The Allen Sports Bike Rack carries up to four bicycles. You and your friends can go to rides far from home. Try out some Rails to Trails paths. Or maybe RAGBRAI! This rack is constructed of sturdy steel; and after installation, can fold out of the way if necessary. I almost wish I weren\’t a non-driver. Then I could load up my bicycle and head out for an adventure!

It\’s very easy to incline towards pessimism these days. The news is full of reports about disasters; violent crime; and, of course, COVID-19. That last has me wondering whether we\’ll be back to work-from-home in a few months; but actually, I wouldn\’t mind that. It was wonderful when I didn\’t have to rush off to work after my morning ride! I\’ve been weighed down with pessimism over the weather. Forecast after forecast predicts possible showers and T-storms; and the constant worry about whether I\’ll get to ride is tiresome. Storms can move fast; and getting caught in torrential rain with lighting isn\’t fun. At least we in New Orleans can be glad that Elsa let us alone; but hurricane season has a long way to go yet! When pessimism starts to be too much, a good bicycle ride can help — provided, of course, the weather cooperates! Even if it doesn\’t, the ride still produces endorphins; and that\’s always good. One of my major concerns about riding in the rain is: reduced visibility. I\’m not sure that anti-fog products on my lenses would help; and the faster I go, of course, the harder it is to see where I\’m riding. Wind makes visibility even more of a problem; and if I want to wear a poncho in the hopes of staying halfway dry, forget it! A wind-whipped poncho makes bike control more difficult; and lets the rain get me, anyway. That\’s enough on the subject. I\’m getting pessimistic just thinking about it! It looks like Sunday will be OK for riding; and, as I\’m gunning for 55 miles, I\’ll need good weather!

I have to ease up sometimes, especially when the day before was a hard workout. Thus today was recovery day. My legs needed the chance to recover from the “force” intervals I did yesterday! The wind was calm, and that was a big help. I decided to head for the park, so I wouldn’t have to climb the access ramp to the top of the levee. For that matter, riding along that path makes me slightly nervous at present. The grass alongside the path has become quite tall; and now that I’ve seen a few snakes while out riding, I’m concerned about the possibility of a literal snake in the grass! I did a very short morning ride; less than 5 miles. For recovery rides, you’re supposed to stay in heart rate Zone 1; but my new chest strap’s sensor still isn’t picking up anything. That meant that I had to guess; and keeping it slow and easy was the best that I could do. Incidentally, is a recovery drink in order on recovery day; or should I limit the recovery drink to post-force-workout and post-long-ride? Protein powder isn’t the cheapest stuff around, after all! Then I rode to work, again keeping the pace slow and easy. I had to remember, \”ease up!\” I parked my bike; and then I had to go to physical therapy (for a compression problem in my neck) before I actually went to work. “PT” can get a bit strenuous, so an ease up ride was a good idea in that respect, too. Tomorrow it’s back to pace pushing; and I can begin planning my ride food for Sunday. I hope the weather cooperates. I\’ve been quite lucky; but sometime that luck will end.

I\’m kicking back today! I love it when I get a three-day weekend. It means a day when I can sleep a few hours later; and go for a bicycle ride if I want to; and I don\’t have to get up early to run errands. Sure, I could go grocery shopping later in the day, but I like to get it done before there\’s much traffic; and, during Summer, before the heat builds up. Then, too, when I shop at the salvage store, I want to get there early. I suspect that the good stuff goes fast. At 9 am, it looked like a good time to go riding. The sun was out; and the wind was calm. True, it was 82 degrees; but it\’s usually 78-80 degrees at 5 am, anyway. \’Tis the season! Before 10 am it had become overcast; and in fact the chances of rain were high. I had thought of riding the hybrid to the drug store; but I decided to stick with kicking back, and stay indoors and dry. I have plenty that I can do at home! But no cooking today. The freezer is crammed with enough stuff for the next two weeks: Poppin\’ Pete; the quinoa version of Leapin\’ Leo; and more! Not to mention all the cheese cubes; bags of frozen blueberries and veggies; and the ice-cube trays. Speaking of kicking back, isn\’t today the first rest day for the Tour de France? But for those guys, the \”rest\” days don\’t mean lounging around. They\’re still doing a very easy ride; or perhaps spinning in a trainer. I\’m glad I can take it easy when I do get a holiday! I\’ve still got an uneasy eye on Elsa. It appears that Louisiana is in the clear — but it bears repeating: one never knows!

The Alex and Ani Bracelet lets you show the spirit of the Pan-Mass Challenge; and contribute to a good cause as well. Twenty percent of the purchase price for each bracelet sold goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This bracelet is adjustable; fits most wrists. Made in the USA. Pan-Mass Challenge takes place in August, so it sounds like a hot ride. Or is Massachusetts a lot cooler than \”Swampeast\” Louisiana?