SpokEasy

SpokEasy

bicycling

Results?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Results? ? Am I seeing results from the past few months’ efforts? Not that I’ve been following a sophisticated training plan; but today my legs felt better than they have for a while. Or was it because I wasn’t trying to push the pace? I averaged below 10 mph! In fact, I tried not to ride fast, because I wanted to tack a few more miles onto my usual route. It’s time I began pushing for 25-26 miles, instead of 19-20 miles. These days happen: things suddenly seem to be going better than they have for some time. And this one comes just as I’ve got a radiofrequency ablation  (for a varicose vein) scheduled for tomorrow! It’s not a major procedure; but I’ll have to take it easy for a few days afterwards. But the results are expected to be good. Easy in the Heat ? Speaking of taking it easy, we need to take it easy in the heat around here; which is why I ride early in the day. Heat advisories/warnings typically go into effect at 10:00 am; and I aim to be  home by then. This morning it was mostly cloudy, which helped a great deal. It’s amazing what a difference it makes when the sun isn’t beating down on me. I tried to keep to a steady pace; and we all need these moderately-paced rides some days, anyway. I’m not sure whether I was in the so-called fat burning zone; but as Ride Your Way Lean says, if you aim to lose weight by cycling, burning calories is the main thing. I try to come up with a deficit of 100-200 calories per ride; never mind what my heart rate zones are. So go easy in the heat. Today I burned 700+ calories over a 2 1/2 hour jaunt; and I wasn’t going that hard! 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 Results? August 18, 2024 Shut off the Furnace! August 17, 2024 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Shut off the Furnace!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Shut off the Furnace! ? PLEASE, somebody shut off the furnace! How often must I repeat it? Unfortunately it’s not as simple as switching off a Dr Infrared Heater. There’s a huge geographical area that needs to cool off; and until it does, we outdoorsy types must continue to plan for heat. I’m not the only one who wishes someone would shut off the furnace; but for now, that’s a vain hope. Tomorrow is going to be yet another scorcher; with a heat index as high as 113! Cool Down ? So, what’s your cool-down strategy? An Arctic Air Fan? This cooling device is lightweight; cordless; and lets you choose from three speeds. It’s rechargeable, and hands free — simply hang it around your neck. One charge lasts up to six hours. But what if you forget to charge up that fan? How do you cool down then? Maybe a Mission Cooling Neck Gaiter? This requires no electricity; and can we worn a dozen or more different ways. If the conditions outdoors are truly unbearable, there’s always “riding” inside. But I’d much prefer for somebody to shut off the furnace. 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 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Peak Season

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Peak Season? ? Is this really peak season for hurricanes? It doesn’t seem like it so far; not that I’m complaining. Sure, Hurricane Ernesto is out there; but otherwise the tropics are quiet. I’m only too happy to have them stay that way. This is quite a difference from the notoriously hyperactive 2005 season. Speaking of peak season, does a cyclist have one? Pro cyclists, of course, do — when they tackle Le Tour and other multi-day races. But how about us ordinary riders, who ride for transportation; fitness; and just plain fun? If you’ve got a big ride on the calendar, then of course you need to work up to it; and don’t forget to factor in the pre-event taper. Peaking for RAGBRAI? ?? How about peaking for RAGBRAI, or any other long-distance recreational event? Where’s the line between being properly prepared; and being over-trained, and going into the event tired? My interest in long-distance cycling goes back to 2012, or even 2011; and I’ve done a lot of reading about it. Unfortunately I’m not very good at following training plans, nor about taking easy days; and those low-effort days are important for storing up energy for the rides when you need to go hard. With RAGBRAI 2025 in mind, I’m trying to work up to longer daily rides; and it’s proving rather difficult. Maybe I’m trying to lengthen too many weekday rides too soon? Or am I riding too many miles on days when I include hard efforts? Maybe I don’t ride easily enough in between those hard efforts; and thus can’t make “hard” hard enough! Peaking for RAGBRAI probably should occur by early July 2025; and that means that I still have plenty of time to train up. In fact, that’s why I’m working at it now! If I wait until next March, it’s probably already too late. 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 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lesser of Two Evils?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lesser of Two Evils? ? It’s a pain to have to decide the lesser of two evils. I need some groceries that the salvage store is unlikely to have; so I’ll need to visit either Winn Dixie or Whole Foods. And which is the lesser of two evils? Not the stores themselves, but getting to them! That’s a rather tough question when I’ll be riding a bicycle to the store on a weekday morning. Winn Dixie opens at 7:00 am, but is farther from home. Now that school is open, there’s more traffic; including huge school busses!  On the other hand, Whole Foods is closer to home; but they don’t open until 8:00 am. By then, get-to-work rush-hour traffic will be in full swing. Wish List ? ? ? I have quite a wish list, too. I’ll definitely need both panniers! Some items, such as a bag of apples, take up a lot of space. I’m thinking of getting a half-dozen eggs; and they’ll need to be carefully packed. Frozen blueberries are also on the list; and I’ll want an insulated bag with a “blue ice” to keep them from melting on the way home! I guess I’ll have to put some items in my backpack. I should be used to having a weight there; I use the Camel-Bak many a day! After I get home with my load, the question is, to go out on the road bike or not? Afer all, the plan for tomorrow is to ride short and easy. A trip to the store will total under 7 miles; but watching out for traffic isn’s exactly my idea of an easy 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 Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Early Feels Better

