is it silver? I’ll take silver hair; white hair, OK; but gray? I’d rather skip that!) So week after next, none of this force work.   Try It Out ? You don’t know how well you might do at attempts to ride harder; you have to try it out. Similarly, I can’t know what any one cycling food will be like unless I test it. That’s why I keep an eye out for possible ride food at stores. Yesterday I found SixStar Whey Protein powder in the drug store. I wasn’t familiar with it; and decided to test it. The store had the chocolate flavor shown at left; some kind of vanilla flavor; and two cereal flavors: Fruit Loops® and Frosted Flakes®. The cereal-flavored powders cost a couple of dollars less than the other flavors; and I got the Frosted Flakes kind. Growing gray doesn’t mean losing all of your childhood tastes! Today I decided to try it out. Meh. I like chocolate flavor much better! I’ll use up this canister; and after that I’ll get something else.  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 ✍? Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Growing Gray Read More »

Plugging Away

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Plugging Away ? We can all keep plugging away at our goals; whether that means training for a big ride; working at a health goal; or something else. In fact, keeping steadily at it is probably the best method. Remember the Tortoise and the Hare! Fortunately I don’t have to worry about the goal of reducing my blood pressure; and that’s lucky, because I love salt! I’m pegging away at a mileage goal instead. To meet my mileage goal, I now need to average about 13.25 miles per day; and that’s very doable. Maybe tomorrow I’ll do a shorter ride than 20 miles; and add in some hard efforts. I’ve been focusing on getting in the miles; and I think I need to do some intensity work! Doing a shorter ride will also mean I don’t need to eat on the bike; although I’ll take along a few energy gels, just in case. That will be a nice change, I think.  Will the Weather Cooperate? ?️ But will the weather cooperate? That’s always a big question. We don’t have the threat of severe weather; but rain is rain is rain. We could get showers between tomorrow afternoon and the next day; and that makes me glad that I ride in the morning. Part of weather is, of course, the wind. It was strong enough this morning for me to feel like I was working pretty hard; and all I can do about that is to keep plugging away. But wind often makes one-handed bike control difficult, as well as slowing me down. On the other hand, riding hard into the wind is good for developing strength. The breeze is quite the frenemy! 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 ✍? Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Plugging Away Read More »

Let’s Roll!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Let’s Roll! ? Let’s roll! We don’t need a train to do it; Winter Wheelers has begun! “Winter” wheelers seems like a bit of a misnomer here. Snow and ice are rare; and in fact, the temperature this afternoon reached the mid-60s. I’d be at a loss to know how to ride in the snow; and  I might want a Mongoose Aztec Fat Tire bicycle, for better traction. Maybe it’s just as well that I don’t need such a bike; because I don’t have room for it. But whatever the weather, Winter Wheelers is here; so let’s roll! If you’re an adult beginner, and have trouble with balance, a set of CyclingDeal Stabilizer Wheels can help you to get going. These adjustable wheels fit most bikes with 24-29 inch wheels; and are heavy duty. Year’s Goals ? This is the time to reflect on the year’s rides; and ponder whether we’ll be able to meet the year’s goals by December 31. It might be a mileage goal; or improving your pace; or completing a certain ride, e.g. a century. The Cyclist’s Training Diary is a great place to record your rides; or you can take the cheap route, like me, and use a spiral notebook. Either way, it’s helpful to see the data set down on paper. It looks as though I’ll be able to reach my 70K-mile goal quite easily I just hope I didn’t make any arithmetic mistakes; that can make my mileage look greater than it actually is. Even if my math was wrong, it doesn’t take the joy out of riding — Winter Wheelers or otherwise. 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 ✍? Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Day of Doom? November 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Let’s Roll! Read More »

Winter Wheelers

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Winter Wheelers ☃️ ?? Hold on, there! I said, Winter Wheelers; not cross-country skiing. Not that there’s anything wrong with cross-country skiing; but here in New Orleans, it’s impossible. It’s rare for us to get snow at all; let alone enough of the white stuff for long enough to make having skis practical. So Winter Wheelers it shall be; at least, for me. This is another of Love to Ride’s  one-month challenges; and I hope the weather is cooperative enough for me to ride daily. It looks like tomorrow won’t be bad; so I can get off to a good start. What Shall I Wear? ?? What shall I wear for Winter Wheelers? If anything, correct clothing choices are more important in cold weather than in the heat. There’s layering, of course; and there’s quite an array of Winter clothing to choose from. The question is always, how many layers? Will one more make me too hot? Suppose I’m too cold if I don’t add that extra layer? That’s especially important if you expect your ride to last all day; and you won’t be able to detour to your home for additional clothes. The worst thing about cold-weather riding, aside from a chronically runny nose, is: cold hands and cold feet. I ought to put Rabbitroom Electric Heated Gloves on my Christmas wish list. If they aren’t too big for me, that is. I’d rather be able to get something like that from a brick-and-mortar store, where I can try them on before buying. We’ve got to get through Winter — and cold weather — before Spring. Then we’ll be right back to complaining about the heat! 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 ✍? Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Day of Doom? November 28, 2024 Anytime Anywhere November 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Winter Wheelers Read More »

Harbinger of Winter

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Harbinger of Winter ❄️ Today seemed to be a harbinger of Winter. Soon I’ll need to haul out the hand warmers and warm socks.  The temperature this morning wasn’t really terribly cold; about 51 degrees. The wind, however, made it seem much colder! It was blowing at 15 mph; and gusts were up to 23 mph. Those gusts made it feel like my bicycle was skidding sideways; even though the path was dry. Fighting the wind like that causes me to grip my handlebars more tightly; and at one point I had to remind myself to loosen up because my hands were on the verge of numbness Bundle Up! ? It’s a nuisance to have to bundle up for a ride. You want enough layers to keep you warm; but not so many that you’ll overheat. There seems to be a fine line between the two! The usual advice is that underdressing a little is better than overdressing; but if you go with the former, take along an extra layer in case something forces you to interrupt your ride. Wearing more layers means that I have more pockets; and sometimes I forget what I’ve put into which pocket. When I need to bundle up, it takes longer to prepare for a ride. If I do start to feel too warm during the ride, I’m in a rather tight spot. My Camel-Bak pockets are often stuffed with a cable lock; a tube of Chamois Butt’r; and bathroom tissue. There’s not much room to add clothes. So if I start to feel a little over-warm, I just put up with it. I hope today’s harbinger of Winter doesn’t prophesy weather so bad that we can’t ride. Day after tomorrow begins Winter Wheelers! 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 ✍? Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Day of Doom? November 28, 2024 Anytime Anywhere November 27, 2024 Wet Turkey November 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Harbinger of Winter Read More »