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Five Minutes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Five Minutes ⏱️ Five minutes. That sounds like so little time; yet those few minutes can make a huge difference! To back up a bit, we’re having another gloomy, gray, drizzly day. I thought I’d have to “ride” in the trainer again; but just before noon the sun almost came out. I looked up the hour-by-hour forecast; and it didn’t show more rain until mid-afternoon. I’m about to go stir-crazy from too little activity; so I decided to go for a ride! Again, I used the hybrid. I figured the ground would be pretty wet; and the hybrid has fenders. Train Timetables ⏱️ And sometimes I wish I could get hold of train timetables; then I would know when to expect trains. I could time my rides better, so as to avoid rail traffic. As it is, it’s a matter of chance. If only I had begun today’s ride five minutes earlier; or had ridden a bit faster! On the way home, there was a long freight train traveling the same direction I was; and it was far enough ahead of me that I couldn’t reach my crossing before it. So I had to stop and wait. Then the dratted thing stopped! I never know how long a train will sit there; and after five minutes I started a detour. I had to go some two miles out of my way just to get home. So for starting a ride a few minutes late, I spent as much as half an hour getting around a train! 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 Five Minutes September 7, 2024 Indoor Pros and Cons September 6, 2024 Foul Weather Bike September 5, 2024 To Ride or Not? September 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Indoor Pros and Cons

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Indoor Pros and Cons ✍? Indoor pros and cons go way beyond PROpel! I know, it’s a bad pun; but at times the weather makes riding outdoors unpleasant or even hazardous. Then we need to consider indoor pros and cons if we’re to ride at all. One big pro of indoor “riding” is that you can keep out of the weather. We’ve had several consecutive days of rain: the slow, steady kind of rain that never seems to stop. It looks like this pattern of stormy weather will persist at least until the middle of next week; and forecasts keep predicting heavy rain and even T-storms. I was tired of pedaling the hybrid round and round the local park; and I missed real riding! Another pro of riding indoors is that you can do it almost anytime; and your bicycle stays clean when road conditions are mucky. I, for one, am not crazy about cleaning things! The Downside ? Indoor pros and cons, naturally, include the downside of “riding” inside. One of the cons is that it’s easy to get overheated. When you’re doing a regular outdoor ride, your own motion generates a certain amount of breeze; but if your bicycle is hooked into a trainer, you don’t have that. Today I finally set up the road bike in the trainer. I couldn’t  know when it might begin to storm, after all. I set the window unit on Cool; put a fan on the seat of a chair so that it pointed right at me; and draped my cooling towel around my neck. In spite of these measures, I still got quite hot while pedaling. Another con of indoor riding is that my Garmin doesn’t provide the usual data, because the bicycle’s front wheel is stationary. I could watch my heart rate; but that was all. So I had to guess at my mileage. I tried to do that by imagining where I would be after 10, 20, or more minutes of riding on the levee. Even that might not be very accurate. Judging by my heart rate, I wasn’t riding as vigorously as I would have on the bike path. Therefore I probably didn’t go as far. Maybe I’ll take my old poncho and cut it to hip length. Then it won’t flap like crazy, and I can go for a real ride — rain or not. 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 Indoor Pros and Cons September 6, 2024 Foul Weather Bike September 5, 2024 To Ride or Not? September 4, 2024 All Shot Up September 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Foul Weather Bike

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Foul Weather Bike ⛈️ A foul weather bike is as useful as rain gear. For me, the foul weather bike is my hybrid. Since day before yesterday, we’ve had consistent forecasts for rain and T-storms. I miss riding my road bike; but when the forecast predicts rain, I’m inclined to hop on the hybrid. And indeed, the hybrid does have an advantage when it comes to riding in the rain. It’s called fenders. Fenders keep both you and your bike cleaner; and my road bike doesn’t have fenders. The hybrid does; and it also has a rear rack for a bicycle trunk. That gives me a place to carry my cell phone and a snack. If a ride starts under clear skies, but rain is expected before I’ll get back home, I can stow my poncho there. Another False Alarm ‼️ Today was another false alarm. I get tired of these forecasts that predict heavy rain and T-storms; but they don’t happen. It was drizzling when I set out this morning; so I went to ride the hybrid in the park again. I decided I didn’t need electrolyte drink; and it’s probably good to give my teeth a break from the stuff once or twice a week, anyway. Again, I made it a short ride. I’m getting out of condition! But for one thing, I was starting to feel weird (I think because I forgot to take my low-blood-pressure medication); and I didn’t like the way the clouds looked. If lightning were about to move in, I wanted to get under cover.     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 Foul Weather Bike September 5, 2024 To Ride or Not? September 4, 2024 All Shot Up September 3, 2024 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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To Ride or Not?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