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Early Feels Better ? Early feels better for riding, if I can manage to break away from the pillow by 5:30 am. This morning I got underway at about 6:30; an hour or more earlier than I often do. The sun wasn’t fully up yet; and what a relief it was to not have it beating down on me the entire time. It was a few degrees cooler than usual, too; and that was an additional relief. For a change, my ride food didn’t get half-melted! I hope I can keep this routine going; because early feels better! Through the Paces ?? I put myself through the paces today, you might say. If I’m to do RAGBRAI 2025, I’ll want to be faster than 11-12 mph. Technically, that’s fast enough for RAGBRAI; but around here, I’m riding on flat ground. As so many RAGBRAI videos state, Iowa isn’t flat. And that doesn’t mean an isolated hill here and there; it’s rolling hills! Thus, in addition to working to improve my pace, I must work to develop better force. Today I worked to ride 14 mph for five minutes at a time; for a total of four efforts. Next week, maybe push it up to five-minute efforts. I’ve got to go through the paces! However, improved speed doesn’t automatically mean better climbing ability. I need to get back to force-development exercises, too. I wish I knew how long those RAGBRAI climbs are; then I could do better at determining how long to make those exercises! 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 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Uneasy Times

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Uneasy Times ? These are uneasy times; and I don’t mean worrying that we’ll be misfits in some way. The tropics seem to be revving up to high gear. Some folks are still reeling from the onslaught of Debby. Now there’s a system out there with the potential of becoming this season’s next named storm (Ernesto). Its projected path looks like this system might impact areas just hit by Debby. No wonder these are uneasy times. New Orleans, being surrounded by water, has to stay on the alert. I have moments when I wonder whether I’d be better off relocating entirely; but that would probably mean dealing with other weather threats. I’ll take hurricanes over tornadoes any day. With hurricanes, you get much more advance warning. Long Ride Problems ? “Uneasy times” isn’t only worrying about hurricanes. There are long ride problems even if you aren’t shooting for the century mark. Putting in lots of miles can mean uneasy times; especially in this heat. Today I put in 29.3 miles. When the temperature is already in the low 80s at 6:00 am, that’s enough distance to have me worrying that my Camel-Bak will run dry. When I use the Camel-Bak, I carry a spare bottle of water in the cage on the seat tube; but I prefer to reserve this water in case I need more electrolyte drink. That, however, means I have to remember to bring along the needed tablets or powder. To help solve these long ride problems, I really need to leave the bike path on the levee to find stores where I can buy water if I need it. The trouble with me is, I don’t like going out of my way! 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 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Go Homemade?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Go Homemade? ? Should I go homemade with the electrolyte drinks? It’s been so hot that I’ve been taking such beverages along even when I’m only riding to the salvage store. Store-bought electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade, can get quite expensive, even when I get them from the salvage store at a lowered price. Can I make my own electrolyte drinks? I once decided to go homemade; and tried a drink recipe that I found online. As well as I can remember, it had a bit of maple syrup in it; and I love maple! But highly-diluted maple syrup with a bit of salt in it tasted rather odd. And I can’t keep fluids chilled when riding in hot weather. Even a frozen bottle of electrolyte drink thaws and melts quite quickly. How Does Cool Feel? ? How does cool feel? After weeks of unrelenting heat, I think we’ve forgotten; and we need to find ways to keep from melting. An Arctic Air Fan is an alternative to a cool rag; but what if it runs out of charge in the middle of a hot ride? I would get most uncomfortable if it did! I think having the cool rag has spoiled me; but on the other hand, we’ve got to do what we can to avoid heat-related illnesses. The heat index today is below 100 degrees; but it’s still plenty hot. So how does cool feel? Maybe we’ll find out when October arrives!  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 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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If I Were Fortune

