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RAGBRAI Thoughts

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RAGBRAI Thoughts RAGBRAI thoughts are very much in my mind lately. I’m thinking of going for the 2024 event. Why not the 2023 ride? It would be terrific if I could go this year: after all, RAGBRAI 2023 is the fiftieth anniversary of this ride! But for several reasons, I think it’s wise to wait until next year. For one thing,  I’m not sure my hand will be able to tolerate it. I had CMC arthroplasty barely three months ago; and my hand hasn’t yet returned completely to normal. Yesterday I wasn’t able to operate my road bike’s left-hand shifter! The occupational therapist has said, take it easy; if it hurts, don’t do it. Can I be sure that my hand will be up to the stress of a week-long ride a few months from now? For almost ten weeks, all the “riding” I got was very short sessions on a WattBike®. It kept my leg muscles from becoming completely atrophied; but now I’m pretty much starting over from scratch. I have to  re-condition those muscles! That’s a gradual process; it will do more harm than good if I try to build up my daily mileage too quickly. My longest ride since surgery has been about 19.3 miles; and I need to be used to riding at least 60 miles per day if I don’t want to suffer during RAGBRAI. My concern is not only building up my daily distance; I know I’m not ready at present for hills! I’ve made a bit of a start on hill-training by trying to pedal faster than is comfortable when I’ve got a headwind; but so far, only for very short intervals. I need a lot more than that! Then there’s the question of transportation between here and Iowa. I’m a non-driver; and if I fly, or take a train, I’ll need a sturdy case for my bicycle! And I’ll need a duffle bag for clothing; a sleeping bag; and if I don’t use a charter service that will set up tents, I will need to borrow or buy a tent! I’m sure there’s more; but that’s why RAGBRAI thoughts have me saying, hold on — not so fast!  

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Where Is It

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Where Is It? Okay, where is it? Where’s that rain the forecast was talking about? Is it over there? We’ve been under flood watch since 7:00 am this morning, and no rain so far; except I thought I felt a few drops on the way to Whole Foods. But that hardly count as “rain” — not around here! The forecast seemed rather grim to me; but I’m glad I took the chance and rode to the store. Sunblock was on sale; and I bought two tubes. I also got bananas; an avocado; and bread. When I got home the sky was still gloomy gray; but it didn’t seem like a cloudburst was imminent. I decided to try a jaunt on the road bike. While I was preparing for the ride, I started to hear a train’s  horn. Oh, great, I thought. Where is it? Is that train going to keep me from accessing the bike path; or is it still far enough away for me to beat it? Just as I was going out the front door, I heard the thrumming sound of a locomotive’s engine; and then the blasting loud horn. I decided to ride to the railroad crossing for a look; and I saw that the train was a long one! It was moving slowly, too; and I didn’t want to stand there waiting.  I took the detour to the park; but by that time the park’s walking/cycling path was rather crowded. I made one full circuit; and the way to the bike path meant another half circuit. By then the train was gone; and I could get to the levee bike path. The wind was blowing at about 12 mph; and the clouds down near the horizon had a banded look. The sun was trying to come out; but I didn’t like the look of those clouds! So I didn’t ride very far before turning towards home. Now here it is, noon; and I’m still waiting for the skies to open. I hope they don’t decide to do it tomorrow morning; and keep me from riding to the salvage store.  It looks like the weather on Sunday will be nice; but over Sunday night more rain is in the forecast. I wish it would rain now, and get it over with. I’m getting tired of wondering, where is it?

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That Crazy Garmin

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That Crazy Garmin What’s up with my bicycle computer? This morning that crazy Garmin suddenly gave a screen reading that said, “Incident Detection”; and I couldn’t get the screen to return to its normal riding readout. I had no idea what that readout meant. Had my heart rate strap come loose? (It hadn’t). Was there (oh, please, NO!) an active-shooter incident ahead? Fortunately, there wasn’t. Maybe I accidentally bumped one of the Garmin’s buttons while steering the bike one-handed. Whatever it was, that crazy Garmin drives me crazy sometimes! Electronics can do some strange things, that’s for sure. Maybe it will be back to normal for my next ride, whenever that may be. It depends on what’s up with the weather! The forecast for tomorrow shows a high chance of rain; and the next day doesn’t look much better. I might have to haul out the trainer. I still forget sometimes that I’m retired, and don’t have to ride at 5:00 am; if the weather forbids an early morning ride, I might be able to ride later in the day. But this morning I did ride very early. It’s full moon time; and luckily the clouds didn’t obscure the moon the entire time. I saw the moonlight on the river; and I’ve really missed that. The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look good at all. T-storms are likely; and I don’t like to ride when lightning is around. I guess all I can do is wait for tomorrow morning, and see how things are; and if conditions are OK, I can ride to Whole Foods. I want bananas; and at the rate I’ve been going, I’ll soon be out of sunblock! It will be great if I can also get in some miles on the levee bike path; but I’m not counting my chickens. Weather around here is so capricious!

