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Sometimes a Gamble Pays

Sometimes a Gamble Pays ? Sometimes a gamble pays off; as did this morning’s trip to the salvage store. The forecast didn’t look so good. Rain was predicted; especially in the afternoon and evening. It was overcast this morning; and who knew when it might begin to pour. But I wanted to go to the store; not least for the ride. Going for a ride in circumstances like today’s feels like entering a game of chance with a shady opponent who may have loaded the dice. So I took along the poncho, just in case. But sometimes a gamble pays off! I got some good stuff today, too: a jar of pesto; colby cheese; and I even found a new kind of energy bar to try: The Boss! It tastes pretty good; but its light texture makes me suspect that it might not be very good as on-bike fuel. I felt a drop or two on the way back home; but so far there’s been no heavy rain. That may change if a few hours. The wind is up to 18 mph; and was already 15 mph as I was riding home. Heavy rain is in the forecast; and some parades have been rescheduled to roll several hours early. Wind gusts could reach 35 mph; and those “floats” (double-decker, decorated trucks) are very vulnerable in such conditions. I think I would be, too — especially if it were a sidewind! 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 Sometimes a Gamble Pays February 3, 2024 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Prognostication

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Prognostication ? Our local groundhog has made his prognostication: six more weeks of winter. Despite a forecast for patchy, dense fog, it was bright and sunny when I went out riding at around 7:45 am. It won’t last, though. By tomorrow afternoon, it’s likely to be raining. Tomorrow night, we could get heavy rain and even T-storms. As for temperature, it’s in the 60s right now; so at the moment, it doesn’t seem like the groundhog’s prognostication was correct. As of yesterday, the forecast for Sunday predicted winds of 10-15 mph; while saying the wind today would be about 3 mph. So I did a long ride this morning; well over 19 miles. That’s the farthest I’ve ridden since before the bunion surgery; and it’s good to get my mileage up again. This time I took ride food: a FitCrunch Bar that I found in the grab-bag bins at the salvage store. I though that a ride of nearly 20 miles would require electrolyte drink, even in cool weather; so I used my Camel-Bak for water, and took along Biosteel White Freeze in a bottle. Today I was quite squirrely, especially on the way back home: I was having a hard time holding a straight line. Maybe I was getting tired; possibly my (rather weak) core was to blame. Whichever it was, I’m glad I got in some miles today. Even if the groundhog’s prognostication is accurate; and we get more intensely cold weather; I want to get back to my regular mileage! 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 Prognostication February 2, 2024 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Not So Angelic?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Not So Angelic? ? The forecast for the weekend is not so angelic; so don’t think a solar halo means great weather. Rain is likely by Saturday night. I saw the halo while out riding. It was quite faint; but it was there. That was around 10:00 am; and I was surprised to see that the halo was still there some four hours later! Thin, high clouds seem to create the right conditions for halos. It’s supposed to clear up tonight; only to get cloudy again tomorrow night. The not so angelic weather is expected by Saturday night, with possibly heavy rain. Morning might be OK; so I ought to do all right on the ride to and from the salvage store. I’m thinking of shooting for a long ride tomorrow. Long relatively speaking, that is — maybe 20 miles. I’m not ready yet to extend my mileage to 30-40 miles! I can cut up a protein bar and take it along in my top-tube pouch, instead of eating a banana and peanut butter before I leave home. It’s good to have a change sometimes. One reason for doing a long ride tomorrow instead of Sunday is the wind. According to the forecast, there won’t be much wind tomorrow; but on Sunday, it’ll be blowing 10-15 mph! I know — pushing into a headwind is a good way to develop better strength; but I sure get tired of it sometimes! “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.” “This is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” 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 Not So Angelic? February 1, 2024 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Cozy January 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Whoo?

