SpokEasy

SpokEasy

bicycling

Wolf!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Wolf! Is there a wolf out there? If the forecast for this coming weekend is accurate, it’s going to seem like the Big Bad Wolf (of Three Little Pigs notoriety) is trying to blow down the brick house. The strongest winds are expected over Saturday night. Gusts up to 35 mph! Showers are in the forecast for Saturday morning; and that rather dampens (no pun intended) any plans to run errands by bicycle. At least Sunday is expected to be sunny; but the wind will still be 15-20 mph. With the temperature already in the low 40s, that will push the chill factor as low as the freezing point. It makes riding so much harder! One, it’s already cold; two, I’m fighting the wind; and three, heavily gloved fingers make on-bike eating harder. It’s also hard to drink enough when I’m already cold; and all I have is cold fluid. Then, Sunday night, it’s going to get even cooler. That probably won’t last long; but it’s also likely to rain once the temperature rises a little. All these crazy fluctuations in temperature from day to day make me yearn for Summer. At least then I know it will just be hot and humid. It’s a nuisance having all sorts of gloves, leg warmers, and other cold-weather gear lying all over the place. They take up precious space; and it can be hard to keep track of them all. Maybe we can persuade the wolf to go elsewhere. Maybe to Blow the Man Down? 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 Bolivia January 7, 2024 Beating the Weather January 7, 2024 Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Wolf! Read More »

Active Couch Potato?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Active Couch Potato? An active couch potato, I sometimes fear, is what I have become. The term is used for people who exercise regularly — even vigorously — but otherwise sit around most of the time. I’m more active off the bike at work than at home. When I’m at work, I get up about every 20 minutes. At home, I can too easily get absorbed in composing blogs, watching YouTubes, and so on; and get too little activity. Even on long-ride day! When the weather is cold, I don’t want to move out from in front of my electric heater. How I wish my window units had heat! As a renter, I didn’t have any say in what got installed. However, if I would just shove myself into action, the activity would warm me up for at least as long as I kept at it. For example, this place really needs a good vacuuming! Even standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes probably burns off a bit more energy than just sitting. My off-bike exercise sessions last, I’d say, 20 minutes at most. I do it that way because short sessions almost every day seem like a better idea to me than an hour twice a week. Those short sessions are also easier to fit in! I’d like to know this, though. How can I be a couch potato, whether active or not, when I don’t have a couch?

Active Couch Potato? Read More »

Iditabike

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Iditabike 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.” Iditabike is an event for the hardiest. Ride 100 kilometers (62 miles) over snow in Alaska? And in February? A scene like this one makes me wonder what it would really be like to ride through the snow on a fat-tired bicycle. I’ll never know, I suppose, unless I moved well away from Southeast Louisiana; but I guess it takes a lot of energy to push through the snow. Especially a heavy, wet snow. If a short ride on a snowy day takes extra care and planning for most folks, what must it be like to participate in Iditabike? Imagine riding over snow, in temperatures that can get far below freezing. One of my cycling books mentions the race, and tells of it being a “clear night”.  Yes, it looks as if Iditabike doesn’t stop for a little thing like darkness. I wonder, do the riders get to see the auroras? I think  would be beautiful to ride under those Northern Lights — if I could stand the cold. I’ll bet my thoughts would turn to hot chocolate, if I were out there. And a warm room, with a cozy chair and a blanket to snuggle into. And a good book to read! But daydreaming could be perilous on the Iditabike trail; possibly fatal. Maybe my imagination is running away with me; but I suppose Iditabike riders would need to stay alert to wildlife. I would not like to be struggling to ride through snow with a kodiak bear chasing me. From what I know about bear encounters, it’s best to avoid bears if possible. Part of that is making some kind of sound so you don’t surprise the bear. Jingle bells, jingle bells?… 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

