BACK ISSUES Archives - Page 281 of 288

Working\’ Up a Storm

I\’m workin\’ up a storm! A web site is a constant work in progress, as I quickly realized. It\’s sort of like being a cyclist: there\’s always something to work on. There\’s never an \”I have arrived!\” moment. Well, except the finish line of a cycling event. I\’m learning how to create Sliders, using Layers to add and position pics and texts. Creating Buttons is another facet of it. I still have to figure out how to change font style within a Layer, and how to double-check that those Buttons will actually work. Several times within the last half-week, I\’ve gotten on the phone with a service called WP Live. It lets me get a screen share session, and I can have someone talk me through what to do. The person at WP Live uses some kind of pointer to show me where I need to go on my own screen. Then, once off the phone, I\’ll keep doing more of it before I can forget how! I have to keep workin\’ up a storm on my own. Unfortunately I can\’t keep up WP Live indefinitely. It simply costs too much. Having had it for a few months, however, has been invaluable! I certainly can recommend it.

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More Tinkering

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Yet more tinkering; it never ends. I\’m working on my web site\’s appearance again, trying to make it more attractive. Please bear with me. The \”My Story\” page doesn\’t look like the Slider I created, and I haven\’t completed the other Sliders. This is a very short blog, because I need to go rest my eyes. I had an ophthalmology exam this morning, and those dilating drops take hours to fully wear off! Tomorrow, I can do some more tinkering.

Music To Dress By

BACK ISSUES / CAL

I never thought of music to dress by; and my, what trouble it used to take to get dressed! We cyclists kitting up for a ride have it easy! It\’s interesting to see what they wore back then, such as this Elizabethan lady. The music, in case you\’re curious, is J.S. Bach\’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4. In a way, the music is an odd choice. The Elizabethan period was 1558-1603. Bach wasn\’t even born until 1685! Cute cat, by the way. Perhaps you\’re wondering what Bach has to do with cycling. Just this: it\’s a pity there weren\’t bicycles yet in his day. The story is told of how Bach walked 200 miles to attend an organ performance by Buxtehude! If Bach could have had a bicycle, the journey would have been so much faster and easier! Fast-forward to the Edwardian era. They wore a lot of layers then, too; but I suspect that only the upper classes could afford to dress like that. The music, I guessed, was Debussy\’s La Mer. I got the Debussy part right. The music is 2. Módére. So, if I were to choose music to dress by (for a video of a cyclist kitting up), what would I choose? There are so very many options! Something sprightly, I would think. Although I\’ve been a classical music fan since early childhood, I like a few Joplin rags now and then. Maybe Maple Leaf Rag would be good. Would something relaxing be better, so you aren\’t tired out even before you can get out of the front door? Or something like the fourth part of William Tell Overture (think Lone Ranger!) to get you pumped up? Or maybe forget about music for a minute, and just get dressed!

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Catch?

BACK ISSUES / CAL

What am I trying to catch? My fondest cycling dream? We\’ve all had the experience of waking up from a dream and thinking: WHAT made me dream THAT? This morning I fell asleep after my alarm clock went off. When that happens, it\’s usually when I do have any dreams that I remember. And this one was weird. First I was dreaming that I had walked over to the local Walgreen\’s. The store\’s entrance kept moving itself, so it was very hard to even get inside. When I at last did \”catch\” that entrance, the store\’s name had changed to something else; I don\’t remember exactly what. Then I wanted to get a pint of my favorite ice cream. The carton I picked up, although still sealed, was obviously at least three-quarters empty. I was very disappointed at having to take Neapolitan over Cherry Garcia. Mixed in with all that was a sore lower back. I had to be very careful to keep it straight, or it would feel strained. Even in my dreams I can overdo something; in this case back extension exercises. It was a relief to wake up from that, and have my back be all right, especially as I had planned to shoot for 50 miles today (I did 51). And to go to Walgreen\’s and be able to get that Cherry Garcia ice cream. That dream was one I would have liked to get past a dream catcher!