To Ride or Not? ?‍♂️ To ride, or not to ride? That’s always the question when the weather look uncertain; and many times I wonder whether I made the right call. Today was another one of those days. Last night, the forecast showed showers and T-storms possible from 8:00 am; and I didn’t even wake up until past 7:30. On top of that, I felt weird: I was tired, with a stuffy head. Allergies? Or a mild reaction to yesterday’s vaccines? As usual, I asked myself: to ride, or not? Parts of the sky were clear; and I finally decided to take some easy laps around the park.  As an aside, they say that, if you don’t feel so hot, do a “neck check”. Are your symptoms above your neck; such as a stuffy head or a scratchy throat? It’s probably OK to ride; but it’s better to ride easy. But if your symptoms are below the neck (such as chest congestion), or you have a fever, don’t ride. Enough Detour ↳ OK, that’s enough detour for one day. But just in case you do have to go out of your way, be sure to take along some snacks! This morning I rode the hybrid, so I could use the trunk. I wanted the poncho in case it began to pour. On the way to the park, I noticed a big, black cloud towards the Northeast; and it looked like it meant business!  I didn’t try to ride fast; but I sure kept an eye on the sky. Sure enough, before I was halfway through Lap 1, that cloud covered the sun; and I figured it might be wiser to head home. Who knew when lightning⚡️ might break out? I rode through some sprinkle before I reached home; but I probably could have kept on riding. The rain has been on and off all day; and heavy rain is expected tomorrow. Time to set up the trainer! I don’t enjoy “riding” indoors; but sometimes it’s the only choice. 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 Shot Up September 3, 2024 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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All Shot Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Personal Care /

All Shot Up? ⁍ Today I got all shot up, so to speak: vaccinations for both flu and COVID. Not the most fun thing in the world; but I should be reasonably safe from both illnesses for a year. Who needs sickness to cut into riding time? It looks like my chances for a ride tomorrow might be all shot up, too: showers and scattered T-storms from 7 am onwards. Time to haul out the trainer again! My legs weren’t exactly shot this morning; but after two 20.2-mile days in a row, I thought I needed to take it easy today. So I left the road bike home; and headed to the park on the hybrid. I did three easy laps; with a detour to a farmers’ market ? during the final lap. Oh, Forecasts! ☔️ Oh, forecasts! You’d think that, by now, I’d have learned not to put too much stock in them. Many a time I’ve seen weather predictions change overnight; and maybe I need to adopt a more wait-and-see attitude. As I’ve often stated, my major concern about weather is getting caught in a lightning ⚡️ storm. I feel like I’m too good a target when I’m riding on top of the levee. Maybe I could try riding on the side of the levee; but I don’t feel that my riding skills are up to pedaling on a sloping surface. It might be time to try it! 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 Shot Up September 3, 2024 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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With Dinah?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

With Dinah? ? Was I with Dinah, as the song says? No; although I was in the kitchen. I wasn’t using a cookbook, either; I was concocting another Hoppin’ John variation to add to the SpokEasy Recipes page! Today being Labor Day, I named my new recipe Labor Day Quinoa Mix. Why quinoa? Sometimes I want a change from rice; and maybe someday I’ll try barley. Or cracked wheat! If I were with Dinah, though, I wonder what she’d think of all the crazy stuff I dream up. Good Weather ☀️ We had good weather today, which was lucky for folks who wanted to enjoy the outdoors. I went for a 20-mile ride; and of course some people were busy with barbecuing! At one point, I could smell the starter fluid that people use to get the fire going. I’d prefer to use fat pine; starter fluid stinks. Today’s ride was pretty casual; and I didn’t bother with any attempts at speed. On the way home, of course I had a headwind; and keeping a steady pace was quite hard. Tomorrow I plan to take it easy: a short ride on the hybrid, including a visit to the farmers’ market; and I have an appointment to get myself “armed” against flu and COVID.   Good weather is predicted for tomorrow morning; but it will be stormy again by mid-week. And we’ve got to keep watching the tropics!   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 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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FOMO Strikes Again!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

FOMO Strikes Again ☹️ FOMO strikes again! Fear of missing out has reached epidemic proportions, from what I can gather. Not even young children are immune. I’ve read a number of online articles about over-scheduled kids; they hardly have time to just be kids. (Do they even have time to enjoy riding their bicycles?) I’m glad I grew up before all that fear of missing out began! Even so, I suffer from my own brand of FOMO. When the weather forecasts are less than favorable, I worry that I won’t be able to ride; and I really miss the miles when bad weather keeps me indoors. It might help if I had the set-up that would let me enjoy virtual rides; but heck, I don’t even have a television! I skipped the trip to the salvage store yesterday because the forecast was a stormy one; and whenever that happens, I worry that I’ve missed some great bargains. FOMO strikes again! Racking Up Some Miles ?‍? I’m racking up some miles; namely, I’m adding a little more distance. I keep track of distance; time; and other data with my Garmin; and last week I began to notice that a ride of 19 miles or so suddenly seemed easier than it used to be. I decided that it’s time to add another mile or two once a week; and as time goes on, I’ll lengthen more of my rides. Racking up some miles will help me reach my current goal: to have my long-term distance total reach 70K by the end of the year. I’ll need to average about 103-104 miles per week to succeed; so I hope we don’t get any hurricanes that will thwart 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 Cold Turkey? November 22, 2024 Thermal Shock November 21, 2024 Cold Shock November 20, 2024 Front? November 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Another Missed Call

