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Nudging the Brain

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Nudging the Brain ? Is cycling a way of nudging the brain? Or does the Mind Diet Cookbook work better? I was thinking of taking a day off from riding today; but by mid-afternoon, I decided to do a short, easy spin on the hybrid. My legs were feeling restless; and I couldn’t think of a blog topic. My brain was a blank slate! I thought a ride might be a way of nudging the brain. Maybe I would see or hear something that would give me a good blog idea! Unfortunately I didn’t notice anything of particular interest; and it was hard to ride easily. I kept wanting to push the pace! So I didn’t dare ride long; and I came home with my mind still a blank slate. Blank Slate ? A blank slate of a mind is quite annoying. How can one get anything done? Especially if you can’t come up with a way of nudging the brain! My plan for tomorrow’s ride is another session of working to push the pace. That means riding against a harder gear than usual. Incidentally, I’m glad I have a compact crankset. That should make RAGBRAI‘s hills a bit easier. I even asked my bike shop whether it would be possible to get a triple crankset. They say, yes; but it wouldn’t be a quick and easy fix. So I’ve got to develop a good set of climbing legs with what I’ve got. Day before yesterday, I did 5-minute pace efforts; and next week I’ll push for 6 minutes. I’ll hold it at 6 minutes the week after that, before adding a little more time to these efforts. I also need to add a few miles to my distance. It isn’t too soon to put that on the schedule … looks like I’m filling up that blank slate 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 ✍? Nudging the Brain February 26, 2025 Climbing Legs February 25, 2025 Dry for Now February 24, 2025 Rain Daze February 23, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Climbing Legs

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Climbing Legs ?? I’m working to develop a pair of climbing legs. I’ll sure need them five months from now; and those months will fly by. Yes, I’ll need climbing legs for RAGBRAI; but for me, the most worrisome aspect of RAGBRAI’s hills is gradient. That’s why I’m working to develop better force (aka strength) on the bike. Not so easy when you live where it’s flat. So, one day a week, I do a force development workout.  I ride comfortably for 10 minutes or so, to get warmed up; then put in short efforts at pushing hard against a hard gear. Today I did 45-second interevals; and next week I’ll try for 50-60 seconds. Every third week, I take a break from this intense work; that’s recommended for riders over 40 years of age. However, I seem to have a way of changing my workout plans. Looks like I’m velut luna! Velut Luna ? Weather forecasts are also velut luna, as it says in Carmina Burana. After a lifetime here, I still can’t tell what the weather will do. Aren’t I illiterate? Yesterday the forecast predicted more rain tomorrow afternoon; now it says mostly sunny, after patchy fog in the morning. Well, I’ll be glad if it does not rain! I’m still not completely dried out from two days of wet rides! The ride plan for tomorrow is short and easy. Going hard every day is not the way to develop climbing legs, because you’re likely to burn out. Unfortunately it’s easy to get carried away; especially if you happen to be velut luna. 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 ✍? Climbing Legs February 25, 2025 Dry for Now February 24, 2025 Rain Daze February 23, 2025 Ride While You Can February 22, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Rain Daze

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Rain Daze ? Do rides in inclement weather leave you feeling like this?   I think I have rain daze today. The forecast showed rain all day; but by early afternoon, I was tired of hanging around at home, waiting for it to start pouring. By about 2 pm, I had had enough, and decided to go for a short ride; with a detour to the neighborhood supermarket on the way home.  It was raining, but not particularly hard. I pulled on leg warmers; shorts; vest; jacket; and poncho. I wore a skull cap, too; after all, it’s in the 50s. Then I went out for a ride. I guess rain daze isn’t only about the effects of a wet ride; it’s also about the rather depressing effects of a gray day. It can have odd effects on the brain.? When I started my ride, I didn’t feel hungry; so I didn’t think to have a snack. After about half a mile, I realized that I was getting hungry; and I hadn’t brought anything to eat with me. That brought The Bonk to mind; so I decided to make my ride short. I figured I was flirting with the bonk. Flirting with the Bonk ?‍? Flirting with the bonk is risky business; and I rode only one lap around the park. The planned trip to the grocery store meant more time for The Bonk to catch up with me. Rain daze was also catching up with me. Something about gray skies and falling rain is soporific; and I was also getting wet. My poncho’s sleeves don’t go all the way down to the wrist; and my jacket sleeves got soaked. So, of course did the blouse sleeves under it. My leg warmers got wet at least as far up as the knees; my feet got soaked; and my gloves were wet through. There I was, walking into the store, and dripping all over! I got a few groceries; including a Quest Chocolate Caramel Pecan bar. Once clear of the checkout, I made short work of that bar! Then I rode home. Perhaps the most tiresome aspect of rain daze, is the amount of time I spend wringing out and  hanging up wet cycling gear once I’m home. I’m glad this doesn’t happen every day. 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 ✍? Rain Daze February 23, 2025 Ride While You Can February 22, 2025 On the Fence February 21, 2025 Lab Rat February 20, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Ride While You Can

