CAL, Author at SpokEasy - Page 33 of 130

Trial to Avoid Error

Trial to Avoid Error ⚖️ It’s time for some trial to avoid error. We all know that 1 + 1 ≠ 3; and I didn’t want to discover halfway through RAGBRAI that a 3-oz bottle of body wash wasn’t enough. Or that a similar amount of shampoo wouldn’t last a week. So I tried out a travel-size bottle filled with body wash to see if it would last a week; and it checked out. I did the same thing for shampoo. It helps that I have short hair! The same applies to, say, electrolyte drinks. I’ve been using Gatorade Zero quite a lot; or Nuun tablets. Day before yesterday someone suggested LMNT; and I got a sample pack to try. LMNT is higher in sodium than many electrolyte drinks. I mixed one packet with a pint of water; and the first sip told me that LMNT will take some getting used to! It was too strong; and I diluted it with another half-pint of water. I still find that too strong. I’m not going to try LMNT on the bike until I can see how my body handles it at home. It’s trial to avoid error; I’m worried that an unaccustomed, salty, and strongly-flavored drink during rides might trigger GI issues! Time Is Short ⌛️ Time is short now for RAGBRAI prep. I can’t believe it’s getting so close! I hope there’s still time for training to help; I’m just easing back into the miles following a cold. I need to fit in at least one ride of 50 miles or more; and I hope the weather cooperates! Tomorrow I plan to do a short, intense ride; and the next day it’s time for a ride to the salvage store. Maybe I can push for 50 miles on Sunday; but I’ll have to ride early. We’ve got another forecast for T-storms from early afternoon. I hope I have everything I need. I’ve already done some practice packing; when time is short, it’s no time to be frantically trying to get things sorted out. It’s the old “trial to avoid error”! I’ve got two duffle bags; one for camping things and items that I can’t take onto a plane; and one for my other stuff. I admit that it will be good to get them packed, so I can free up the floor space! But I don’t think it will be good for my sleeping bag to be crammed into a compression stuff sack for several weeks! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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First Time Jitters

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training / CAL

First Time Jitters 😰 I”m getting first time jitters as a new RAGBRAI rider. Much of it centers around registrations and deadlines. I guess these first time jitters are normal. All the questions: Have I done everything I need to, in order to ship my bicycle via Bikeflights? Did I miss paying for something vital? Am I training enough? That last is quite a worry at present. Last week, forecasts for early-afternoon T-storms had me curtailing my rides; and last Thursday, I came down with a cold! For three days I had to ride short and easy; and I still feel a little dragged down. I really noticed it during today’s ride. I tried out my new handlebar bag. The phone and memo pad fit just fine; but there’s always something more. Always Something More! 🍴 Every time I think I’ve thought of everything, there’s always something more! Tale the handlebar bag I got for the road bike. I figured it would do for carrying my cell phone; a small memo pad; and two pens. Today I remembered that I want to keep a spork handy for those roadside foods. I hope I don’t remember anything else that I want to keep easily accessible; that handlebar bag is pretty crammed with the spork added to it. Maybe I don’t really need to keep the spork in the padded bag that came with it. For that matter, I haven’t quite decided how I’ll keep track of my keys. More first time jitters, I guess! My merino tees don’t have pockets; so I’ll have to keep keys elsewhere. Maybe in the Travelon? There’s always something more! 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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Tryouts

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Tryouts ⚖️ I’m still doing tryouts, figuring out what will work best for RAGBRAI. Ride food is part of it, of course; but I’m also working out how I’ll manage the stuff I’ll want while on the bike. I’m sure to want to take pictures; and I’ll use my cell phone for that. Normally I carry my phone in a Camel-Bak pocket; but that means taking the Camel-Bak off every time I want the phone. What a nuisance! Therefore tryouts means looking for alternatives. So I decided to get a handlebar bag. The one that I got isn’t very big; and I don’t want it to be. Too much weight on the handlebars has an adverse effect on steering capability. But the bag that I got has enough room for my cell phone; a small memo pad; and a few ballpoint pens. That should suffice. There’s also the question of managing my cash cache! Cash Cache 🤑 For my cash cache during RAGBRAI, I plan to use a Travelon pouch. Tryouts have shown that this pouch fits closely to the body; is lightweight; and goes easily under a Camel-Bak. I won’t need to take it off when I must visit a KYBO. This, I think, will be a safer way to carry money than putting it in a handlebar bag. Call me paranoid if you like; but it makes sense to keep my money close by me. I can also carry the day’s medications in this pouch. OK, handlebar bag; cash cache; now, what else? Oh yeah, the aforementioned Camel-Bak. I plan to carry my medication supply in the Camel-Bak; along with Chamois Butt’r and toilet paper. There’s no guarantee that every KYBO will be supplied with it; and when you need that stuff, you need it! 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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Rare Day

