bicycling Archives - Page 105 of 127

looby loo

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Uncategorized / CAL

Looby Loo? Here We Go Looby Loo came to mind when I thought about lubing my hybrid bike’s chain. I played that game when I was a child; but hadn’t thought about it in ages. After three days of mid-day downpours, a bicycle’s chain needs an oil job. On the other hand, why bother if it’s going to rain again the next day? More showers and T-storms are predicted for tomorrow, especially in the afternoon. Today it rained so hard that we got a flash flood warning! And poor St. Louis really got clobbered! If I decide to go “looby loo” tonight, maybe I’ll walk to work tomorrow. I’m getting rather tired of having my bicycle rained on; and of worrying that I’ll have to ride home in a deluge. The bicycle needs a good general cleaning, anyway. I’ve been lucky lately with the weather for my early-morning rides. Yesterday it was mostly clear when I rode; and I saw the old crescent moon. The dark part of the moon was visible; and one of the planets was close by. Venus, maybe. Today the moon was too low in the sky; and/or there were too many clouds. I had to make it rather short this morning. Some days I’m too sleepy to get going in time; and then I get aggravated with myself. I’m also annoyed with myself about my eating habits of late. I really need to get back on track! It’s hard to eat a really good breakfast when I’m just home from an hour’s riding; have to get ready to go to work; and my appetite is suppressed from the exercise! It’s hard to pack enough food to carry along, too. I sure miss working from home; and want more than ever to retire.

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Fantasycart Unicycle

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Uncategorized / CAL

Fantasycart Unicycle Fantasycart Unicycle sounds like a great vehicle for the adventurous. I’m not sure I want to try one; but if I were younger, maybe I would. And supposedly it’s not that difficult to learn! One-wheelers make me think of clowns. I don’t have any aspirations to become a clown; so maybe I’ll forget about unicycles. Actually, though, a “uni” has an advantage or two over a bicycle. If you store your “rides” indoors, the Fantasy Unicycle takes up less space than a regular bike. The same thing goes for parking if you ride the uni anywhere. Who knows — you might get away with carrying it into the store with you! Does having a load on your back make balancing on a unicycle harder? More specifically, will that load pull you backwards? The uni doesn’t seem to have much room for a water bottle holder. The seat tube looks like the only possible spot. And then you’d have to almost stand on your head to get the water bottle. I’m not sure I can do that and not lose my balance! Moreover, can this uni coast; or does the wheel stop if you stop pedaling? Thus a Camel-Bak seems like the only option for hydration if you want to ride far; but I don’t think this model is actually intended for long-distance rides. But even in cold weather, don’t skimp on hydration! That means learning to ride on one wheel with that load on your back. I’ve seen very few unicycle riders; and at my age, I’m disinclined to try. But as I said, if I were younger, maybe I’d go for it.

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Pakistan

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Pakistan I wonder what cycling in Pakistan is like. It’s so easy to focus on packaged bicycle tours. Then the country’s real cycling culture gets pushed aside. Women in the country, a conservative society, face obstacles when it comes to cycling. But they have to have a way to get places (the market; school; etc.); and suppose the way is too long to make walking practical? And must they miss the joys of cycling because of societal restrictions? They’re just like anyone else: they need exercise; and a way to have fun. On the other hand, this account makes it seem just fine for a woman to be a cyclist in Pakistan. Maybe it makes a difference whether a female on a bicycle is the the city, or the countryside. It might also be different for visitors to the nation. If you want to take a bicycle tour of Pakistan, there are some options. The Deosai tour is great for MTB enthusiasts. The Old Silk Route is a challenging one. It begins to sound like a flatlander like me would have a very hard time cycling in Pakistan! At present, July 2026, the country is at Level 3 Travel Advisory; so I can’t in good conscience suggest going there. It’s a pity; it looks like a beautiful place. How about the climate? That varies quite a lot according to topography. Some parts of the country are dry and hot; and as you gain in altitude, it gets cooler. Most areas get little rain; so maybe you can leave the poncho at home! 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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Rainbow at Morning