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Ride Notes

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Now for some ride notes: I did fifty-one miles today! As all too often happens, I had a headwind on the way back home; and most of the time I was on the small ring, using a low gear and rapid cadence. Today the wind wasn\’t quite as strong as it was last Sunday: 9 mph instead of 11. Maybe that\’s why I felt stronger. I certainly averaged more than three quarters of a mile per hour faster? Thus it seems to bode well for Tour de Cure. Naturally I hope for a day with no wind; and I hope even more for a day without rain. The various routes for the local event have finally been posted. It looks like the 60-mile one (it\’s posted as 60 miles, not 63) is very similar to my usual Sunday long ride. It goes maybe 5 miles beyond my usual turnaround point; but I\’m sure I can manage an extra 9-10 miles. As a general rule, during these weekly long rides I have a bite to eat every 15 minutes. On the way back home today, at about 38-39 miles, I began to feel really weary. What a temptation that was to slow down and take it easy! I decided I might be running low on fuel; so I ate three or four bites. Sure enough, very soon I began to feel better. End of ride notes. That\’s why keeping yourself fueled during long rides is so important. Incidentally, I\’d better go eat lunch; then wash my cycling clothes.

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Long Ride Prep Time

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Long Ride Prep Time So many roads; so little time! It’s long ride prep time: Saturday evening, and time to start getting things ready tomorrow! Long ride prep time means I’ve put my electrolyte drink in the fridge to chill, and prepared my recovery drink. I’ve chosen my ride food for tomorrow, and plan to try a new one: pitted dates! As to the Camel-Bak, I like to wait until just before the ride to fill the reservoir, in case it should leak. I also pack a cable lock in the Camel-Bak’s pocket, in case I have to make a stop at a store. The weather forecast looks good. It’s gotten warmer again, but it will be clear, and the wind not too bad. Nine mph is still more than I really like, though! When I look at a pic that shows a view like the one above, I wish I had such a route to ride. I could use some occasional variation from the MRT. The catch is, is this route hilly? This sure looks like a downslope; and if what goes up must come down, then the road that goes down must surely go back up!

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GEORGIA on My Mind?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Georgia on My Mind? 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.” Why would Georgia be on my mind? A while back, I began using a program called Google Analytics, abbreviated as GA. When I see that, however, the first thing I think of is the postal code for the state of Georgia. We visited Georgia when I was about 12 or 13. I know we were at Stone Mountain. It’s so long ago that I remember very little of it; only that we were there. When I was in high school, there was always a radio blaring on the school bus. That must be where I heard a song that had something in it about Georgia on My Mind. In fact, those words are the only thing I can remember of the song. The reception for the radio on that bus apparently wasn’t the best, because it usually was hard to understand the lyrics of any song. Not to mention that there was also the constant talking of a busload of kids. But how about bicycle rides in Georgia? I’ve heard of the Six Gap Ride. That’s beyond my capabilities, for sure! I don’t even have a mountain bike. Even that shorter Three Gap is more than I can mange, I would guess. Trying to train for such a ride when I live in flat country would mean going out and pushing hard in a very hard gear, working up to doing it for … who knows how long? Ten minutes? Twenty?? Oh, my aching legs! 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 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Apparition?

BACK ISSUES / CAL

A strange apparition is normal, I guess, when you ride in the dark almost every morning. Yesterday morning on the return leg of my ride, I noticed something in the sky, ahead and off to my left. At first I thought, \”airplane\”; but all I saw were white lights. There didn\’t seem to be the blinking red and green lights that all airplanes have. Whatever it was didn\’t seem to be moving, either. It looked like it had more lights than an airplane would; and the lights seemed to form an inverted crescent. I finally figured it was probably some kind of drone. I\’ve seen people \”flying\” drones, and drones can do some amazing things. They can hover, I believe, and there\’s talk of using drones to deliver packages! I\’m sure they\’ll think of other uses for drones. For instance, will Meals on Wheels become Meals on Drones? Could that whatever-it-was apparition have been … a UFO? Well, technically, yes. It was flying (or hovering), and I didn\’t know what it was. UFOs are an intriguing subject; but when it comes to \”flying saucers\”, I admit that I fall into the skeptics\’ camp. As usual, I had to watch where I was riding, so I couldn\’t observe it too closely. After maybe five minutes I lost sight of it. Who knows, though. Maybe some time I\’ll see it again.

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Monkey Business?

