SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

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

Rein in the Rain

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Rein in the Rain ?️ I wish there were a way to rein in the rain. Even with a poncho, riding in the rain still gets me pretty wet. It’s not only the getting wet; if the weather is at all cool, wet leg warmers feel like no leg warmers. My poncho’s sleeves aren’t full length; and my jacket sleeves get wet from the elbow down. And, if it’s warm weather, a poncho feels smothery! Thank goodness there was someone to rein in the rain as I rode to the salvage store this morning. But the sky was gray; and as I rode, I began to hear thunder. That made me uneasy; especially as it seemed to be getting closer! Backtracking ? The thunder continued to grumble as I waited for the store to open; and I heard more thunder as I shopped. All I could do was to hope that it would pass before I left the store.  I found Alani bars that I can use as ride food; but not the medium cheddar cheese that I wanted. I would have liked to find additional ride food; but maybe next Saturday I’ll be luckier. When it came time for backtracking to home, the shower had stopped; but all the same I got into the poncho. It’s a good thing I did! Nobody did anything to rein in the rain during this leg of my trip; and there were some bands of heavy precipitation. I’m glad they didn’t last long; and I’m glad I’m not backtracking right now! Since I got home, the forecast is saying there’s the possibility of severe T-storms. Now I’ve got one ear cocked for the severe weather alert on my cell phone. Sometimes these predictions don’t come true; but sometimes they do!   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 ✍? Rein in the Rain December 28, 2024 70K! December 27, 2024 Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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70K!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

70K! ? Today I crossed the 70K (i.e. 70000-mile) finish line! My ambition was to meet that goal by the end of this year; and I’ve succeeded, with a few days to spare!  But nobody handed me a trophy. ? I decided to celebrate meeting 70K miles with Chinese take-out for lunch. My fortune cookie said something about, take a casual walk on Sunday, to clear my mind. Maybe I will go for a walk on Sunday. I want to ride to the salvage store tomorrow; but the next day I think I’ll skip riding. Oh, horrors! Skip riding? Yep, you read that right. I think I actually need a day off. I’ve been riding so much, trying to meet the 70K goal, that I probably haven’t let myself have enough rest. For a fact, my legs felt tired today; and sometimes you do need to listen to your body. The Last Miles ? What are my thoughts on the last miles of the 70000? First of all, I was worried about the weather. The forecast had mentioned the possibility of T-storms; never good news when I’m planning a ride. I heard a few brief showers as I was preparing to ride; and decided to use the hybrid and wear a poncho. And then the rain stopped! I didn’t quite dare take off the poncho, lest it start to rain again; and I got tremendously sweaty under that plastic!  I was just about to get on the levee bike path when I heard thunder; and that made me change my mind and go ride around the park. I didn’t want to be on top of the levee if a T-storm were about to break out. And then that didn’t happen, either, except for one grumble of thunder some 20 minutes after the first one. After four laps around the park, I couldn’t bear the thought of doing more laps; and headed for the levee. There was quite a stiff breeze up there; and I’m glad it was behind me most of the way back home. I decided to try Sweet Loren’s Breakfast Biscuits as ride food. I found that they don’t offer the sustenance I want and need for ride food; and it’s a good thing I also brought along an Alani bar and a few GU-Gels. The last miles seemed to take forever. I guess I was watching the mileage meter too much, in addition to getting tired. But now I can get back to just riding for fun! 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 ✍? 70K! December 27, 2024 Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sparring?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Sparring? ? Boxing Day sounds like sparring — oh, there I go again, thinking outside of the box. Sorry, bad pun. But if the weather is really foul where you live, you might want to think outside of the box and ride inside. As for this being Boxing Day, I’ve got a number of boxes that I need to get rid of. That’s the problem with online shopping. Now that Christmas is past, I’m working to get my palate back under control. I’m forever sparring with my sweet tooth! And, of course, I’m working at putting in the miles on the bike. I may as well finish the December Winter Wheelers with a strong showing. The Winter Wheelers Challenge actually lasts through January 2025; but soon I think I’ll take a day off from riding. We all need one now and then; and I haven’t taken one for a long time. After all, I’ve been working towards hitting 70K miles by the end of this year. Within Sight! ? That goal is now well within sight. For a couple of days I didn’t ride all that much; but today I knocked out 22 miles. I’ve got only 18 miles and a bit to go! I hope the weather cooperates tomorrow. If only CTRL Protein Meal Bars would let me “ctrl” (aka control) the weather! But they’ll help you to keep the bonk under control. These bars are made of wholesome ingredients; and each one supplies 15 grams of protein. Three flavors available: Peanut Butter S’mores (shown at left); Magic Charms; and Choc Chip Cookie Dough. A good addition to your “repertoire” of bars for on-bike eating! 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 ✍? Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Merry Christmas 2024!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024! ? Merry Christmas 2024! Can you believe it’s here already? Christmas and cookies go together; so maybe you’d like to fuel your Yuletide ride with Trubar Cookie Dough bars. And enjoy a mug of hot chocolate afterwards.  Not that it’s cold enough here for hot drinks. At 6:00 am it was close to 60 degrees! I decided to go ride in the park, so I’d be fairly close to home in case in began to rain. To my surprise, there weren’t any kids on their new bikes there. I remember one year when there were quite a few of them, despite misty, drizzly, chilly conditions. I think I might have been using the tricycle then; and that’s a long time ago. But ever since, I expect youngsters trying out their rides in the park on December 25! 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 ✍? Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Momentum December 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sugar Spikes