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

If I Were Fortune ? If I were fortune (but I’m not!), oh, how different things would be!  I’d banish this persistent heat; and conjure up pleasant temperatures in the low 70s. If I were fortune, there would be no frigid days when my toes go numb after half an hour. There would be no headwinds; and our rides would never get rained on! My ride food would never get half-melted, either. Alas, that cyclist utopia doesn’t exist. If it did, I’m sure I would have made a beeline for it many years ago! Didn’t Beat the Heat ? I didn’t beat the heat today; and in fact, doing so would have impossible. I was too tired to get up at 5:00 am; and the overnight temperature was about 79 degrees. It was hot before I even began my ride! I increased my mileage back up to 19-20 miles, but still didn’t do hard efforts — partly because of the weather. I didn’t beat the heat, after all! But it seems that, no matter what I do, I spend most of my ride time in heart rate zones 3 and 4. So it looks like I burn mostly carbs when cycling.  If you’re interested in cycling for weight loss, Ride Your Way Lean states that your primary concern should be burning calories. I’ve also read that, the more intensely you ride, the more you burn carbs rather than fat. My knowledge of this subject is quite rudimentary; and I think I’ll keep on doing what I’ve been doing. If a sports nutritionist tells me different, then I’ll work at changing things. 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 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Remain a Camel

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Remain a Camel ? I must remain a camel for a while longer; and use the Camel-Bak even for shorter rides. With a large-size bite valve, so I can get more fluid per sip! In this weather, I need about one liter of water per hour; and a full Camel-Bak (about 3 liters) is quite a load. But better that weight on my back, than collapsing from overheating and dehydration! Today I did a comparatively short ride, and covered less than 13 miles. I didn’t ride either hard or fast; and took two bottles of water, instead of the Camel-Bak. But after half an hour, I wished I had used the big hydration system, and taken along electrolyte drink. The air temperature was already in the low 80s when I set out; and the sun was blazing down. Plain water wasn’t quenching my thirst; so it’s obvious that I need to remain a camel for about two more months. Waterworks? ? Waterworks are vital during hot weather, especially when you’re outdoors and active. Many a YouTube about RAGBRAI mentions some kind of waterworks: Slip ‘N Slides; wading pools; even kids with hoses ready to spray you with water. By all accounts, RAGBRAI 2023 was very hot; and riders needed every chance they could get to cool off. Part of of my waterworks is a cool rag. I don’t know how I got along without it; and I’ve even bought a second one to have as a back-up. Don’t think that using a cool rag is “sissy”. When the heat index is already 94 degrees before mid-morning,  you need some kind of cooling device. It’s also a good idea to pull back on distance or intensity, or both. Cutting the mileage goes against the grain with me; but I think I need a bit of a break. 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 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tic Tac Toe?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Tic Tac Toe? ? Is our weather playing tic tac toe? The forecast predicts three consecutive days of extreme heat! Heat advisories have been going into effect at 10:00 am almost daily. I try to be home from cycling by then; but for now I don’t want to start before it’s fully daylight. My helmet-mounted headlight died; and my backup light can’t be put on my helmet. The light’s bungee won’t fit around the road bike’s handlebars. It’s a good thing I planned shorter, easier rides for this week! If I have to be outdoors, a Solar Fan Hard Hat would be a great addition to my cool rag. This helmet doesn’t seem to be intended for cycling. It doesn’t even have a chin strap; but that built-in, solar-powered fan sounds great. It could keep my head cool while the cool rag keeps my neck from overheating. When the weather plays tic tac toe with the hot days, we need to be prepared! Keep up the Pressure? ? Keep up the pressure?! Who enjoys being under pressure? Let’s look at it this way: we need to keep up the pressure in our bicycles’ tires. A Pro Bike Tool Pump is good for that; especially when you’re on the road, and carrying a floor pump is impractical. The Pro Bike Tool Pump can be used for both Presta and Schrader valves; and can reach 100 psi. Good for road bikes; BMX; and MTBs. Despite being tired of broiling hot weather, I hope the atmosphere will keep up the pressure for a while. It looks like we’ve got high air pressure; and that should help keep that new tropical disturbance away. They say that the recent heat dome is what kept Debby away. If it’s going to reach 100 degrees, I’d rather not have it when the electricity has been knocked out. 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 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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