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Harbinger of Rain?

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Harbinger of Rain? 🌧️ Today’s Featured Product! 💥 Dualie Adult Tandem Cruiser New!! ICAN Alpha For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Did I notice a harbinger of rain this morning? I knew that rain and T-storms were in the forecast; and I had a 9:15 am dentist’s appointment. Walking home afterwards, the air seemed more humid than it had been on the way there. Was that a harbinger of rain?  Good question. An hour and a half after I got home, the sun was out; and I don’t believe it had rained a drop. Yet the forecast indicated scattered T-storms! So should I go out for a ride; or stay in? Extra Risk? ⚡️ Speaking of T-storms and bicycle rides, I can’t help wondering: is an e-bike an extra risk in a thunderstorm? It seems to me that the battery might be attractive to electrical charges such as lightning. I looked it up; and there are differing opinions. Meanwhile, it’s getting really hot for a ride; the heat index is in the mid-90s. Yes, I have a cool rag; but when it gets very hot, a cool rag can seem insufficient. And if T-storms really are hanging around, I don’t need to risk a bolt from the blue. 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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Wait Five Minutes

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Wait Five Minutes ⏱ Today’s Featured Product! ❇️ Travel DX Boot Dryer New!! Magene TEO P515 For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Around here they say, if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. It’ll change. Forecasts change fast; sometimes so fast that I can’t keep up. I began watching the weather two days ago, so I’d have an idea of what to expect this weekend.  First they said this morning would be stormy; and then they said, T-storms this afternoon. I didn’t know what to expect; and that uncertainty drives me crazy. By today, the threat of rain and T-storms had lifted for the morning. When I started for the salvage store, there weren’t many clouds; but they moved in quickly. Just wait five minutes? It can happen even faster. Wind 💨 I escaped rain today; but oh, the wind! Riding home from the salvage store, the wind was at least 10 mph; and dead against me. It meant some hard pedaling. I had to stop to take a breather because the effort was wearing me out. I took advantage of the pause to watch a ship plowing its way upriver. It’s fun to watch ships; and this one was from Norway! There’s still rain in the forecast; after mid-afternoon today; and it looks like tomorrow will be stormy all day. I hope I get a weather window that lets me squeeze a ride in somewhere. 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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Alarm Clock

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Alarm Clock ⏰ Today’s Featured Product! 💣 Schwinn Volare 1400 New!! StarKist Beef Creations For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I think my legs need an alarm clock. An alarm can wake me up; why can’t it wake up my legs? And un-stuff my head? Maybe pre-ride stretching would help; but I’m too lazy to do it. I’m also too anxious about putting in some miles before any rain arrives; and we’re at the season when riding before the worst of the heat is becoming important. The wind has been troublesome since yesterday; and today it was stronger than it was 24 hours ago. I did the lazy thing and went to the park — for a very short ride. I guess I’ve got some allergies going as well — my head feels stuffy; and I’m tired. It’s a drag! Nervous Eye 👁️ Of course I’ve got a nervous eye on the forecast for the next few days. Would I have a better idea of what’s really coming if I had a barometer? And remembered to check it! The weather site I check most often shows showers and possible T-storms tomorrow morning. I was going to ride to the salvage store tomorrow, because I have to do something else Saturday morning; but I don’t want to be out there in a T-storm. Forecasts aren’t always accurate; as I’ve seen again and again. A number of times, I’ve worried for nothing. I hope that’s the case this 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 © 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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Hit the Wall?

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Hit the Wall? 😖 Today’s Featured Product! ✨ HQBB-888 Kids’ Tandem Tricycle     New!! Zefal 43 Plus For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Did I hit the wall this morning? I intended to ride about 10 miles before turning for home; but after around five miles or so, I began to feel weird. I’m not sure what was going on. Not drinking enough water? Was I getting too hot, despite the cool rag? (It was nearly 80 degrees before 8:00 am). Bonking? But I ate a banana and nut butter before I began the ride. I didn’t want to hit the wall for sure by continuing; so I started back home several miles early. Just as Well 😮‍💨 It’s just as well that I did turn back early. The headwind on the way home was a killer: 13 mph from the NE. The slog seemed endless. Why did I feel so tired? I knew that T-storms were possible in a few hours; and naturally I wanted to get home ahead of any bad weather. I beat it by a long way; I didn’t hear any thunder until quarter past twelve. The forecast for tomorrow morning says, heavy rain. Not good for riding; but maybe the downpour will hold off until late 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 © 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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Boys Will Be Boys?

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Boys Will Be Boys? 😏 Today’s Featured Product! Continental 42mm Presta Tubes New!! ProBody Pilates Yoga Ball For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Boys will be boys, the saying goes. Will the El Niño behave like that? They say that a strong El Niño can suppress hurricane formation; and if that’s the case, it’s good news. On the other hand, it looks like we could be in for some unusually hot weather; and nobody wants that. A year or two ago, we were getting heat advisories in early June; and they were going into effect as early as 10:00 am. Boys will be boys? I hope they moderate their behavior! Stormy ⛈️ It looks like tomorrow will be stormy; and it makes me wish had gone for a real ride this morning. I rode to the thrift shop (less than 5 miles round trip); and by the time I got home, it was already getting hot. So I decided to wait until tomorrow; and then put in 15-20 miles.  But I checked the forecast at about 4:00 pm; and if it’s accurate, we’ll have T-storms from 6:00 am onwards. That’s not good for riding! On top of the levee is very exposed; and in the park I have to worry about lightning striking a tree just as I’m riding under it. On a stormy day about all I can do is some squats indoors; and watch for a quiet spell that might let me go out 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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Rinse and Repeat?

