SpokEasy

SpokEasy

bicycling

Getting More Frequent

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Personal Care /

Getting More Frequent ⏰ Just ride, to be honest, is what most of my rides turn into! But longer rides are getting more frequent; and that means more preparation sessions! I need to get on-bike food ready, and drinks are a must, too; both electrolytes for the ride, and a post-ride recovery drink if I ride long or hard. Needless to say, I take along water. It means quite a load on my back; but I don’t need to get dehydrated. Doing more rides of 19+ miles means that the need for that Camel-Bak is getting more frequent. And if I’m considering RAGBRAI, I need to be used to riding with a load. They say you really don’t need a hydration system such as a Camel-Bak for RAGBRAI; but I’m not at all sure I can manage reaching for a water bottle on the down tube while battling a steep climb!  All Washed Up? ? Post-ride, I need to get all washed up. Before I even take off my cycling outfit, I need to get two or three layers of sunblock off of my skin. It probably isn’t good to leave it on all day; and besides that, I wind up rubbing sunblock all over everything. I do this outdoors, as  I’d rather not wash all that stuff down the drain. Then I need to get my shorts all washed up. Often I’ll use a jersey for several rides before washing it; but shorts are another story. Going for a ride in unwashed shorts easily leads to irritated skin; or even saddle sores. I hope I don’t get all washed up while taking my bike to the shop. It has a flat; and I’m all thumbs at changing tubes. But there’s a 50% chance of rain; so I’ll take the poncho with me! 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 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Wear and Tear August 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Clubs Nobody Wants

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care /

Clubs Nobody Wants ♣️ There are clubs nobody wants to join; but sometimes we end up in the bunch despite our best efforts to the contrary. We might develop overuse injuries; get sunburned; bonk; or develop saddle sores. I’ve never had saddle sores to the extent that this rider did (see about 32 minutes in); thank the cycling gods for that. Saddle sores are one of those clubs nobody wants to join! I hope that doesn’t happen to me if I do RAGBRAI. Quitting the Club ? But what should you do if saddle sores happen? So far I’ve been quite lucky; but I did have some trouble a few weeks back. After a ride of about 20 miles, I had a spot in each groin that was rubbed raw. I think the problem was old shorts; and I’ve discarded that pair. For about a week, I used antibiotic ointment; and when indoors at home, I hung around with nothing on below the waist. The sores cleared up quickly; but out on a long tour or multi-day race, this would be a much bigger problem. Quitting the club at that point might be difficult or impossible! How do you avoid those clubs nobody wants? Chamois Butt’r helps prevent saddle sores; and I always have it on hand. Even so, sometimes sores happen! Sunblock keeps me out of the sunburned club; and I eat during rides longer than 12 miles or so. That keeps me out of the bonk club! To avoid the overuse injury roster, don’t push hard gears too soon; and don’t try to ramp up the mileage too fast. You don’t want to make cycling such a list of ailments that you’ll be quitting the club, and missing out on riding! 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 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Wear and Tear August 24, 2024 Start on Empty August 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Start on Empty

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Start on Empty ? Don’t start on empty, they say, whether you’re talking about a kid heading for school; an adult going to work; or a cyclist starting a long ride. They’re always saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all. When I’m heading out on the bike, I usually don’t start on empty; but now and then I have a morning when I just don’t feel like eating. That’s when on-bike eating becomes more critical. I do not need to try to ride almost 20 miles with nothing to eat! Fuel as You Go ⛽️ I take a fuel as you go approach to rides over 12-15 miles long. It seems to work better than riding without eating for 15-20 miles; then chowing down a whole energy bar in a few seconds before I resume pedaling. When you’re riding long distances, your your heart and legs have first dibs on your blood supply; and that leaves less blood available for digestion. This is especially true if you’ll be riding hard; or if you’re doing an all-day event, such as a century. They say, during such an event, keep rest stops short. Pick out what you want to eat; resume riding; then fuel as you go. If you hang around a rest stop for 15 minutes, eating all the while, you’re only too likely to have a very uncomfortable stomach — or worse — after you resume the ride. I don’t see myself doing a century ride in the near future, but I practice eating while riding. As I extend my daily distance, that’s all the more important!   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 Start on Empty August 23, 2024 Drone Away August 22, 2024 Siesta August 21, 2024 New Meaning August 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Drone Away