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training / CAL

Rare Day 🌞 What a rare day this was! When I rode this morning, the wind was calm! I was able to cruise at 12 mph or more for 11-12 miles; and that doesn’t happen very often. I didn’t try for big distance today; I’m still feeling sort of pulled down from having a cold. But I felt pretty good; and tomorrow maybe I can add an extra mile or two. When I first began riding, it was a rare day when I skipped the ride; but now I know that a rest day once a week is actually a good idea. And of course you need to back off your efforts if you’ve got a cold; or otherwise don’t feel so hot. Riding is great; but we don’t need to let it make us sick! Or too tired to cook. Good Idea 🤔 I always thought it was a good idea to train with my loaded Camel-Bak; and today I found out just what a good idea it is! For three days, I rode short and easy; and didn’t have that load on my back. Today I did ride with the load; and could I ever tell the difference! If you’ll be doing an event that requires a lot of hydration, e.g. RAGBRAI, practice riding with that hydration pack on your back. In fact, if possible, find a way to make the load a little heavier than it will be during the event. The wind won’t be so quiet tomorrow, showing just what a rare day today was. But the main thing is that the T-storms wait for afternoon! 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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Tired of Bars

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food / CAL

Tired of Bars 🍫 I get tired of bars as ride food. Now that I’ve been using them almost daily for some months, bars have become monotonous. Now that the weather is warm — OK, hot — bars are messy. They melt! But I need to eat during long rides! I’m not sure what to take instead for ride food. Will sandwiches made of bologna or salami be risky in the heat? Even if I make them without mayonnaise? Rice cakes, as presented in Feed Zone Portables? I’ve tried them; and I must be doing something wrong. My rice cakes come out sticky; and they tend to be too soft. The rice also sticks to my teeth; and drives me crazy. So even though I’m tired of bars, I’ll continue to use them until I can figure out something else. Something Else 🤔 “Something else”, unfortunately, has a broad definition. Gels? I don’t want to fuel a ride of several hours on gels alone. I’m not sure my stomach would take to it very well. Sandwiches, as mentioned above? Maybe; if I can find a way to keep them cool. Sandwiches are bulky, too. Feed Zone Portables is about much more than rice cakes; but I don’t have the ingredients needed for, say, their two-bite pies. I also don’t want to turn the kitchen into an oven by making things that require baking. I might have to, though — I’m getting tired of bars! 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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Hoping for a Change

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care / CAL

Hoping for a Change 🌧️ I’m sure hoping for a change; both weather-wise, and for me. I’m really tired! This is the first cold I’ve had in ages; and maybe I simply forgot what having a cold feels like. Unfortunately there’s no rushing the recovery; but I’ll be glad when I can get back to my usual mileage. I think everyone here is hoping for a change in the frequent forecasts for rain and T-storms. Few of us cyclists are eager to get caught in a T-storm; and when such weather is predicted by early afternoon, I prefer to be home ahead of the storms. Alas, that means cutting my rides short. If only I could cruise at 20 mph! Then I could get in my miles before 11:00 am. Neck Check 👔 Incidentally, remember to do the neck check when you don’t feel so hot, but still want to ride; or don’t want to miss out on your training. I believe it was in The Cyclist’s Training Bible that I found the discussion of the neck check. Are your symptoms above the neck? Scratchy throat; stuffy head; but no fever, and no chest discomfort? It’s probably OK to go for a ride; but take it easy until your symptoms abate. But do you have below-the-neck symptoms? Chest congestion? Nausea? Fever? Do. Not. Ride. You’re risking much more serious illness by doing so. I’d sure be hoping for a change, though; and soon! 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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Slump

