SpokEasy

SpokEasy

BACK ISSUES

Short Long Again

BACK ISSUES /

Short long again? Sounds puzzling, doesn\’t it? Yet again, my Sunday long ride turned out to be fairly short. After having had two short/easy days during the past week, and missing Friday altogether because I couldn\’t get awake in time, I thought that pushing for 50 miles, or even 40, would be a bit much. I settled for 37.5 miles There was quite a lot of overcast, something I don\’t mind as long as it doesn\’t rain. I don\’t get as hot when the sun isn\’t blazing down on me. It\’s also much easier on my eyes. As usual, I took along cut-up Clif Bars for ride food. This time I also took along some Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches, just to try something new. Their saltiness is good after the sweetness of Clif Bars. About 2.25 miles before the end, I tried shifting to an easy gear and doing some light spinning. I hoped it would keep me from getting post-ride orthostatic hypotension. Alas, it did not. For a nice lunch, post-ride or not, try this: broccoli, cut into small pieces (1 cup or so), lightly steamed; 1/2 of a 15 oz can mac n cheese; 3-4 black olives, sliced. Heat the mac n cheese; add freshly ground pepper (if desired); stir in the olives and broccoli. Enjoy! I hope next Sunday doesn\’t see a short long ride again. I really need to get moving.      

Short Long Again Read More »

Mercurial?

BACK ISSUES /

Mercury, of Roman mythology, is often depicted as having wings on his heels. Wouldn\’t we all like to be as speedy? Or, perhaps you could say, mercurial? Bicycle messengers probably sometimes wish for winged wheels. I have yet to speak with a bicycle courier, but I wouldn\’t be surprised if the job is quite stressful. It might seem like a wonderful occupation for anyone who enjoys riding a bicycle. Getting paid to do something you love! And without the stress of the training load; attention to diet; travel; and racing that are the lot of the pro cyclist. But how much traffic do bicycle couriers have to dodge? I have a long way to go before I become truly comfortably riding alongside heavy traffic. In fact, my discomfort with pedaling beside moving motor vehicles has me doing all I can to avoid it! For that reason alone, I\’m not sure that being a bicycle courier is for  me. Riding alongside traffic isn\’t the only requirement for these messengers. Ability to use GPS devices? I, for one, am clueless. Do I really have the necessary stamina? And, as so often happens, they want prior experience. It\’s the old Catch-22. You need experience to get the job; but how can you get the experience if you can\’t get a job? Bicycle couriers must also go about their tasks in all kinds of weather. They don\’t get to take a break in rain, cold, or heat. Winged wheels could take the courier up, up, and away. Maybe we need balloon couriers? Until we have them, I guess bicycle couriers will have to wish they could be mercurial.

Mercurial? Read More »

Bike Friday

BACK ISSUES /

Bike Friday sounds like what Robinson Crusoe\’s friend rides, doesn\’t it? Of course I\’ve heard of \”My good man Friday\”; but I\’ll have to read that book one of these days. So far I\’ve never gotten around to it. Actually, Bike Friday is a folding bicycle. If you have to fly a lot with your bike, this folding bike\’s  small (20-inch) wheels allow the bike to fit into a smaller case than a \”normal\” bicycle needs. According to The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling, a Bike Friday rides much like any other bicycle. It can be rigged for touring. It\’s even been spotted in Paris-Brest-Paris. If your living space is small, a folding bicycle should be easier to store. If you bicycle to work, wouldn\’t it be great to be able to fold your bicycle and carry it in with you? When you go grocery shopping, could you fold up the bike and stow it on the rack under the shopping cart? I can\’t guarantee any of that, but as we all love to say, TGIF!