BACK ISSUES, Food /

Sugar Spikes ? Beware those sugar spikes, whether it’s a festive season like Christmas; or some other time of year. By ever so many accounts, eating sugary foods causes a quick surge of energy; but those spikes don’t last long. Then, your energy level crashes. That’s a good reason not to eat candy bars on the bike! I’ve had some sugar “spikes” today! Since I’ll be out visiting tomorrow, I had my own “Christmas” feast today; and that included a good dose of cookies! It’s better to do that at home, I think. And a day of blowing my diet sometimes is what I seem to need to get back on track. After a day of munching cookies and candy, I’m ready to get back to work at minimizing the sweets. Ride It Off? ? Whether you get noticeable sugar spikes or not, you sure get calories from goodies. I hope I do enough to ride it off! This morning I put in 20.6 miles; and part of me wants to go out now and ride a few more miles to help work off what I’ve eaten. But it’s been clouding up since late morning; and I’m not in the mood to get rained on. I hope I can do a short ride tomorrow morning, so that I can rev up my metabolism a bit. Gotta be prepared for any sugar spikes! 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 ✍? Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Momentum December 22, 2024 I Prefer Overcast December 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Gray Christmas

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Gray Christmas ?? It looks like we’ll have a gray Christmas. The forecast is for rain, and possibly even T-storms!  I guess rain shouldn’t be surprising, as it’s been getting warmer again. And, thank goodness, the hour-by-hour forecast doesn’t show rain before early afternoon on the 25th. I should be able to go for a ride in the morning. So maybe a gray Christmas won’t be all bad. I just hope Santa beats the downpour back to the North Pole! The Feast ? ? ? What shall I have for the feast? My own personal feast, that is; and I plan to do that tomorrow. Not “athlete” food, though; but of course I’ll have on-bike food during my morning ride. Maybe a big stir-fry? I’ve got bok choy that I need to use up; and I can open a can of chicken and include chicken in the stir-fry. Or stir-fried vegetables alongside the chicken and some cranberry sauce? I think I’ll have the feast right after my ride; and that means doing the chopping tonight. Then it will all be ready; and I won’t be doing all that prep work when I’m tired from the miles — I’m planning on 20-22 miles tomorrow! This much is sure: I’ll have plenty of calories to burn off after all the food consumed tomorrow and the next day. I hope the predicted rain waits for afternoons! 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 ✍? Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Momentum December 22, 2024 I Prefer Overcast December 21, 2024 This Is Friday? December 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Momentum

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Momentum ?? Whether on a swing or a bicycle, you’ve got to get the momentum going. Maybe these Whole Mayocoba Beans will give you the energy you need for it! I’m working to keep the momentum going for my bicycle rides. Winter Wheelers is still in progress; and my end-of-year mileage goal is within sight. Just under 78 miles to go; or slightly less than nine miles per day. And Christmas won’t be Christmas without a ride! 2025 ? It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost here; and I hope I can keep the cycling momentum going into the New Year. The Cyclist’s Training Diary is one way to track your ride data; but I use a plain old spiral notebook. Whichever course you take, it’s good to have it all written down in one place.  I need to get busy looking for a way to get to Iowa if I hope to do RAGBRAI 2025. And I need to start switching my rides from merely piling up the miles to doing some real intensity work once or twice a week. I think you can say that I’ve done my base mileage; and that’s what you need as the foundation for working to develop better force and speed. I’ll ride the hybrid tomorrow. I want to hit the supermarket; and besides, my left shoe keeps coming unclipped by itself as I ride the road bike. Worn cleat, I guess. Always something! 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 ✍? Momentum December 22, 2024 I Prefer Overcast December 21, 2024 This Is Friday? December 20, 2024 Head Start December 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Prefer Overcast