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Does monkey business do any good? Maybe it does. I suspect that we all have cycling moments when we hope that nobody but these three are around. From earliest childhood I was taught that there are certain words that One. Does. Not. Say!! If I did say them in the heat of a near-crash or some other cycling bad moment, I hope that Hear No Evil were the only person nearby. I\’d be ashamed if anyone heard me say such things. Long ago I made up my mind not to be embarrassed by the occasional tumble. If it did embarrass me to go down, I\’d want nobody around, unless it were See No Evil. Maybe it\’s like the old query: If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to hear it; does it make a sound? Similarly, if nobody sees me fall, did I fall down? Even if Hear No Evil and See No Evil did hear and see, and they tell Speak No Evil, it ends with him, right? Because he doesn\’t talk. So maybe monkey business isn\’t all bad.

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Upper Crust 2

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Upper crust 2! To continue yesterday\’s blog: I seem to always be looking for cycling tips. Some articles are very long, too! That\’s why I\’ve split this one up. Item #18: Keeping to a straight line while looking for bicycles/traffic coming from behind is a skill that, for me, still needs a lot of honing. Somehow it\’s easier on the hybrid. Huh? What\’s that, Item #19? There aren\’t hills where I live. If I want hill practice, I have to ride to where there are overpasses. As to standing to pedal, I have a long way to go with that, too. Oh, Item #20! Layering. That can be a nuisance, especially on a ride of several hours. I might get warmer than I like; but after I\’ve put in the other stuff I need to carry, there\’s not room in my Camel-Bak\’s pockets to stash a jacket. The best I can do is to un-zip the jacket. I hope I don\’t need Item #21 on Tour de Cure day. I know pretty well what to do to fix a flat, but have very little practice doing it. Consequently I\’m all thumbs at it. That\’s why I use tire liners, and tough Gatorskin tires. Item #22: I can\’t comment on racing. I\’ve never become interested it, and with osteoporosis I\’d likely be considered at too great a risk for injury should I be in a crash. But I see no reason to let osteoporosis keep me off the bicycle! Item #23: Do I trust my bicycles? This article seems to be speaking of technical downhill riding, and I don\’t yet feel up to trying it. I\’ll take their word for it. And to continue… As Item #24 says, some days any cyclist feels \”off\”; even those of the upper crust. We\’re humans, not machines. But hey! If you got out and rode, even for only 5 miles, that\’s something! Ah, Item #25: FOOD!! Prep \”pocket\” fuel? I sure do. I cut my energy bars in pieces and put them in the top-tube pouch, where I can get them. The Camel-Bak covers up my jersey pockets, so there\’s no sense in putting my ride food there. As to Item #26, I\’ve become rather a lone wolf. It would be great if I could ride in a small group more often. I could get used to riding near other riders, and maybe even start learning how to draft. Unfortunately not many people would want to ride as early in the day as I do! Back to that old saying about not giving up. Item #27: try, try again, doesn\’t apply to me if you\’re talking about highly technical MTB trails. It does apply to keeping up the efforts towards a big ride. Don\’t look at me, Item #28! I haven\’t had a car for nearly 16 years, and have become thoroughly used to doing without one. It\’s hard sometimes, because I can\’t drive myself and the bicycle to other riding trails. But 99.99% of the time I\’m very glad I don\’t have a car. I hear you, Item #29! Especially if it\’s cold and I get caught in the rain. We cyclists may need to be hardy to bundle up and ride despite the chill, but there\’s no sense in going out bare-legged and in short sleeves when it\’s cold enough to frost. And to finish… I believe any cyclist who has undertaken a long ride knows Item #30 very well. Yep, sometimes you just have to concentrate on keeping the tired legs going, so as to finish the ride. \”You\’ve come this far; don\’t give up now!\” It\’s how I got through my first century. And finally, Item #31: Act invisible? Let\’s all be ghosts! All joking aside, remember that \”cagers\” (what some cyclists call people who drive motor vehicles) might not see you. We hear more and more about distracted driving and the disastrous consequences. Load your bicycle up with lights! Wear a reflective vest! Stay alert, try to make eye contact with drivers. Let\’s all stay safe out there! Most of all, remember that you don\’t have to be upper crust to enjoy bicycling!

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