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Frozen

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food /

Frozen 🥶 Nobody likes to get frozen. So hand warmers come in handy during frigid weather. If the rest of me is chilled through, at least I can keep my fingers warm. But what do I do in this hot weather?  A number of sources that I’ve read say, get cool fluid if possible. Cool liquids are absorbed more easily by the body; but when it’s been hot for weeks, my cold tap produces only warm water! Last Thursday, I though of something else that I had read: to freeze your electrolyte drink the night before a ride. I tried it; and it did keep my drink cooler for a while. I think I’ll keep on doing it; that is, if there’s room in the freezer. Last night there wasn’t! Different Kind of Ride 🐌 I did a different kind of ride today. Instead of putting in long miles on the road bike, I did a shorter ride on the hybrid. There was a 50% chance of rain, so I wanted to take along the poncho; and I also wanted to stop at the ATM. I thought the hybrid was better for that, because I could use the trunk. So there I was, with Camel-Bak and a bike trunk. I did consider shooting for 25 miles; but on the hybrid I’m slower, because it’s heavier than the road bike. On top of that, I didn’t feel like hurrying today; and I became concerned that I would run short of water if I pushed for 25 miles. I have no handlebar bag for the hybrid, and I had to stop and dismount every time I wanted a bite to eat. That’s definitely a different kind of ride! On top of all that, it was getting very hot. It was already about 84 degrees when I set out around 7:30 am; and of course the temperature kept climbing. So I decided to leave the ride early. Now — where’s those T-storms they were talking about?   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 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Success!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Success 👍 Today’s trip to the salvage store was a success; at least, as far as the weather goes. But no trailer this time; I’m still trying to use up the canned stuff that I already have. On the way to the store, I had my eye on a big, dark cloud towards the South. The forecast I checked predicted rain and T-storms from late morning; and I hoped to make it back home before things began to happen! And I did; in plenty of time. I didn’t start to hear thunder for more than two hours after I hit my doorstep. Shopping itself wasn’t quite as big a success. I didn’t find much that would make good ride food; and ride food is always high on my list! The Ride 🚲 For the ride, I used the hybrid, as usual for trips to the salvage store. Actually, the ride to and from the salvage store is a chance for me to get in some fairly easy pedaling; except, of course, for a vehicular access ramp that I need to climb. But that ascent requires only about 12 seconds in a trek that takes a half-hour or more. My technique for climbing is: pull with my arms (a steady pull; not a series of jerky tugs). This means I don’t have my full weight on the saddle; but I maintain contact with it. This lets me push harder on the pedals. I also engage my core, to help me hold a more-or-less straight line. As I pedaled home, I kept watching the sky. The clouds were building up; but at least I had a bit of a tailwind for a change.  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 Elementor #177471 July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Ready for More? July 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wait Til Morning

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Wait Til Morning 🌅 I might as well wait til morning to check any weather forecasts. Too often of late, the evening predictions of stormy weather don’t come to pass. Why cause myself unnecessary worry? Because of the heat (overnight lows around 80 degrees), I want to get going early. That often means less than an hour between rising and rolling; and that, in turn, means not much breakfast before I climb aboard the bike. I’d like to try these Sweet Loren’s Vegan Breakfast Biscuits; but I take along cut-up protein bars to eat on the bike. It takes my body a while to wake up enough for a real meal. Besides, if I eat a full meal; then wait several hours to ride; I won’t get started until about 10 am. That’s right when the heat starts to get bad; and also when T-storms are likely to start firing up. But if a forecast has shown rain and T-storms for the following morning, I’ll be on tenterhooks; expecting to wake up to a storm. So I say, wait til morning to worry about the weather. Eye on the Clouds ⛈️ All the same, I keep an eye on the clouds while I’m out riding. Even if the morning’s forecast says it won’t rain for several hours, I just can’t be sure; and I for sure can’t carry a barometer with me! This morning I had an eye on the clouds, all right. Off towards the South there was a big thunderhead; and I couldn’t know whether it were coming my way, or not. But as I rode, it seemed to collapse; and that was a relief. Speaking of clouds, it looks like the tropics are waking up again. Time to sort through my stash of canned goods; and fix up a box of emergency supplies. If a storm forces me to stay home several days, I’ll need them! 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 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Second Guessing