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Rainbow at Morning Today I saw a rainbow at morning! For a few minutes, it was quite bright; then it faded. But the saying goes, “Rainbow at morning, sailor take warning.” T-storms are predicted for this afternoon; and I’m glad I don’t have any more errands to run. In fact, right about noon, I began to hear thunder. Yesterday some parts of the city got torrential rain; as much as three inches in about 90 minutes. I guess I got lucky! I had to abandon my plan to go to the salvage store. Yesterday I got a call from the management office of this place I rent. They don’t have copies of the door keys (!); and wanted me to get some. Walmart has a key-copying counter; so I went to Walmart. I could have ridden to the salvage store from there; but I needed apples, bananas, and so on. I knew Walmart would have those things; so I got them there. Guess what else I got? Clothespins! They’re great for clipping shut bags of frozen fruit (or whatever); and a pack of 24 cost less than three bucks. They work just as well as those “clip chips” that cost a lot more; clothespins are probably more durable. I rather hope I won’t see a rainbow at morning tomorrow. I want to do a long ride; and T-storms cracking overhead won’t help! The rain would soak my ride food, too. What shall I take along for ride food? Stroopwafels? Honey Stinger Chews? I’ll figure it out.

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Wet Start

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Wet Start I got a wet start to my weekend. About 45 minutes before I left work, I looked outside; and the sky was full of a looming, black cloud. Oh, great, I thought: will I have to ride home through a downpour? As it turned out, not really. When I left work, it was raining; but not hard. All the same, it was more than a faint drizzle; and I put on the poncho. The thunder wasn’t very close; but it was quite continuous. As I was unlocking my bicycle from the rack, I saw one or two flashes of lightning that were unnervingly bright. Surprisingly, they weren’t especially close. I wanted to take my usual route home, and get in a few miles. Last night I forgot to set my alarm; and I didn’t wake up until too late to go for riding. But the weather as I left work made me decide for the shorter route home. There was no telling how quickly really nasty weather might arrive! I guess the kind of rain I got was what a bicycle trunk is meant for. When I have to ride through a heavy downpour, those zippers leak. I never know when it might happen; so I put everything in plastic bags. I hope I don’t get a wet start tomorrow. Running errands isn’t fun when it’s pouring. It looks like T-storms won’t threaten until late morning; so maybe I’ll be OK!

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Monday Muddle

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Uncategorized / CAL

Monday Muddle Today was a Monday muddle, as is only too usual. It makes me feel rather like this gorilla. I didn’t go out on the road bike; but I did ride the hybrid to work. One block from home, I suddenly noticed that I’d forgotten my helmet; and had to go back for it. That was Monday muddle #1. At work, my brain felt like mush; another Monday usual. I brought almonds with chocolate bits as part of my lunch; forgot I had them; and bought M&Ms! There I go again with the Monday muddle. On the way home I watched the clouds. It looked like a T-storm might be developing; but as of 6:00pm, nothing. I had a good tailwind, though! I’m keeping an eye on my commuting progress in Love to Ride. I’m 46% on the way to Super Commuter: ride to work 200 days in the calendar year. If there are 108 work days left in 2022, I just might make it. But that supposes no vacation days; no sick days; and no hurricane-enforced time off! Last year I missed a lot of time, thanks to Ida. So far this year’s hurricane season is slow; but it might pick up tempo any time. We just hope it doesn’t! I don’t need my Monday muddle to extend into the week; and make me forget my poncho. There’s a chance of T-storms every afternoon for the next 3-4 days; and I might need it. At least the clouds will keep the temperature down a bit. Incidentally, I’m glad I’m not riding in the Tour de France. It’s so hot there, the tarmac is melting!

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Another Excursion

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Uncategorized / CAL

Another Excursion Good for on-bike fueling; or as a quick meal. This morning I made another excursion to the salvage store. I was a bit uneasy about the weather. On the way there, I could see a big cloud in my rearview mirror; and I forgot to pack the poncho! However, I was lucky. It didn’t rain; and part of the time the sun was behind the clouds. That kept me a little cooler; and as of 3:55 pm it hasn’t rained yet. The salvage store ran out of those Gatorade bars several weeks ago; and I’ve used up the supply that I had. I was glad to find some other protein meal bars at 50¢ each. I hope the store has a good, long run with them. Today the grab-bag bins were empty. I hope they have something when I go there again. Sometimes I find good stuff there, including ride food. Once home, I put away the things that needed refrigeration. Then I started another excursion to get bananas; celery; and an onion. I want to make Leapin’ Leo; and I needed the vegetables for it. The bananas are for pre-ride snacks. Naturally I’m planning a long ride for tomorrow. It looks like the greatest rain chances are for the afternoon; and I hope that’s accurate! I’ve got a 40-mile trek in mind; and it won’t be fun if it rains and gets my ride food wet. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I have to clean up the kitchen and do my laundry. And get back into my off-bike exercises! I’ve been terribly slack about them for months!

