bicycling Archives - Page 84 of 123

Back to School

Back to School Back to school means getting back into the groove. Books; pens; and many other items. And, of course, back to school means getting the kids to school. If you opt for active transport, there are a number of options. To take a very young child to daycare, the Copilot Child Carrier is an option. This seat can carry up to 50 pounds; and its sides are a bright, highly visible color. Copilot Child Carrier works best with recreational bikes. For a child who’s ready to do some pedaling, the Kent Wee Ride lets your youngster ride behind you. The Kent Wee Ride has a saddle and handlebars as in a regular bike. Twenty-inch wheels; coaster brakes; and a chain guard to keep clothing from getting snagged. The Kazoo Bicycle Trailercycle is designed for children ages 4-10; and up to 85 pounds. Excellent stability; with reflectors for better visibility. Oh, and how about humming a tune on the way to school? If your child is ready to pedal independently, there’s the Huffy Upshot. This bike is for kids ages 3-9. The quick-release seat clamp lets you adjust the saddle height as your youngster grows. For carrying lunch or other needs, the Anzome Kids Bike Basket fits most children’s bikes. Velcro fastenings make it easy to attach/remove; and it has a rust-resistant coating. Easy to clean, too. Naturally, getting to and from school by active transport means being mindful of safety. If possible, avoid routes with heavy motor traffic. A safety wing and lights enhance visibility. Lighting will be increasingly important as the days shorten, and kids might be starting out when it’s still dark. If your young ‘un enjoys the creepy, there are Spider Spoke Lights!

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Happy Labor Day

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Happy Labor Day My saying, “Happy Labor Day” sounds rather like a cruel joke. I’m retired; so you might say that every day is a holiday for me! Of course I went for a ride. I used the hybrid because the road bike is in the shop for a tune-up. The hour-by-hour forecast predicted rain and T-storms from 10:00 am; so I went out early. Even at 7:15, the clouds were already building up. My legs started to feel a bit tired after about seven miles; so I acted like a wimp, and turned for home. But 15+ miles isn’t all that bad. Part of any long ride — or even a very short ride — is Chamois Butt’r. I find that it makes riding more comfortable. If you prefer, there’s also Chamois Butt’r Her’. I tried it; and personally, I think the original formula is better. With no handlebar bar, I had to rely on my bike trunk to bring along a few things: the poncho, in case it began to rain; cell phone in case of an emergency; and a protein bar in case I needed it. I did eat a GU-Gel at my turnaround point (Salted Caramel, a favorite of mine); but I got home with the protein bar unopened. Aero bars I’ve got not; but that’s OK. This shows the “cockpit” of my old hybrid; and the new one that I got a year ago is similar. Even when I’m using the Camel-Bak, I take along an extra bottle of water; and for rides over 10-12 miles, electrolyte drink is a must in hot weather. Stretching ahead is the levee bike path. On the way home, I kept an eye on the sky. The clouds were building up; but I had sunshine most of the way. I arrived home about 9:00; and then the waiting game began. When would it rain? I began to hear thunder shortly before noon; but as of 12:30 pm, it looks like somebody else is getting the rain. That’s not fun for people who want to participate in outdoor activities; so is it unkind to say, Happy Labor Day?

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Not Much Prep

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Uncategorized / CAL

Not Much Prep There was not much prep for today’s ride. The road bike is in the shop for a tune-up; and the weather forecast wasn’t so great. Thus there wasn’t much to get ready. I didn’t get out until at least 9:00 am; and it was quite hot by then. I knew that T-storms were possible from 10:00 am onwards; so I didn’t want to go too far from home. Indeed, as I rode I could see dark clouds in my rearview mirror. They seemed to be getting darker; and I turned around a few miles early. As I rode homewards, I kept an eye on those clouds. I could see that somebody was getting rain; and I was glad to be home before my neighborhood was in the line of fire. I expected it to rain hard; but as of 1:30 pm, all we’ve gotten is a little drizzle. The sky is still overcast, though; and we still might get rain. I actually hope we do; we need it! It’s hard for me to remember that this is Labor Day weekend. That’s what happens when you’re no longer in the workforce! Typically this is a weekend for outdoor barbecues; but the Governor of Louisiana has asked that people not use any outdoor fires. That’s how freakishly dry the state is; and the risk of wildfires is too great. Maybe I can do a longer ride tomorrow. The greatest chance for rain is after 1:00 pm. But I suppose there will be not much prep; I’m not back up to 40-mile Sunday rides yet!

