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On the Fence

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment / CAL

On the Fence 🤔 We all know the feeling of being on the fence; and it can make you feel out of “CTRL“. For example, I’m preparing for RAGBRAI LII; and am on the fence about bike locks. Should I bring one; or not? Some people say, don’t worry; you don’t need a lock. Others say, it’s better to have a lock; especially if you want to ride into the overnight town and will be away from your camp site. I have a cable lock; but it’s quite heavy. If I bring it along, maybe I can let it stay in my luggage; then I’ll have it if I need it at the camp site. And it won’t be weighing down my Camel-Bak all day long. Oh, and what about getting my electronic devices locked in at a charging station? Locked In? 🔐 Here is another subject on which I’m on the fence. PBV service includes a charging trailer, with locking compartments. Some videos I’ve watched say, bring a padlock. I immediately though of a standard padlock; the kind you might use for a school locker. Then I watched another video; and that one mentioned the small kind of padlock that you’d use for luggage. Wouldn’t you know, I can’t find that video again. Which kind of lock do I need? No wonder I feel like I’m on the fence! Of course I’ll want to get my devices locked in at night; and my list of RAGBRAI questions includes this issue. Are PBV users assigned a charging cubby, just as they’re assigned a tent number? If not, how will I easily find the cubby that I’ve chosen for my headlight, etc? I soon thought of putting a small piggy charm (such as you’d carry on a keychain) in the cubby. While I was considering where to look for such a thing, I remembered that I didn’t need to buy one; I already had one! I think it’s supposed to be a baby peccary; but that’s close enough. I was able to find it easily; and now it’s with the stuff I’m accumulating for RAGBRAI. 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 ✍🏻 On the Fence February 21, 2025 Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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More Winter

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

More Winter ❄️ We’ve got more Winter coming. There are cold-weather warnings posted for the next two nights; and early tomorrow the chill factor will be well below freezing! It’s good I’ve got some cold-weather clothing; but when it’s that cold, nothing seems warm enough. Leg warmers help; but even with an additional base layer, my legs get cold. A long-sleeved blouse with three layers over it doesn’t keep out the chill. Would these AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves keep my hands warmer? Even with hand warmers inside of my gloves, my hands can get pretty cold. Frigid wind on my head gets painful, even when I’m wearing a skull cap. My feet get cold, even with heavy socks. More Winter for us doesn’t often mean sub-freezing temperatures; and when they occur, it’s apt to mean a training disruption for me. Training Disruption 😞 Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a training disruption; it’s possible to “ride” inside. If only such exercise weren’t so tedious! I got enough of it during the recent cold snap; and now I need to resume it. And we’ve got more Winter. It’s not the end of February yet; but I hope it stops dropping down to freezing. This city isn’t made for it; and I don’t blame anybody for not wanting to buy a lot of polar-rated clothing that they’ll need only a few days per season. Hence a training disruption can easily occur when the mercury drops like a stone. 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 ✍🏻 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Roll Over

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training / CAL

Roll Over 🛞 “Roll over” sounds like a command you might teach to a dog. A roll over is what might happen, too, if you’re riding; and drop a water bottle. It happened to me this morning. I was trying to put my bottle of electrolyte drink back into its cage; and dropped it. Then I rode right over it before I could stop. The bottle seems to be OK; but it might take another use or two before I’m sure it isn’t damaged. I hope I don’t drop too many bottles as I roll through the corn in July! Roll through the Corn 🌽 Preparing to roll through the corn (aka ride RAGBRAI) is keeping me busy! I have quite a shopping list; but I’m trying not to buy everything at once. It’s better to spread out the expenses if I can. I did order a duffle (of is it D-U-F-F-E–L?) bag. Better to have the bag first, I think, and then buy stuff that will fit inside the bag. It’s sort of like making the bike fit the rider; not the other way around. Preparing to roll through the corn also means, of course, the physical training required. I’ve begun working on back-to-back long rides; “long” at this point meaning 25-30 miles. I do that once a week. Training advice for over-40 riders says to ease up every third week; so I won’t increase my long-days mileage until the week of March 2. No hard riding this week, either. They say your body doesn’t get stronger if you stress it too hard, too often. You don’t want to reach the roll-over-and-play-dead stage of fatigue! 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 ✍🏻 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Time Warp? February 14, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Time Warp?

