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Cycling in Italy

Cycling in Italy If I were to take a bicycle tour of Italy, which part would I want to see? What tour would I undertake? For riders looking for a leisurely tour, Cycling for Softies offers a number of routes. Tuscany? Yes, there are rolling hills; but e-bikes are available to make them easier. Roll past vineyards; olive groves; and medieval villages. The Puglia tour explores the “bootheel” of Italy. This lesser-known area of the country offers terrific views of the sea; and is rich in history. Delicious local cuisine, too! For more of a challenge, how about MTB tours of Sardinia? Incidentally, are the fish named for the island? It sounds like Sardinia would be too rugged and tough for me to ride. Want to cycle the Eternal City? You can do that, too! They say that, even if Italian drivers are aggressive, they certainly don’t want to mar the finish of their cars; and of course they don’t want to hit you. But if you’re super-duper gung-ho, you might want to tackle the Giro! 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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A Chill Ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Chill Ride A “chill” ride comparatively speaking, that is. I was a bit nervous about going for a ride today, because last night the forecast said there was a 90% chance of rain and T-storms. In fact, as I was setting out, I saw a huge, black cloud off in a southerly direction. I decided to chance it, but keep it rather short; partly because I didn’t know what the weather might do; and partly because when I’ve done less riding than usual for a week, it’s probably better not to push for 40-50 miles. I ran into some light sprinkle here and there; but no real rain. Then I got to my turnaround point. Two other riders came along, and we chatted for a bit. Naturally we got to talking about the weather, and one of them got out his iPhone (SmartPhone?) to check it. He announced that it was 77 degrees. That’s a lot cooler than it has been. My comment was, “We’re gonna freeze!” I guess the overcast is keeping temperatures down. I also mentioned that I rather wish I could do RAGBRAI. “What’s that?” So I told him a bit about it. On the way out, I averaged 15.44 mph; very good for me. Going back home, I “chilled”, i.e. rode at a more leisurely pace; about 12.6 mph. But for a local collegiate racing team, a “chill” ride is about 18 mph. For me that’s still a hard effort!

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If the Bike Fits

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

If the Bike Fits If Bike Fits II! A good bicycle fit is essential for comfort on the bike, especially if you intend to do long rides. There are several bicycle-fitting systems out there. Specialized Body Geometry and Retul are the only two that I’ve experienced. It is said, quite rightly, that any bicycle fit is only as good as the fitter who is carrying out the procedure. If you want to explore bike-fit options, Cutting Edge Cycling discusses several systems in Chapter 7. These are: Wobble-Naught [site not secure]; Retul; Serotta Personal Fit; and BikeFit. Changing where you sit on the saddle can change a bike-fit entirely, as I found out. Moving backward a few inches changes everything! When I went for the re-refit a few weeks ago, I expected that the fitter would move my saddle forward, and/or do something with the handlebar position. Instead, I wound up with a new saddle. He had suggested at past fittings that I might want to consider a slight wider saddle, and that’s what I have now. I still have to check myself to be sure I’m not sitting too far forward; and that my sit bones are where the saddle supports them. Thus, If the Bike Fits II. Is that why I suddenly seem able to pedal harder, and why I’m feeling my calves like never before?

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Not the Sandwich

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Not the Sandwich 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.” It’s not the sandwich; it’s the Giro! Yes, that’s G-I-R-O; not G-Y-R-O. Okay, okay, but I’m hungry! Let’s munch on our gyros while we learn a bit about the Giro. Like the Tour de France, it was begun as a way of increasing sales of a newspaper; an advertising gambit, if you will. The first TdF was held in 1903, and the initial Giro was in 1909. H’mm. Did Italy get the idea for the Giro from the TdF? Also like the TdF, the Giro is three weeks long. There are time trials, flat stages, and mountainous stages. Again like the TdF, the Giro riders must deal with less than ideal weather conditions at times. Riding in cold and rain is miserable, especially without wet-weather gear. I’ve gotten caught in caught in cold and rain often enough; and it saps my energy. That, when I usually have about six miles to ride. Imagine pedaling through it while racing for miles up the side of a mountain! With weather like that, I’ll bet the riders are all glad when the race is over. But if I ever rode the Giro, I’d love to win that pretty pink jersey. And even though the race is not the sandwich, I’d love to chow down a gyro to celebrate. 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 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Some Like It Hot