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Wide Tires

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WIDE Tires! If you like wide tires, how about trying the Mongoose Malus Fat Tire bicycle? Those four-inch tires can tackle just about any surface, be it sand; snow; or the road. The Mongoose Malus has a MTB-style steel frame; and its front and rear disc brakes provide a lot of stopping power. The 7-speed shifter works smoothly for an enjoyable ride. Mountain-style handlebar helps you maintain complete control on the trail. This bike is for riders from 64 to 74 inches in height, which would exclude me. Sometimes being “vertically challenged” is tough! I hope it’s possible to add some kind of fenders to this bicycle for times when you don’t want to ride off-road. Those wide tires throw up a lot of water and muck, I’m sure; and if this is how you have to ride to work, you don’t want to get muddy!  I guess it would be possible to rig this bike as a commuter. A rack over the rear wheel would let you carry a pair of panniers; then you can carry lunch; a change of clothes; or, on weekends, a load of groceries!  What I’d like to know is, don’t those wide tires offer a lot of resistance? To me, that’s a drawback; especially for long rides. These fat-tire bicycles can get up considerable speed, though. I’ve been passed by riders on fat-tire bikes while riding my road bike!

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Folding Adult Tricycle

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Folding Adult Tricycle This folding adult tricycle, by Dongshan, is great if you aren’t able to ride a two-wheeler, but are skimped on storage space: folding size is 51.18 x 31.49 x 35.43 inches. The rear seat can fit two youngsters or one adult; and has a seat belt for added safety. Recommended rider height limit (both front and back) is six feet tall. This trike is made of high- carbon steel; weight is about 77 pounds. Low step-through design makes it easy to get on and off. Trike is designed for stability. Front-wheel shock absorber contributes to a smoother ride; and fenders keep dirty water off of riders in wet weather. Disc brakes provide strong stopping. Baskets front and rear are great for bringing home a load of groceries; or carrying a picnic lunch to the local park. While I’m at it, don’t forget helmets; both for yourself and for your child. Colors: black or red. I never had a folding adult tricycle; but this one sure sounds great! $497.01

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Recap

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Recap “Recap” sounds like a musical term to me. There’s also “recap” as in, buy a new helmet. Sunday afternoon I was preparing for a jaunt on the road bike; and when I put on my helmet, it simply did not fit. At first I thought I needed to tighten the ratchet in the back; after all, this is the first ride in a while when I didn’t need a helmet liner. But the ratchet wouldn’t hold; and my helmet kept sliding all around my head. The weight of the headlight was no help. I had to get out the old helmet that I keep as an emergency spare. My bike shop is closed Sundays and Mondays; so I had to wait until today to go there. This morning I got my new headpiece; hence the term “recap”. The weather has looked uncertain all day. I got up early with the idea of visiting the local farmers’ market; but decided not to when a drizzle began. On top of that, I heard thunder! You never know how fast weather like that might be traveling; and nobody likes to get caught in a storm. By about 9:00 am, the rain had stopped, allowing me to get to and from the bike shop dry. Then I decided to head for the farmers’ market; and hope for the best. The sky was still overcast; and I thought it might rain again. I’m glad it didn’t; and I got some great tomatoes! It’s still overcast; and there’s still a 50% chance of rain. I’m debating whether to try going out on the road bike. The temperature is 72, and the wind is light — except for some pretty hefty gusts. That’s actually not bad for riding. Tomorrow it’s supposed to clear up, which is good news. It looks like Saturday morning will be all right for the trip to the salvage store; and Sunday I think I’ll push for 15 miles or so. I hope my hand cooperates!

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Four Times Pre Prep

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Four Times Pre Prep? RAGBRAI on My Mind! This feels like four times pre prep. If I do RAGBRAI, it won’t be until July of next year; and already I’m thinking of what I’ll need to take along on the ride. The videos I’ve watched about RAGBRAI make it quite plain that this is a week-long food fest. Although salad bars are mentioned, I get the impression that there’s not much fiber otherwise. Pork chops; pie; ice cream — no fiber there; and we know what can happen with a low-fiber diet! I wouldn’t want my big adventure to be spoiled by the miseries of “irregularity”; so I’m trying out some fiber wafers now. If those  things don’t agree with me, now is the time to find out; and they’ll be put down on my no-go list. If they’re OK, then I’ll take them with me. I’ll probably want GU-Gels. How many per day; and which flavors? If I suck down several “goos” per day, I’ll get flavor fatigue if they all taste the same; and that’s no fun. Moving on from diet, what about “housing”? Even if I use a charter service that will take care of a tent for me, I’ll need bedding: an inflatable mattress; sleeping bag; and a pillow (or something that can substitute for a pillow). These items need to be lightweight; and capable of being folded or rolled into a compact package. Which reminds me, I’ll need a duffel bag, too. Just keep in mind the weight limit! Gosh, all these things to think about! See why I call it Four Times Pre Prep? RAGBRAI can get very hot and humid. Having lived in New Orleans all my life, I should be used to that; but riding in it for hours every day is another story. I think I’ll get one of those cooling neck gaiters soon, and see how they work. It won’t be long before we’ll have overnight low temperatures around 80 degrees; and my Sunday long rides will be sweltering. How about the wardrobe? Clean shorts for each day is the most important thing of all; and I’m not sure I’ll be able to wash shorts at any point. Wearing them into a shower might not get them clean enough; so that means seven pairs of shorts to pack along. Jerseys? I can wear one for two days; and if I start to get smelly, I won’t be the only one! I was surprised to hear that it can get cold during RAGBRAI; ergo have leg warmers, arm warmers, and a jacket handy! A helmet liner, too. A ventilated helmet on a chilly day makes for a miserably cold head. And lots more. RAGBRAI 2024 is a long way off; but four times pre prep can’t hu

