bicycling Archives - Page 21 of 126

Cat on the Phone?

Cat on the Phone? 🐱 I think I’ve got a cat on the phone. Or is it the phone on the cat? Several times lately, I’ve laid down my Cateye; and discovered later that the mileage meter had advanced. What was going on? Yesterday I tried deliberately leaving that bicycle computer near the cell phone; and sure enough, after perhaps an hour, the mileage reading had gone from 13.74 to 15.48! But why does the cell phone do that? My laptop doesn’t seem to have that effect; at least, not when it’s on battery power. I suppose it’s a good thing that my phone isn’t near the Cateye while I’m riding. I’d have no idea what my mileage was; not with the Cat on the phone! That’s even without a crazy forecast to stymie my riding plans. Crazy Forecast ❄️ Have we got a crazy forecast! Things will be about normal tonight and tomorrow night; but Saturday night there might be rain and snow ❄️ showers! If there’s snow, I won’t dare ride for fear of slick roads. Today I rode to the salvage store; and I had to bundle up. The wind was strong; and I’m surprised that my legs weren’t sore from yesterday’s efforts: yesterday I practiced riding hard for one minute, then easy for one minute; a total of three sets of five hard efforts. This morning I skipped such tactics. It was enough to just ride when I had a headwind — gusts up to 30 mph. Tomorrow morning I have physical therapy; so I won’t ride until afternoon. I hope the wind will have calmed down by then! 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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Stay In

1 Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training / CAL

Stay In 🏡 I decided to stay in this morning. It was chilly and overcast; and when I checked the weather report, it said,”light rain”. I simply don’t feel like going out in it; and it would be a good time for a nice book. Unfortunately, I don’t have a cozy fireplace. It’s supposed to clear up a little as the day goes on; and I plan to go for a ride then. I had thought of riding to the store today; but it can wait. There’s nothing that I have to have right away. Maybe today I can do some work on my pace; but I’m still doing quite short distances; about half of what I was doing before the accident. Work on My Pace 🐌 🦌 It will be a good idea to work on my pace. Stepping up the intensity a little should help me to shed the extra pounds that I’ve gained. As long as I stay in, that won’t happen! I’ve still got some lingering thoughts about RAGBRAI; but I guess it won’t happen this year. My left arm doesn’t seem ready for using a road bike; and I gotten a new one yet. From what I saw of the event last July, a hybrid isn’t suitable for RAGBRAI. Not for me, at least; unless I could either 1) get some super-low gears for the hybrid that I have; or 2) develop some SUPER-strong legs. Even if I got those gears, it might cost more to ship a hybrid than a road bike, as the hybrid is considerably heavier. Enough about that. How do I work on my pace? Easy in theory; short bursts of hard efforts, with easy or moderate pedaling in between. But no always so easy to do! 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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Straighten Up!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training / CAL

Straighten Up! 📏 “Straighten up!” is what I want to tell my left elbow. It still doesn’t extend quite fully; and the therapist says, regaining those last few degrees of extension can take a lot of time. Even if my elbow won’t straighten up, I can do a lot more than I could a month ago. I’m back on the bike; and I can chop food without my scar aching. It’s possible to lift and carry more. I’m surprised that the return of cooler weather isn’t making the surgical site hurt. Maybe it has to go down to freezing for that effect; but I’d rather not find out. I skipped riding today; and I want to get in some miles over the next few days. Get in Some Miles 🚴‍♀️ If I get in some miles, maybe I’ll come up with some interesting stories! Even if I don’t, I’ll get some much-needed exercise. I’m gradually extending my distance; but I’m not pushing it. In fact, I probably shouldn’t try to build up too fast; especially as I’m rehabbing from an injury/surgery. Some folks seem able to manage such physical stress; but my body apparently doesn’t work that way. But as long as I get in some miles, I’m making a little progress. That’s what matters. 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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Ordinary Athlete

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors / CAL

Ordinary Athlete 🧑🏼‍🍳 For the ordinary athlete, The Everyday Athlete Cookbook is great. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy good food! The Everyday Athlete Cookbook includes recipes for pre- and post-ride meals; plus nutritious snacks. These recipes are easy to prepare; and you’ll find information on preparing plant-based and dairy-free foods. Your kitchen can become a lab! Now that I’m cooking again, I’m experimenting with foods — such as different combinations of legumes. Cooking Again 🥘 It’s a relief to be cooking again, rather than buying microwave meals. Some of them are actually quite tasty; but they’re rather expensive. Cooking again means washing pots again; but I’m not throwing away the packaging that comes with pre-prepared foods. It’s also good to be riding again. Today, though, I waited until afternoon. The wind was pretty strong today; and that makes it feel colder. It was also from a direction that made me feel like I had a headwind most of the time. That gets pretty frustrating; but on the other hand, riding against the wind is useful for building strength! 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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Clear Up!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Clear Up! 🌞 I wish it would either clear up, or pour. It isn’t going to snow; so a persistently gray sky makes for a gloomy day. If snow were on the way, the overcast would mean some snow-fun is coming. Despite the flood watch, we haven’t had much rain here; although who knows what things might be like ten miles away. As of 11:00 am, there’s a T-storm right about there; and if it’s headed in our direction, I’s better not to be out on a bicycle. It looks like it might clear up in a few hours; or at least the rain risk will be past. Maybe I can go for a ride then. But it’s supposed to start getting cooler; and tonight the forecast is for a low below 50 degrees. Below 50 🥶 Below 50 degrees is cold, as far as I’m concerned. Add winds of 10-15 mph; and gusts up to 30 mph; and I’ll need to bundle up. Right now it’s overcast; and 70 degrees. A T-storm is still likely; and I don’t want to get caught in one. At the same time, I’m tired of sitting around indoors. What a dilemma! It will be late afternoon by the time the rain threat is over; and by then the temperature might be dropping. Maybe I’ll just poncho up and go for a 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 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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Washout Tomorrow?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Washout Tomorrow? ⛆ Will we get a washout tomorrow? Our forecast indicates a flood watch from midnight tonight until mid-morning Saturday. It makes me think that a pair of boots would be welcome. Along with other rain gear, of course. If we do get a washout tomorrow, I shan’t be pleased. I have physical therapy tomorrow; and means a hike of at least one mile. If it’s pouring, I might have to do some wading! Wading 🫠 Wading might be fun if you’re at the beach, and barefoot; but I’m not a fan of wading when I’m trying to walk somewhere. Here, a good rain can result in ankle-deep pools at curbs; and often these pools are too wide for me to hop over. The only way is to walk right through them. Then I get soaked socks and shoes. Given the forecast, I’m not sure I’ll get to ride tomorrow. I got my hybrid back today; but if there’s a washout tomorrow, I might not want 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 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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Saturday on Wednesday

