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RAGBRAI on the COB

RAGBRAI on the COB 🌽 The COB! RAGBRAI on the COB helps us Porkers find our way around Pork City. It’s posted each day; and unfortunately, most days I didn’t get around to taking a photo of it. This Campground Orientation Board, aka the COB, shows where everything is: tents; showers; and so on. My phone screen is small; and squinting at such a tiny map doesn’t help me much. I usually just asked my way around. Next time, though, I must pay more attention to RAGBRAI on the COB, so I don’t feel so disoriented! On RAGBRAI Day One, I visited the charging trailer to get my power block; got some breakfast; packed up my stuff; and visited the Shower Thingy, aka the water fill station. Then I could take off for RAGBRAI Day One! Not the Best Day 😒 RAGBRAI Day One, I must confess, was not the best day. I thought I had charged up my Garmin; but apparently I didn’t. About five miles into the ride, it gave me a Low Battery warning. A few miles later, it gave me a Critical Battery Warning; so I shut it off. Then it began to feel like my bike had brake rub. I stopped and got off; and fiddled with the rear brake assembly a bit. It seemed to help; so I went on. Of course I noticed the climbs. The climbs weren’t all that bad per se; but there were so many of them! Then the headwinds got going. As though climbing weren’t hard enough! I kept plodding along; and that afternoon, a mile or two past May City, muscle cramps set in. First my right hamstring; and, moments later, my left quad. I figured that the onset of muscle cramps meant it was time to bail out. Bail Out 😞 Frustrating though it is, sometimes you have to bail out. I had just taken a swig of electrolyte drink; and was trying to get the bottle back into its cage. I was on an upward slope; and was having such trouble with that bottle that I flung it to the ground so I could stop and pick it up. I nearly fell over; but luckily some kind of go-cart for RAGBRAI was right behind me; and they got me to a SAG wagon. I tried to think what the cause of my cramps might have been; and was puzzled. I had downed a good quart or so of electrolyte drink; plus several liters of water. Even so, was I dehydrated? Had I eaten too little? Whatever it was, I had to bail out. Not the best day; RAGBRAI Day One was down the tubes. But soon I was checking out RAGBRAI on the COB again. 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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My B*** Hurts?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

My B*** Hurts? 😬 More than one YouTube I’ve viewed about RAGBRAI has someone saying, “My b*** hurts”. Is there something wrong with me? I didn’t have that problem. When I first began riding a two-wheeler, I did feel stiff/sore “back there” after a ride; but this discomfort wore off after a week or so. Are the people saying, “My b *** hurts” referring to muscle aches; or skin irritation? For the former, gradually longer rides are the solution. Chamois Butt’r helps with the latter. I tend to carry a tube rather than the little packets; even though it weighs more. I tried the packets; and never needed to use up a whole one at once. It was a nuisance to try to fold down the top of the packet once I’d torn it open. The important thing is having that product on hand, so I won’t be complaining that my b*** hurts! Riding Again 🚲 I began riding again today; although it was a short, easy one. I was on the hybrid; and not bothering about heart rate and whatever. Incidentally, my heart rate monitor wouldn’t went on strike all last week. After three days, I quit wearing it. It’s great to be riding again, however short the distance. I don’t want to wait too long, or I might start griping that my b*** hurts when I do get back into the saddle! My road bike is in transit; and should arrive late this week or early next. Since I got home last Sunday evening, we’ve had very hot weather; even some extreme heat warnings! This afternoon we got a T-storm; and I hope that cools things off a little. It will make riding again more comfortable! 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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RAGBRAI 2025 Day Zero

