bicycling Archives - Page 116 of 120

Thailand

Thailand Looks like a beautiful place! 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.” How would Thailand be as a cycling destination? According to at least one person, there’s nowhere better to ride. I like the idea of avoiding the usual touristy spots. Bypassing the beaten path lets you see more of the real ways of a country. Food, for instance. Food seems to be everywhere in Thailand. The article mentions scooters with a side-car rigged up as a mobile kitchen. I think that’s neat. And the food, it seems, is delicious. Not having to cook would make a cycling tour much easier. No worries about finding somewhere to set up your kitchen in the first place! No washing up afterwards! You can use the time you save on kitchen duty to get in a few more miles on the bike each day. Spice Roads offers group tours in Thailand. If I went to Thailand, I think I’d like to visit Bangkok. It would be good to see the real city; my view of Bangkok is admittedly much colored by “Anna and the King of Siam” (now said to be a complete fabrication). I did learn this much from the book: NEVER touch anybody’s head. Thailand’s climate is tropical. The average annual temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 28 degrees Celsius); and it’s humid. I ought to be used to hot and humid; I’ve lived in it all my life. So maybe Thailand would be a good bicycle tour destination for me. 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 ¡Feliz Navidad! December 22, 2023 Joyeux Noël! December 21, 2023 Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 20, 2023 Christmas Past December 20, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Cycling and Back Pain

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care, Training / CAL

Cycling and Back Pain ☹️ Cycling and back pain? It seems like aching quads and overworked hamstrings are more likely, doesn’t it? Yet cycling can have its share of back problems. A number of things might cause it. If there is no intrinsic biological problem that would cause back pain on the bike, improper bike fit might easily be the cause. It’s well worth the time and cost to get a good bike fit, such as Specialized Body Geometry. As the saying goes, adjust the bike to fit your body; don’t force your body to fit the bike. Posture is another factor, whether on the bicycle or not. Many of our daily activities are not conducive to good posture. Another possible culprit is poor flexibility. Lack of core strength can also lead to back pain. A misaligned spine, too, can be behind an aching back. And check out your riding style. Style 👘 Yes, check out your riding style; and I don’t mean your cycling wardrobe. Trying to push gears too hard for your strength level can adversely affect the back, especially trying to climb in too hard a gear. Pushing too hard a gear is also putting yourself at risk for knee problems. Prevention, of course, is the best cure. And what about riding with a loaded Camel-Bak on your, well, back? It’s not only the reservoir full of water; to that weight you can add anything else you choose to take along, such as food or an extra jacket. Work up to it, as with so many other things. Don’t wait to use said loaded Camel-Bak on the day of a major event. The unaccustomed load could lead to cycling and back pain. And now, I’d like to get back on the bike! 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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The Maple Leaf

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

The Maple Leaf Northeast Southeast Midwest Southwest West Globetrotting Bike Packing Equipment Home Hamburger Toggle Menu Say, “maple leaf”, and I’m likely to think of the Joplin rag before anything else. And I think of maple syrup! It also conjures up images of our neighbor to the North; namely, Canada. Here are ten possibilities in what I might call “The Land of the Maple Leaf”. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail covers more than 3600 kilometers (about 2237 miles). Numerous communities, including First Nations, are on this route. You’ll pass many parks and other natural areas. This trail is fully signed. Perhaps you would enjoy Quebec’s Route Verte, which includes the Whale Trail. As you pedal along the Saint Lawrence River, you just might catch a glimpse of humpback whales! The Cabot Trail of Nova Scotia apparently has some pretty stiff climbing, but some great scenery; woodland and marine alike. The Confederation Trail on Prince Edward Island sounds like it would be right up my alley. It was build on abandoned railway beds. Sounds like Rails to Trails! How about Newfoundland’s Viking Trail? This one is not for the faint-hearted; it’s rugged, but the scenery looks great! The Yukon is a place I associate with dogsleds and prospecting for gold; not bicycling. You could put in some lo-o-o-ng days if you go there in Summer! If downhill is your cup of tea, try British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies. Grab that MTB and head North! You could head to Alberta and ride the Parkway for glacier-watching. Or you might pedal through the prairies of Saskatchewan. Or how about Manitoba’s Duck Mountain Provincial Park? Cycling trails there are marked at the head according to level of difficulty. Wow, that’s quite a list. Would this be an “inn-to-inn” style trips? Self-supported, with panniers and all? It’s a lot to consider; but Canada is a big country! 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 Brain Fag? April 16, 2026 Unloaded April 14, 2026 Spinning April 13, 2026 Still Blowing April 12, 2026 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Turkey Trot?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Turkey Trot? 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.” Turkey Trot might better be called Turkey Roll in this instance! A bicycle tour through Turkey may seem like an outlandish undertaking, fraught with peril. The country isn’t exactly alone in that respect, but here are some pointers for staying safe. A lot of it is plain common sense; but some items, such as appropriate dress should you visit a mosque, are more specific to Turkey. So, are fancy socks considered inappropriate? This is quite a large nation; the northern parts can be getting snow while at the southern end, people can be sunbathing on the beach! Many cycling routes are available, but for ideas on visiting specific areas see here. The accounts I’ve read of bicycling through Turkey mention avoiding certain regions; but frequently mention how delightfully hospitable the people are. That must be most welcome to cyclists pedaling their way through the land; especially if they’re half a world away from home. Sharing the road with livestock would be a new one for me! I hope that cows, goats, etc. wear bells so it’s possible to hear them before getting too close to them. It also wouldn’t be the tidiest thing in the world to ride along behind them (I don’t need to say why). There’s one aspect of being in Turkey that didn’t seem to be mentioned in the articles I read. Is an exposed female ankle still a crime there? If so, what would the authorities think of a woman in lycra riding a bicycle? Or dancing the Turkey Trot? 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 ¡Feliz Navidad! December 22, 2023 Joyeux Noël! December 21, 2023 Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 20, 2023 Christmas Past December 20, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Rolling through South America