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Drone Away ? Who wants to listen to someone drone away? It can be most soporific. Like some college professors who go on and on in a monotone; and sound like they aren’t even interested in the subject! But maybe you want to drone away while cycling, so you can record your adventures to enjoy later; or to share them with friends. An X1 Drone with Camera is one possibility. This device weighs under 4.5 ounces, making it easy to pack along. Simple, user-friendly operation means most everybody can use it. You can pre-program flight paths for the X1 Drone with Camera — hover; zoom out; and more. This drone can fly as fast as 15 mph; so I might not be able to ride fast enough to keep up with it! I’ve never tried using a drone before; but this video can help  you get started. I’m certainly not ready to ride one-handed while trying to control an airborne camera, as shown; so I’ll skip it for now. Make More YouTubes? ? A drone of any sort might help me make more YouTubes. I created about eight of them, years ago, using my Canon PowerShot ELPH 180; and I haven’t made any since then. The sound quality of my videos is poor; and except for my very first film, I didn’t know where I’d find a “cameraman”. I had to use a chest strap to hold the camera. On top of that, I didn’t — and still don’t —  know how I’d come up with fresh material for several YouTubes per week; week after week. It’s not as though I were a seasoned coach who has a lot to offer viewers. Neither am I off doing cycling adventures, where I can show new and interesting places. If I can do RAGBRAI next year, maybe I can make some YouTubes from the air — but I must remember that many other riders are sure to have the same idea. That means great potential for numerous mid-air collisions! 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 Drone Away August 22, 2024 Siesta August 21, 2024 New Meaning August 20, 2024 Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Siesta

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Siesta ? Maybe I need to initiate the custom of taking a siesta. Between late morning and early afternoon, I’m often very sleepy. I’m not sure whether the cause is a post-lunch full stomach; or the need for more sleep at night; or sitting around too much. During a ride that lasts all day, is it better to take a siesta halfway through the day; or to keep moving? On the one hand, a one-hour break for a nice lunch might let you recharge, both physically and mentally. On the other hand, you don’t want your muscles to get cold and stiff. That makes it harder to get going again! So where’s the middle ground? Memory Lane ? Riding is good; but a trek down the memory lane of rides can easily come up short. My century rides are far behind me; and I know that there’s much that I’ve forgotten. I think I need to do at least one 100-miler as part of my RAGBRAI prep. Each year’s RAGBRAI route has one day which includes an optional Karras Loop. This loop extends that day’s distance to 100 miles. I’m not sure I’d go for it; and I might not know until I get there. If I get to go; that’s still very much up in the air. I can’t stay in memory lane if I want to prepare for future rides. For now I’m gradually increasing my daily distance; but a century ride will have to wait until cooler weather. If nothing else, I don’t want my ride food to melt! 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 Siesta August 21, 2024 New Meaning August 20, 2024 Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Results? August 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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New Meaning

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

New Meaning ? Sometimes something that you’ve known for years — even decades! — suddenly gets a new meaning. Take the Three B’s. Classical music lovers are apt to immediately think, Bach; Beethoven; and Brahms. My BBB is Bicycling; Books; and … I still haven’t decided what B-3 is! Recently I found a channel called, Buses, Bikes, and Beers; which gives new meaning to “the 3 B’s”. BBB Adventures is quite interesting; and I’m watching the series of videos recounting a 2022 trip across the USA. The riders are using Priority Apollo bicycles; and tell of their adventures (and misadventures, such as flat tires) as they pedal across the nation. Including RAGBRAI! Nice Change ♨️ For a nice change, we don’t have a heat advisory this afternoon! Our heat index is only 96; and the overnight forecast says, a low of 77. Of course it still feels hot; but apparently we’re getting a bit of a break. Long may it last! I’m taking a break from riding today; but I want to put in a good 20 miles or so tomorrow. I’m not aiming to do a cross-country ride; but RAGBRAI is still on my mind! Another nice change is that the tropics are quiet. Hurricane Ernesto’s remnants are far to the North; and nothing else is developing at the moment. We can’t relax yet, though. September is another active month for tropical storms! 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 New Meaning August 20, 2024 Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Results? August 18, 2024 Shut off the Furnace! August 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lost My Touch

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Lost My Touch ?? I think I’ve lost my touch for night riding. It’s some months since I last did it; and this morning it was a bit of a problem. A big part of it was the angle of my headlight. I had to buy a new one a couple of weeks ago; and until I did a ride in the dark, I didn’t realize that the light was pointing downwards too much. I couldn’t see ahead unless I tipped my head far backwards; and that strains the back of my neck. Riding in the dark also requires much more vigilance than daytime riding; and I’ve lost my touch there, too. It would take several weeks to readapt to it. The reason I went out so early was — can you guess it? — the full moon. I love seeing the moonlight on the river; and several times this year I’ve had to miss it because of rain or overcast. This morning the weather site said, mostly cloudy; so I thought I might miss the full moon again. But I got lucky ? But folks out in both northeasterly and southeasterly directions weren’t so fortunate. I could see active clouds full of lightning! ⚡️ I had no idea whether they were moving this way; so I didn’t do a long ride. Unleashed ? I’ve just had that radiofrequency ablation; and to my surprise, there are few restrictions on me. It feels like I’ve been unleashed! I thought I would have to ride slow and easy for a few days; but they told me I may ride as usual. I may walk; and do whatever I normally do. True, they said don’t take hot tub baths; but I don’t do that, anyway. They put an Ace bandage on the affected leg; and it must stay in place until tomorrow morning. Then I may take it off; but for seven days I’ll need to wear compression stockings while I’m up and active. That won’t be fun; compression hose are hot as well as tight. It will be great when I’m unleashed from those 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 Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Results? August 18, 2024 Shut off the Furnace! August 17, 2024 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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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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