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SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Priorities

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Priorities ✳️ Today’s Featured Product! Cyclocross Bible New!! UnTapped Maple Syrup Packets For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We hear about setting priorities all the time; and that’s true of cycling, too. Getting ready for an event? How much do  you need to train; and how much time do you need to allow yourself for event prep? From all I’ve read, there are multiple factors involved; and your priorities can depend on your event. Is it a long-distance casual event (read: RAGBRAI)? Or is it a serious race? And Priority 🚲 There are priorities; and Priority bicycles! I’ve watched a number of YouTubes that mention them; and I admit they sound amazing. Priority bicycles are low-maintenance — no chain! Considering that I’m not very good at keeping my bicycles’ chains cleaned and lubed, that would be great for me! I’ve peeked at the website for Priority Bicycles; and the prices look quite reasonable. Maybe I should consider getting one! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Shorts Circuit

BACK ISSUES, equipment, Outdoors /

Shorts Circuit 🩳 Today’s Featured Product! VELMIA Spoke  Reflectors   New!! Biosteel Zero Mix For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! My shorts circuit has been interrupted. For a long time, I’ve had five pairs that I use in rotation. Today, I noticed that the pair of shorts I was wearing had holes in it! Thank the velcro on my reflective vest for that! It’s heavy-duty; and tears at whatever it snags. Now that my shorts circuit has been broken, I need another pair of shorts. Crazy Weather 🌥️ We’ve got crazy weather again.  At around 8:00 am, it was cloudy; and I knew the forecast said there might be T-storms. So I was a bit uneasy about going for a ride. I decided to go do laps around the park. For a while, it seemed that the sun would come out; but during Lap 2, I noticed that the clouds seemed to be getting darker. I went home; and soon discovered that there was a Special Marine Warning for the lake not far away. The weather system was heading this way, too. Not much later, I began to hear grumbles of thunder;  and I expected all fury to break out. But it didn’t. This crazy weather is driving me crazy! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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RIght Call

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Right Call ☎️ Today’s Featured Product! XIAPIA Tricycle for Toddlers New!! Honey Stinger Cherry-Blossom Energy Chews For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I think I made the right call in regard to this morning’s ride; and I didn’t need a cell phone to do it. I was awakened around 7:00 am by thunder; and it was raining hard. When I checked the NOAA site, it indicated a severe T-storm warning; so I was glad I didn’t need to go anywhere. After about 20 minutes, the rain had slackened; but there was still plenty of lightning and thunder around. Yesterday I was anticipating such weather; and I got it! There might be more rain/T-storm activity; and here I am, getting cravings for Chinese food! But bringing home take-out won’t be so easy if it’s pouring. Planning 📐 Planning rides isn’t easy when it looks like the weather won’t be cooperative. You never know what’s the right call! It would be nice if SUNwarrior could entice Old Sol from behind the clouds; but unfortunately I can’t rely on that. I’ll keep an eye on developments; and who knows — maybe I can get out for a short ride later today! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Waiting for the Storm

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Waiting for the Storm ☔️ Today’s Featured Product! 365 Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream New!! Nuzest Clean Lean Protein For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Now I’m waiting for the storm. I don’t expect to need an emergency weather radio; but I’m keeping an eye on developments. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious! Yesterday I rode to the salvage store in case it’s storming tomorrow; and today I put in a 20-miler for the same reason. After those precautions, I think I’ll feel cheated if the weather doesn’t break bad tomorrow. So I’m waiting for the storm. Cooped Up 🐥 What can I do when I’m cooped up indoors all day? Read? Blog? (Not that I need to ask!) Cook? I’ll figure it out tomorrow. Naturally I don’t want it to storm all day long; and if there’s a weather window I can even try a short ride! I’m glad my hybrid has fenders, though! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Shuffle the Days

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Shuffle the Days 🔀 Today’s Featured Product! Garmin Fenix 6X New!! Vega Premium Protein  Supergreens For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I decided to shuffle the days again. The forecast for Saturday isn’t so great; and I went to the salvage store today. This time I took my trailer, hoping to find packs of paper towel rolls. I didn’t; but I was able to stock up on protein bars! I had fogotten how much drag that trailer creates; and there was something of a headwind on the way home. By 2:00 pm, gusts were up to 22 mph; so I was glad I wasn’t out there! I hope the wind isn’t like that tomorrow, or I might need to shuffle the days around. I’m also trying to plan the weekend’s ridees. How Do I Plan? 📆  But how do I plan my rides when the weather forecast seems to change every time I check it? And if it’s going to rain on my ride, can I keep my energy bars dry? I’ve really got my eye on Saturday; that’s when rain chances seem greatest. Not so good for riding; nor for Jazz Fest. Today I was chatting with  someone who says, it has to rain one weekend of Jazz Fest! There also seems to be some kind of foot race in the works. Markings for 1 mile and 2 miles have appeared on the levee bike path; and it’s a nail-biter to be sharing that path with large numbers of runners. Rain won’t help that at all!   Addendum: my apologies for the image problem with Garmin Fenix. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Catch 22