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors / CAL

Slump 😩 I feel like I’m in a slump; and unfortunately it’s not the kind that can be helped with energy chews. I seem to have a cold; but if I’m to have a slump, better now than three weeks from now. How can I handle a rough patch like this? One obvious move is to ride less until I feel better; and to skip hard efforts. I hope I’m up to putting in at least 40 miles come Sunday! But if I can’t, I can always do my long ride on another day of the week. Another tactic is getting some extra sleep; and also skipping the off-bike exercises. The catch is, I’m sitting around too much! It’s not the best thing to slump over a keyboard for hours and hours. I do get tired of planning around the weather, though. We had quite a long stretch without rain; and now we seem to be making up for it. Planning around the Weather ⛈️ Planning around the weather is something I do all the time; but it’s more of a worry when T-storms are possible. Rain gear won’t keep lightning at bay! So planning around the weather is often easier in cold weather, when I can always add more layers; and T-storms are far less likely. Even then, my hands and feet are apt to get cold; then I’ll slump over the handlebars, tying to keep going in spite of numb fingers. With heat advisories increasingly frequent, I now have to work to keep cool while riding. I’m glad RAGBRAI offers frequent opportunities to refill hydration systems; and maybe even get ice! 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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Intensity over Miles?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training / CAL

Intensity over Miles? 😬 How about intensnity over miles? There are times when I just ride; but lately I think I should apply the time-crunched principle to my day-to-day cycling routine — shorter but harder rides. I’ve been getting frustrated by stormy-looking weather forecasts that have me cutting my mileage; and now is when I really need to step it up! So this morning I did a much shorter ride; but threw in some extra-hard efforts. I think I might need to do that twice a week; not once. Intensity over miles when time is short; and let’s hope I don’t encounter a roadblock. Roadblock? 🚧 And in fact, I may be facing a roadblock right now. It might be allergy; but I feel like I’m getting a cold! My head is stuffy; and my throat feels a bit sore. That’s been an extreme rarity since I began cycling. With COVID fears still lingering, I got out the home test that I had; and the results were negative. If I do have a cold, I’ll need to cut back on both distance and intensity for a few days. A roadblock like that is annoying; but pushing too hard while you’ve got a cold (or other illness) isn’t wise. I hope the heat doesn’t present a roadblock. When I went out at 7:45 this morning, it was 80 degrees; about normal. But I noticed that the sun felt more intense than usual, even though I was wearing my cool rag. Later this morning, a heat advisory was posted; and there’s another one for tomorrow! It starts at 11:00 am; so I want to be home by then. And maybe I’d better just 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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Calm Down!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training / CAL

Calm Down! 😌 I sure want to tell our weather to calm down. The forecasts all week have predicted T-storms by early afternoon; and I don’t want to get caught out in them! I’ve tried to finish my rides by late morning, so I’ll be home when the weather gets bad; and this is making it almost impossible to put in the miles that I want. It’s most annoying. Maybe I need to calm down? Or find massage balls for my mind? Today I put in almost 26 miles on the road bike. The bike path is still closed about 13 miles from home; and I can’t wait for it to be re-opened, so I can ride farther out. After a break at home, I took the hybrid for a ride. I wanted to have the trunk, so I could take along the poncho. It got cloudier and cloudier; so I went home a little early. And as it turned out, I needn’t have! No End in Sight 🥅 It seems there’s no end in sight to this rainy weather pattern — whether in the rearview mirror or otherwise. I wish the weather would calm down! Several times we’ve gotten Special Weather Statements about strong T-storms; and the storms don’t arrive! This “boy who cried wolf” might end with me getting caught in a fierce T-storm when I’m miles from home; and that’s not fun. It’s happened once or twice; and it always seemed that there was no end in sight! Just try to calm down when you feel like you might get struck by lightning at any moment! 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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Carrying a Load

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

Carrying a Load 😵‍💫 I’m always carrying a load on the bike, it seems. During long rides, especially in hot weather, I’ve got the Camel-Bak on my, well, back. That water alone is already weighty. Add a cable lock and a tube of Chamois Butt’r, and I’m carrying a load! But with good reason. I’ll need the lock if I have to stop somewhere; and there’s also the fact that RAGBRAI is approaching. If I train with that load, it will make the big ride easier when I don’t have quite so much stuff to carry. By many accounts, I likely won’t need a bicycle lock during RAGBRAI; and omitting my cable lock will subtract something like two pounds. The weight reduction will be more comfortable for my shoulders and the back of my neck. More Loads 😣 There are also more loads that I carry; such as my panniers on the ride back home from the salvage store. Some RAGBRAI riders carry more loads than I feel ready for — they take along all their camping gear! I’m not ready for such self-supported touring, though. For one thing, I don’t have the right kind of bicycle. But maybe someday! Lately I’ve had a load on my mind, with constant concerns over the weather. Forecasts are for rain and T-storms; and I don’t want to get caught out there when the lightning starts to fire up. As a result, I’m not getting in the miles that I need to ride this week. I hope we get back to sunnier weather soon! 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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Author name: CAL