SpokEasy

SpokEasy

bicycling

What Is This?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

What Is This? 😮 “What is this?!” was the startled thought that went through my mind at one moment during yesterday’s ride. Life may be a beautiful ride; but it can spring surprises on you; the kind of things that make you ask, WHAT is this? This moment came as I was starting up again after a stop. I was in my lowest gear, which was usual; but as I pushed off, the pedal seemed to offer no resistance! It caused me to veer; and I had to stop and start up again. That was something new; and it occurred to me that perhaps my force efforts are starting to pay off.🤑 It didn’t feel much like it this morning, though. Out-bound, I had a stiff headwind; and at times was getting blown sideways! Am I a sidewinder? Sidewinder? 🐍 I don’t think I want to be a sidewinder; nor any other kind of snake. If I were, I’d have no legs; and then I couldn’t ride a bicycle! But back to the problem of wind. A stiff sidewind is, in its own way, as bad as a headwind of equal strength. If it’s from my right, it persistently blows the mesh cover of my top tube-pouch back over the opening of the pouch; and it’s hard to get out a bite to eat. For a minute, I thought that perhaps I should get a zipper-closure Speedfil; but if I get a new top-tube pouch, I want one big enough for my cell phone as well as my ride food. The Speedfil isn’t quite that large. I think we all have those days when we go out to ride; and the wind hits us; and we think, WHAT IS THIS? Today I was tempted to switch things around, and do “just ride” today; then work on pace tomorrow. After all, they say a training  plan should be “etched in clay” so you can mold it as needed; not “chiseled in stone” so you can beat yourself up with it. All the same, I had to remind myself that I needed this fight-the-wind practice for 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 What Is This? March 20, 2025 More or Longer? March 19, 2025 Switched My Plans? March 18, 2025 I Need a Detective! March 17, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

What Is This? Read More »

More or Longer?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

More or Longer? 🤔 Should I make my force-development intervals more; or longer? Or both? I’m now constantly mindful of the hills on RAGBRAI; and I have no idea how long and steep they might be. I hope the organizers come out with more information soon. Week before last, I extended my force intervals to 45 seconds; and did two sets of three efforts. Last week I took a break from such intense work; then today I did intervals 45 seconds long; and two sets of four efforts. But I expect that the hills on the RAGBRAI route will take more than 45 seconds to climb; so I need to do s’more of those hard efforts! But more; or longer? I’m glad I still have about four months left to train! Four Months 🗓️ This much is sure: with four months to go, there’s no time for pussyfooting around. I’ve got to get out there and ride! For the most part, the weather has cooperated; and I hope it continues to do so. Aside from pondering whether my force efforts should be more or longer, I think I can stick to my usual riding schedule. I want to increase my Sunday long ride by a few miles each week; and make the Monday ride about equal in length. Over four months, that will let me work up to 60-mile rides well before RAGBRAI. One YouTube that I watched suggested working up to rides equal to the average daily distance on RAGBRAI; this year, that’s 58 miles. And you don’t really need to do rides that long every day. Who’s got time like that? 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 More or Longer? March 19, 2025 Switched My Plans? March 18, 2025 I Need a Detective! March 17, 2025 Inching Forward March 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

More or Longer? Read More »

Switched My Plans?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Should Have Switched? 🎛️ Maybe I should have switched my plans around. I had decided to take today off of bikes; and work on force development tomorrow. As it turned out, the wind this morning was calm; and tomorrow it will be blowing 10-11 mph. Gusts might be as strong as 25 mph. If I have the wind against me, I can practice riding hard against the wind; and not shift into an ultra-hard gear. But I’m not fond of headwinds at any time! When this happens, I think I should have switched my schedule. I’ll just have to see how it goes tomorrow. I do know I intend to do a shorter ride, since I plan to work on intensity. And sometimes I wish I had a power meter, so I can gauge my progress! Gauge My Progress 📏 With no power meter, I need another way to gauge my progress. I keep regular notes of my ride data: distance; time; and so on. If I want to know whether I’m improving, I should be able to get some idea of how I’m doing — if only I go back over my notes! My average speed, for instance, seems to be stuck at the same place. But can I really gauge my progress by that? Speed is dependent on a variety of factors, such as wind. I also notice that my heart rate is lower for what seems to be the same effort level. Am I really becoming fitter; or am I not putting out enough effort? RAGBRAI is on the horizon; so if I’m making training errors, I’ve got to fix things. Is it time I’ve switched my plans? 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 Switched My Plans? March 18, 2025 I Need a Detective! March 17, 2025 Inching Forward March 16, 2025 Windy City March 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Switched My Plans? Read More »