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more than balance

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Uncategorized / CAL

More Than Balance This More than Balance DVD guides the new rider into many aspects of cycling. Riding a bicycle is also about having a bike that fits your body. It’s about learning how to ride safely in motor traffic; and even basic repairs. I’ve never really learned how to make bicycle repairs. Last December I got a flat when I was 17 miles from home; and fixing that flat bothered my arthritic hands big time. It also took big time! I rarely need to change a tube; and of course I was all thumbs at it. Often I wish I could do things such as adjust derailleurs; and the only way to learn, is to do! But I’m too afraid of ruining my bicycle to try it. Riding next to traffic is another skill I’ve never developed. I don’t have to do it often; and when I do, it makes me very nervous. I never know when someone might fling open a door right in front of me. The result could be catastrophic injury; or even death. As to a bicycle that fits, a professional fitting is well worth the cost; especially if you want to do a lot of miles. It isn’t only the bicycle frame that must fit. A good saddle is also important. Should you get a firm saddle; or a cushier one? By all I’ve ever read, that depends on the kind of riding you want to do. For casual short rides around the neighborhood, a wide, soft saddle might be OK. For longer, faster riding, a narrower and firmer saddle is in order. The main thing is that your saddle supports your sit bones properly. See where we’re going here? Cycling is, indeed, about more than balance!

Taking Chances

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Uncategorized / CAL

Taking Chances It felt like I was taking chances today. I had to go to a doctor’s appointment a good distance away; and on the way home I decided to get Chinese food. It was hot; I was tired; and I didn’t feel like carrying a full takeout box home; so I ate in for a change. The restaurant was perhaps half-full; but even so, I really wasn’t comfortable being in there with so many people. Of course I had to take my mask off while I ate. There were also possible exposures on the bus; and at the doctor’s office. I sometimes feel like I’m taking chances anytime I go outdoors. The news is constantly full of reports of car-jackings; murders; and on and on. But a body’s got to get on with everyday life; and I can’t do that if I stay indoors all day, every day. How could I go riding? I have to go to work; and I have to get groceries. All anyone can do is to stay alert; and hope for the best. Ideally I’d have a few riding companions; but how many people want to ride at 5:00 am? Every day I’m taking chances with the weather. As long as the forecasts include chances of T-storms, I’m a bit on edge; and I admit that I’m rather weary of hauling along rain gear day after day. A poncho is hard to fold or roll so that it’s truly compact; thus it takes up more space than I want it to. This morning it wasn’t raining; but there were too many clouds for me to get a good look at the moon. A brief break in the overcast let me see the moon through thin, high clouds; and that was better than nothing. But how I missed seeing the moonlight on the river!

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Pretty as a Picture

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Pretty as a Picture! The Tour de France pics are — well — pretty as a picture, now that they’re getting into the mountains. I love mountains; and always have. Maybe that’s because it’s flat as can be where I live; and the sight of mountains is a refreshing change. But I’d better not try a cycling adventure at high altitude, unless I put in some rigorous altitude-simulation training first! If training in the mountains isn’t possible, this mask can help! I remember visits to such places as Rocky Mountain National Park when I was a kid. If you go camping/bike packing there, remember that high altitudes are cold at night! I was always amazed at how much it cooled off after sunset, even in July. Bring plenty of layers; and a warm sleeping bag. The scenery is pretty as a picture; but you won’t be able to enjoy it if you’re freezing. Today’s weather wasn’t pretty; and it probably won’t get better for at least a few more days. There’s a low-pressure system just off the Gulf coast; and it’s generating plenty of rain! I was relieved when it wasn’t raining this morning; and I went for a ride. But I could see that somebody in a northerly direction was getting a T-storm; and I’m glad it was far away. Our weather for the next few days won’t be pretty as a picture; and I’ll be glad when the rain goes elsewhere. The weekend might be OK for riding, because the main chances for T-storms are in the afternoons. I want to ride, and bump up my Love to Ride mileage. I hit 3000 today; 2000 more to go!

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