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

RAGBRAI 2025 Day Zero 0️⃣ Let’s Go to Orange City! RAGBRAI 2025 Day Zero saw me on the Pork Belly shuttle from Omaha, Nebraska to Orange City, Iowa. Along the route, I was amused to spot a sign indicating how far it was to Mondamin. A town called “cornstarch”? Well, after all, Nebraska is the Cornhusker State! The shuttle left Omaha at 8:15 am; and when we got to Orange City at around 10:30, I had to visit the Pork Belly information booth to get my packet. This included my tent number; and baggage tags with my tent number. Pork Belly services not only include tent set-up/take down; they also take your luggage from truck to tent and back. The tent number on the bag(s) let the crew know which bag(s) go to which tent. Am I ever grateful that I didn’t have to lug my two duffle bags around every day. They were heavy! But on that first day, I did have to carry my bags to the tent. Fortunately, some kind person helped me. In addition to their weight, my bags hung almost down to the ground; and hit my legs as I walked. After finding my tent, I had to pick up my bicycle. I should have given it more of a test ride! I immediately noticed that the saddle was too high; and had to get that fixed. I let it go at that, which was a major error. As RAGBRAI went on, I kept having various mechanical issues; and my local bike shop suspects that some damage occurred during shipment. I didn’t get around to hitting the Expo until nearly 2 pm. RAGBRAI 2025 Day Zero kind of slipped away from me! And my tent was right on the edge of a slight slope. I’d step outside and fall over because the ground wasn’t flat. Hitting the Expo 🎪 Meeting Ryan Vn Duzer! It was rather frustrating, not hitting the Expo until at almost 2 pm. I would have liked to spend more time there; but I had to find my tent and get my bicycle before I went running off. My tent wasn’t a Night Cat tent; but it was a tent! I also had to get some idea of the layout of the Pork Belly camp. My tent, it turned out, was a good way from the amenities; and I got tired from all that walking back and forth. When I finally did reach the Expo, it seemed quite sprawling. I tried to find the meeting for RAGBRAI newbies; but unfortunately didn’t succeed. RAGBRAI 2025 Day Zero didn’t go quite as planned. As I was walking around, I unexpectedly came across Ryan Van Duzer! I’ve watched a good many of his YouTube videos; and it was a great pleasure meeting him. I even had the honor of getting a pic taken with him! I also met ridewithdanusa at the same time; and my apologies to Dan for not getting a pic taken with him, too. Hitting the Expo did let me try a RAGBRAI food. I think it was a cheddar/bacon sandwich, and wish I had made notes about it when I got back to my tent; but I needed to head for dinner and a shower. After that, I had to head for the sack. It didn’t get really dark until about 9 pm; but even so, there was little time for journaling before it got too dark for writing. And I needed to rest up for the start of the ride the next day! 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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Mountain Ride?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Mountain Ride? 🚵🏽 Planning a mountain ride? Beace Cycling Gloves are full-fingered; yet allow you to answer your phone or use a touch screen while wearing them. Non-skid palm pads help absorb vibrations, resulting in less hand numbness. Made of silicone and Spandex. Sizes Small through X-Large; available in Blue (shown); Rose Red; Black; Purple; Red; and Green. While you’re up there at high altitude, don’t forget electrolytes and water. A Camel-Bak MULE MTB Pack holds up t0 three liters of water; and has a secure pocket to hold your phone. Available in Black (shown); and Kelp/Black. 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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LMNT Sampler

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food / CAL

LMNT Sampler 🧂 LMNT Sampler lets you try a variety of LMNT (pronounced “element”) flavors. Each stick of powder supplies 1000 mg of sodium; plus magnesium and potassium. Just mix contents of one packet with 16-32 ounces of liquid. LMNT Sampler contains one stick each of eight flavors. I’ve tried them with the idea that this product might be a good choice if this year’s RAGBRAI turns out to be as hot as the 2023 event. I suppose I’d need to use the stuff regularly for a few weeks before I can be sure it works better than, say, Biosteel. I can’t say I’m crazy about the taste of this product. I love salt; but somehow salty electrolyte drinks don’t appeal to me. But LMNT is sugar-free; and contains no gluten or fillers. It isn’t, of course, recommended to folks who have hypertension; but supposedly many people actually need more salt. So fill up your bottle with your choice of LMNT, and take off! Beating the Heat ♨️ Beating the heat might be the name of the game during RAGBRAI; and a South Sport Cool Rag sure will help! I’ve been doing without it this past week, because I washed it; and wanted it to get thoroughly dry before packing it into a duffle bag. If it’s coo in the morning, I can stuff the cool rag into a Camel-Bak pocket until I need it. I’m constantly mullig over what all I need to keep handy; the big ride begins day after 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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Packing Woes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Packing Woes 🛄 Packing woes are only too familiar to those of us who travel; whether with a bicycle or not. What do I need to take? What can I do without? Can an item serve more than one purpose? Both of my duffle bags for RAGBRAI are stuffed. In fact, I might do well to review their contents, and see whether I can take out one or two things. It’s amazing how much space your day-to-day items, such as bath needs, take up! I’m glad I’m not going to be using a touring bike, and carrying all my stuff. The weight adds up fast; and when I’m ready to roll, I’d rather not be weighed down. Ready to Roll 🚲 I’m about ready to roll for RAGBRAI; but first I’ve got to fly. I hope weather conditions don’t ruin my travel plans! So far it doesn’t look like that tropical system in the Gulf will give us much; and I sure hope it stays that way! I’ve been tapering my cycling mileage. Don’t get to RAGBRAI tired, they say! But I don’t want to get there out of condition, either! The forecast for tomorrow says, rain and T-storms. I might not get to ride, so I’ve been riding every day so far this week. Thank goodness I have today and tomorrow to get ready to roll: easing my packing woes; checking my reservations, etcetera. 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 Packing Woes July 16, 2025 Team Up July 15, 2025 Always Electrolytes! July 14, 2025 Final Week July 13, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Team Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Team Up 🚴‍♂️ In a few days, thousands of us cyclists will team up for the big ride across Iowa! And there are two personages (is that the correct word?) whom I hope will team up: The Madonna of Ghisallo; and Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The former is the patron saint of cyclists; and citizens of New Orleans beg the latter for protection against hurricanes. We could use that right now. There’s a system right out there in the Gulf that warrants close watching. I hope that Saharan dust and wind shear team up and destroy it! So far, it looks like we won’t be expecting tropical storm conditions before the end of this week. I’ve been very concerned about that; or am I getting ahead of myself? Getting Ahead ⏭️ Here I go, getting ahead of myself again. I need to save my energy, mental as well as physical, for the upcoming RAGBRAI. And I’m already thinking of how I can train better for the 2026 event! I’ll wait and see how this year’s RAGBRAI goes; and then consider training up for 2026. I might decide that one RAGBRAI is enough; and that would be fine. At least I can say, Hey, I did it! Or I might team up with some other riders whose pace matches mine; and who knows, it might mean I’ll have someone to travel to Iowa with for next year’s RAGBRAI. 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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Always Electrolytes!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors / CAL