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Back on Track

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Back on Track I’m working to get back on track now. It’s great to be riding again; but it will take a while before I’m really normal again. Today I rode the hybrid to the salvage store. HOORAY!! First time since surgery! I didn’t take the trailer, because I don’t think I’m ready for hauling yet; and I thought right. My hand was flaring up before I got back home; and my legs are rather stiff. And after only ten miles! The trip was worth it, though. I was out of canned chicken, and I found some at the store; and I got cut-rate peppermint bark, left over from last Christmas. I don’t care if it’s a bit stale — it still tastes good enough for me! When I’m shopping in a regular store, I skip things like Nut•rition, because it’s expensive. But at the salvage store today, I found a box of 18-1.5 oz pouches of the stuff; and for $7.99! The grab-bag bins were empty today, which is why I got the peppermint bark. I’m always on the lookout for ride food; and this morning I found a bar called Barebells®. It would be good to take along on a ride tomorrow; if I can ride tomorrow! It looks like tomorrow through Tuesday will be stormy; and that includes T-storms. I’ll see how things are in the morning. If I can’t go out, there’s always the the trainer! It’s a good thing I have it; because I need to get back on track!  

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Dreaming Again

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Dreaming Again! Yes, I’m dreaming again; this time about RAGBRAI! Is it really so impossible? Apparently it isn’t too late to register for RAGBRAI 2023; but I’m quite sure it’s too late for me to train up to it. After all, the big ride starts on July 22; and I’m just getting back on the bike again. There are many things to consider: getting up there to Iowa, and getting back home afterwards; training for the ride; whether to bring along ride food. Food. Judging from the YouTubes I’ve been watching, RAGBRAI is a week-long food fest! The list of “eats” includes, among other items, ice cream; pork chops; corn on the cob; and beer (well, I think I’ll skip the beer). I might not need to bring any food; but I don’t think it would hurt to have a few energy bars on hand, just in case. How about clothes? Can I wash out shorts and jerseys in the shower? I’ll need clean shorts each day; and as of now I have only five pairs. As to jerseys, I own all of three! “Evening” clothes are a must, because I won’t want to hang out in sweaty shorts after a long day in the saddle. That’s a major no-no! Which brings up another point — take along an ample supply of Chamois Butt’r. I also am sure to go through a LOT of sunblock! Y’know, I think I’ll order me a pair of leg sun sleeves. If I’m dreaming again about doing RAGBRAI, it’s not too soon to try out these things! Rather surprisingly, it can get chilly during RAGBRAI; so I’ll have to pack leg- and arm-warmers. Rain is always a possibility; that means a rain jacket and extra socks. There are charter services for RAGBRAI that will set up a tent for you each night; and for a first-timer, that might be the way to go. Especially if I go it solo. After all, where can I practice setting up a tent? I could keep going about this; but for the moment, all I know is I’m dreaming again!

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Starting Anew

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Starting Anew I’m starting anew; sort of. Today is the first time since my surgery that I tried riding the road bike. It was great to be on “Scottie” again; but it seems my hand and wrist aren’t quite ready for it yet. After about five miles, things started to feel tired and strained. Good thing I was at least halfway back home by then! Now I have to relearn how my Garmin works. All those different buttons! On top of that, as soon as I began my ride, the readout screen showed a “low cadence sensor battery” message. Getting into that sensor to change the battery is still a bit much for my hand; so I had to walk the bike to the shop. I have no idea what my heart rate was, because I forgot to wear the chest strap. Note to self: put that thing where I’ll see it for the next ride! But I’m pretty sure I stayed in Zone 3 today. It looks like tomorrow will be very windy. Since I’m starting anew, as it were, I think I’ll stay off the levee. Maybe I’ll ride in the park; or maybe I’ll put the bike in the trainer.  Just now I’m cooking brown rice for a Hoppin’ John variation. This one will have pintos and great northerns. Tonight I can do the chopping work; and tomorrow I can finish it up. This cooking project will let me use up three cans of stuff; and that’s a good thing. I still have quite a stash. It’s going to be hard work for my hand; but I need to cook up some good stuff to eat. I’ve missed my Hoppin’ John variations. Oh, and today I thought up a new treat: dipping banana into hot cocoa mix!

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