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What Day Is This

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

What Day Is This? What day is this? I keep thinking that it’s Saturday, because I went to the salvage store; but today is Thursday! It’s funny how such a small thing can throw off my sense of time. But when I checked the NOAA 7-day forecast yesterday afternoon, I saw that tomorrow through Monday looked quite stormy. Ergo I decided to go to the store today. I don’t want to be up there on the levee in a T-storm! Yesterday morning I rode at 5:00 am so I could see the full moon over the river. It was worth getting up at 4:30 am! The moon was low enough in the sky that I could see the reflection of the moon, instead of only moonlight on the water. That happens only a few times per year; so when I see it, it’s something special. Getting back to the weather, it’s been clouding up since about noon. Tomorrow the T-storms might begin about three o’clock in the morning. So if you’re determined to ride — but it’s pouring — what do you do? In warm weather, maybe just go out there and ride, even if it means getting soaked. During heavy rain, the wind can get quite strong and gusty; and a flapping poncho makes bike control harder. From that point of view, it’s better not to have the poncho. With a windblown poncho you’ll still get wet, anyhow. In cold weather, you might want to consider using a rain suit. So far I haven’t tried one; but one of these days, maybe I will. I keep thinking that the Sunday long ride is tomorrow; but it isn’t. So what day is it, anyway?

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Costa Rica

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

Costa Rica Costa Rica has a number of cycling tours to offer, with durations of six to fifteen days. These tours rely quite heavily on the mountain bike; and you’d better get your biceps in shape for the white-water rafting! The 8-day Coast-to-Coast tour crosses the country from East to West. You’ll ride past villages and farms; fields of sugar-cane; and banana plantations. There’s even a volcano along the route; and coffee plantations as well.. If you want a longer Coast-to-Coast tour, there’s the 15-day route. This tour is physically challenging — you’ll engage in mountain biking; kayaking; and white-water rafting. Included is a bicycling climb over the Continental Divide. For a 10-day jaunt, you can undertake the Pacific, Arenal & Caribbean Coast tour. It includes cycling and river rafting; and hikes to view waterfalls. You can take a soak in the Arenal area’s hot springs to ease out those kinks in your muscles. These are only three of the tours available; and I must say that they all sound strenuous. I don’t even have a mountain bike; but maybe my hybrid would do? Costa Rica can get very wet, especially in the southern part of the country. In that warm climate, you might be able to get through the rain without a poncho, unless you’re at high altitude. January through March is the dry season; so I, for one, would prefer to schedule a tour during that time. The average annual temperature is 89 degrees; and having a way to keep cool sounds like a wise precaution. From beaches to mountains; white-water to coffee growing areas, Costa Rica offers a wide variety of adventures! 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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On Parallel Courses

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

On Parallel Courses When riding a group, you want to stay on parallel courses. It can get disastrous if riders swerve into each other! They say that riding on rollers is a good way to develop the skill of holding a straight line; and maybe I need to work on that. In fact, I did have a set of rollers years ago; but never got confident on them — especially not on the road bike. I think I was too tentative when I started pedaling on those rollers; and slick tires on non-rubberized rollers are tricky! But what’s going to happen when two tropical systems are on parallel courses? Both Franklin and Idalia are headed northwards; and the former seems to have been overindulging in Energy Shots. He’s up to Category 4! Unless Idalia drastically changes her course, New Orleans probably doesn’t have too much to worry about; although I suppose we’ll feel some effects (wind, rain). But Franklin? I hope he curves out to sea and dissipates. If he continues on his present path, it looks like he’ll slam into Connecticut; and my brother lives there with his family. I hope they’ll be OK. Is it possible for weather effects from these two storms to combine forces? I certainly hope not! I suspect that the results would not be good. As long as they stay on parallel courses, they probably won’t meet; and although they’re moving at about the same forward speed, Franklin is a good bit farther North. I might have a few windy days ahead of me. Maybe it’s a good time to practice riding on the drops.

