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Happy Fourth!!

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HAPPY FOURTH!! 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 Elementor #175471 July 4, 2024 Green Light July 3, 2024 Nervous Nellie July 2, 2024 Cyclist’s Shuffle July 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Green Light

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Green Light ? The hand surgeon has given me the green light! I had a follow-up with him today; and he says, go ahead and do whatever I want! I debated whether to go for a ride this afternoon. As of 4:30 pm, it’s still looking rather stormy; and the heat index is still close to 100 degrees.  And what about tomorrow? Chances for rain and T-storms are greatest after noon; so if I go out early I might be OK. Even more than that, I want to be back home before people start lobbing firecrackers. That’s what happens on July 4! Even though they’re not legal, some folks think they have the green light to set the things off. Turned Loose ? Now that I’ve been turned loose (knots untied, so to speak), I can think again of RAGBRAI training — with or without a triangle frame bag. I’m afraid I’ll have to do without it, although I’d love to have one; because my bottle cages would be in the way. My plan for July is to work more on increasing my mileage than improving my pace; and I especially want to ride tomorrow because I skipped it today. But I’ll see what the weather is doing when I get up; and take it from there. When I get turned loose on the bike path, I’m apt to push for 19-20 miles; and for that, I need some ride food. A banana with peanut butter won’t last that long! 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 Elementor #175382 July 3, 2024 Nervous Nellie July 2, 2024 Cyclist’s Shuffle July 1, 2024 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Nervous Nellie

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Nervous Nellie ? I’m a bit of a Nervous Nellie, knowing that there’s a bad hurricane out there. Not that there’s any real reason to get scared about Beryl just yet; but another system is close behind. It’s a good reason to get out there and ride while I can. In this heat, though, I’m using my cool rag a lot. It’s better not to try to push the pace; and I hope it cools off a little soon so I can ride more comfortably! The high temperatures make me a Nervous Nellie in another respect: being sure I take along enough water! This morning I put 2.5 liters of water in my Camel-Bak; and got home after two hours with just a half-liter remaining. It’s amazing how thirsty I got; and probably I should have drunk more before I began riding. I also drank almost a pint of electrolyte drink; and reached home with maybe a tablespoon left. Next time, take more. It was still fairly early when I went out; about 7:15 am. It would be better if I got going at 6:00 am if I want to ride more than 10 miles; but I’ve been very much a sleepyhead of late. Indecision ? Oh, indecision! Should I ride tomorrow, or not? I have a mid-morning appointment; and going for a ride beforehand will mean getting up very early. I’m not sure I want to do that; but it would at least let me ride before the heat of the day builds up. Again, the forecast is for a heat index over 100 degrees! By the time I get back home after my appointment, it will be too hot to ride. When will this end? On the other hand, how else will I get used to riding in the heat? Hence the indecision! 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 Nervous Nellie July 2, 2024 Cyclist’s Shuffle July 1, 2024 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Cyclist’s Shuffle

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Cyclist’s Shuffle ? No, cyclist’s shuffle isn’t about fancy footwork on the dance floor. I’ve read about it in connection with pro riders, who tend to develop a shuffling gait when off the bike. I seem to be well on the way to developing cyclist’s shuffle myself; and I’m far from a pro! But my efforts to improve my pace apparently are adding up. My legs have come to like pedaling more than walking; and when I walk, my legs feel tired. So why don’t I get out there and ride right now? Because the heat index is 108! Yes, I need to learn to ride in such heat; but maybe not when my head feels stuffy (allergies, I suppose). The heat isn’t the only weather concern; there’s a big, bad hurricane out  there! Shuffle out of Town? ? I hope we won’t have to shuffle out of town; or, worse, run like heck. At present, it doesn’t look like Beryl will pose a threat to us; but they’re still not sure what that storm might do in a few days. If Beryl starts to take a more northerly turn, we could be in trouble. For the time being, I’ll just sit tight; and ride when I can. This month’s plan is to work at increasing my daily mileage; and let pace work rest. After all, RAGBRAI 2025 is a long way off yet. Unfortunately my hand is still sore; and real work might have to wait a week or two. But hey, any riding is better than none at all. If I do have to shuffle out of town, what about my bicycles? I won’t be able to take them with me. If I did have a car, I’m sure it would have had a bicycle rack long ago; and then I could take them along. And hope to find somewhere to ride, wherever I ended up. 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 Cyclist’s Shuffle July 1, 2024 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Turn Off the Oven!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Turn Off the Oven! ? Hey, turn off the oven! Who left the dratted thing on? We aren’t cooking pizza; or anything else, for that matter. The heat index continues to hover over 100 degrees. It makes cycling harder; and I went out early today. Well, I usually ride early, anyhow; and that’s more important for longer rides in hot weather. Today I did 19+ miles; and I wanted to shout, “Turn off the oven!” It was in the high 80s or even 90 degrees when I got back home shortly before 9 am. By early afternoon, the heat index was 105! They’re predicting more of the same for tomorrow. ? I don’t know what the succeeding days will bring; maybe it’s too soon to tell. But I do hope it cools off just a bit. Calling All Fans! ? Calling all fans! We need all the help we can get to keep cool. The Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan ought to make a good team member. The Lasko is quiet; and includes a remote control. It has three speeds; and quiet operation makes it a good choice for the bedroom. If we’re calling all fans, I have a small, 4-battery fan that I plan to take along if I do RAGBRAI next year. Last year’s event saw unusually hot weather; and the interior of a tent can be sweltering when it’s 80 degrees all night long. I have a larger, 6-battery fan to use in case a hurricane knocks out our power. A cool rag isn’t a fan; but it helps keep the heat at bay. I was glad I had it during this morning’s 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 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 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Raising Alarms