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care / CAL

Time Warp? 😵‍💫 Am I caught in a time warp? It doesn’t feel like Friday! Maybe it was today’s riding. A friend and former co-worker lives nearby; and we had plans to meet at 9:30 this morning for a walk. I wanted to get in some miles before then, in case it turned rainy in the afternoon. But I didn’t get going until about 7:00; and I needed time to fix and eat breakfast after I got home. Thus I didn’t ride as long as I really wanted to; and got in less than 11 miles. After I was home from walking, I got busy with other things; but by early afternoon I was tired of sitting around. I decided to get on the ball, and went out again, this time on the hybrid; and rode another 9 miles. Two rides in one day upset my sense of time; so no wonder I feel like I’m in a time warp! Get on the Ball! ⚽️ Time warp or not, I’ve got to get on the ball. Not that I’m behind on RAGBRAI training, at least as far as miles go. But I do need to be more diligent about my off-bike exercises! If all that exercise leaves you with sore muscles, these Massage Balls can provide some relief. Different colors have varying stiffness/spike length. Good for phyio-therapy, relief of plantar fasciitis, aching quads, etc. RAGBRAI, in fact, is why I decided to get these massage balls. I’m bound to have some aching legs; and with these “sea urchins” on hand, I won’t have to stand in line for a massage! At 3 inches in diameter each, they’ll take up far less space than a foam roller. I just have to be careful not to roll myself into a time warp! 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 ✍🏻 Check Your Pockets February 13, 2025 Under-Trained February 12, 2025 Muscle Forgetfulness February 11, 2025 Fog Away! February 10, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Fog Away!

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

Fog Away! 😶‍🌫️ Thank goodness whoever controls our weather took the fog away this morning! Yesterday morning the fog was terrible; and I was lucky that I’d brought along a cloth handkerchief. For or five times, I had to stop and dry my glasses; and I wished I had ARCHXX Anti-Fog Lens Wipes. I must get some to take along on RAGBRAI in case of misty mornings. I think these wipes will be easier for travel use than a bottle of spray lens cleaner; they’re not likely to spill the way a liquid can. They’re ammonia-free, too; and that’s a plus. I hate the smell of ammonia! But the main thing is keeping the fog away; if not from the atmosphere, then away from my glasses! Rain or fog, anti-fog treatments should help keep those lenses clear. Rain or Fog? 🌧️ 😶‍🌫️ But which is worse: rain, or fog? I’m not sure I can make up my mind about that. Visibility certainly is likely to be a much greater problem in heavy mist; but a heavy downpour also makes it hard to see. Today the mist seemed to be largely confined to the river; and except for a few drops here and there, the rain stayed away. There was more wind than there was yesterday; and it was mostly a headwind, 🙄 wouldn’t you know. Maybe yesterday’s lack of wind was why the fog was so bad; and the wind this morning blew the fog away. 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 ✍🏻 Elementor #192866 February 10, 2025 Pedals Wear Out! February 9, 2025 RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Pedals Wear Out!

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training / CAL

Pedals Wear Out! 🦶🏻 Pedals wear out, as I’ve learned. Recently I began to have problems with my left foot coming unclipped as I rode. Worn cleats, I thought; and had the cleats on my shoes replaced. My foot still kept coming unclipped. So I took a good look at my SPDs; and sure enough, the left one was worn. I guess that shouldn’t have been a surprise. I’d had those pedals since Fall of 2012; and as I typically put my left foot down when I stop, that cleat-and-pedal setup gets a lot more use than the one on the right. Pedals wear out; chains wear out; everything wears out! Do I Wear Out? 😮‍💨 Okay, pedals wear out; but do I wear out? That depends on what you mean by “wear out”. I usually finish my rides before I’m that tired; and it makes me wonder whether I’m ready to push for longer and/or harder rides, more often. After all, I’m training for RAGBRAI; and that will be quite a challenge. Mindful of the possibility of very hot days during the event, I’ve made a note on my calendar to start riding in the heat by mid-April. If I start by doing, say, 10-mile hot rides, I can work up to fairly long distances by the end of June. I have a Cool Rag to wear; and those things do make quite a difference. As my rides lengthen, and the days get hotter (up to 77 degrees today!), I’ll increase the amount of water in my Camel-Bak; and take along additional electrolyte drink mix. How many miles can I ride in one day? Do I wear out before I reach my goal? I might, if there’s a strong headwind! 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 ✍🏻 RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Took the Plunge!

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

I Took the Plunge! 🏊🏻 I took the plunge! This morning, I registered for RAGBRAI! I also signed up for the PBV (aka Pork Belly Ventures) charter service; and even booked my hotel room for the last night in Iowa before I fly home. It might be too early to book air travel; but that’s on my to-do list for the coming days. Ditto for Bikeflights; and maybe some kind of travel insurance. I’m not quite sure I’ll need it in addition to my regular medical insurance. I took the plunge; and now I’m working on my shopping list. Also, on my packing list. There’s a certain amount of equipment that I’ll need; and it’s amazing how many everyday things I use that I might easily forget. When those items are easy to access at home, I don’t think about them. The Equipment 🏕️ So, to gather the equipment. I already got a sleeping pad; but I don’t yet have a sleeping bag. The pad that I have lacks a pillow; but I can take a pillow case and stuff it with clothes. I got one of those quick-dry microfiber towels; and I think I’ll get a washcloth, too. I’ll want to be sure I can clean off the sunblock at a day’s end! There are all those day-to-day things that, as mentioned, I don’t even think about: toothpaste; shampoo; and so on. PBV provides soap and towels with their showers; but I want to bring my own to insure that I have fragrance-free products. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a duffle bag! They say the 40-liter size is good for RAGBRAI. I just might be able to use it as a carry-on; it depends on how easily I can lift the loaded bag over my head! While I’m collecting the equipment, I must keep riding. So far the training plan for RAGBRAI 2025 doesn’t seem to have been published; but last year’s plan gives me some guidelines. After all, I took the plunge; and I want to do all I can to ensure a great First RAGBRAI! 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 ✍🏻 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sunshine