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Gravel Bike

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Gravel Bike This Tommaso Siena Gravel Bike is ready to go when you’re heading for some rough riding surfaces. Extra-wide tires offer better traction than the narrow tires of a road bike; and the 21 gears can help you adapt your pedaling to varied terrain. I’m not a gravel rider myself; and I’m sure not ready for the Dirty Kanza!

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Waterproof

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

Waterproof? When I see a product touted as “waterproof”, I’m frankly skeptical. Too many times I’ve been caught in a heavy downpour that soaks my jacket and everything else! Rain here is typically heavy enough to penetrate the “waterproof” zipper on a bicycle trunk! All the same, I wish I could try out some waterproof jackets, such as this BALEAF model. It would be nice to ride through the rain and stay at least halfway dry! If the jacket doesn’t cut it, a rain suit might work. We’ve had so little rain in the last few months, though, that we’re going to forget how to ride in it. A major annoyance of mine is the visibility problems that come with riding in the rain; especially if there’s a wind to drive the rain into my face. That was especially annoying when I was still riding before daylight. Dark + wind-driven rain has me pedaling almost blind! At least my skin is waterproof; but that wasn’t much consolation when I had gotten soaked; and it was cold out; and I had to go to work — often getting all wet again in the process. I don’t have that particular pain in the neck now that I’m retired; but I know I’ll get poured on one of these days. At least now I can stay put after I get home; and if it’s cold, I can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate. Incidentally, do you find it easier to cope with riding in the rain, if the shower begins when you’re already out? I certainly do; probably because the only course of action I have is to keep going. And if I’m still home when the lightning starts a-crackin’, it’s wise not to go out until things settle down!

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Watered Down

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Watered Down? Proper hydration is important; but you don’t want to get watered down. It’s actually possible to drink too much water; and that can lead to hyponatremia. So while a Camel-Bak is great to have for any long ride — especially in this heat — it’s important to take along electrolyte drink, too. Even when it’s not hot, after I’ve been riding an hour, plain H-2-O stops working. No matter how much I drink, I’m still thirsty. My stomach starts to feel uncomfortable, too, with all that fluid squelching around inside. Who needs an upset stomach on top of being too hot? An electrolyte drink is what you need then. I’ve tried a number of such beverages: Nuun and BioSteel among them. GU-Gels contain sodium; but here’s the catch: those things make me thirsty! I’ve also heard that downing too many energy gels can cause gastric upset. Not fun. Speaking of watered down, what do you do when you get caught in the rain while riding? Some riders look for a place to wait out the shower; others keep plodding on. I generally opt for the latter course of action. Around here, there’s no telling whether rain will stop in 15 minutes; or continue for hours!

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Over the Hump

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Over the Hump Sometimes, when cycling, you’ve got to get over the hump. When I first began riding, getting over any kind of hump felt very hard. I read various cycling websites and books for hints about climbing. One source said, shift into harder gears as you near the top of an incline. WHAT?! That seemed to me the opposite of what riders needed to do; namely, to shift to easier gears on the way uphill. But I know a little better now. About two and a half years ago, out of the blue, I found that I was pulling up on the handlebars and easing my weight on the saddle when “climbing”. I noticed that this let me push harder on the pedals. It’s harder on my legs; but I seem to be able to climb more effectively when I do it. And it does, indeed, help me to get over the hump if I shift to the next hardest gear as I near the top. It gives me more to push against; and that provides a boost. Another tidbit of advice for climbing is: don’t let up your efforts until you’ve finished the climb, that is, wait to relax a bit until you feel gravity starting to pull you down the incline. I’m finding that it’s true. Not that I really ought to hand out advice on climbing. The humps I know are simply places where pipes go over the levee. Our terrain is flat, flat, flat. What would I do if I wound up living in the Ozarks?

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