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Raising Alarms ? The forecast is raising alarms around here. There’s an excessive heat watch for tomorrow, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. I plan to ride early; but I’ll still want a way to keep cool. I have a cool rag; but even with that, I can get pretty hot. In fact, the heat is reaching the point where I want the cool rag and electrolyte drink, just for the ride to the salvage store; and that’s not far. Round trip, about 11 miles. Before you know it, I’ll be using the Camel-Bak for that short trip. Sounds crazy? I’d rather have that load of water on my back, than risk having too littlte water. Summer is here; and raising alarms before I need to is better than keeling over from dehydration. I’ll see how things are tomorrow morning. Eighty degrees or more at 6 am is getting very tiresome. I also still have to be careful with my hand; but this minimal riding is driving me crazy! What about intense efforts in hot weather? Maybe make them shorter; and allow more recovery time between efforts. Keep hydrating. Stop and rest, if necessary. Not the Gem ? On top of all these heat problems, Beryl is out there; and not the gem. This tropical storm is expected to develop into a serious hurricane; and I’m glad it doesn’t seem to pose a threat to us. So far.  A tropical storm means heavy rain; in fact, often too much rain! So, even when we’ve been drier than usual, we don’t want a tropical storm! All that downpour leads to street flooding; and more than enough times, city pumps have conked out during heavy rains. But those poor islands in Beryl’s path! Hurricanes are a NIMBY thing. Nobody wants them; but unfortunately they’ve got to go somewhere. T.S. Beryl is not the gem; but if only I could harness those winds, and use them to propel my bicycle. I’d set a speed record, for sure! 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 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Glutes and Quads

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Glutes and Quads ? Glutes and quads are important for the cyclist. No, I’m not suggesting that we take up ballet; but it seems to me that these exercises ought to be helpful. Incidentally, if we did start ballet classes, I bet we’d need TONS of hamstring stretches. We hear all the time that cycling causes the hamstrings to shorten and tighten; and that wreaks havoc on extension!  Fit Simplify bands are good for this sort of thing. They come in five different weights, from X-Light to X-Heavy. You can progress from one weight to the next as you strengthen your glutes and quads. Handy storage bag included. Building Back Up ? I’m building back up now; or trying to. Today I used the road bike; and put in 12.4 miles. I did some efforts at pedaling 15 mph or over; but made them much shorter than usual.  When you’re building back up, you need to rein yourself in a little! Unfortunately, I forgot to wear my heart-rate strap. That’s what comes of using the hybrid several days in a row! Also, I don’t have a FitBit; so I can’t be sure exactly what my heart rate was. How did my hand do? I could hold the handlebar on the hoods without aggravating it; but using the brifter is still uncomfortable. It’s a good thing I wasn’t shifting gears all the time. 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 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Wanna Ride!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

