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Cycling in Russia

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Cycling in Russia 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.” What is cycling in Russia like? Would I want to tackle such a tour — possibly in the middle of nowhere? It sounds like cycling across Russia is not for the faint-hearted, especially if you sally forth on your own. Apparently the biggest risks are cold (it can get cold at night even during Summer); crazy traffic; and wildlife.   What kind of bicycle? There can be very long distances between towns; and you’ll need to carry enough food to tide you over in case you can’t get to town soon enough. A touring bike is suggested if you expect to be mostly on paved roads. If you’ll do a lot of riding over unpaved roads, go for a mountain bike. I suppose it’s even possible that you must be prepared to camp; so a bicycle with a rack is wise. You can use panniers to bring food; and a tent and sleeping bag can be strapped to the top of the rack. Just be sure you don’t pitch your camp in prohibited areas; check on this before leaving home. It all sounds like more than I’m capable of handling.  If I were to cycle Russia, I’d stick with tours of the larger cities; and I don’t think I would go solo! My Russian vocabulary consists of only a few words; so things might get tricky. Moscow offers ten routes that let you explore the city on two wheels. Saint Petersburg? Like Moscow, St. Petersburg has some amazing architecture. I always wondered how those domes were built: not only their onion-like shapes, but those stripes in different colors! Eventually I learned that the domes are wood; and the colors are tiles. Kiev? That actually isn’t Russia; but Kiev seems to be more bicycle-friendly than it used to be. And I bet I’d enjoy seeing the Great Gate! 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 Joyeux Noël! December 21, 2023 Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 20, 2023 Christmas Past December 20, 2023 Relearning December 19, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Cycling in Belgium

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Cycling in Belgium 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.”   Cycling in Belgium starts at birth, it seems. I remember reading that in Belgium, I believe it was, they place a cold bicycle saddle against the bottom of a newborn baby. The shock supposedly starts the child on a lifetime of cycling. Odd sort of a kick-start, don’t you think? And indeed, Belgium seems to have a good reputation for cycling. Parts are flatland; and some parts are quite hilly. Something for everyone! Here are some possible routes. Are you a flatlander, like me? Maybe you’d like to keep to the coastal plain region, and use a road/gravel bike. Any route with cobbles would count me out. Cobbles alone sound bad enough to me; never mind cobbles + steep climbing! I hadn’t though much about the terrain of Belgium; but since it’s included in the the Low Countries, I had vaguely assumed that it’s flat. Not entirely, it’s not! If I went on a bicycle tour of Belgium, the climate would be hard on me, I suspect. I should be used to rain (we average 60 inches per year where I live). But if it’s going to be chilly or downright cold as well as raining, I would soon be very uncomfortable. Maybe I need a rain suit! Possibly some long johns, too. Love chocolate? How about visiting Brussels, and the Chocolate Tasting Tour? It sounds like this tour in itself isn’t done by bicycle; but how about the choc-o-tour as a sidelight on a bicycle tour that includes Brussels? After all, as Eddie Merckx said, “Ride lots.”

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Labor of Love?

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Labor of Love Can riding your bicycle be a labor of love? Monday is usually off-bikes day. But today is a day off from work, and Cycle September is on. So I went for a ride. It will help my team! After having put in 37.5 miles yesterday, I tried to take it easy, which wasn’t all that easy. The breeze was from the Northeast,  which meant a headwind on the way home. It was blowing at 9 mph; not all that strong per se, but that’s enough for me to feel it, particularly when I’m trying to go easy! A 9 mph wind is nothing to that hurricane. Dorian’s max sustained winds have dropped to 155 mph since last night, but he’s still one mean storm. To make things worse, he’s now almost stationary. What movement there is, is still westward. After I got  home from my jaunt on the road bike, I took the hybrid for a ride to the ATM. Luckily those machines don’t take holidays, and I thought it would be wise to get a little extra cash, in case things come to the worst with that hurricane. Let’s hope that Dorian won’t be a second Labor Day Hurricane. He’s bad enough now! Eerily, Labor Day in 1935 was on September 2. I tried something new before this morning’s ride: Bob’s Red Mill Muesli Cup. I got it on sale day before yesterday, and I hope I find it on sale again soon. In the meantime, I’ll put in some more miles for Cycle September — as a labor of love.