Bike Friday Read More »

Arizona

BACK ISSUES /

Arizona When I hear “Arizona”, I usually think of the Grand Canyon and deserts; a region so hot and arid that rain evaporates by the time it’s halfway down to the ground. Yes, that happens. We saw it more than once on our Summer road trips, and it’s called virga. A big bicycle ride in Arizona sounds to me like pedaling along in blistering heat and skin-parching dryness. No doubt that’s why Tour de Tuscon is in November, when temperatures are likely to range between about 50 and 73. For me that’s a good temperature range for a long ride; but November in Arizona is still apt to be very dry. I’d want to have a 500-oz Camel-Bak. A 100-oz reservoir might not last too long. Unfortunately 500 oz of water would be too much weight on my back. It might be too unwieldy as well. But aid stations are every 7-12 miles, which is lucky; so I’d be able to refill my 100-oz Camel-Bak reservoir often. I’m sure I would need to refill it often! My brother lived in Phoenix, AZ for 9-10 years. Several months after he moved there, I went out to visit. It was late July/early August; very hot and dry. I was never so thirsty in my life! BTW, Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon. If you have the chance to visit Grand Canyon, DON’T PASS IT UP!!

Arizona Read More »

Speaking of Volcanoes…

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Speaking of Volcanoes… Why are we speaking of volcanoes? I always seem to be finding out about another neat ride. Want to ride around a volcano? Head for Mount Rainier! Recently I looked up RAMROD. That one isn’t for those accustomed to sea level, I’d guess. Nor for a poor climber!  The ride includes 10,000 feet of elevation gain; and tops out at well over 4000 feet. The roads used are steep; and the shoulders are unpaved. RAMROD is a century-and-a-half, plus a bit more. Last time I rode 100 miles in one day was July 2013. Going for 150-something in one day would really be pushing it. I’d need to start planning and training right this minute if I intended to participate in RAMROD next year! It’s not only the distance; it’s the climbing. As for the altitude of RAMROD, what can you do when you live at sea level, and can’t afford to go train at altitude? Maybe a hypoxic mask? This year’s lottery registration is closed (sounds like RAGBRAI, right?) I was a bit late in dredging up a vague memory of having read about RAMROD some time ago. While we’re speaking of volcanoes, are there similar events at other such mountains? Cycle Vesuvius? Or Shasta? 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 © 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 INTERPRETER

Speaking of Volcanoes… Read More »

Thanks to Tambora

BACK ISSUES /

Perhaps it\’s thanks to Tambora that we have the bicycles that we do. The word \”volcano\” conjures up images of death and destruction. We see pics in the news media of a mountain spewing out huge clouds of ash, emitting streams of molten lava; even burying entire cities. Just look at Pompeii. People who live near a volcano probably have an uneasy truce with the mountain. Scientists now know that a volcano that\’s been inactive for ages can wake up again. The residents would need to be prepared to evacuate should that occur. So then, is there anything good about volcanoes? Actually, there is. One reason for living close to a volcano is that volcanic soil is very fertile, and good for growing crops. Cyclists can thank the 1815 eruption of Indonesia\’s Tambora for their \”rides\”. As a result of all the ash and aerosols that Tambora blasted high into the atmosphere, there was global cooling. Widespread crop failure and famine resulted. In times such as that, it was difficult to keep a horse. A horse needed to be fed, and oats were hard to get. Enter Baron Karl von Drais. His invention is the forerunner of the modern bicycle. Using a \”dandy horse\” for transportation meant a horse didn\’t need to be fed and stabled. It was a lot faster than walking, but riders unfortunately wore out the soles of their boots quite quickly. Over time the Draisine evolved into the bicycle that we know today. So let\’s give our proper thanks to Tambora. If it hadn\’t been for Tambora — oh, sad to think of —  might we not have bicycles?    

Thanks to Tambora Read More »

