SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Persistence

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Persistence 😣 Persistence can be a good thing. Major Taylor is a fine example; especially given that, in the early 20th century, Jim Crow was very much in effect. I’m not at all sure I have Mr. Taylor’s fortitude. Our hurricane season also seems to have great persistence; there are two systems out there right now! The arrival of cooler weather, however, makes me hope that the season is winding down. Even now, though, I don’t dare let down my guard! Keep at It! 🧺 Persistence can get you places, so keep at it; whether it’s learning to climb better, or riding increasingly long distances. Don’t overdo it, though, lest you become a basket case! I need to keep at it if I want to tackle long, multi-day events. For now, I’m working to increase my daily distances; and each successive week, I try to add a mile or two to most weekday rides.  The Sunday long ride is a bit of a problem at present. The bike path I use is closed about 12 miles or so from home; and will remain closed for a year or more. 😬 It shut down some six months ago; and when I rode out there a few days ago, I saw no sign that work had begun yet! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Persistence October 18, 2024 Wind Relief October 17, 2024 Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wind Relief

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Wind Relief 😮‍💨 I actually got some wind relief this morning. Not that I had a wind screen to hide behind; but the wind was less than I expected.  It was a little cooler than yesterday, chilly enough for leg warmers; but I needed to get in a full ride. I had to shortchange myself for two days because of various appointments; and besides, I wanted to see the moon! So the wind relief was most welcome; and cooler weather brings its own relief. There were fewer bugs flying around; and of course I didn’t get as hot. Planning for Winter ☃️ Now I’m planning for Winter. Although this is a warm climate, we can get weather cold enough to threaten pipes; and on such days, I need warm clothes to ride. I also need hand warmers; and I must double check to be sure I’ve got a sufficient supply. Hand warmers are a great boon for cycling when the temperature gets down to the mid-40s or lower. My hands and feet get cold easily, which is a big  nuisance. But the trouble with using hand warmers is, they tend to work their way out of my gloves. Sometimes I don’t even notice it until too late. For wind relief on cold days, I can head to the park to ride laps. I won’t have to slog against the wind for mile after mile. The trade-off is the monotony! But I’ve to to be planning for Winter. I can’t afford to jet ✈️ off and ride where the pros do; so I’ve got to come up with my own plan. 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Wind Relief October 17, 2024 Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Take the Cake