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Ride While You Can ? Sometimes you have to ride while you can; be it cyclocross or merely getting in some miles for the heck of it. This afternoon I decided to do some miles because the forecast for tomorrow isn’t so great. They’re predicting rain again; and some showers might be heavy. The wind will strengthen as the morning goes on; and I’m SO tired of wind! At lest the temperature will be in the 50s, instead of freezing. ? So, to ride, or not to ride? It’s rather annoying to be on the fence like that. If it isn’t raining in the morning, that’ll be great; and and I can go out. Ride while you can! If it is raining in the morning, but not too hard, I think I’ll pull on the poncho and go ride laps around the park. But if it’s pouring, I’ll do some indoor pedaling. I feel like a sissy when I take that course, though; foul weather training is necessary when preparing for an event. Foul Weather Training ?️  Foul weather training means, don the rain gear and get your bicycle in gear. But it’s harder to start a ride when it’s already raining, than it is to get caught in the rain mid-ride. If I’m already out, it’s easier to be philosophical about rain; the only way out is through! If it starts to pour when I’m still indoors at home, beginning a ride takes some self-prodding. I have to remind myself that this might happen during RAGBRAI; and I’ll need to be prepared. And sometimes you have to ride while you can — even in the rain — because other obligations (a job, for instance) mean you can’t ride tomorrow! 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 ✍? Ride While You Can February 22, 2025 On the Fence February 21, 2025 Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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On the Fence

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

On the Fence ? We all know the feeling of being on the fence; and it can make you feel out of “CTRL“. For example, I’m preparing for RAGBRAI LII; and am on the fence about bike locks. Should I bring one; or not? Some people say, don’t worry; you don’t need a lock. Others say, it’s better to have a lock; especially if you want to ride into the overnight town and will be away from your camp site. I have a cable lock; but it’s quite heavy. If I bring it along, maybe I can let it stay in my luggage; then I’ll have it if I need it at the camp site. And it won’t be weighing down my Camel-Bak all day long. Oh, and what about getting my electronic devices locked in at a charging station? Locked In? ? Here is another subject on which I’m on the fence. PBV service includes a charging trailer, with locking compartments. Some videos I’ve watched say, bring a padlock. I immediately though of a standard padlock; the kind you might use for a school locker. Then I watched another video; and that one mentioned the small kind of padlock that you’d use for luggage. Wouldn’t you know, I can’t find that video again. Which kind of lock do I need? No wonder I feel like I’m on the fence! Of course I’ll want to get my devices locked in at night; and my list of RAGBRAI questions includes this issue. Are PBV users assigned a charging cubby, just as they’re assigned a tent number? If not, how will I easily find the cubby that I’ve chosen for my headlight, etc? I soon thought of putting a small piggy charm (such as you’d carry on a keychain) in the cubby. While I was considering where to look for such a thing, I remembered that I didn’t need to buy one; I already had one! I think it’s supposed to be a baby peccary; but that’s close enough. I was able to find it easily; and now it’s with the stuff I’m accumulating for RAGBRAI. 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 ✍? On the Fence February 21, 2025 Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lab Rat

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lab Rat ? I’ve got to be a lab rat for a while. After viewing many a video about RAGBRAI, I can see that I might need to change my fueling strategy; and that means starting to experiment now. For years, my long-ride fueling strategy has been to eat a banana and some peanut butter before starting; and then eat a bite of an energy bar every 15 minutes. During RAGBRAI that might not be possible. I might need to eat more, less often, depending on how far apart food sources are. So, how will I do if I fuel that way? I won’t know unless I make myself a lab rat. That includes considering RAGBRAI breakfasts. RAGBRAI Breakfasts ? I’m weighing my options for RAGBRAI breakfasts. Depending on how early in the day I want to begin riding, there might not be a way to buy any food first. I also might not feel secure riding one-handed if there are a lot of other riders near to me; and if so, my usual eat-on-the-bike strategy won’t be practical. But what to eat? I’m afraid that my usual protein bars won’t do. I suspect that the PBV trailer truck is not climate-controlled; and those bars — many of which have chocolate coating — will be an absolute mess! Will a packet of peanut butter and a GU-Gel get me to the breakfast town? Or how about packets of nuts and chocolate (in the form of M&Ms)? I’ll want to try Chris Cakes at least once; and that looks like a big meal! Or can I get a “short stack”, and eat less; so my gut won’t  be too uncomfortable when I resume pedaling? Of course RAGBRAI breakfasts will be only part of the day’s food. There will be ice cream; corn on the cob; home-made pie; and more! Being a lab rat for a while should help my stomach learn to adjust. I just hope I don’t gain 10 pounds in the process! 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 ✍? Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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More Winter