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

I Prefer Overcast ☁︎ I prefer overcast to the conditions I got today! Because of the season, the sun is lower in the sky; and while I was riding home from the salvage store, it was shining directly in my eyes much of the way. Not even the best sunglasses can help with that! On top of the sunlight, the cold wind made my eyes sting and water; and the combination meant that I was almost riding blind. I had a strong headwind, too. That meant a lot of rapid pedaling in my lowest gear; and I wonder what that did to my heart rate. The wind has died down a good bit; and it shouldn’t be as bad tomorrow. We’ll have another clear day, though — with the glaring sunshine in my eyes. I prefer overcast! Christmas Week ? It’s hard to believe that Christmas week begins tomorrow. Where did 2024 go? If you still have presents to wrap, this Road Bike Gift Wrap makes for colorful gift-giving! Unless something comes up at the last moment, I’m done wrapping and shipping gifts; and my mind is on finishing up my cycling year with a strong showing. Ten more days left to put in miles; and I’d better try to get in a bit extra tomorrow.  A friend who moved away a year or so ago, will be visiting in town; and we’re going to get together at a coffee shop Monday. That might mean doing a shorter ride; or going out much earlier than usual. I’ll want to get in some miles, after all. By Tuesday night the weather might turn rainy; and there’s a chance for rain on Christmas Day — even T-storms! I hope to get in a few miles even on Christmas; but I’m going to visit old friends of the family. Depending on what time my ride will arrive, there might not be time for much riding. Christmas week can be a busy time! I guess Santa will be busy handing out kids’ bikes. That means that the bicycle path in the park will be plenty busy on Wednesday 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! 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 ✍? I Prefer Overcast December 21, 2024 This Is Friday? December 20, 2024 Head Start December 19, 2024 Spares December 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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This Is Friday?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

This Is Friday? ? This is Friday? And no, I’m not talking about frying an egg. This morning I went to Whole Foods; something I usually don’t do during the week. As a result, I keep thinking that today is Saturday! But I found a new kind of bar to try; and despite forgetting to bring along my shopping list, I remembered everything but peanut butter. Now I have to keep reminding myself that this is Friday, so I don’t forget to go to the salvage store tomorrow. It’ll be a chilly ride; the forecast says is will drop below 40 degrees tonight! But after all, it’s December. Double Dose ? So I might want a mug of hot chocolate when I get back from the store. It’s going to be windy as well as cold; and a Northeast wind, wouldn’t you know. That means the only-too-usual headwind on the way home! I’m glad the wind wasn’t too bad today. I got a double dose of riding — two laps around the park added to my trip to Whole Foods was under eleven miles; so after I got home, I went out on the road bike and did 12.6 more. I needed that double dose to fill in my mileage! 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 ✍? This Is Friday? December 20, 2024 Head Start December 19, 2024 Spares December 18, 2024 Mistical Mornings? December 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Head Start

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Head Start ? I’ve gotten a head start on Christmas 2025; and I do mean I jumped the gun big time. Today I bought greeting cards for next year! They would have cost less if I had waited to buy them until December 26; but I figured there wouldn’t be much left by then. And now that I have the cards, I don’t need to worry about finding them in the stores when Christmas rolls around next year. It’s often good to get a head start on things. It sure beats frenzied, last-minute preparations! Especially for major undertakings, when a snowball effect is common. You know how each additional thing that you think of, makes you think of at least one further thing!  Like a helmet cover to add to your rain gear. Sometimes I wish I  had one; but then I remember, I use a helmet-mounted headlight. I’m afraid the heat of the light would melt the helmet cover! Winding up the Year ? It’s time to be winding up the year. I’ve recorded my rides regularly, as I’ve done almost since the very start. With only 12 more days left of 2024, I’ll want to get in some good miles. It won’t give me a head start on 2025, though. How about tomorrow? I’m thinking of using the hybrid to ride laps around the park, so I can make a trip to Whole Foods. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, as they say, and do my ride on a bicycle that lets me carry loads. If I do a ride on the road bike first, I might get home and then decide to stay put! There’s a chance of rain and even T-storms on Christmas Day! I hope that doesn’t persist too long. I don’t want to be winding up the year with a dismal mileage showing. 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 ✍? Head Start December 19, 2024 Spares December 18, 2024 Mistical Mornings? December 17, 2024 Spring in December? December 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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