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Take the Cake 🧁 Does layering take the cake? Dressing for a ride on a cold day can certainly make me feel like a layer cake! Layers are important for keeping warm during a cold-day ride; and it’s also important to be able to remove layers as you heat up. This morning it felt pretty cold: 62 degrees, which was quite a change; and a stiff wind. I stayed off of the levee, mostly because of that wind; but tomorrow I’ll want to be up there. It’s full moon time! There I go, being a lunatic again. 😉 I really do take the cake, don’t I? But tomorrow morning’s temperature is expected to be about 55 degrees; and with a NE wind of 10-15 mph. Time to start bundling up! Building the Cake 🍰 A base layer is a good place to begin building the cake; especially once the temperature starts to fall below 50 degrees. I have a base layer; but it’s buried in a cedar chest. I’ll have to dig it out soon. I have a vest that’s actually an ancient cycling jacket without the sleeves; and I have two jackets of differing weights. If the vest and both jackets are still not enough, I have an ancient (older than the vest!) windbreaker to pull on over all the rest. Then there are gloves and skull caps, and so on. Building the cake can be rather time-consuming. I’ll think I’m finished, and ready to ride; then I’ll have to pull off one or more layers because I put my keys into a pocket; and said pocket has gotten covered up. Winter can be a real drag! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Easy 100?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Easy 100? 💯 It would be nice if an easy 100 were possible, wouldn’t it? Although M&Ms aren’t a very good choice of  fuel for such long miles! Maybe an easy 100 is quite possible for a super-fit pro tour rider; but for most of us cyclists, a century is quite an undertaking. It requires serious preparation; and I’m asking myself whether I’ll ever do one again. It’s a long time since I last time I did one: July 2013, to be exact. Maybe it’s time to consider doing another century. It could be a good “dress rehearsal” for RAGBRAI. The catch is, a self-supported 100-mile ride means carrying enough food for the entire day; or knowing where I can stop to buy snacks. I also need to be sure that there are stops where I can top up the Camel-Bak. Bonking is serious; but dehydration is much worse. But When? 🗓️ But when would I do that century ride? I’ve seen training plans that span 8 weeks; and if I started tomorrow, I should be ready by mid-December. Getting in the miles is the thing; I don’t have to get super fast. Although I’d like to be able to cruise at 15-16 mph; not 12. By mid-December, though, we could be getting cold weather; and who wants to fight a nasty, cold wind all day? Even if I don’t mind it, my nose does! Full-finger gloves are necessary on cold rides; and they make on-bike eating harder, because they rob me of fingertip sensitivity. Camel-Bak pockets crammed with cable lock, tube of Chamois Butt’r, etc. leave little or no room for stashing extra layers if I get too warm. So should I wait until next May to try a century? One thing’s for sure: it won’t be an easy 100! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Fall? October 12, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Fitness Freak?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Fitness Freak? 🏋🏻 Are the tropics a fitness freak? It sure seems like it, with the way they’re staying active. Remind me not to give them a Nordictrack Commercial Studio Cycle — or any other fitness equipment, either! I don’t suppose I count as a fitness freak. If I did, I’d never stop working out. When not riding a bicycle, I’d be doing weight workouts; or bodyweight exercises; and who knows what all else. On top of the physical exertion, I’m sure that, as a fitness freak, I’d be anxiously — even painfully! — watching calories in vs calories out. And freaking out if I eat even 10 more calories than I burn! That’s not for me, thank you very much. No Comet in Sight ☄️ I rode early today. I rather hoped to spot the comet that’s been in the news; but there was no comet in sight. Not even a Joystar kids’ bike! Quite possibly I wasn’t looking in the right place; or was out at the wrong time. Even if my timing was right, the light pollution is terrible. It makes ordinary star-gazing almost impossible; never mind finding a faint “dirty snowball”. Although I didn’t find the comet, I had a good ride. This morning I took it slow and easy, to recover from yesterday’s ride. I heard a katydid; and even an owl 🦉! I love that stuff; so maybe I should ride before sunup more often? Or would that make me a fitness freak? 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Fall? October 12, 2024 Hydration Ideas October 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Smog?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Smog? 🌫️ Have we got a smog problem here? We don’t have (yet!) the kind of smog that means bad visibility, and the need for lights at midday; but we apparently have the kind that gives the sky a ugly grayish tinge. The sight cast rather a blight on my ride today. It was great weather for cycling: temperature in the mid-60s; no rain; and almost no wind at all. Seeing that dirty-looking sky was rather depressing. Otherwise, it was a good ride! Not So Fast 🐌 I felt stronger today; but fast? Well, not so fast. My average overall speed was only 11.69 mph. A racer I am not! There was, however, a stretch of just over 7 miles when I averaged over 13 mph; and that’s better than usual. The Sunday ride isn’t supposed to be about speed, though. It’s about endurance; and once again, I cut the ride a bit short. I was aiming for 30 miles, and stopped at 25.6. The primary reason was, I would have needed to reapply sunblock in about 10 minutes; and didn’t feel like bothering with it. Like I’ve said before now, I’m lazy! I intended to ride tomorrow after my 9:00 am doctor’s appointment; but I see that there’s an Air Quality Alert in effect for tomorrow, starting at 6:00 am. I don’t have respiratory problems; but maybe I should get up super early, and ride at 5:00 am? And, could ozone be why the sky looked discolored this morning? 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Smog? October 13, 2024 Fall? October 12, 2024 Hydration Ideas October 11, 2024 Not Another One? October 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Fall?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Fall? 🍁 Almost hot-chocolate time? Gosh, is Fall actually coming? Just a few days ago, the season seemed most reluctant to arrive; and then, this morning, it was only 63 degrees! It actually felt more like October than Summer. But it’s not time for hot chocolate yet! Afternoon temperatures still reach the 80s. It was cool enough for me to wear arm warmers for the ride to the salvage store. I’m glad I went there, because I found some good stuff. The grab-bag bins yielded some protein bars that I can use for ride food; and I found Laughing Cow. I actually got a rather small load, because I bought a  pack of bathroom tissue; and that stuff is a space hog! I rode at a leisurely pace for this trip; but did make one brief effort to ride 1 mph faster than I’d been going. It was better than nothing; and not every ride has to be “training”. Planning 📝 Now I’m planning next week’s rides; or trying to. It’s going to be pretty crazy, with doctor’s appointments three days in a row! Monday’s is at 9:00 am. Maybe I can ride the hybrid to the appointment, wearing cycling shorts; and do my real ride immediately afterwards. I can carry my stuff in the trunk. It won’t be too hot to ride by 10 o’clock; although cycling shorts at the doctor’s office might raise an eyebrow or two. Tuesday’s appointment is even earlier: 8 am. Another “post-doctorate” ride, I guess. And the day after that, I have a follow-up on the varicose vein procedure. I hope that’s the last of it! Planning gets tricky when there’s so much going on. At least, now that it feels more like Fall, riding later in the day won’t have me melting! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Fall? October 12, 2024 Hydration Ideas October 11, 2024 Not Another One? October 10, 2024 Kicking and Screaming October 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hydration Ideas