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Some Like It HOT! Some like it hot, all right: a century ride in 100 degree heat! I don’t think I want to try that one. A ride of three or four hours in the “Swampeast” Louisiana humidity, at 88-92 degrees, is quite enough for me! Those who do like it hot can head for Wichita Falls, Texas, for the Hotter N Hell Hundred century ride. That’s a 100-mile, rolling course. It can be quite windy. And, of course, there’s the heat. Temperatures at Hotter N Hell can exceed 100 degrees. Add to that the area’s aridity. It’s definitely not for the unseasoned cyclist. Interesting factoid: the Camel-Bak had its origins in the HHH. Don’t forget to bring yours if you undertake this event. Some like it hot; but even if you do, you’ll need lots of water! Be sure you have your electrolyte drink, too. A tube of tablets would be better than extra bottles of liquid; this weighs much less and takes up almost no space. For a prolonged ride in such heat, gut training would be extra important. After riding for several hours in milder conditions, my stomach starts to feel a bit uncomfortable. Having to keep going six or seven hours when it’s 100 degrees or more, and extremely dry to boot, would be a tall order. Am I up to such a challenge? Maybe some day I’ll get to test my mettle. 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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Wonder Ride?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Wonder Ride? For a wonder ride, head for Arizona’s Grand Canyon. This is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World; and rightly so, I would say. When my brother and I visited the Grand Canyon, I found that I could stare and Stare and STARE at it, until my eyeballs ached. As soon as I looked away, I felt compelled to look back at it; as though to be sure I hadn’t been imagining it! We had a great time there. We watched the sun rising over the North Rim, an unforgettable sight. It meant getting up very early in the morning, which was very generous of my brother. He’s not the early bird sort. But it was well worth it! Starting at Mather Point, we walked down to Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail; and had a picnic lunch before heading back up. We saw various kinds of lizards; birds; and even glimpsed a gray fox! At the time, I was many years away from taking up cycling. If I went there again, I might enjoy a cycling tour. It would be hard, though, for me to watch where I was riding for wanting to stare at that magnificent abyss. The Grand Canyon is a desert environment, so take along a good hydration system. The South Rim is something like 7000 feet up, meaning that sunblock is even more important than it is at lower altitudes. Oh, and don’t forget the camera! You’re sure to want to take a LOT of pictures! 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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Paella, perhaps?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Paella Perhaps? Is paella, perhaps, good ride food? It’s made up of rice (carbs); some kind of meat or seafood (protein); and veggies. But I never knew that this dish is named after the shallow pan in which it’s traditionally cooked! Along with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, Vuleta a Espana is one of the three Grand Tour bicycle races. It began more recently, in 1935; and was inspired by the TdF and the Giro. It, too, is three weeks long. The race is held in August-September. I suppose that’s to give riders who participated in the Tour de France a chance to recover, just as the TdF doesn’t begin immediately after the May-June Giro. Even so, that sounds like a grueling schedule. Three weeks of riding all around Italy; three more weeks of pedaling around France; then three weeks of pushing the pedals around Spain. There are intervals of about one month between one event and the next. Even so, the riders must recover from one race; build up to the next; and taper leading up to starting day. During the Vuelta, do the riders have paella, perhaps, for supper? Especially a variation including mussels. The mussels might help their muscles! 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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Bring on the Soap!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Bring on the Soap! Bring on the soap! The Dirty Kanza is running! Dirty Kanza. Sounds like a case for a censor, doesn’t it? Actually, I suppose a bicycle could pick up a lot of dirt and muck over the 200-mile gravel course. Hard? I’ll bet! It sounds as though the temperatures at Dirty Kanza can rival those at the Hotter’N Hell 100. Gravel roads, I suspect, make riding harder when it’s been raining. If my road bike’s tires picked up all that muck it could jam my [rim] brakes. No doubt that’s why MTBs use disc brakes. I’d need a solid course in bicycle repair/maintenance before I’d be prepared to tackle DK. (Even before starting that, I’d need to get a mountain bike!) I barely know how to change a tube. I’d be lost if I needed to fix a suspension system at the roadside. What would I do if I were on DK and ran into hail? They say it happens. I guess all I could do would be to hope that my helmet is sufficient protection from pieces of ice falling from the sky. Stopping to take shelter would hardly be an option: DK is a race, after all. And afterwards? Both my “ride” and I would probably need a lot of cleaning up. Time to bring on the soap. 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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Not Only Cowboys

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care / CAL

Not Only Cowboys ? It’s not only cowboys who get saddle sores. Saddle sores had always sounded to me like something that might happen after days on horseback. It hadn’t occurred to me that cyclists might get them, too. As with so many other things, prevention is better than having to deal with sores after they develop. What steps can we take? Saddle fit and position are a factor. Be sure your saddle supports your sit bones; and if there’s a spot where your saddle causes extra pressure or chafing, adjust it to eliminate the problem. Cleanliness is important, too. Always have a clean pair of shorts to wear for every ride. Some riders use antibacterial soaps such as Hibiclens as a daily crotch wash. A lubricant such as Chamois Butt’r helps prevent chafing during a ride. After a ride, get out of your cycling shorts as soon as possible. Don’t hang out in a sweaty chamois. If a saddle sore develops in spite of all precautions, it’s small comfort to remember that it’s not only cowboys who have this problem. You want that sore to heal as soon as possible. I read of one rider who developed numerous sores at once. He did a lot of out-of-saddle work until the sores healed. If a sore is really stubborn, then of course consult a physician. You want to get back in the saddle as soon as possible. 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 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Wear and Tear August 24, 2024 Start on Empty August 23, 2024 Drone Away August 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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The Sky’s the Limit

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

The Sky’s the Limit The sky’s the limit; really. Can you imagine a 100-mile mountain-bike race at over a mile up? I feel breathless merely thinking about it. But a lot of riders head for Leadville, Colorado for just such an event. The course starts at over 10,000 feet altitude; and reaches well over 14,000 feet. The climbs/descents add up to something like 15,000 vertical feet. As this is a MTB event, I expect the ground to be covered tends to be pretty rough. Rougher ground means greater effort merely to keep moving forward. I notice that whenever I have to ride over a rough patch in the road; never mind climbing over such a surface. So just think of the calorie requirements of riders in the Leadville 100! That’s a lot of Power Crunch Bars, rice cakes, and Clif Bars. GU-Gels, too. And the hydration necessary! Leadville’s climate is semi-arid. That seems very dry to me; all the more so as I live where average annual rainfall is 60 inches. Fill up that Camel-Bak; and refill it at every opportunity! Better to have a bit more of a load on your back, than to “ride light” and get dehydrated. The Leadville 100 race sounds like a grueling event. To begin with, there’s the altitude. Merely qualifying to participate requires riding events with long, tough courses; lots of climbing is included. Earning a spot in the Leadville 100 is an accomplishment to be proud of. Finishing in less than 9 hours earns you a large gold and silver belt buckle. Need a little longer? Finish in less than 12 hours and you still win a silver belt buckle. Those riders have quite a piece of work cut out for them. They’ll really have to, um, get the lead out. They’ll also have to remember that the sky’s the limit. 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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