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

Sunshine 🌞 Yesterday it was snowing; today we’ve got sunshine. If you’re going to be outdoors for more than a short time, don’t forget sunblock and sunglasses. No sense in letting yourself go snow-blind. The temperature is still freezing; and for the next three nights the lows will go below freezing. Afternoons will be int the 40s for the next two days; and I suppose we can expect considerable melting and refreezing of our snow. It’s still cold enough that the sunshine probably won’t melt off the snow right away. The streets and sidewalks will be hazardous; and how can anyone ride a bicycle in that slush? How do you steer? I think I’d find it hard to make any headway at all! In some areas, where weather like this is par for the course during Winter, I’m sure plenty of cyclists can manage. I don’t feel ready to tackle it, unless I could find a fat-tire bicycle to rent. Eye on the Weekend 👁️ I’ve got my eye on the weekend; but not with any notions of doing an epic ride. I want to visit the salvage store; but a lot depends on whether the snow and ice have melted off by then. I’m especially concerned about the possibility of “black ice”. That stuff is super-treacherous; it can send you it skid before you even see it. Or, if you’re on foot, you can find yourself flat on your back before you know what’s happening! Friday night’s low temperature will be just below freezing, which makes riding to the store Saturday look doubtful, even in sunshine. But I’m keeping an eye on the weekend, and I hope I can go for a real ride on Sunday! Pedaling in the trainer is driving me crazy. 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 ✍🏻 Sunshine January 22, 2025 It’s Snowing!! January 21, 2025 We All Scream? January 20, 2025 Last Chance? January 19, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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We All Scream?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

We All Scream? ❄️ 🥶 We all scream for ice cream? Maybe; but I sure would not want to be eating ice cream at an outdoor café today! Nor within the next few days, either. We’ve got snow predicted for tomorrow; and it will continue to be very cold for several days afterwards. We all scream for hand warmers! Chilly Day Plans ✍🏻 What are your chilly day plans? In a while, I think I’ll hook my bicycle into the trainer, so I can do some pedaling. I’d like to go out for a real ride; but the wind is still 15 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. The chill factor is below freezing! If we had cold weather like this all Winter every year, I’d need to learn how to deal with riding in it; but we usually don’t have temperatures this low for more than one day at a time. Even low temperatures would be bearable for short rides if it weren’t for the wind. Yesterday it was blowing so hard that I could hardly control my bike! My chilly day plans are to stay indoors if I can. It gets very tedious, though; I’m used to more action than that! I guess we all scream to go for a 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.” 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 ✍🏻 We All Scream? January 20, 2025 Last Chance? January 19, 2025 In and Out January 18, 2025 On the watch January 17, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In and Out

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors / CAL

In and Out ↔️ I was in and out the weather window this morning, you might say. When I started out for the salvage store, it was gray and drizzling. After I had gone a mile or so, the drizzle had dwindled to a sprinkle. It’s a good thing I rode to the store when I did! While waiting for the doors to open, I looked towards the West; and thought, Hey, is that rain that I see? It sure was! In a minute or two, it had reached the store; and for a while it rained hard. I was a bit worried about riding back home in a deluge. Fortunately, the worst of the rain was over by the time I left the store; and it didn’t get bad as I was riding home. So you could say that I was in and out the weather window! What about Tomorrow? ☀️ So, what about tomorrow? I’ll want to get some miles in while I can, especially as today’s mileage wasn’t even 12. I was just toying with the idea of going to ride some laps around the park, when the bike shop called about the Garmin. They close at 3 pm on Saturdays; and aren’t there Sundays and Mondays. From the sound of the weather forecasts, everything might be shut down Tuesday; so I hiked over to the shop. Might as well go while I can! Long story short, the Garmin might need an upgrade. Let’s see whether I can figure out how to do it! Now that I’m back from the shop; and had something to eat; it’s 3:30 pm; and the forecast shows rain in the next hour or so. I think I’ve had enough precipitation for the day. Rain isn’t expected tomorrow; but the wind will be strong enough to make riding tough. I might have to ride indoors; or at least do part of my mileage that way. Monday and Tuesday will be frigid, with chill factors well below freezing. When you don’t have polar-grade thermal underwear and heated socks for your bicycle rides, that gets downright miserable. Tuesday could see snow! With rain and snow showers predicted, I’d better not try to ride outside. But before all that, what about tomorrow? I hope I can ride in and out of the weather windows again. 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 and Out January 18, 2025 On the watch January 17, 2025 Getting to Know Winter January 16, 2025 Is Perception Reality? January 15, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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