What’s In a Name?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

What\’s in a name? How do people and places acquire names, or nicknames? One of the signs of a true cyclist, they say, is that you name your bicycles. If that really is the case, count me in! I named the tricycle Valkyrie. That came about one morning when I\’d had the trike about 10 days. I was riding around the local park before going to work, pedaling as fast as I could; and a certain number by Richard Wagner popped into my head, out of nowhere. I had been considering names for the trike, and in that moment I had it: Valkyrie! The hybrid wound up with the name of Katy. Not long after I got it a co-worker, who is originally from Missouri, was telling me about the Katy Trail. It sounded like a lot of fun, and still does. As the Katy is a Rails-to-Trails ride, it\’s nearly flat, which would suit me just fine. For a while I was considering doing the Katy Trail Ride, and was thus inspired to name my hybrid bike Katy. As time went on, I began to realize that I could actually spend quite a lot of money on such a trip. I\’d have to find a way to get me and my bicycle to Missouri and back. I\’d need to borrow, rent, or buy a sleeping bag and tent. I decided I\’d rather put my dollars on a road bike, and have never regretted it; although I still would like to ride the Katy Trail some day. But the poor road bike got shortchanged when it comes to naming. It\’s a Scott, so I call it … Scottie. Now we know what\’s in a name; at least, where my bicycles are concerned.

What’s In a Name? Read More »

The Mental Edge

BACK ISSUES /

Don\’t go over the mental edge! In its own way, that would be as bad as going over the edge of a cliff! At the same time, the mental edge has been frequently touted as supremely important; as being as much as 90% of racing, long rides, etcetera. Sure, the physical aspect of training is still important. In fact, doing the training is a vital aspect of that mental edge that we\’re trying to attain. With adequate physical training we can develop the confidence that \”I can do it\”. Some people might call it \”mind over matter\”. To some degree that\’s true. During a long ride it can reach the point where it seems like sheer willpower is all that keeps those weary legs turning the cranks. On the other hand, during training, I find that the mind can push matter only so far before matter shoves back in no uncertain terms. Don\’t take it to such an extent that you develop an overuse injury, or come to dread riding because you\’ve burned  out. Here is how the pros approach it. Most of us are not, and never will be, pro cyclists; but that doesn\’t mean we can\’t learn from them.  

The Mental Edge Read More »

Lazy Sunday

BACK ISSUES /

It\’s been a lazy Sunday, in a way. I finally decided to skip the ride today. I\’ve felt persistently tired; I think it\’s at least in part because my sinuses are acting up. My head feels stuffy. I figured I needed a rest. It\’s rather a pity. Last night the forecast I checked was for very light winds, only 2-5 mph. That\’s a rarity, and it\’s much more pleasurable to ride when I don\’t have to work against a headwind. But now, at 1 pm, the wind is up to 10 mph and it\’s 90 degrees. It also seems to be clouding up. So I didn\’t ride, but that gave me the chance to do some things that I usually don\’t do, such as some much-needed cleaning (normally I\’m quite a slob). I worked on blog posts, too. Sometimes that\’s pretty tough work, which sends lazy Sunday out the window. It\’s now Grand Tour season, so I decided to write some posts about various bicycle events; not only the Grand Tours, but others, such as the Hotter\’N Hell 100. The trick is not to schedule them so that they come up day after day. I\’d rather spread them out a bit; one or two a week, then the rest of the time I can blog about other stuff. But at the moment I need to get un-lazy and go wash the dishes.    

Lazy Sunday Read More »

The Tool Kit

BACK ISSUES /

FiberFix Spoke is a wise addition to the tool kit if you\’ve got your sights set on long-distance tours; even if you\’ll have a SAG wagon on hand. Especially when you\’re planning a long, self-supported bicycle tour, there are things you\’d need to consider that you probably don\’t think about otherwise. Sure, we\’ll carry a spare tube and/or patch kit, plus a few basic  tools, on our long weekend rides. Such jaunts, however, are likely to be only a few hours long. If we have a problem that we can\’t fix by the road, we\’re probably close enough to home to call somebody who can come get us. If a tour of several weeks and mega-miles is the aim, we\’ll have to plan for a little more. Pack several spare tubes rather than one, for example. Even at least one spare tire! Don\’t forget to use tire liners. I\’ll bet they\’ve spared me many a flat. But suppose a wheel problem goes way beyond a flat tire? What if a spoke breaks? FiberFix can hold you over until you can get to a bike shop. I\’ve never had the need to try FiberFix, but it\’s supposed to be very good. If I ever need to build up the tool kit for a big tour, I must be sure to get one.  

The Tool Kit Read More »