Iditabike Read More »

eBikes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Ever consider eBikes? I’ll admit it. When I first heard about electronic bikes; and even saw/heard people buzzing around on them,  my knee-jerk reaction was that they weren’t “real” bikes. How can it be a “bike” if the rider isn’t pedaling? It also struck me as a lazy way to “ride”. How could riding one of those things be “exercise”? Isn’t the motor doing the work? Then I read a letter in “Letters from our Readers” on page 05 of the December 2018/January 2019 issue of Adventure Cyclist; and it gave me a different perspective on ebikes. As the writer pointed out, electronic bikes can give people who are no longer able to use a regular bicycle (such as older folks with knee problems) a way to keep riding. An ebike doesn’t cause the air pollution that an internal combustion engine does, and doesn’t make nearly as much noise. What about the safety aspect of ebikes? I think I\d be worried that the thing would run away with me! But it looks like a lot of things that apply to riding a conventional bicycle also apply to riding its electronic counterpart. Be visible; learn to handle the ebike at low speed before trying to push the pace; and so on. For me, I think the hardest part of riding a ebike would be having that buzzing almost next to my ear. I have noise sensitivity issues, so as long as I’m able to ride a regular bicycle, I intend to do so. All the same, an ebike is an alternative to keep in mind.

eBikes Read More »

Brake Even

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Brake Even Gotta have brakes that work! Brake even is what we need when we’ve got to stop that bicycle. We’d be in big trouble without brakes, wouldn’t we? What little bicycle riding I did as a kid involved coaster brakes; the type that you operate by pedaling backwards. The kind I’m familiar with now is the rim brake, which has brake pads that contact the wheels’ rims. My adult tricycle had front-wheel rim brakes only. Contrary to expectations, the tricycle’s brakes gripped harder when wet! Most of the time that wasn’t a problem. There was just once, on a misty morning, when I had trouble. I was approaching a stop sign, and not even going all that fast. I started to brake; and next thing I knew I was on the ground with the trike on top of me. Just what I needed, a temperamental tricycle! Both my hybrid and road bike have rim brakes. During wet rides, when I know I have a stop coming up, I lightly hold the brakes for a few pedal strokes, to help get the worst of the moisture off of the wheels’ rims. Even so, it takes longer to stop than it would when I’m riding in dry conditions. Disc brakes? I’ve never tried them. Here’s a pro and con discussion of rim vs disc brakes. If the latter are heavier, I’m probably better off with rim brakes. Whatever kind of brakes you have, be sure they’re in good working order. You don’t want to break a leg if they don’t work. That’s not what brake even is about. 

Brake Even Read More »

Long Ride Prep Time

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Long Ride Prep Time So many roads; so little time! It’s long ride prep time: Saturday evening, and time to start getting things ready tomorrow! Long ride prep time means I’ve put my electrolyte drink in the fridge to chill, and prepared my recovery drink. I’ve chosen my ride food for tomorrow, and plan to try a new one: pitted dates! As to the Camel-Bak, I like to wait until just before the ride to fill the reservoir, in case it should leak. I also pack a cable lock in the Camel-Bak’s pocket, in case I have to make a stop at a store. The weather forecast looks good. It’s gotten warmer again, but it will be clear, and the wind not too bad. Nine mph is still more than I really like, though! When I look at a pic that shows a view like the one above, I wish I had such a route to ride. I could use some occasional variation from the MRT. The catch is, is this route hilly? This sure looks like a downslope; and if what goes up must come down, then the road that goes down must surely go back up!

Long Ride Prep Time Read More »

GEORGIA on My Mind?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Georgia on My Mind? 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.” Why would Georgia be on my mind? A while back, I began using a program called Google Analytics, abbreviated as GA. When I see that, however, the first thing I think of is the postal code for the state of Georgia. We visited Georgia when I was about 12 or 13. I know we were at Stone Mountain. It’s so long ago that I remember very little of it; only that we were there. When I was in high school, there was always a radio blaring on the school bus. That must be where I heard a song that had something in it about Georgia on My Mind. In fact, those words are the only thing I can remember of the song. The reception for the radio on that bus apparently wasn’t the best, because it usually was hard to understand the lyrics of any song. Not to mention that there was also the constant talking of a busload of kids. But how about bicycle rides in Georgia? I’ve heard of the Six Gap Ride. That’s beyond my capabilities, for sure! I don’t even have a mountain bike. Even that shorter Three Gap is more than I can mange, I would guess. Trying to train for such a ride when I live in flat country would mean going out and pushing hard in a very hard gear, working up to doing it for … who knows how long? Ten minutes? Twenty?? Oh, my aching legs! 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 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