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training / CAL

Saturday on Wednesday 📅 I’m having Saturday on Wednesday: I rode to the salvage store this morning. That activity usually takes place on Saturdays; but the forecast for Thursday night through Saturday night doesn’t look so good for riding. Today I found Probars, for the first time in months; and I discovered a new protein bar to try: GoMacro. I’m always pleased to find a new potential ride food! But doing Saturday on Wednesday has rather upset my sense of time. I keep trying to think that it’s Saturday! And my legs are saying, Listen up! Listen Up! 👂🏻 This afternoon my legs seemed to say, Listen up! We want to ride some more! Listening to to your body doesn’t have to mean only paying attention to signs of possible overuse. Sometimes, as now, my body seems to be telling me that it’s ready for more activity. So I went to the park to ride some laps. Towards the end of Lap 2, I noticed that my bike’s right-hand brake lever didn’t seem right. It didn’t always release itself after use; and that’s a Listen Up. Did the brake lever need a bit of lube? Was something wrong with the brake itself? I’m a bicycle rider; not a bicycle mechanic ; so I went home; changed out of my cycling shorts; and rolled the bike over to the shop. I had to leave it there; so it’s a good thing I have my membership at the recreation center. That means I won’t have to miss pedaling tomorrow. 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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Planning around the Weather

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Planning around the Weather 💦 ⚡️🥶 I get tired of planning around the weather; especially when it’s unseasonably warm, and who know what will happen next. It’s hard to know what the weather will do, anyway. From Thursday, there’s a chance of rain; and that includes Saturday morning. Maybe I’ll go to the salvage store on Wednesday! Or should I wait for Saturday, anyhow? What, exactly, does “chance of showers” mean? Planning around the weather is tricky when you don’t have a crystal ball. And sometimes, getting good weather is a matter of plain old luck. Crystal Ball 🔮 Sometimes I think a crystal ball would do just as well as modern meteorological forecasts. Even with all the advances made in the science, it seems to me that there’s still a pretty big element of guesswork in weather prediction. I, for one, wouldn’t want the job. It’s hard to learn how to “read” the weather when you’re indoors much of the time; and it probably takes years of experience (and errors!) to become proficient at it. I don’t have a crystal ball; so I’ll have to keep relying on weather forecasts — and keep on planning around the weather. 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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Testing the Waters

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training / CAL

Testing the Waters? ♨️ I’m testing the waters, you could say. My rides are still very short; but today I made the expedition to Walmart. It’s the next step in getting back to real riding! I had received a gift certificate to the store as a Christmas present; and Sunday morning was a good time for the ride, as there wasn’t much road traffic. The weather was a bit chilly; but at least the wind wasn’t very strong. The sky was overcast; and that actually is a good thing this time of year! At this season, the sun stays rather low in the sky all day; and on clear days, I have constant trouble with Old Sol shining right into my eyes. I’m also testing the waters when it comes to off-bike exercises. I had to avoid core work while my ribs healed; and now I need to keep doing the core exercises regularly. But after having to skip them for about two months, it’s easy to forget about them! Easy to Forget 😒 It’s easy to forget lots of things. Like social media. While recuperating from my accident, I took to endless watching of YouTubes; and it’s a habit that’s rather hard to break. I can get so absorbed in viewing that I lose track of time; and, to complicate matters, I keep finding more videos that pique my interest. It’s easy to forget blogging, because it’s been harder to come up with blog topics. Sometimes I’ll watch YouTube after YouTube, hoping one of them will provide a spark of inspiration! It looks like it will be very foggy again tomorrow morning; so maybe I won’t ride early. But I do want to ride; and maybe the next day I’ll skip it. Physical therapy is still ongoing! 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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Sour Grapes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Sour Grapes 🍇 I can say, “sour grapes” today. The forecast was for fog; and I figured I wouldn’t be able to see the full moon. I was tired anyway; so I didn’t try for a moon viewing. As it turns out, I may have been able to see ol’ Luna this morning, after all; so saying fog probably would have obscured the view is sour grapes! The day became clear and sunny; and it’s close to 80 degrees. Summer in January! As usual, such weather makes me wonder what this year’s hurricane season will be like! Summer in January 😎 I should be used to Summer in January; it’s happened so often! Offhand, I don’t remember what our temperatures were like in early January 2025; but no doubt everyone remembers the late January 2025 snowfall! That was downright freakish. It looks like this weather will continue at least until next Friday. I’ll be hauling out my warm-weather riding gear; but I’d better not put away the leg warmers and jackets yet. It’s sure to get cold again — someday. Today the headwind bothered me; and I made only small effort to work hard. I’ve got to get over that laziness if I’m to regain my fitness! 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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