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Rolling Through South America Rolling through South America would be quite the adventure; but there’s an awful lot of ground to cover! If you’d prefer to focus your efforts on a particular country, Brazil offers quite a variety. For city touring, try São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. If nature is your thing, Chapada Diamantina is great for mountain biking; and Cananéia to Paranaguá, Sao Paulo and Parana is reputed to be one of the best routes of all. Of course there’s more to South America than Brazil. Bolivia offers a number of bicycle tours. Some are at very high altitude; and/or involve some very stiff climbing! There’s an annual event in cities throughout Bolivia called Día del Peatón (Day of the Pedestrian). Motorized vehicles are forbidden from driving until sunset. Local cyclists can enjoy cruising around the empty city streets. It sounds like fun! The 2019 Tour de France certainly got Colombia onto the world cycling stage. For the first time, a rider from Colombia took the yellow jersey. Not that cycling is anything new in that South American nation. How about a cycling tour there? There are terrific climbs for those who have the legs (and the lungs!); coffee country for the caffeine lover; and – did you say non-distracted drivers? What a welcome change! But do take along some filter masks, as air quality in the cities is poor. Try some panela! Oh, and the ciclovia! Wouldn’t it be just wonderful if cities in the USA observed it! Thinking about rolling through South America might get your adventurous spirit up. Me? If I began serious training right now, I might be fit enough in, oh, ten years or so. 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 Holding My Breath Again! January 8, 2024 Bolivia January 7, 2024 Beating the Weather January 7, 2024 Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Pedaling ’round the Philippines

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Pedaling ’round the Philippines 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.” Pedaling ’round the Philippines, except for busy urban areas such as Manila, is said to be pretty good. The nation has many natural beauties, and options range from mountainous to beachside to wildlife sanctuaries. Maybe try it on a Schwinn Twinn Tandem? Would you like to skip from island to island? After all, there are 7000+ to chose from! Just roll your bicycle onto a ferry; sail to another island; and roll back off again. When is the best time to visit? Many people suggest going between December and May. Road quality is variable, but for the most part OK unless you’re on a skinny-tired racing bike. If you stay in Manila, it’s not hard to ride out to see natural attractions. You might see a jeepney or two on the roads. These public-transit vehicles were first built from military jeeps that were left over from the Second World War. Apparently they have no opening doors; passengers get in and out through the back. Great news for cyclists who are concerned about getting “doored”. The Filipino people are said to be welcoming; and the country is budget-friendly. However, in poor rural areas it can actually be hard to get food. Pack up those MET-Rx Bars and get ready go go pedaling ’round the Philippines. 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 Here Comes the Chill December 28, 2023 Frumenty December 27, 2023 Twelve Days December 26, 2023 Season’s Greetings! December 25, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Don’t Bonk Like This!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Don’t Bonk Like This! 🇨🇳 Don’t bonk like this! Who wants to feel like they’ve just hit this famous barrier? The Bonk is something dreaded by cyclists. Also called “hitting the wall“, we try to avoid it by on-bike eating. But how about bicycling along the Great Wall of China? Or even a tour through the country? To tour the entirety of China by bicycle would take a long time; the country is 3.7 million square miles. That’s nearly as big as the USA! The terrain is very diverse. Some areas are mountainous; others are flat. Not surprisingly for such a large nation, the climate, too, is quite diverse. So, if I were to take a bicycle tour of China, which part would I visit? There’s much more to China than the Great Wall! I would have to be prepared for culture shock, I’m sure. The language barrier wouldn’t be one tenth of it! The only Chinese words I know are “ming” ( bright) and “ma”; and “ma” can mean one of four things, depending on the inflection. The food eaten day-to-day by the Chinese people, I hear, is quite different from what we in the USA know as Chinese food. Of course there’s the matter of safety. And lodgings; visas; courtesies; you name it. So I’d spring for a guided tour. If I tried to go solo, I’d run into numerous barriers as hard as the Great Wall! No, I don’t want to bonk like this. 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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Biking Bangladesh