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Catch 22 🔄 Today’s Featured Product! Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 New!! Rose Hip & Hibiscus Tea For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Today I finally managed to “catch” 22 miles! That’s quite fitting, given the date! Of course I had a headwind on the way back home; and, viewing  the forecast, I think I’ll visit the salvage store tomorrow. The weather outlook for Saturday isn’t so great. I’m considering taking the trailer this time, although that creates a Catch 22 of sorts. I can bring home bigger loads; but bigger loads means more stuff that I must stash away somehow. More stuff means that I’m threatening — again —  to crowd myself out of here! Earth Day 🌳 I don’t go to Earth Day gatherings — I’d rather be riding! In fact, I don’t even know where such events are, although I’m sure there’s a least one in town. So today I rode; and worked at holding a steady pace. The wind tended to be rather capricious; so I had to keep changing gears. I’m still slow; but I’m a bit faster than I was a few months ago. 😀   Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Faking It

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Faking It 🥸 Today’s Featured Product! XJD 2 in 1 New!! Alec’s Pistachio Crunch  For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I guess you could say that today was faking it. Not that I was made up like a clown; but pushing the big ring is faking it as far as headwinds (or hills!) go.  I expected the wind to rise; so I went to do laps around the park. I practiced riding the big ring for 2-minute intervals; for a total of 9 or 10 efforts. But no ice cream awaited me at home! Maybe I should go sneaking around and find some? Sneaking Around 👟 I had to go sneaking around in another respect: namely, I needed a new pair of Hokas. The ones I already had must be three years old; I got those shoes several months before my foot surgery. Parts of the soles are coming loose; and they drag the ground as I walk. That’s a potential trip hazard; so it was time for a new pair. By the time I got back home from Hoka-hunting, about 2:00  pm, the wind had risen to 20 mph; with gusts of 29 mph. I’m glad I rode early! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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Can’t Beat the Wind

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Can’t Beat the Wind 💨 Today’s Featured Product! KneeRover Deluxe Knee Cycle New!! M&Ms Fun Size Variety Pack For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I simply can’t beat the wind, it seems. Wind can make it hard to enjoy the ride, that’s for sure! Today some strong gusts developed; and I’m glad I was almost finished by the time they came up. More of the same is in the forecast for tomorrow. Today I got in 20 miles. Most of it was “just ride”; but tomorrow I think I’ll do a shorter ride, with some hard efforts. Not that today’s ride was all that easy. I could sense that my heart rate was well up! Heart Rate 🤎 Heart rate training would be much more fun if it were all about chocolate hearts! Alas, it isn’t. Heart rate training, from what I’ve read, can be better than looking at speed alone; because speed relies on so many factors beyond a rider’s control. Take headwinds. A strong headwind, of course, slows me down; but working hard against it means a higher heart rate than the same speed attained with a good tailwind. I guess it’s sort of like working with a power meter. I don’t own a power meter, though. I’ve got enough to think about with our crazy weather!  Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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What Happened to Spring?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

What Happened to Spring? 🌸 Today’s Featured Product! Tommaso Men’s Montagna 200 New!! SIS GO + CAFF Berry For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Can someone tell me what happened to Spring? Not that it’s cold enough for Rabbitroom Gloves; but last might it suddenly dropped to the 50s! The weather will warm up again over the next few days; but today it’s chilly and drizzly. Gosh, what happened to Spring?  Wind gusts could reach 30 mph; so I’m not riding. I don’t want to get blown off the levee! The wind is from the North, so I’d have against me on the way home; and I get so tired of that! Upcoming Week 📅 What shall I do for the upcoming week? I must plan some hard efforts; and at least one ride of 22 miles or so. I slacked off today because of the weather. When I do a ride of 20 miles or more, I stop halfway through to 1) reapply sunblock; and 2) have a snack. These snacks are a good opportunity to try any new ride foods that I find. Yesterday at the salvage store I found 12-count boxes of Clif Builders protein bars; and I must try one soon. They’re chocolate chip cookie dough flavor; and that’s usually a good one! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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It Happens Fast

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

It Happens Fast ⏩ Today’s Featured Product! Bell Handlebar Basket New!! Kaslight Bike Lights For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Sometimes it happens fast; almost overnight! Early this week, I saw that the trees along my usual riding route were suddenly all leafed out. It reminds me of the expression, Blink and you’ll miss it. It happens fast with the weather, too. This morning I rode to the salvage store; and at the time the doors opened, the sky was mostly clear. When I left the store barely half an hour later, it was mostly overcast! I expected it to rain when I got home, as it was still overcast. But looks are deceiving; as of noon, not a drop has fallen. But Tomorrow? ➡️ But tomorrow? It doesn’t look so great. Riding is good; but the forecast predicts wind gusts up to 30 mph! I’m not sure I want to fight that; and maybe I’ll skip the ride tomorrow. If I do ride, it might be better to make it short; and ride laps around the park. There’s a 30% chance of showers and T-storms, too; so it would be a good idea to stay close to home. When a storm moves in, it can happen fast; and a distant grumble of thunder can change to close lightning in no time! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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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