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Another Missed Call ? I think today was another missed call; and I don’t mean a malfunctioning cell phone.  The forecast looked chancy; so I didn’t ride to the salvage store. It looks like I could have gone there, after all! This isn’t the first time I didn’t ride to the store because storms seemed likely; and then those storms didn’t materialize. I don’t think it’s rained here; although it’s hard to tell when I’m indoors. And, as I say so often, you never know what conditions are like just a few miles away! My concerns over the weather led me to go ride some laps around the local park; then head for a nearby grocery store. The sky occupied a certain past of my attention the entire time; but it didn’t rain. It has me thinking that I made another missed call. Time will tell, though. We’re under flood watch until 7 pm. Back to the Kitchen ? It’s time I got back to the kitchen. My stock of frozen stuff is running low. Fortunately cooking doesn’t depend on the weather; unless, that is, we get a power outage. I sure miss having a gas stove! I’ve got two Hoppin’ John variations in mind; one with yellow split peas/lentils and brown rice; and one with pinto/kidney beans and quinoa. Now I have to think of names for them! We’ve got yet another rainy forecast for tomorrow. I hope there isn’t lightning.⚡️It’s actually good training to ride in the rain now and then; but if lightning is cracking overhead, it’ not a wise time to head out for a ride. Also, the road bike doesn’t have fenders; and riding in wet/rainy conditions means my poor bicycle gets splattered with muck and grit. A rainy day is a good time to get back to the kitchen; but at the same time, I want to finish my weekly mileage! 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 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In the Nick

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

In the Nick ⏱️ I got home in the nick of time this morning! Last night’s forecast showed more rain and T-storms. It wasn’t raining when I got up; but who knew when it might start pouring. When things are iffy like that, I prefer to ride the hybrid; use the trunk so I can carry a poncho; and  ride laps around the local park. I want to be fairly close to home if bad weather breaks out. As I was nearing completion of Round 4, I saw a dark cloud towards the South. It seemed to be getting bigger; and I decided it was the better part of wisdom to head home. It’s a good thing I did; I was just in the nick of time. In fact, it began to rain when I still had about a half-block to go. Barely an hour later, a flash flood warning was issued; and it will be in effect for several more hours! Keep It Up ?? “Keep it up” sounds like continuing to ride regularly. That’s not so easy when it finally rains after a long dry spell; and the weather decides to keep it up. The weather doesn’t care that you want to get out there and ride! So, what to do? The least complicated thing is to just ride even if it means getting soaked, but in cold weather that’s probably not the wisest idea; and it certainly isn’t comfortable. Naturally it’s not a good idea if the lightning is cracking overhead! If weather conditions include torrentnial rain and/or strong wind, an indoor ride lets you do some pedaling. Ride Inside shows you how to make the most of these sessions; including mental aspects and shifting patterns.  I don’t have the space to keep an indoor trainer set up; and I can’t afford those fancy things that let you simulate an outdoor ride. They sound like fun, though. I guess I need to win a mega-lottery! 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 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hard to Plan

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hard to Plan ?️ It’s hard to plan your rides when the weather outlook is unfavorable. It doesn’t matter whether you’ll be on a gravel bike; a road bike; or an adult trike; if you can expect rain during your ride, extra planning is required. Do you have work materials or schoolbooks that must be kept dry? Thule Shield Panniers are waterproof, and have handy shoulder straps for off-bike carrying. Loops allow you to attach lights. Such bags are also good for trips to the grocery store; rain or shine. Incidentally, it can be hard to plan a trip to the store when there’s a flood advisory in effect; and I’m not sure which streets will still be hard to navigate tomorrow morning. In some areas, water can stand for days after a downpour! I also dislike riding close to traffic; especially when it’s raining. Playing Catch-Up ?? Maybe our weather is playing catch-up. It’s been quite dry; and we need rain. It looks like things will be pretty stormy for at least the next three days; and I hope it won’t mean playing catch-up with my mileage goals!   I can get in at least some pedaling if I hitch my road bike into the trainer. As I’ve said so often, it’s tedious to the nth degree; but better than nothing at all. As an alternative, I can don the poncho and go out on the hybrid. The biggest worry about riding in the rain is, it’s still T-storm season! 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 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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