SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Fortune Cookie Advice

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Fortune Cookie Advice 🥠 Is fortune cookie advice to be taken seriously? I don’t know; and to me, fortune cookies are just for fun (and eating, naturally!) Or should I keep my used tea bags as a means of divination? A recent piece of fortune cookie advice that came my way said something about, don’t be afraid to admit that you need a break. It made me think of my ambition to reach a long-term mileage total of 70K by the end of December. It’s starting to look like I’ll have to change that plan!  I cut my ride short one day last week because of concerns over the weather. There was also a day when I rode short and easy; I was tired, and burnout is something to be avoided. My sister and her husband are coming to visit later this month; and that will probably cut into my mileage, too. I think I’d better curb my ambitions a little. If I can make to to 70K by year’s end, that’s great! But it’s no disgrace if I don’t. Nail-Biting 💅🏻 Folks down here are probably engaged in some nail-biting; although I can think of more appetizing things to chew on. Like MET-Rx bars. I’d say we have reason to be nervous, though! Hurricane Milton has reached Category 5 strength; and while he’s expected to stay away from SE Louisiana, what if our current high barometric pressure collapses? We could be in major trouble if it did; and I, for one, won’t be holding any hurricane party. Meanwhile, I just hope I can curb my nail-biting for long enough to go riding! Or would some fortune cookie advice let me know what’s coming? 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 Fortune Cookie Advice October 7, 2024 Another Week October 6, 2024 Milton the Monster October 5, 2024 Could Have Ridden Longer October 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Another Week

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Another Week 🗓️ Here we go with another week. Gosh, I sound like I’m talking about work; and that definitely isn’t the case. Another week of cycling, yes! Each week, I try to lengthen my daily ride by a mile or two; and the Sunday ride by several miles. Today I was aiming for 30; but I had to leave it at 28.1 miles. The headwind was wearing me out; and I didn’t want to slather on another layer of sunblock to ride less than two miles. So home it was, to add another week of rides to my log. I use a regular notebook for this; but if you want something fancier, there’s The Cyclist’s Training Diary. I tried using a copy of this some years ago; but the pre-printed pages did nothing to help me make my records neater! Eye on the Weather 👁️ Another week of cycling, naturally, means constantly keeping an eye on the weather. No cyclist wants to get caught in a T-storm. We haven’t had much of such weather lately; and to be honest, I think we’ve been too lucky for too long! Something is bound to break, sooner or later. Let’s hope it won’t happen in the form of a freak turn on the part of Milton. Nobody wants a hurricane; but the catch is, if one location is spared, another place gets slammed. Just to be sure New Orleans doesn’t end up in the crosshairs, I’ll keep an eye on the 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; 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 Another Week October 6, 2024 Milton the Monster October 5, 2024 Could Have Ridden Longer October 4, 2024 Waiting to Pounce October 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Milton the Monster

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Milton the Monster? 👿 Are we going to have Milton the Monster out there in the Gulf? Decades ago, there was a Saturday morning cartoon program called Milton the Monster Show; but I never watched it. This Tropical Storm Milton, however, warrants close observation. It looks like he’ll stay away from here; but we still can’t let our guard down. Maybe the Hornit Mini Nano includes a sound that will make a tropical storm head the other way! Poor Florida could certainly use it. Those folks are still reeling from the impact of Helene. If Milton leaves us alone, we’re happy; although we empathize with anyone in the storm’s path. New Orleans certainly knows what it’s like to be hit by hurricanes. Falling Behind 🐌 I’m falling behind in my mileage; and not because of midlife issues. There was at least one day when the weather looked very uncertain; and I didn’t want to get caught out in a T-storm. I made the ride that morning very short. Late this morning it was still overcast; and I didn’t feel like going out. I used the trailer for today’s trip to the salvage store; and of course the extra drag meant extra effort! Ergo I was rather tired when I got back home. I hope I can get in about 25 miles tomorrow. I don’t like falling behind; and my sister is coming to visit in a few weeks’ time. I might not get to ride as much while the visit lasts; so let’s get in some miles now! Especially as I don’t trust Milton the Monster to not make any crazy turns! 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 Milton the Monster October 5, 2024 Could Have Ridden Longer October 4, 2024 Waiting to Pounce October 3, 2024 All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Could Have Ridden Longer