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Biking Bangladesh 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.” Biking Bangladesh is something that I never thought of. Cycling is, however, quite popular among the people of this Asian nation. The Bangladesh Eco Adventure is suited to all ages. It lasts eight days and seven nights; and lets you see natural and cultural sites. There are many other cycling routes to choose from. Most are flat or downhill; and that would suit me just fine! So far, I’ve never become much of a climber! The Trimohoni route looks good for a short, casual ride. At less than 10 miles long, it might serve as a warm-up to a longer route! The Chattogram to Dhaka spans 152+ miles; and is well suited to a city bike. Or, since this route is paved, would a road bike do as well? The climate of Bangladesh is warm and humid. Sounds just like home! December through February are the drier months; so it may be a good idea to cycle Bangladesh during that season. Of course, be mindful of local customs and courtesies. Pay attention to safety advice when planning your trip. Aside from bicycle touring, Bangladesh has a lot of natural beauty to offer: rivers; tropical rain forests; and a beach. Something for everyone! 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 Holiday Food December 16, 2023 Glad I’m Home December 15, 2023 Getting Wild December 14, 2023 Sooner or Later December 13, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Vietnam

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Vietnam 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.” “This is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” Vietnam might not be the first country that springs to mind when bicycle touring abroad is mentioned. In fact, the nation’s very name has unfortunate connotations for some of us. Vietnam, however, can be a wonderful place for a bicycle tour. Of course there are some downsides, as is true of anywhere; but the people are said to be very friendly, and in general things aren’t very expensive. Vietnam also seems to have a reputation for being safe for tourists, which is more than can be said for many places. What is there to see there? If beaches are your thing, perhaps you’ll want to head for Phu Quoc island. There are Buddhist temples. See the rice paddies. Only about one-fifth of the country is flat. The rest of the country is densely forested highlands, or hills, or tropical lowlands. The climate is part temperate; part tropical; and the monsoons must be taken into account. The humidity tends to be high. Spring and Fall are said to be the best times to visit. If you do go there during the rainy season, be sure to take along a poncho. In fact, if Vietnam is anything like New Orleans, it can rain at any time; so remember Gene Kelly!

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Bike the Florida Keys

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Bike the Florida Keys Bike the Florida Keys! Combine your love for cycling with your love for the water and the outdoors! Senior Cycling offers a number of bicycle tours. They sound like fun; but there’s one big precaution. Be sure there isn’t a hurricane prowling around! That could wreck your ride in a hurry. Distance-wise, the tours seem easy; and the terrain is mostly flat. I think I’d like to bike the Florida Keys! I suppose these tours are held in January to minimize the chances that a hurricane will interfere with them. In addition, holding such a tour in Summer would very likely present a serious chance that riders will suffer from heat-related illnesses. These tours are aimed at older riders, after all, who may be suffering from chronic conditions as diabetes. SAG support is included, which might mean that bottles of water will be available. Even so, I would be sure to bring my Camel-Bak. Then I could be more sure that I wouldn’t run out of water. The description of Bike the Florida Keys doesn’t seem to say anything about wind conditions. I checked Google, and it says that the wind in the Keys is usually “calm”; maybe a bit over 9 mph. That’s not exactly my idea of calm, but all the same it’s not bad. This is yet another “maybe someday” ride. If I ever get to bike the Florida Keys, let’s hope I don’t get so keyed up with excitement that I crash. 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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