BACK ISSUES, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

Whoo? ? Whoo was doing all that hooting around last night? I though it might be a barred owl; but I checked some owl-sound videos. It may have been a great horned owl! For some reason I didn’t think we had them around here; but maybe we do. Birds can produce quite a variety of sounds; so now I wonder which owl I actually heard. It was an owl; that’s beyond doubt. A few times, when I was still riding before daylight, I heard an owl. It was a thrill, every time. Some people think owls sound spooky; but to me hearing them is relaxing. Maybe it’s because those birds’ calls sounds like out in the country — where, I hope, I’d be away from the constant traffic noise of urban dwelling. Whoo-ever that was last night, there was no chance of hearing any “hooters” this morning. I finally took my panniers and rode to the regular supermarket, for the first time since my foot surgery. That meant a certain amount of riding next to traffic; and I guess all that noise keeps owls away. My big hint for grocery runs is, go early if you aren’t comfortable riding alongside heavy motor traffic. Maybe I shouldn’t preach about using lights, as I forgot my tail light this morning! 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 Whoo? January 31, 2024 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Cozy January 28, 2024 Riding in the Fog January 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Bicycle Face

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Bicycle Face ? 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.” I hope my bicycle face doesn’t look like this! Speaking of face, a helmet with a good , full-face visor helps keep blowing dust out of your eyes. Back when bicycles were a fairly recent invention, some folks feared that too much riding would result in “bicycle face”: a permanent grimace and forever-bulged eyes, wrought by the “struggle” to maintain one’s balance. We know much better nowadays, don’t we? It’s true that you might look like that while getting the hang of handling a two-wheeler; but once you’ve got that down pat, balance becomes no problem. You and your face can relax and enjoy the ride. Of course, if you’re climbing Mont Ventoux while endeavoring to hold on to that maillot jaune, it’s a very different story! As to climbing, will I never learn to do it well? The few humps that I must surmount most days are no training whatsoever for real climbing. If I really want to tackle RAGBRAI, I need honest-to-goodness HILL training. Riding in a very hard gear is better practice than nothing; but when I do such work, it’s too easy for me to shift back into an easier gear when the going gets tough. Riding across Iowa, I might have to get off and walk; and get rid of my — uh — bicycle face. 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 Bicycle Face January 30, 2024 Cozy January 28, 2024 Riding in the Fog January 27, 2024 Weather Wary January 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Cozy

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Cozy ☕️ It would be nice if I could stay cozy during a chilly-day ride. Jackets and other cold-weather clothing go only so far. This morning the temperature was about 53 degrees; and the wind was about 8 mph. It was from the NW; and that meant a headwind at times, and a sidewind at others. Rarely did I have a tailwind.? So it wasn’t all that cold; but the humidity level is still high. Damp air makes it feel colder; and of course my nose acted up! How to dress for a ride on a day like today? Vest and jacket; leg warmers; and full-fingered gloves, of course. I didn’t need hand warmers today; but if I lived where it got really frigid, Rabbitroom Rechargeable Gloves would be high on my wish list! After I got back home, I needed to keep cozy indoors. Lately I’ve developed the habit of keeping my leg warmers on after I complete a ride. I don’t have central heating; and when my electric heater isn’t putting out hot air, I can get rather chilly. Leg warmers help me keep cozy! 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 Cozy January 28, 2024 Riding in the Fog January 27, 2024 Weather Wary January 26, 2024 Riding in the Rain January 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Riding in the Fog

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Riding in the Fog ?️ I was riding in the fog today; especially on the way home from the salvage store. When I left home it was still raining; but often fog is worse than rain. I don’t have a pair of these anti-fog goggles; and regular glasses quickly become so wet and misty that I’m riding blind. Of course I could get some anti-fog spray; but I took the lazy way out and didn’t wear my glasses (although I did take them with me). Fortunately it wasn’t raining as hard as I feared; although it apparently poured last night. I wore my poncho, partly for warmth; and for a change, there was hardly any wind. While I was pedaling back home, the rain had stopped; but I saw that the fog had increased a good deal. What do you do when riding in the fog? For me, the first rule is to slow down; especially if it’s dark. Light up your ride, too. A headlight atop your helmet is better than one mounted on the handlebars, because you can point it in any direction by turning your head. Stay alert! That’s a good rule at any time; but especially during inclement weather. People and things can emerge from the mist all of a sudden! I won’t be riding in the fog tomorrow; but it’s going to be cold again! And windy. I wish it would stay either warm or cold; not change every few days! 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 Weather Wary January 26, 2024 Riding in the Rain January 25, 2024 Augusta? January 24, 2024 Bumpy Ride January 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Weather Wary