GEORGIA on My Mind? Read More »

Katy Trail

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Katy Trail 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.” The Katy Trail first came to my attention in early 2013. A then co-worker, who was originally from Missouri, told me about this route. He had ridden it twice. (I don’t know whether this pic is really the Katy Trail, but it looks nice). It sounded wonderful. There’s an annual organized group bicycle ride that covers the entire length of the trail. The route alternates between East to West one year; and the opposite direction the next. The Katy is one of the Rails to Trails paths, following a former railroad route. I hear that those routes are almost flat, having at most a very slight grade. That’s good news for a spoiled flatlander like me! For the history buff, more than half the Katy follows the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition along the Missouri River. I was considering going for the Katy Trail group ride. Unfortunately this would have meant getting to the trailhead to begin with. I don’t own a car; and transporting a bicycle by air wouldn’t have been so cheap. I was reluctant to bother somebody to drive me up there.   It would’ve meant finding a way to borrow (or — gulp! — buy) camping equipment such as tent and sleeping bag if I don’t want to pay for provided accommodations. If I bought those things, where would I store them? Would I ever use them again? The more I thought about doing the Katy Trail, the more I realized that I could spend several thousand dollars on something that would last about two weeks. That put rather a damper on my enthusiasm; and I decided that I’d be better off spending that money on a road bike. I’ve never regretted the decision; but the Katy Trail is still on my bucket list! 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 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Mini-Ride! December 7, 2023 I Still Can’t Ride! December 6, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

Katy Trail Read More »

If the Bike Fits

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

If the Bike Fits How does your bike fit? If the bike fits, ride it! I took the road bike for its initial Specialized Body Geometry fit in November 2015. It’s expensive; but my interest in long-distance riding made me decide that it would be worth the cost.  The fitter first asked about my cycling goals; and how long I had been riding. Next he fastened my bicycle into a stand and took various measurements, such as saddle height. Then I climbed aboard and pedaled; and the fitter watched my pedaling technique. He also checked my reach to the handlebars; and watched the angulation of my forefeet; my hip flexion; and neck flexion. To my surprise, he lowered my saddle a bit. He said that I have good hip flexion; and that lowering the saddle would let me make better use of it. I could feel the difference at first, but quickly adjusted to it. Last November I went for a refit. It was done by the same person who did my initial fitting; and this time he used something called Retul. He stuck little lights on various parts of me and my biking shoes; and filmed me as I pedaled. Somehow I never got the printout of that session’s results; and, as a re-fit is supposed to be done annually, it’s getting close to time for another! But at least my bike fits me; and if the bike fits, ride it!

If the Bike Fits Read More »

Quit Bugging Me!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Quit Bugging Me! Oh, quit bugging me! I want to enjoy my ride! Riding before daylight in temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit presents certain difficulties. Yes, we have overnight lows around 80 degrees for months on end; and even riding at 5:00 am means getting very hot and sweaty. But that isn’t the worst of it. It’s all the flying insects. Sometimes there are swarms of gnats; and other times I ride through clouds of tiny moths. I need to wear my glasses if only to protect my eyes; but now and than a bug gets behind the lenses! That’s when I want to holler, “Quit bugging me!” Another problem with all those bugs in the air, is that I hardly dare to breathe through my mouth. I don’t need to choke on a winged critter; and even if I don’t choke, bugs don’t taste so good. So I wear my glasses; and I breathe through my nose as much as I can. It’s a good thing the bugs aren’t swarming like this when the weather is cold. My nose runs nonstop when it’s cold; and I’m forced to breathe through my mouth. I’d get a lot of insects into my system — which would really bug me.

Quit Bugging Me! Read More »