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Wonderful Change

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Wonderful Change 🌞 Today’s Featured Product! 🎆 Fizik R5 Road Shoe New!! Built Puff Variety Pack For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! There was a wonderful change in the weather this morning. The sun was out! There were clouds around, though; and we’re actually under a flood watch. But so far it hasn’t rained here; so maybe someone else is getting the downpour.  It looks like the next week will be rainy; and that’s not such a wonderful change. It keeps me on edge 😬: will I get to ride, or not? Get to Ride? 🐴 I won’t know whether I’ll get to ride until each day comes. The suspense is irksome! By the way, is it better to ride a bicycle or a horse in the rain? A horse won’t get rusty; but on the other hand, a bicycle won’t get spooked by a thunderclap — only its rider! And mightn’t a horse get sick from being out in the rain? Today I got to ride 20 miles;  but I skipped hard efforts. After several days of such short rides, I decided to just put in the miles. The wind was quite cooperative for a change. Maybe tomorrow I can do some hard efforts; if I get to ride! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Wet Holiday

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Wet Holiday ⛈️ Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Roadie New!! Helmet/Glasses Mirror For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I can’t speak for the rest of the country; but we’re  having a wet holiday here. It must be hard for kids who were looking forward to a day of outdoor fun. Gosh, it’s hard for me. With a T-storm threat hanging over us, I don’t quite dare go out for a ride. There’s actually a flash flood warning in effect until half-past noon; and I’m not in a  hurry to get washed away. I hope I can get out for a ride by mid-afternoon; even if only a short one. My hybrid’s rear wheel is about an inch too large to fit into my trainer; and I don’t have one of those under-desk pedalers. So an indoor ride is out of the queestion. Countdown 🌀 It’s countdown to hurricane season; and it always comes too soon. It would be a wet “holiday” if we have a hurricane this season! There’s only so much anyone can do to prepare for a hurricane: stock up on non-perishable food (including, naturally, some goodies!); bottled water; and be sure the crank-operated radio still works. When tropical weather is threatening, I like to go out and do a good ride before conditions begin to deteriorate. It’s sort of like when I was in grade school; and the excitement of a day off from school when a hurricane was lurking nearby. Of course, I hope we won’t have to count down to an actual storm. Even now, we aren’t fully recovered from Katrina! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Finally Got Out

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Finally Got Out! 🚲 Today’s Featured Product! 🔥 Pro Bike Tool Inflator New!! Fuel Your Body For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I finally got out for a ride this morning; albeit a short one. It felt good to be pedaling after sitting around all day yesterday! I didn’t try any efforts at riding fast. The park isn’t the place for it; but I wanted to stay rather close to  home in case a T-storm started to move in. It makes me wish for clear skies and an open road; although I can do without climbing mountains! Memorial Day 🌼 🇺🇸 It looks like our Memorial Day holiday will be a wet one; and I don’t envy people who have picnics and barbecues planned. But BBQ really isn’t my thing; so at least I’m not worried about outdoor cooking plans being thwarted. I hope I can ride tomorrow; I need the exercise. But it looks like the entire week will be stormy! I finally got out to the grocery store this afternoon. Yesterday morning I started over there, because I skipped the salvage store; but grumbling thunder made me change my mind. I hope no such rumbling derails tomorrow’s ride plans! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ Add Your Heading Text Here Today’s Featured Product! New!! For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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When Will It End?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

When Will It End? ☔️ Today’s Featured Product! 💥 COOLSTEELANDBEYOND  Bike Chain Bracelet New!! Cycling for Health and Pleasure For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! When will it end? We’re getting day after day of rainy forecasts; and it’s getting too warm to be buried under a rain suit. Last night, the forecast predicted cloudy skies this morning; but no rain until at least late morning. Then, at about 6:30 am, I took a look outside; and the appearance of the sky sent me straight to the online weather site. Long story short, I decided to skip the salvage store; and for a fact I began to hear thunder at the time when I’d usually be riding to the salvage store. I probably would have been pedaling right into a T-storm! How About Tomorrow? ☀️   And how about tomorrow? I hope I can get out there and 1) put in some miles; and 2) work on my pace. Unfortunately the forecast looks bad for the next few days! Yesterday I tried pushing hard for one minute; and easing up for a minute. I did five efforts per set; and managed two sets. I attempted a third set; but kept forgetting to watch the time. So after that I just rode. I sure won’t meet any 100-mile goal this week! Maybe not this coming week, either. Rain is one thing; T-storms are another. I think I need a lightning detector! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Letup At Last!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Letup At Last! 😌 Today’s Featured Product! 🎊 Oversized Bike Seat New!! Slow Bicycle Companion For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We’ve had a letup at last from the rain threat; at least, we did this morning. The weather is heating up; and now I’m wearing sun sleeves and using a lot more sunblock! Before long I’ll want to start out at 6:00 am, before it gets too hot. Already morning temperatures are in the upper 70s; so I have a cool rag ready and waiting. Another Story 📖 We had a letup at last from rain threats early today; but this afternoon was another story! I had to go downtown for a 2:30 pm appointment; and when I got out, the sky looked very stormy indeed! As I rode the streetcar back towards home, it began to rain and to thunder. My neighborhood had obviously taken a heavy downpour; one whole block of the street where I live was a lake! But now that we’ve gotten rain (which we did need), it will be a relief to not worry about whether it will rain on my ride! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Minimalist?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Minimalist? ⚛️ Today’s Featured Product! Cliganic New!! Menstrual Cycle Smoothie Recipes For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We hear about the minimalist lifestyle. I rather like the concept; but it would be hard to put into practice. For example, could I really get along with just one cookpot? But could I claim to be a “minimalist” cyclist? As in attempting to ride with minimal coasting? And having only three cycling jerseys? Stuff Everywhere 📙 🥄 Having stuff everywhere sometimes makes me feel like this person here — at wit’s end. Some people would reach for a cup of coffee if they felt like that; but I’m not a coffee drinker! From time to time, I clear out stuff that I haven’t used for a long time. During these purges, I’ll unearth items that I didn’t remember having. This is a step towards minimalism; but from what I’ve read about it, the minimalist lifestyle is an ongoing process. So is being a cyclist. Today I haven’t been out on the bike because of the weather; but so far not much has happened. I’m tired of sitting around; but I can just see a big T-storm breaking out if I did go for a ride! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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