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Cycling in Italy

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Cycling in Italy 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.” If I were to take a bicycle tour of Italy, which part would I want to see? What tour would I undertake? For riders looking for a leisurely tour, Cycling for Softies offers a number of routes. Tuscany? Yes, there are rolling hills; but e-bikes are available to make them easier. Roll past vineyards; olive groves; and medieval villages. The Puglia tour explores the “bootheel” of Italy. This lesser-known area of the country offers terrific views of the sea; and is rich in history. Delicious local cuisine, too! For more of a challenge, how about MTB tours of Sardinia? Incidentally, are the fish named for the island? It sounds like Sardinia would be too rugged and tough for me to ride. Want to cycle the Eternal City? You can do that, too! They say that, even if Italian drivers are aggressive, they certainly don’t want to mar the finish of their cars; and of course they don’t want to hit you. But if you’re super-duper gung-ho, you might want to tackle the Giro! 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 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 2024! January 1, 2024 Out with a Bang December 31, 2023 Seven-Up December 30, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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A Chill Ride

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Chill Ride A “chill” ride comparatively speaking, that is. I was a bit nervous about going for a ride today, because last night the forecast said there was a 90% chance of rain and T-storms. In fact, as I was setting out, I saw a huge, black cloud off in a southerly direction. I decided to chance it, but keep it rather short; partly because I didn’t know what the weather might do; and partly because when I’ve done less riding than usual for a week, it’s probably better not to push for 40-50 miles. I ran into some light sprinkle here and there; but no real rain. Then I got to my turnaround point. Two other riders came along, and we chatted for a bit. Naturally we got to talking about the weather, and one of them got out his iPhone (SmartPhone?) to check it. He announced that it was 77 degrees. That’s a lot cooler than it has been. My comment was, “We’re gonna freeze!” I guess the overcast is keeping temperatures down. I also mentioned that I rather wish I could do RAGBRAI. “What’s that?” So I told him a bit about it. On the way out, I averaged 15.44 mph; very good for me. Going back home, I “chilled”, i.e. rode at a more leisurely pace; about 12.6 mph. But for a local collegiate racing team, a “chill” ride is about 18 mph. For me that’s still a hard effort!

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if bike fits II body geometry retul

If the Bike Fits

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If the Bike Fits If Bike Fits II! A good bicycle fit is essential for comfort on the bike, especially if you intend to do long rides. There are several bicycle-fitting systems out there. Specialized Body Geometry and Retul are the only two that I’ve experienced. It is said, quite rightly, that any bicycle fit is only as good as the fitter who is carrying out the procedure. If you want to explore bike-fit options, Cutting Edge Cycling discusses several systems in Chapter 7. These are: Wobble-Naught [site not secure]; Retul; Serotta Personal Fit; and BikeFit. Changing where you sit on the saddle can change a bike-fit entirely, as I found out. Moving backward a few inches changes everything! When I went for the re-refit  a few weeks ago, I expected that the fitter would move my saddle forward, and/or do something with the handlebar position. Instead, I wound up with a new saddle. He had suggested at past fittings that I might want to consider a slight wider saddle, and that’s what I have now. I still have to check  myself to be sure I’m not sitting too far forward; and that my sit bones are where the saddle supports them. Thus, If the Bike Fits II. Is that why I suddenly seem able to pedal harder, and why I’m feeling my calves like never before?