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Weather Wary ⚡️ I’m getting tired of staying weather wary. The forecasts for several days have been for showers/T-storms likely; and it’s wearisome to be left dangling. How do I plan rides when I can’t be sure when (or even whether) the lightning might start cracking overhead? This morning I took a chance and went for a ride on the hybrid. I took along a pannier, so I could go to the grocery store before returning home; then went to the park to ride a few laps. It was misty; but at least the rain held off. On the way ro the park, I was dismayed to see that my Cateye wasn’t recording. I got new tires three days ago; and apparently the sensor wasn’t lined up properly afterwards. Somehow I didn’t notice it on the way home from the bike shop; and after that I didn’t use the hybrid again until today. I stopped several times to tinker with that sensor; but still didn’t get it right. I hope to get it lined up correctly tonight; because tomorrow I want to ride to the salvage store. IF I can; I still have to be weather wary. The forecast says, 80% chance of showers and T-storms; and if it were only rain, I wouldn’t be as worried. But if there’s lightning? It’s not fun to be riding with my skin crawling because I feel like a lightning rod! 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 Weather Wary January 26, 2024 Riding in the Rain January 25, 2024 Augusta? January 24, 2024 Bumpy Ride January 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Riding in the Rain

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Riding in the Rain ☔️ Riding in the rain is rather a mixed bag. On the one hand, it can be exhilarating to be out there for a spirited ride during a downpour: “Take that, Mother Nature!” But on the other hand, a rainy ride can be a frustrating, dis-spiriting slog. I’ve been out there on the road bike when it started raining hard; and the wind got nasty. Wind makes the rain seem even harder that it is; and a headwind makes visibility in rain worse — especially if you wear glasses. If you’ve got a strong sidewind, bike control is more difficult; especially when you must ride one-handed while getting a drink of water. More than once I’ve had to stop entirely to get that drink, because the wind was simply too much. All tbat is before we consider the temperature while riding in the rain. Even in hot weather, it can get quite cold in rainy conditions; and in cold weather, it’s downright miserable. My torso might stay somewhat warm, thanks to a cycling jacket and my own physical effort. If I have warming packs, my hands can stay reasonably warm. But the rest of me? Even if I’m wearing a poncho, I get plenty wet; and my leg warmers, socks, and everything else get drenched. I keep saying I ought to try a rain suit; but I’ve never gotten around to buying one. And if there’s lightning? Better stay home, and pedal in the trainer. 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 Riding in the Rain January 25, 2024 Augusta? January 24, 2024 Bumpy Ride January 23, 2024 Wet Week January 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Augusta?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Augusta? Not Augusta as in the capital city of Maine. I mean, “augusta” wind forced me to get off my bicycle and walk! Maybe it’s lucky I wasn’t on a “fixie“. A single-speed bicycle might not have let me keep going against that wind as far as I did; which really wasn’t all that far. Maybe it was 3.5 miles; but during the final mile, the wind was directly against me. It started blowing so hard that I could barely make 5 mph. Riding in the drops might have helped; but when the breeze gets that strong, I don’t feel confident in the drops. With about a half-mile still to before I could get down off the levee, I was getting very tired; and my arms were wearing out. It’s a good thing I had turned for home when I did! I might have gone a mile or two farther, but the clouds in a westerly direction looked like they were building up; and they looked stormy. Mindful of the forecast for heavy rain, I decided not to push my luck. I brought along a poncho in case it began to pour before I could get back home. I’m glad it didn’t; that old poncho that I have flaps like crazy in the wind; and it’s even harder to make any headway under such circumstances. Now that I’m home, I don’t care if augusta wind comes along, as long as it doesn’t down the power lines! 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 #160030 January 24, 2024 Bumpy Ride January 23, 2024 Wet Week January 22, 2024 Watching the barometer January 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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