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Rinse and Repeat? 🚿 Today’s Featured Product! 🔥 Bike Wheel Lights New!! Blue Ridge Virtual Bike Ride For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! June 1 always seems like rinse and repeat. One hurricane season after another; year after year. As always, I’m making preparations: canned food; protein bars; bottled water; and so on. Even a spork! And don’t forget items such as soap; shampoo; and bathroom tissue. And masks. All those things that we use daily, but don’t think about when we have them at hand every minute. If it does come to leaving town quickly, I want everything in a box that’s ready to grab. And, if a bad storm threatens, I’d rather not be having a hurricane party. Back to Normal 🚴🏿 Now my riding schedule is back to normal; and I took today off.  It looks like the weather tomorrow morning will be OK for riding; and I’m considering a trip to the thrift shop. I want a 3-ring binder with a 3-inch spine; and this is probably a good time to look for one. School is letting out for the Summer. Wednesday and Thursday don’t look so good; but if I get caught in a downpour, at least the weather is warm. In fact, it’s getting downright hot! And I don’t expect that I’ll melt; so it would be rinse and repeat. 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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I Beat the Wind!

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I Beat the Wind! 🤜🏼 Today’s Featured Product! 🎆 Rotating Dog Bike Leash New!! Body Sport Aerobic Step For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! By gosh, I beat the wind today! Usually that’s not the case; but today I rode very early. Maybe that made the difference. I went out just past 5:00 am today, because it’s full-moon time. The view I got made the early rising well worth it: a big round moon, rather orange-y in color: and I cold even see the moon’s reflection on the water; not just the moonlight. Not an Early Bird? 🐦 Maybe the wind is not an early bird? I usually have wind to deal with; but I’ve read that wind often does strengthen as the day gets warmer, and air currents get going. This time I beat the wind; and I’m glad there wasn’t fog! Maybe tomorrow I can take a leisurely ride to the Salvation Army thrift store — or shall I wait until Tuesday? I want to look for a few things; but it’s nothing urgent. Then I can begin some hard efforts again. I need it for fitness itself; and also, I need to shed a few pounds! 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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Sunshine at Last

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Sunshine at Last 🌞 Today’s Featured Product! ☄️ Rosarita Low-Fat Black Beans New!! Probar PB Chocolate Chip For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We had sunshine at last this morning! But it’s time to pull out the cool rag: I got quite hot riding back home from the salvage store. It was worth it, though. I’m always on the lookout for new foods and drinks to try during my rides; and today I found a new flavor  of Propel.  I hope our “sunshine at last” persists for a while. But the forecast says, partly cloudy tomorrow morning. I hope I’ll be able to see the moonlight on the river; if I can get myself up early enough! May Gone Already? 🌻 Gosh, May gone already? Time has become as fast as Beep-Beep; if it hasn’t already left that fleet-footed bird far behind. That means that, if I want to aim for RAGBRAI 2027,  I need to do more work to improve my pace right now. I think I’ll aim for steady distance tomorrow; and maybe even do a few extra miles. After all, I had to miss a day because of the weather. Tomorrow is the final day of the May Bike Challenge; and after that, I can go back to taking Mondays off from riding. So I can get some rest; and on Tuesday I can work at pushing a hard gear. 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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Twenty!

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Twenty! 😃 Today’s Featured Product! 🎇 Brooks Saddle Cream 30ml New!! CirC Energy Bites For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Today I finally got in twenty miles. Not only that; I completed my ride in under two hours! For once the wind was cooperative. It looks like conditions will be good tomorrow morning; probably on Sunday morning, too. So Sunday I can do twenty miles; maybe a bit more. It’s almost time to pull out the cool rag, though. Mornings are in the low- to mid-70s; and afternoons can reach 85 degrees. Cyclists need to keep cool! Wrapping Up 🎁 We’re wrapping up the Love to Ride Bike Month Challenge. There are just two more days for me to get in miles; so I hope nothing keeps me from riding tomorrow and Sunday. Last Saturday I didn’t ride, because of the day-long threat of T-storms. I couldn’t know how long any break in the weather might last; and on top of the levee is no place to be when the lightning’s cracking! And then, despite all the flood advisories and T-storms in the forecast, we didn’t get much in this neighborhood. Did I miss riding for nothing?   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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Deferred Ride

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Deferred Ride 🚴🏿 Today’s Featured Product! 🎉 Garmin 010-02060-00 Edge 530 New!! WITTKOP Bike Mirror For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Today I had a deferred ride. I was wary of going out early today because the forecast (again) predicted rain and T-storms; but nothing much happened. Then I got busy with other things; and around eleven o’clock I began to hear thunder. I would have felt vindicated for not riding if a big downpour with lots of lightning had descended upon us. But it didn’t; and by early afternoon I had had enough of the deferred ride  Fizzle 🫧 The apparent approach of a T-storm was a fizzle, as it turned out. Half of me wanted to ride; and the other half said, don’t be too quick. There was a flood advisory in effect; which could have meant that there was a downpour on the way. At the same time, we’ve had such advisories for the past few days; with little or no rain. It’s the old boy-who-cried-wolf. I finally went to the park. I kept an eye on the sky as I rode; and during my third lap, the sun came out. It wasn’t long before I began to feel too hot; so I went home. It was a short ride; but a deferred ride is better than no ride at 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 © 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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