I Need a Detective!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

I Need a Detective!🕵🏻 I need a detective! Where’s Sherlock Holmes when you need him? What happened to thirteen days worth of blogs? Where do I look for  them? I’ve tried several things, without success. Did I do something wrong during my recent upgrade? I need to get into my hosting website; and the login page simply sits there. What’s going on? Are they down for Spring cleaning? Sometimes I think I need a detective to scout out road closures. Today the bike path was blocked by utility work vehicles; and it would have been nice to know that it was coming. I had to take a detour over some very bumpy streets! I’m not sure my road bike liked it! It probably doesn’t help that I still feel like I have jet lag from the change to Daylight time. It typically takes at least a week for me to get adjusted. Jet Lag ✈️ So here I am with jet lag, even though I haven’t crossed multiple time zones. I feel like I could sleep all day, like this kitty; and if I did, I could try out my sleeping bag. Yes, I got a sleeping bag to use during RAGBRAI! Nights can get cold, so they suggest a bag rated for 40 degrees (Fahrenheit). But I’m still waiting for my sleeping pad to arrive. When it does, I can give my equipment a test run by sleeping on the floor for one night. I hope I won’t feel like jet lag the next morning, though! Tomorrow is an off-bikes day. Yesterday and today, my rides ranged from almost 29 miles to over 33 miles. Day after tomorrow, I’ll work on force, so I can develop better strength for climbing. I need a detective to scout out those Iowa hills! 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 I Need a Detective! March 17, 2025 Inching Forward March 16, 2025 Windy City March 3, 2025 Tropical Storms in March? March 2, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

I Need a Detective! Read More »

Inching Forward

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Inching Forward 🪱 I’m inching forward with my mileage. Today I rode 33.2 miles; up a mile and a quarter from last week’s Sunday ride. I’m meeting the weekly mileage totals specified in the RAGBRAI training schedule; and I hope to add a few more miles to next Sunday’s ride. I want to keep inching forward by doing long rides two days in a row; as mentioned here at about 6:57 minutes. So far, rides of about 28-30 miles two days on end don’t seem to be a problem; so I’ll keep increasing them. I’m not sure I’ll try to get in a century ride prior to RAGBRAI. It probably isn’t necessary; especially as I don’t think I’ll try to tackle the Karras Loop. Karras Loop ➰ The Karras Loop is an optional loop — a detour, if you will — on one day of RAGBRAI, that lets riders extend the day’s distance to 100 miles. I think I’d be wise to skip it; as a RAGBRAI “virgin”, completing the regular route ought to be enough. It sounds tempting, though! I’m waiting for info to come out about pass-through towns; gradients; and whatever else I need to know. I guess they’ll soon be letting us know what food vendors will be on the route; and I’m making a list of what I want to try. 😋 I’m also starting to do a new exercise: riding up the bicycle access ramp to the top of the levee in a harder gear than I’ve been using. After all,  I need to inch forward in my ability to climb, as well as extending my mileage. I don’t have a Karras Loop handy; but I can work out an alternate. 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 Inching Forward March 16, 2025 Windy City March 3, 2025 Tropical Storms in March? March 2, 2025 All Kinds at RAGBRAI March 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Inching Forward Read More »

Windy City

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Windy City ? Chicago isn’t the only Windy City on the map. New Orleans is about to become a very windy city! I wonder, does a Thule Yepp Mini Windscreen actually make riding against a headwind any easier? Or does in merely keep the wind from hitting you directly? At the moment, it’s 72 degrees; and it’s blowing at 15 mph. For me, that’s pretty strong. By nine o’clock tomorrow morning, the wind is going to get stronger and stronger. That’s not what Mardi Gras needs; floats and high winds are a bad mix. I believe some parades have been cancelled as a result. This isn’t the first time that high winds have disrupted Carnival. It’s hard on the krewes; parade-goers; and everyone who has worked so hard to prepare for Mardi Gras; but the authorities can’t risk having floats (or, worse, people) gone with the wind. Gone with the Wind ?️ Shall I try to ride outdoors tomorrow? I don’t want to end up gone with the wind (with all due apologies to Margaret Mitchell); but I also want to get my exercise. That won’t be easy while we’re the windy city. According to Weather Underground, conditions tomorrow won’t start to get rough until late morning. Of course, that’s what it says at the moment; but forecasts can, and sometimes do, change rapidly. If I do go for a ride, laps around the park will at least mean that I’m not battling a headwind for miles on the way home. On the other hand, it might be rather crazy there. Tomorrow is Mardi Gras, after all. I’d better be prepared to set up that trainer! I planned to ride easily tomorrow at any rate; and the trainer is good for that. I’ll also be indoors if the weather does get nasty. If New Orleans is to be the windy city tomorrow, I’d rather be 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 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 Windy City March 3, 2025 Tropical Storms in March? March 2, 2025 All Kinds at RAGBRAI March 1, 2025 Gearing Down February 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Windy City Read More »

Tropical Storms in March?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Tropical Storms in March? ? Tropical storms in March? What would Lewis Carroll’s lapine character think of that? We aren’t in for a tropical storm in the usual sense of the word; but high winds are in the forecast for day after tomorrow. Gusts could reach 45 mph; so here I am, thinking of tropical storms in March. All too soon, we’ll have to watch for hurricanes! And what bad timing this wind threat is! Day after tomorrow is Mardi Gras; a major event in New Orleans. I won’t be surprised if parades are rescheduled or even cancelled because of high winds. Those floats are high-profile vehicles; and strong wind is bad news for them. It’s not good news for my rides, either. It might be time to set up the trainer! Set up the Trainer ? I might have to set up the trainer if I’m to do any pedaling on Tuesday. Unfortunately “riding” in the trainer is hot and tedious. A wearable fan would be great if I have to do it often! I think I’ll have to play it by ear. Tomorrow shouldn’t be too bad; and maybe I can work on my pace. Tuesday? I think I’ll wait and see whether I need to set up the trainer. I prefer a real ride outdoors; but with tropical storms in March, I might have to alter my plans! 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 Tropical Storms in March? March 2, 2025 All Kinds at RAGBRAI March 1, 2025 Gearing Down February 28, 2025 Potpourri February 27, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Tropical Storms in March? Read More »