I Wanna RIDE! ?‍♀️ I wanna ride; and I mean a real ride! These short jaunts around the park are getting tiresome. Unfortunately my hand is still sore and tender. I’m better at holding the handlebars; but going over any rough surface causes painful bumping. This morning it was raining; and I decided not to use my cool rag. I donned the poncho; but the thing flaps around, and doesn’t keep me all that dry. I guess wearing it gives me a bit of a psychological boost. So when the weather isn’t good, but I wanna ride, rain gear helps me get out there. Dare I Hope? ? Dare I hope to be able to do a long ride this weekend? Well, 15 miles, anyway, instead of 10 miles. Or will I need to ride inside? I, for one, find indoor rides in a trainer a terrible bore. There’s always the concern that I didn’t secure the bicycle properly; and because of that, I don’t dare pedal really hard. Indoor pedaling causes me to get very hot, very quickly. Time to get out that cool rag! And the electric fan. Dare I hope that I can get out to ride? I’m getting out of shape! As to rain, how do I manage sunblock? Do UV rays penetrate rain? Even if they don’t, the rain washes off my sunblock; and if the sun comes out, I need to stop and reapply it. When I can start real rides again, it’s time to begin working to extend my mileage; and let pace development go for a bit. But whether I’m fast or slow, I just wanna get out there and 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 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 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tired of Sitting

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care /

Tired of Sitting ? I sure got tired of sitting today; and I don’t mean on a bicycle saddle! I had some appointments this morning; and wasn’t sure about the bicycle parking situation there. So I decided to use public transit; and I was sitting on the bus; and sitting in waiting rooms. Then, when I got home around 10:30 am, there was more sitting on a chair! By then it was about 93 degrees; and a heat advisory was in effect. I also felt tired; and thought I’d skip riding again today. ?  Would I get tired of sitting if I did a long bicycle tour? Who knows; maybe I would, especially if I developed saddle sores. I use Chamois Butt’r; (also available in Her’); but I expect problems could arise if you ride for seven days — literally! — on end. Nobody wants saddle sores to ruin a ride; so here are some tips. So far I’ve been lucky, and had only one sore; developed when I took a ride on my then brand-new road bike. It still had the stock saddle on; and that saddle was both too flat and very hard! Had to Get Out ➡️ It rained for a while about 3 pm; and then the upstairs neighbor started practicing drums! Again, I was tired of sitting; and with that percussion going on, I had to get out for a while. The rain had cooled things off a bit; and I decided to go ride around the park a few times. The sun was dodging in and out; and while it was out, I saw some intensely black clouds around. That made me a bit uneasy. Getting to my route meant riding over railroad tracks; and as I approached the crossing, I heard the rumble of a locomotive.  I was unable to get a break in the traffic; and had to wait for that train to clear the crossing. My route ran alongside the tracks for almost a mile; and wouldn’t you know, that dratted train stopped and blocked the way! I would have waited longer for it to move on, but it started to thunder; so I went back home. I wanted to fix a sandwich; but the drumming hadn’t stopped yet. And it was right over my kitchen! So I had to get out. ? 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 Elementor #174729 June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Big Uneasy

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

BIG UNEASY 🌀 New Orleans is the Big UNeasy this time of year. With hurricane season in progress, we’re on tenterhooks! Who know when a bad storm might head our way? In case one does, an Emergency Crank Weather Radio is a good tool to have; especially if you stay in town. It would be great if you could charge it up by hooking it to a bicycle! For less  powerful hurricanes, staying put means avoiding the crush of evacuating; although an electricity outage is all but certain . No using laptops and cell phones except in an emergency; and probably no getting out to ride for at least a few days. How tedious! But we don’t always know until quite late how bad a storm might be. To go, or to stay? No wonder we’re the Big Uneasy! On top of that, fleeing for every hurricane that comes near can lead to evacuation fatigue. Scram 🏃🏽 For a storm above Category 2, it’s probably better to get out; aka scram. I’m tempted to think that it would be fun to make the evacuation a bicycle tour; but I’d have to leave town at least a week prior to expected landfall. Plus, I don’t know of a safe way to do it. Riding a bicycle along a busy interstate highway is suicidal! And I don’t have a touring bicycle such as the SixThreeZero, either; but the hybrid that I already have ought to suffice. The SixThreeZero does have seven speeds, and a built-in rack. But that soft foam saddle? I’d want something firmer, especially if I needed to trek several hundred miles. If only there were a way to make a hurricane scram! Then I could stay put; and continue to train for next year’s 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 © 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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