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False Alarm Again

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

False Alarm Again 🚨 Today’s Featured Product! 💥 Probar New!! 100 Amazing Cycling Facts For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I got false alarm again today. It drives me crazy when the weather forecast prompts me to ride very short; and then nothing happens! I think I see what they mean about “emotional eating”. My frustration over the weather’s interfering with riding makes me want to chow down ice cream. Or raid the candy jar! At any rate, this morning I headed for the park to ride some laps before wheeling the hybrid to the bike shop. It was already windy; and a few extra strong gusts prompted me to turn back before I’d really gotten started. And Tomorrow? 🌅 I hope the forecast for tomorrow isn’t a false alarm again. It indicates T-storms; and we’re under flood advisory right now.  Somehow I’d rather wake up to a downpour than have to worry about rain and lightning breaking loose during a ride. If it’s already storming before I ride, at least I won’t be starting my ride with the threat of a T-storm hanging over my head. If the weather hadn’t turned warm, I could enjoy some hot chocolate at home. Some folks would prefer a cup of coffee on a stormy morning. It  began to rain at about 5:30 pm; and tomorrow? It’s the old wait-and-see. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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

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Disaster

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Disaster 🌪️ Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Safety Wing Cycling Reflector New!! Mind Diet Kitchen For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! A disaster doesn’t have to mean something as drastic as a tornado. There are the smaller, garden-variety mishaps, too. I had one today, resulting in the loss of a water bottle. I had just taken a drink of water; and managed to drop the bottle. My rear wheel went right over it; and the pressure caused the bottle’s cap to split into pieces! So now the bottle itself is of no use for my rides. Naturally I lost all the water; and it’s a good thing I still had electrolyte drink. And only about two more miles to go. If I had been ten miles from home, that would have been much more of a disaster! Homebody 🏡 Today I planned on doing a rather short fitness ride; then making a trip to the Salvation Army’s thrift store. As I rode, though, the wind seemed to get much stronger. After I got home, I decided to be a homebody. I can go to the store another day; and this morning I made a garbage soup. My head is stuffy today; and that’s no  help. At least the weather should be OK for riding tomorrow and Thursday. Friday, unfortunately, doesn’t look so good — and I have to go downtown Friday afternoon! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Stop the Suspense!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Stop the Suspense! 😧 Today’s Featured Product! 🎆 Schwinn Airdyne New!! Bicycle Repair & Maintenance For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I feel like telling our weather to stop the suspense. Is a T-storm going to break loose; or not? I’m glad bad weather wasn’t threatening when I rode this morning; nor when I walked to FedEx shortly afterwards. The forecast says, T-storms are possible this afternoon. I went out about 12:30 pm, and sure enough, the sky towards the Northeast looked stormy. Not what I like to see when I’m on my way to buy some greeting cards, with envelopes that’ll get stuck shut if they get wet! Not Yet ⏰ T-storms this afternoon? Well, not yet. Come on, stop the suspense! And this is nothing to the suspense of watching a tropical system, hoping it won’t head our way. It looks like I won’t have to worry about bad weather tomorrow morning; but the heat is building up. It’s almost time to get out the cool rag. After I began using one, I wondered how I got along without it. When the mercury rises, it’s important to keep cool! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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I Broke 100

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

I Broke 100! 💯 Today’s Featured Product! 🎉 BikeHand Foldable Bike Stand New!! Dynacraft Magna Major For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I broke 100 miles this past week! It looks like I’m finally getting back to normal! This morning I rode out 10 miles; and took a break for 5-10 minutes while I chowed down a Clif Builder’s bar; and reapplied sunblock. Then I started back home; and oh, the headwind! I had to keep shifting into my lowest gear; and all that rapid pedaling sends my heart rate way up. It’s quite tiring. But at least I broke 100 miles this week! Just Call Me Granny 👵 “Just call me Granny” kept running through my head as I battled 12 mph headwinds for miles. I felt like such a snail when other riders whizzed past me like I was standing  still! I’m really not a big fan of riding in my lowest gear. It slows me to a crawl; and today my left foot slipped out  of the toe clip. I had to stop; and starting up in the lowest gear is actually tricky. There’s no resistance; and I had to try four times before I could manage to shift into the second cog so I could get the bike moving. The trick was, I needed to shift as soon as I made the first pedal downstroke. I’m glad I was home soon after 10:00 am. The forecast said, showers and T-storms from early afternoon. I don’t want to be another Roy Sullivan! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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