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

More Winter ❄️ We’ve got more Winter coming. There are cold-weather warnings posted for the next two nights; and early tomorrow the chill factor will be well below freezing! It’s good I’ve got some cold-weather clothing; but when it’s that cold, nothing seems warm enough. Leg warmers help; but even with an additional base layer, my legs get cold. A long-sleeved blouse with three layers over it doesn’t keep out the chill.  Would these AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves keep my hands warmer? Even with hand warmers inside of my gloves, my hands can get pretty cold. Frigid wind on my head gets painful, even when I’m wearing a skull cap. My feet get cold, even with heavy socks. More Winter for us doesn’t often mean sub-freezing temperatures; and when they occur, it’s apt to mean a training disruption for me. Training Disruption ? Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a training disruption; it’s possible to “ride” inside. If only such exercise weren’t so tedious! I got enough of it during the recent cold snap; and now I need to resume it. And we’ve got more Winter. It’s not the end of February yet; but I hope it stops dropping down to freezing. This city isn’t made for it; and I don’t blame anybody for not wanting to buy a lot of polar-rated clothing that they’ll need only a few days per season. Hence a training disruption can easily occur when the mercury drops like a stone. 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 ✍? More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Another Round

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Another Round ↻ We have another round of frigid weather on the way; although they don’t expect snow this time. Tomorrow and the next day, wind gusts could be as strong as 30 mph. Not exactly what I need during a week when I planned to ease up on my efforts. The forecast has already provoked me to alter my riding plans. I was going to take today off; and do a leisurely ride of 12 miles or so tomorrow. When I saw that rain was expected for Wednesday, I decided to do some riding today; then take tomorrow off instead. I can hunker down and be lazy for a day. With another round of strong wind in store, I’ll probably ride laps around the park again. When I have to fight a headwind is when I wish I had a power meter. They say that power is a much more accurate indicator of your progress than speed, because speed is dependent on factors such as wind and terrain. Hunker Down ?‍? I hope my plan to hunker down tomorrow is justified. It will be a good day to cozy up with a mug of hot chocolate! I don’t have a bicycle mug; but that’s OK. As I’ve said, we’ve got another round of strong wind in store; but it looks like things will calm down later in the week. That’s good for the Sunday ride. Incidentally, I still haven’t shed my Sunday-long-ride mentality. Before I retired, the long ride on Sunday was a must; I couldn’t do a long ride during the week because I was working. But now I can do it most any day; so if I must hunker down for the weather one day, I can ride the next. 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 ✍? Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Roll Over

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Roll Over ? “Roll over” sounds like a command you might teach to a dog. A roll over is what might  happen, too, if you’re riding; and drop a water bottle. It happened to me this morning. I was trying to put my bottle of electrolyte drink back into its cage; and dropped it. Then I rode right over it before I could stop. The bottle seems to be OK; but it might take another use or two before I’m sure it isn’t damaged. I hope I don’t drop too many bottles as I roll through the corn in July! Roll through the Corn ? Preparing to roll through the corn (aka ride RAGBRAI) is keeping me busy! I have quite a shopping list; but I’m trying not to buy everything at once. It’s better to spread out the expenses if I can. I did order a duffle (of is it D-U-F-F-E–L?) bag. Better to have the bag first, I think, and then buy stuff that will fit inside the bag. It’s sort of like making the bike fit the rider; not the other way around. Preparing to roll through the corn also means, of course, the physical training required. I’ve begun working on back-to-back long rides; “long” at this point meaning 25-30 miles. I do that once a week. Training advice for over-40 riders says to ease up every third week; so I won’t increase my long-days mileage until the week of March 2. No hard riding this week, either. They say your body doesn’t get stronger if you stress it too hard, too often. You don’t want to reach the roll-over-and-play-dead stage of fatigue! 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 ✍? Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Time Warp? February 14, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Law of Averages

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Law of Averages ? The law of averages crops up everywhere, including cycling. What was my average speed? For riders in training for racing, there’s the question of average power output. I’ve got my eye on that law of averages; I’d like to improve my average speed before RAGBRAI rolls around. Today I didn’t seem at all successful, thanks to the wind. Almost all the way outward-bound, I had a headwind that averaged about 18 mph; and gusts were as high as 29 mph! My average speed over 25.9 miles was little more than 9 mph; and I’m surprised I was that fast. On the other hand, it’s true that I wasn’t trying to push the pace; and my heart rate stayed in the middle zone most of the time. Has my fitness improved? Maybe so; and it’s time for me to think of a little do-si-do! Do-si-Do? ? One YouTube I watched about RAGBRAI training recommends back-to-back long rides. Sort of reminds me of do-si-do in square dancing! Here comes the law of averages again. This video says, work up to doing two days in a row each training week of the average daily distance on your upcoming RAGRAI. This year’s RAGBRAI will average about 58 miles per day; so I’ve got a ways to go. Today I had intended to push for 30 miles; but considering the effort I had to put out, I decided to shorten it a little. But I’ve begun to do a Monday ride close to the same distance as the Sunday ride. Tomorrow’s ride will be another tough one, though. The wind will still be quite strong. I’ve read in many a book and website, that riders over the age of 40 should back off every third week: ease up on the intensity; skip the super-hard efforts, and the like. This is a third week; so I won’t be pushing the pace tomorrow! 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 ✍? Law of Averages February 16, 2025 RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Time Warp? February 14, 2025 Check Your Pockets February 13, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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