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Second Guessing 🤔 Were all familiar with second guessing; and I sure am doing it now. Not exactly what I like to see recorded in my training diary! This morning I had an appointment at 8:45, and I didn’t go for a ride beforehand. I didn’t want to arrive there all hot and sweaty; or, worse, be late because I forgot about the time. When I got back home after the appointment, it was already hot enough that I didn’t want to start a ride. (Geez, what a wimp I am!) The forecast for tomorrow looks like there might be rain and even T-storms by my usual ride time; and that’s triggered second guessing! I Should Have Ridden! 🚴🏿 So here I am; thinking, I should have ridden. Doesn’t matter whether it’s road bike or hybrid; just so I’m riding.  But at 6:45 pm, it’s too late to be going for a long or vigorous ride. They say, you should finish workouts at least one hour before trying to go to sleep. So, suppose I tried to go for a regular weekday ride right now? Allow at least 20 minutes to get ready: fill the Camel-Bak; prepare an electrolyte drink; get dressed; apply sunblock (it won’t be dark for an hour or so). Then, if i put in 19-20 miles, as I often do, I won’t be home until nine o’clock or later. That leaves almost no time between riding and hitting the sack. Gee, I should have ridden this morning, after all! 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 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Ready for More? July 24, 2024 Selective Blindness July 23, 2024 Downhearted? July 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Ready for More?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Ready for More? ➕ How do you know when you’re ready for more? When are you ready for more miles; more intensity; more speed? It doesn’t have to be cyclocross, either. Today, as I was approaching the end of my ride, I realized that I wanted to keep going. Does that mean that I’m ready to push for 25-mile rides, several times a week? Am I ready for more? If so, it seems that I’ve succeeded in my plan for July; namely, to extend my daily mileages. August Plan 🗓️ My August plan certainly includes keeping that cool rag handy! The eighth month of the year is often one of the hottest here; and having my neck cool helps a great deal. In fact, it’s quite spoiled me! The rest of my August plan is to reduce mileage; but work on greater intensity. My Garmin will help with that, because I can get a direct reading of my heart rate. Perceived exertion, in my humble opinion, isn’t necessarily the same. On a day when I feel tired at the start of a ride, my perceived effort level might be higher than it was the previous day, when I was better rested — even if my actual heart rate is the same or lower. Part of working on short, fast, hard bursts is easing up a LOT in between efforts. That lets your body recover for the next effort; and it’s something I’ve never been very good at doing. I think I’m too hung up on my overall average speed. I hope that my August plan won’t have to include dodging hurricanes. At present, the tropics are quiet; but that isn’t necessarily good news. There are four months left of official hurricane season; and the busiest part of the season is approaching. 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 Elementor #177205 July 24, 2024 Selective Blindness July 23, 2024 Downhearted? July 22, 2024 Forget the Split July 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Selective Blindness

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Selective Blindness? 🕶️ No offense meant to people who are blind; but I think we’re all subject to selective blindness now and then. If we don’t use something, we soon stop noticing whether it’s there or not. For those of us who live car-free, availability of parking spaces for motor vehicles is a non-issue. I, for one, hardly notice how many parking spaces are empty when I arrive at a store; and for people who use cars, the presence — or lack thereof — of bicycle racks probably doesn’t enter their minds. For example, this morning I rode my hybrid to the bank. When I got there, I found that the bike rack was gone. I asked one of the bank’s personnel what had happened to it; and they said that they’d never noticed that there was a bike rack. Selective blindness, I suppose; that person probably uses a car. Sun Blindness ☀️ Then there’s sun blindness, which I’m sure we all know. Today I kept finding myself heading into the sun; and sunglasses don’t do any good under such circumstances. That’s all the more worrisome when I have to ride near traffic. I’m lucky there wasn’t a lot of it this morning; but I bet that will change soon, when school starts. I might avoid sun blindness if I rode later in the day, when the sun isn’t so low in the sky; but when the weather is hot, riding early is important. We’re actually getting a break from the extreme heat this week; but cool it is not! I don’t expect cool weather for at least two months; probably longer. Speaking of heat, RAGBRAI is in progress. Last year’s RAGBRAI suffered a bad heat wave; and I hope this year’s event is cooler. 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 Selective Blindness July 23, 2024 Downhearted? July 22, 2024 Forget the Split July 21, 2024 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Downhearted?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Downhearted? 💙 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.” We all get downhearted sometimes. Our training isn’t going as well as we might expect; or constant bad weather gets us down. Let’s hope it isn’t blood pressure problems that sit heavily upon our shoulders! Then there’s downhearted as in, get my heart rate down as I ride. Lately, my road bike’s computer often tells me that I’ve spent much of a ride in my heart rate Zone 4; which is 85-94% of my maximum heart rate. Could I be spending too much ride time there; and do I actually need to pull back on the intensity? Slow Down Get Faster? ⏩ Slow down, get faster? That’s what I’ve read; and here is where keeping records of your rides pays off. As already mentioned, I often spend a considerable portion of my ride time at a quite intense effort level. Is that why I seem stuck at an average speed of 11-12 mph? Am I riding too hard, too much of the time; and not allowing myself adequate recovery time? This morning I worked to stay in my heart rate Zone 3; and for the most part, I succeeded. But guess what I noticed? In order to keep my heart rate down, I do better riding in a relatively hard gear, at a rather slow cadence. Today I did most of my ride on the big ring; and used the larger cogs. Actually, that’s how I usually ride, anyway; but this ride I needed to keep in Zone 3. So I made a special effort to pedal more slowly. If I had stayed on the small ring, I would have pedaled faster; with the result being a higher heart rate. Slow down, get faster? It’s worth a try. 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 Downhearted? July 22, 2024 Forget the Split July 21, 2024 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Pretend July 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Forget the Split

