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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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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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