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Hydration Ideas 💦 I’ve got some more hydration ideas for RAGBRAI. If I get to do it, that is; I’ve yet to find a local group that’s going.😟 By now I”ve viewed many YouTubes about RAGBRAI; and a number of them mention water-bottle filling stations along the way. I could fill my Camel-Bak only halfway; and carry an emergency bottle of water on my bike’s seat tube. (The down tube is reserved for my bottle of electrolyte drink). Then, when I come to a refill station, I can empty that bottle into the Camel-Bak; and refill the bottle. This would mean less of a load on my back; plus more room in the Camel-Bak pockets for other things. For example, I’m for sure going to need Chamois Butt’r! And plenty of it, too. I’ll probably come up with more hydration ideas as time goes on. I know I’d better take along plenty of electrolyte drink mixes from home, as it might be hard to find them on the RAGBRAI route. When tens of thousands of riders descend upon small towns, I bet things get sold out fast!  Conditioning 🏋🏻 Meanwhile, hydration ideas for RAGBRAI aside, riding with a full Camel-Bak is good conditioning. I need to be used to the load on my back; and if I’m used to that weight in training, it will be easier to ride without it come event time. And I’m working on conditioning for my legs, of course. It’s so easy to get caught up in working up to the mileage; and forget about other kinds of conditioning. Like carrying a loaded hydration system; getting the arms and core ready for hours of daily riding, and so on. I’m glad I’ve still got months to work on 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Hydration Ideas October 11, 2024 Not Another One? October 10, 2024 Kicking and Screaming October 8, 2024 Fortune Cookie Advice October 7, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Not Another One?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Not Another One? 🌀 Oh, no; not another one? Hurricane Milton has crossed the Florida peninsula; and has lost a great deal of strength. People in Milton’s path were still cleaning up after Helene; and I wish we could undo the destruction by saying that it’s not on Strava! But there’s still Hurricane Leslie to worry about! My first thought was, not another one! Then I checked the projected wind path. Leslie is currently moving WNW; but is forecast to curve out into the Atlantic. So maybe any worry is wasted. I sure hope so. Got to Wake Up 🥱 Luckily we didn’t get any nightmare weather from hurricanes; but I’ve got to wake up and get busy. Yesterday I took a day off from riding; blogging; and social media. Now and then it all gets to be too much; and besides, I had to go downtown for a doctor’s appointment. Today I’m trying to get back into the swing of things: a 19.7-mile ride; and here’s the blog I’m working on! I’m having some problems with social media; so that’s still sitting on the siding. The ride today was an attempt at a steady pace. Maybe tomorrow I’ll put in some force efforts. I’ve got to wake up and start doing a little more high-effort work, if I want to develop better speed. 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Not Another One? October 10, 2024 Kicking and Screaming October 8, 2024 Fortune Cookie Advice October 7, 2024 Another Week October 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Kicking and Screaming

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors /

Kicking and Screaming? 😱 Fall seems to be kicking and screaming in protest. Night temperatures are starting to drop to the mid- to upper sixties; but it still doesn’t truly feel like Fall. I guess I won’t need a Quest Barrier Jacket any time soon. When it’s 67 degrees, I feel a bit chilly at the start of a ride; but I soon warm up. I do want my arms covered; but I don’t yet need to layer up.  It’s a relief to not need the cool rag; and an even bigger relief to not end up dripping with sweat. Cooler weather makes it more comfortable to do hard efforts on the bike. This morning I tried 3-minute pushes, attempting to stay at 14-15 mph. It went pretty well when the breeze was at my back; but as always, such work going into the wind was another story! Continuing to Watch 🔎 I guess I’m not alone in continuing to watch Milton: hurricane season is apparently kicking and screaming in protest on its supposed way out. October is getting rather late for hurricanes, but there was just Helene; and now Milton is on track to ravage poor, long-suffering Florida. Milton isn’t expected to impact us; but I’m glad I bought some tap lights when it looked like Helene was going to head our way. If a freak turn does bring us tropical storm/hurricane conditions, I’ll want those lights. So I’m continuing to watch that storm. It’s sort of like the old saying, the watched pot doesn’t boil. Call me superstitious if you like; but maybe if I keep my eyes on Hurricane Milton, he won’t come! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Kicking and Screaming October 8, 2024 Fortune Cookie Advice October 7, 2024 Another Week October 6, 2024 Milton the Monster October 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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