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Forget the Split ➡️ I decided to forget the split ride today, for two reasons. First, like the bicycle in the joke, I was two-tired to get up at 6:00 am for a trip to the supermarket. Second, the forecast I checked last night predicted rain and T-storms from about 10:00 am. It was already around 8:15 when I finally began my ride; and already there were a number of ominous-looking clouds in the sky. I wasn’t trying to push the pace; but I still wanted to try for more than 20 miles. All I could do was hope. When I stopped to eat a GU-Gel and reapply sunblock, I thought I heard faint thunder. That made me uneasy; and as I rode, I kept an eye on the sky. When I arrived home, I heard thunder just as I was heading in the door; and 15-20 mintues later, we had a full-blown T-storm in progress. I just made it! If I had gone to the supermarket, and then tried to put in 20 miles, I would have been caught in that storm; so it’s a good thing I decided to forget the split. Compensation 🏦 Happily, I got some compensation for the storm. It wasn’t entirely overcast while I was riding; but part of the time the sun was behind the clouds. That kept me from getting so hot. Since I got home, it’s been mostly overcast; and that keeps it cooler indoors. What a relief that is! Compensation isn’t always financial. Today on the bike, I ate a Gatorade Whey Protein Bar; and part of a Zone Perfect Bar (plus the “goo”). Frijoles would be great; but my bike-handling skills are far from the a ability to ride no-hands while spooning frijoles out of a pouch!   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 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Pretend July 19, 2024 Nature’s Fury July 18, 2024 Gearhead? July 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Split Ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Split Ride ⇉ I was considering doing a split ride tomorrow. First, a trip to the supermarket to get a few things that the salvage store didn’t have; then a longer ride with the road bike. I’ve got to watch the weather, though. The forecast is for showers and T-storms; and of course that is bad news. It’s no fun to be caught in a downpour so heay that you can hardly see; and if strong winds and lightning enter the picture, I don’t want to be out there! A split ride would allow me to get in some miles; and if the weather cooperates, I might make it to 25 or even 30. And wouldn’t a banana split afterwards be good! Meanwhile in the Kitchen 🍳 Meanwhile, in the kitchen there’s always something to be done; and I don’t mean Feed Zone or frying eggs. I’ve got to use up some of the rice and dried beans in my cupboard; and today’s result was Wild Saturday. Another addition to my SpokEasy recipe collection! The pleasure of inventing a new recipe, alas, is always dimmed by the chore of cleaning up the kitchen afterwards! Despite my uncertainties about tomorrow’s weather, I’m thinking about tomorrow’s ride: what to use for on-bike food; which electrolyte drink to take along; what time to ride for the best chance of avoiding storms; and so on. Meanwhile, in the kitchen there’s a pile of pots and dishes to be washed! 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 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Pretend July 19, 2024 Nature’s Fury July 18, 2024 Gearhead? July 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Pretend

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Pretend 🚵‍♀️ Since I don’t have any real hills, I have to pretend; and simulate them as best I can. One way to practice climbing is to ride in a hard gear; and that’s what I did today. I was on the road bike, which made this exercise somewhat trickier. Many a time I’ve ridden to the top of the levee via a vehicular access ramp; that’s my route home from the salvage store. I know how that climb feels on the hybrid; but on the road bike, I’m not sure that my memory isn’t tricking me. The’s the catch when you’ve got to pretend! Quasi-hills 🗻 Today I had to be content with some quasi-hills. Recently I began using a new pair of cycling shoes; and it helped that my left foot didn’t keep coming unclipped. How do you do quasi-hills? Keep shifting into harder and harder gears. When it feels really tough, stay there for a while. This morning I worked to do it one minute at a time for a total of six efforts. I didn’t worry about speed; just effort level. That’s all very well; but how long are the climbs on RAGBRAI; and how steep are they? Recently I met some people who are going to this year’s RAGBRAI; and when they return, I mean to ask them about this. As with so many things, though there’s a catch. The RAGBRAI route changes every year! 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 Pretend July 19, 2024 Nature’s Fury July 18, 2024 Gearhead? July 17, 2024 Sweet Spot Training July 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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