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Could Have Ridden Longer! ⏩ I could have ridden longer this morning; and enjoyed more of life behind bars. But the weather looked quite uncertain; and I knew that it was pretty sure to rain at some point. On top of that, I wanted to make a detour to the store. My legs felt rather tired; so I just rode the hybrid to the park and did three laps. Sometimes you need to listen to your body when it says, “I don’t wanna ride long (or hard!)” Then I headed for the store, and got the onion that I needed. 🧅 I was back home at about 9:15 am; and I don’t think the rain started until at least 10:00. I could have ridden longer; but now I don’t want to go out. I’m still expecting the lightning ⚡️to break out at any time. Stormy Rides ⛈️ What do pro cyclists do when it’s time for a training ride; but there’s a fierce T-storm roaring overhead? Do they go out to ride anyhow; or do they ride inside? Stormy rides, after all, can be very nerve-wracking! I guess this answers my question. Or does it? Read about the Tour de France, and you’ll see that those cyclists ride through rain; T-storms; hail; and even snow! If you can’t avoid riding in the rain (such as on a long bicycle tour; commuting to work or school; or even a race) what can you do to make riding a bit safer? One suggestion I’ve read is to slightly deflate your tires: e.g. if you typically use 100 psi, then make it 90 psi in the rain. This increases the “contact patch” of your tires a little, improving traction. Most of us won’t be racing; and on a rainy day, slow down; especially when going through corners. Extra caution is well warranted during stormy rides. I looks like I can stay dry during my usual weekend rides. That’s a good thing, because I don’t want to cut a ride short and then realize that I could have ridden longer. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” 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 Elementor #183554 October 4, 2024 Waiting to Pounce October 3, 2024 All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Waiting to Pounce

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Waiting to Pounce? 🐈 Do you ever get the feeling that the weather is waiting to pounce? Today was just such a day. When I went riding at about 7:45 am, the sky was mostly clear. There were a few white clouds; but as I rode, more and more clouds gathered. By the time I reached home at about 9:40 am, the sky was mostly overcast.  These Giro Rev shoes might be ready to pounce into cycling action; but they won’t keep me dry if it rains. And it looks like tomorrow will be a very wet day. Indeed, the forecast is for T-storms! Not a Harbinger 🍂 According to the forecast, this rain not a harbinger of Fall; so I won’t be getting out the hot chocolate just yet. Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, hot chocolate is good with a bit of cinnamon in it! So, shall I ride tomorrow; or skip a day? Today I just tried to keep a steady pace; and of course the headwind on the way home made it harder. I also made today’s ride a bit shorter. But riding in the rain? I hope tomorrow’s rain is not a harbinger of a prolonged wet spell! I’ll need practice with riding in the rain, though, if I’m going to do RAGBRAI; participants can’t count on nice, sunny weather all week. The weather is waiting to pounce at any time! 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 Waiting to Pounce October 3, 2024 All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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All Streaks Must End

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

All Streaks Must End 🎬 All streaks must end sometime; whether it’s an unusually good stretch of training rides; winning races; or a spell of no rain. We’ve had less rain than usual for a while, aside from Francine; and amazingly few T-storms. But it looks like that’s about to end. Tomorrow night through Sunday night we’ve got chances of rain and, yes, T-storms. Knowing that all streaks must end doesn’t cheer me up. Riding in the rain isn’t my favorite thing to do; especially when I’m trying to get in long miles. I have a poncho, but it’s really too long for cycling; and it flaps around like crazy in the wind. Not Gene Kelly 🕺 Sure, riding in the rain is entirely possible, especially with the right gear; but I am not Gene Kelly. He was dancing in the rain, anyway. Besides, even the best rain gear can’t protect you from lightning, which is my major concern. I’ve been enjoying the current spell of un-rainy weather; it lets me ride farther while not worrying that rain might catch me at any moment. We also get the opposite: spells when it seems like it will never stop raining; and when I constantly have wet gloves, socks, etc. spread out all over the place. When I get sick and tired of rain, I have to remind myself then that all streaks must end. 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 Facebook Twitter Youtube All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Bike Bus