All Kinds at RAGBRAI

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

All Kinds at RAGBRAI ?? ? You’ll see all kinds at RAGBRAI; I’ve viewed enough YouTubes about the event to know that. You’ll see all kinds of people; and all kinds of bikes. RAGBRAI participants are of all ages, from under-ten and upwards; and the “rides” vary from road bikes to ellipticals to roller blades! Somebody tell me, is it harder to bike across Iowa; or to skate all the way? “All kinds at RAGBRAI” describes the wide variety of food, too. You’ll find pork chops; corn on the cob; ice cream; pie, pie, pie; and more! But you’ll need food when you’re riding all day, seven days straight. I hope RAGBRAI won’t be plagued by headwinds this year; that, of course, would make the ride all the harder. Plagued by Headwinds ?  I’m plagued by headwinds often enough; so headwinds during RAGBRAI shouldn’t be a surprise. I guess weather is all kinds at RAGBRAI, too! Nobody knows in advance what to expect. In 2023, the event saw a heatwave widely described as “brutal”; the previous year, the weather was quite mild. Some nights were actually cold; so I intend to pack along some cold-weather riding gear: jacket, leg warmers, etc. I sure didn’t need leg warmers when I went out on the road bike this afternoon; it was 77 degrees! Luckily I wasn’t plagued by headwinds this time. There was some wind, but not the kind that threatens to blow me away; and that makes pedaling a major chore. That will change Monday night, though. The wind will get much stronger; and Tuesday could see gusts up to 40 mph! That’s bad news for the Mardi Gras parades! 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 ✍? All Kinds at RAGBRAI March 1, 2025 Gearing Down February 28, 2025 Potpourri February 27, 2025 Nudging the Brain February 26, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

All Kinds at RAGBRAI Read More »

Gearing Down

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Gearing Down ⚙️ Today I practiced gearing down. Sort of. I used the hybrid for a run to Walmart; and stayed on the biggest cog most of the time. It isn’t the same as spinning in low gear on the road bike; but it was better than nothing. A slow cadence in a hard gear feels very different from low-gear, high-cadence spinning. They say it uses a different type of muscle fiber. I’ll be gearing down for the hills on RAGBRAI; that’s for sure. I even contacted RAGBRAI to ask what gradients I can expect; but they won’t know that until about April. The overnight towns have been announced; but not the pass-through towns. Until that’s been determined, things are still up in the air. So is the weather. I hope we’re spared the rough weather that they say could hit the South next week! Rough Weather ⛈️ ⚡️ ?️ I hope RAGBRAI doesn’t encounter rough weather this year. One night during RAGBRAI L, in 2023, rough weather struck on the sixth night (see here at ~12:31); and some tents were blown over. Thank goodness there wasn’t a tornado! Gearing down to ride into a headwind isn’t my idea of fun; but I’ll have to be prepared for it. I get headwinds often enough up there on the levee; and I don’t suppose the open stretches of Iowa roads will be any different. Even if I don’t like it, it’s good training! 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 ✍? Gearing Down February 28, 2025 Potpourri February 27, 2025 Nudging the Brain February 26, 2025 Climbing Legs February 25, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Gearing Down Read More »

Potpourri

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Potpourri ? A training plan can seem like potpourri — it’s quite a mix of things. From what I’ve always read about it, training needs to incorporate several elements; and if you’re working towards an event, this is even more important. Got a long event (e.g. RAGBRAI) on your calendar? You’ll need to train for endurance by doing progressively longer rides; but you’ve also got to prepare for Iowa’s hills! For me, that means working to push hard against a hard gear; there aren’t hills here. And don’t forget to practice spinning in a low gear. I’ve got to start doing that, too! And when climbing, I’m apt to be in a very low gear; but the gradient makes pedaling feel hard! Hard on my legs and also hard on my cardiovascular system. So I also need, at some point, to work to increase my tolerance for riding at or near my maximum heart rate! See why I say that training is like potpourri? But be careful to avoid burnout; some days you need to just ride. Just Ride ?‍♂️   A good day for “just ride” is when I visit the salvage store on Saturday. I don’t need to  hurry; so if I have a headwind, I don’t have to work hard. It can be hard to remember to “just ride”, though. I think I’ve gotten too used to working to push the pace! But easy rides are part of the potpourri that is cyclist training. No matter how serious you are about riding and training, don’t forget to just ride for fun sometimes! 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 ✍? Potpourri February 27, 2025 Nudging the Brain February 26, 2025 Climbing Legs February 25, 2025 Dry for Now February 24, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Potpourri Read More »