Always Electrolytes! 🧂 Gosh, it’s always electrolytes! In this heat, that’s true even for a short ride of 10 miles. When the temperature is close to 80 degrees before 7:00 am, water alone just isn’t sufficient after half an hour; and I really noticed it this morning. I didn’t use the Camel-Bak because I want it to air out and get as dry as possible before I pack it up in a duffle bag. I thought that plain water would do; but as I’ve said, after 30 minutes of riding I wanted more hydration than plain water. And I was riding easily! Grab That Gatorade! 🐊 So grab that Gatorade! Actually, I go for Gatorade Zero; I can’t drink much regular Gatorade before my stomach starts to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Who needs gut rot? Since it’s always electrolytes, I’ve tried many things over the last dozen years or so. Skratch Labs was one of the earliest; and back then, they made a raspberry flavor that I really liked. Unfortunately it seems to have gone out of existence. Skratch Labs is also high-carb; and as I have prediabetes, I look for low- to no-carb drinks.. I’ve found things at the salvage store that I”ve tried, such as Biosteel and Propel Powder Packets. It’s great when I can experiment with new things at a low cost! Tomorrow I plan to ride 8 or 10 miles; and short a ride as that is, I’ll be sure to grab that Gatorade — I mean, that Gatorade Zero! 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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Final Week

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training / CAL

Final Week 🌞 🌞 I can hardly believe it’s the final week before RAGBRAI. Where did the time go? Naturally I hope I’m adequately trained; and if I’m not, it’s too late to do anything about it now. I do know that frantic, last-minute training is apt to do more harm than good. So this final week will be devoted to shortish rides; one day off from riding; and getting packed. I’m perusing the NOAA site, so I can get an idea of which day would be best to take a break from the bike. Probably Tuesday or Thursday; but I’ll take it day by day. I still want to keep a bit of intensity in my riding; so today I included a half-dozen 30-second hard efforts. Come to think of it, I’d better make Tuesday the off-bikes day. Taking Thursday off will mean two consecutive days with no riding; and I’d rather avoid that. Day by Day 🌅 RAGBRAI will also be a day by day thing. I’ve been browsing the official website, and taking pics of the daily route maps. So far I haven’t found a list of what attractions will be available in which town; but I suppose it’s in there! This final week before heading to the big ride is the time to triple check all my lists; not only what to pack, but checklists of things I need to do each evening and each morning during the event. For example, I must be sure that my prescriptions are in my Camel-Bak’s pockets each day. If the mileage seems a bit daunting, well, take it day by day. Think of RAGBRAI as a series of rides; not one big huge 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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A Fine Line

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training / CAL

A Fine Line 〰️ There’s a fine line between tapering your training and maintaining fitness. I wish I had a wise old owl to help me be sure I’m holding that line. I know what I’ve read: reduce distance considerably; but maintain some intensity. And I guess the intense work should be reduced as event time draws closer. So that’s what I’ve done this week. A day or two ago I spent a total of 6-9 minutes riding hard; and today, a total of three minutes. Tomorrow I plan to ride to the salvage store; and Sunday, I’ll put in 15 miles or so. Then, Monday through Thursday, 10-mile rides. Still with the Camel-Bak; I need to stay used to the load! That’s a fine line, too: enough weight to keep my body used to it; but not too heavy. Then next Friday is travel to RAGBRAI day; and I’ve got double duty in mind for that Camel-Bak! Double Duty 🔀 I like things that can do double duty; it means less stuff that needs storage room. My Camel-Bak can do double duty when I travel! I plan to pack the Camel-Bak shell separately from the reservoir; and, just in case my duffle bag can’t pass the carry-on size test, I’ll pack the stuff I’ll want on the plane in the Camel-Bak. There won’t be many things: a jacket (planes tend to be cold); some snacks; writing materials; and a crossword puzzle book. My duffle bags are supposedly carry-on size; so I should be able to put all my carry-on stuff into the duffle bag. I feel like it’s a fine line, though! 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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