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food /

Bike Bus 🚌 B is for Bike Bus! Now that school is in session, such get-to-school groups might be popping up all over the country! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bike bus here in New Orleans; maybe because there simply aren’t any. I might not be out riding at the right time of day to see them; or I’m in the wrong part of town. If they exist here, that is. And I don’t think I want to start one myself. Although the video doesn’t go into great detail, I’m sure there are waivers of responsibility and other such liability issues to settle before the first ride. That’s a bit too much for me! But I hope there are bike busses here. It would be a great thing for school children. IS It Fall? 🍂 Is it Fall? So far it doesn’t feel like it; but if the days are crisp where you live, a mug of Caffe D’Vita Sugar Free hot cocoa is great after a chilly ride. No cholesterol; gluten free; no trans fats; and it’s kosher as well. Only 50 calories per serving. But how to fuel the youngsters for that bike bus?  They’ll probably need more than 50 calories; especially as kids are growing; and that takes energy!  Maybe Skout Organic Kids Snack? This variety pack offers six flavors; and these bars are free of dairy; soy; eggs; fish; and gluten. Does your kid enjoy letting people know, “Here I come!”? The Hornit Mini Nano combines lighting with a choice of 15 different sound effects. Decibel range of 75-80 for younger kids who probably won’t be riding around motor traffic. Available in Mint Green; or Pink/Purple. The Hornit might come in handy for a bus bike 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 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Nervous Breakdown September 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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One Last Lick

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

One Last Lick 😋 Today I just had to get in one last lick before Cycle September ends. A 20-mile ride was a good way to end the month; and I’m delighted that I didn’t miss a single day! This ride was actually almost 0.75 miles longer than I  had intended. On the way home, I had to take a detour because a train was blocking my usual crossing; and I wasn’t going to wait for it to start moving. If I had, I might still be standing there! I tried some “fake hills” during my ride. That means, get into the hardest gear my bike offers; and pedal against that resistance for one minute at a time. I took two-minute breaks of riding an easy gear between efforts. I did three “hills”; and after a 10-minute break of easy pedaling I did another set. Caution: don’t try this if you’re new to cycling. Pushing too hard a gear, too soon, is too hard on the knees; and can even result in injury. Scream? 😱 Speaking of one last lick, I’m getting into the mood for ice cream. Remember, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream”? But I don’t think the drug store carries Rebel. And, the trouble with bringing home a pint of any kind of ice cream, is keeping myself from demolishing it all in one sitting! I’d need to go out and ride another 20 miles or so to burn it off. 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 Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Nervous Breakdown September 28, 2024 Hit and a Miss September 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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No Leg Warmers Yet

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No Leg Warmers Yet🦵🏼 No leg warmers yet, even though it’s the end of September. Although the weather is a bit cooler, it doesn’t really feel like Fall. That might not happen for several weeks; and even when it does, the heat might make a fierce comeback! As a matter of fact, we’re expecting highs in the 80s for the next few days! So that means, no leg warmers yet; and still lots of sunblock. Aside from relief from the heat, we could do with a cold front to push tropical activity away. Lacking that, we’ve got to keep our eyes on that new system. If it keeps its current drift towards the NW, we’re not in its direct path; but until I know what it’s expected to do, I guess I have to stick to cramming; and get in my miles before another round of severe weather! Fall Plans 🗓️ What about Fall plans, especially once the threat of hurricanes is past? I don’t  have to worry about going back to school, thank goodness; but the days are ticking away towards the year’s end. I’m still working at making 70K miles (long-term) by December 31; and RAGBRAI is still on my mind. Today I extended my Sunday ride to 24 miles; and this week I want to do some simulated hill work. I sure need that if I want to ride across Iowa!  How do I manage fake hills? Get into a gear that feel really hard; and push it for a while. Start with short efforts; there’s no point in ruining my knees! Bit by bit, make the efforts longer. The hardest part, I think, will be easing up enough between efforts!   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 Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Nervous Breakdown September 28, 2024 Hit and a Miss September 27, 2024 Flashback? September 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Nervous Breakdown

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Nervous Breakdown? 😳 All this tropical activity is enough to give us a nervous breakdown! Maybe we can work off those nerves as long as we keep our legs pumping! Joking aside, there’s another tropical system developing right where Hurricane Helene was born. It’s too soon to say how much/fast further development will be; nor where Kirk-to-be might go. Of course I hope New Orleans isn’t in this new storm’s path; but I certainly don’t wish it on Florida. All this watchfulness is enough to give anyone a nervous breakdown! Have I got enough bottled water? And enough canned food? Even worse, will I have to evaacuate? Stay away Kirk! 🌀 So, stay away Kirk! Better yet, disintegrate! Most of all, leave poor Florida alone. We should also think of the islands in the Caribbean that are getting hammered. Here I go again, considering cramming. If that new tropical system strengthens into a serious storm; and heads our way; I might have to miss several days of riding. I’d like to get in some extra miles in case it does come to that. Missing a few days shouldn’t affect my readiness to do RAGBRAI (if I can get to Iowa for the event); but I guess I’ve got an OCD streak. I’m rather hung up on getting my long-term mileage total to 70K by December 31!  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 Facebook Twitter Youtube Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Nervous Breakdown September 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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