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Not the Sandwich

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Not the Sandwich 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.” It’s not the sandwich; it’s the Giro! Yes, that’s G-I-R-O; not G-Y-R-O. Okay, okay, but I’m hungry! Let’s munch on our gyros while we learn a bit about the Giro. Like the Tour de France, it was begun as a way of increasing sales of a newspaper; an advertising gambit, if you will. The first TdF was held in 1903, and the initial Giro was in 1909. H’mm. Did Italy get the idea for the Giro from the TdF? Also like the TdF, the Giro is three weeks long. There are time trials, flat stages, and mountainous stages. Again like the TdF, the Giro riders must deal with less than ideal weather conditions at times. Riding in cold and rain is miserable, especially without wet-weather gear. I’ve gotten caught in caught in cold and rain often enough; and it saps my energy. That, when I usually have about six miles to ride. Imagine pedaling through it while racing for miles up the side of a mountain! With weather like that, I’ll bet the riders are all glad when the race is over. But if I ever rode the Giro, I’d love to win that pretty pink jersey. And even though the race is not the sandwich, I’d love to chow down a gyro to celebrate. 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 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Some Like It Hot

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Some Like It HOT! 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.” Some like it hot, all right: a century ride in 100 degree heat! I don’t think I want to try that one. A ride of three or four hours in the “Swampeast” Louisiana humidity, at 88-92 degrees, is quite enough for me! Those who do like it hot can head for Wichita Falls, Texas, for the Hotter N Hell Hundred century ride. That’s a 100-mile, rolling course. It can be quite windy. And, of course, there’s the heat. Temperatures at Hotter N Hell can exceed 100 degrees. Add to that the area’s aridity. It’s definitely not for the unseasoned cyclist. Interesting factoid: the Camel-Bak had its origins in the HHH. Don’t forget to bring yours if you undertake this event. Some like it hot; but even if you do, you’ll need lots of water! Be sure you have your electrolyte drink, too. A tube of tablets would be better than extra bottles of liquid; they weigh much less and take up almost no space. For a prolonged ride in such heat, gut training would be extra important. After riding for several hours in milder conditions, my stomach starts to feel a bit uncomfortable. Having to keep going six or seven hours when it’s 100 degrees or more, and extremely dry to boot, would be a tall order. Am I up to such a challenge? Maybe some day I’ll get to test my mettle. 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 Afternoon Ride? December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wonder Ride?

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Wonder Ride? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” For a wonder ride, head for Arizona’s Grand Canyon. This is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and rightly so, I would say. When my brother and I visited the Grand Canyon, I found that I could stare and Stare and STARE at it, until my eyeballs ached. As soon as I looked away, I felt compelled to look back at it; as though to be sure I hadn’t been imagining it! We had a great time there. We watched the sun rising over the North Rim, an unforgettable sight. It meant getting up very early in the morning, which was very generous of my brother. He’s not the early bird sort. But it was well worth it! Starting at Mather Point, we walked down to Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail; and had a picnic lunch before heading back up. We saw various kinds of lizards; birds; and even glimpsed a gray fox! At the time, I was many years away from taking up cycling. If I went there again, I might enjoy a cycling tour. It would be hard, though, for me to watch where I was riding for wanting to stare at that magnificent abyss. The Grand Canyon is a desert environment, so take along a good hydration system. The South Rim is something like 7000 feet up, meaning that sunblock is even more important than it is at lower altitudes. Oh, and don’t forget the camera! You’re sure to want to take a LOT of pictures! 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 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Unseamed December 5, 2023 A Stitch in Time December 4, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Paella, perhaps?

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Paella Perhaps? Is paella, perhaps, good ride food? It’s made up of rice (carbs); some kind of meat or seafood (protein); and veggies. But I never knew that this dish is named after the shallow pan in which it’s traditionally cooked! Along with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, Vuleta a Espana is one of the three Grand Tour bicycle races. It began more recently, in 1935; and was inspired by the TdF and the Giro. It, too, is three weeks long. The race is held in August-September. I suppose that’s to give riders who participated in the Tour de France a chance to recover, just as the TdF doesn’t begin immediately after the May-June Giro. Even so, that sounds like a grueling schedule. Three weeks of riding all around Italy; three more weeks of pedaling around France; then three weeks of pushing the pedals around Spain. There are intervals of about one month between one event and the next. Even so, the riders must recover from one race; build up to the next; and taper leading up to starting day. During the Vuelta, do the riders have paella, perhaps, for supper? Especially a variation including mussels. The mussels might help their muscles! 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 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Sunblock Day January 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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