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I Did the Split

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

I Did the Split ?? Today I finally did the split ride that I planned over a week ago. First, I hung the panniers on the hybrid, and took a trip to Walmart. There really wasn’t much that I needed; but the drug store doesn’t seem to have any cool rags. I think it’s a good idea to have an extra one handy. I can use them alternately; or I can put away the new one in case I get to do RAGBRAI next year. The countdown has already begun! After I got home from the store, I went out on the road bike. I did only a short ride (under 11 miles), as it was getting hot; with a heat advisory starting at 11:00 am. But a double ride now and then doesn’t hurt.  And can I say, I did the split in the gym? Not anymore, I can’t! Showing my age, I guess. Heat Index ? The heat index has shot upwards again. Otherwise, I might have stayed out longer on the road bike! We’re all tired of heat; and I do get weary of slathering on the sunblock! I like it when it’s just cool enough for long sleeves and leg warmers; then I need sunblock only for my face.       Sun sleeves do help keep you cooler. When I rode to Walmart, it was still quite early; and already 80-some degrees. Naturally I got quite sweaty during the ride; and so, of course, did my sun sleeves. While I was in the store, my arms were getting downright cold! I’ll be glad when the heat index goes down. How much longer until that day? We’ve still got August and September, at least! 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 New Approach July 29, 2024 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Frozen

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food /

Frozen ? Nobody likes to get frozen. So hand warmers come in handy during frigid weather. If the rest of me is chilled through, at least I can keep my fingers warm. But what do I do in this hot weather?  A number of sources that I’ve read say, get cool fluid if possible. Cool liquids are absorbed more easily by the body; but when it’s been hot for weeks, my cold tap produces only warm water! Last Thursday, I though of something else that I had read: to freeze your electrolyte drink the night before a ride. I tried it; and it did keep my drink cooler for a while. I think I’ll keep on doing it; that is, if there’s room in the freezer. Last night there wasn’t! Different Kind of Ride ? I did a different kind of ride today. Instead of putting in long miles on the road bike, I did a shorter ride on the hybrid. There was a 50% chance of rain, so I wanted to take along the poncho; and I also wanted to stop at the ATM. I thought the hybrid was better for that, because I could use the trunk. So there I was, with Camel-Bak and a bike trunk. I did consider shooting for 25 miles; but on the hybrid I’m slower, because it’s heavier than the road bike. On top of that, I didn’t feel like hurrying today; and I became concerned that I would run short of water if I pushed for 25 miles. I have no handlebar bag for the hybrid, and I had to stop and dismount every time I wanted a bite to eat. That’s definitely a different kind of ride! On top of all that, it was getting very hot. It was already about 84 degrees when I set out around 7:30 am; and of course the temperature kept climbing. So I decided to leave the ride early. Now — where’s those T-storms they were talking about?   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 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Shoo In

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Shoo In? ? It would be great if every new shoe were a shoo in! But that doesn’t always happen; and we have to work through the tight-new-shoes spell that often comes with new footwear. We hope that this doesn’t result in blisters; but if it does, Orajel 3X helps relieve the pain. I hope that I won’t need any such measures; I’m going to start using the new shoes I bought not long before my bunion surgery. They weren’t exactly a shoo in: when I bought them, the bunion made them painful to wear. I reasoned that I would be able to tolerate the shoes once my foot was fully recovered after the surgery. That sure took a long time! For weeks, I didn’t even try them on.  But today I tried again; and I can wear them without too much discomfort. In the Nick ⏱️ Being able to tolerate those new cycling shoes has come in the nick of time. For about a week, my left foot has been coming unclipped on its own; and today, for the last few miles, I couldn’t get it to clip in at all. I figured I needed new cleats; and I hope the pedals themselves aren’t worn out. They’re about 12 years old; so that’s not impossible. Then I looked at the shoe soles. The left one is starting to come to pieces! That shouldn’t be a surprise, as those cycling shoes must be at least three years old. So I wore the new pair indoors for a while; and they feel much better than they used to. Maybe now they’ll be a shoo in. 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 Shoo In July 8, 2024 Off the Hook July 7, 2024 RAGBRAI Equipment July 6, 2024 RAGBRAI with Diabetes July 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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RAGBRAI Equipment

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

RAGBRAI Equipment 🔮 When it comes to RAGBRAI equipment, I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me exactly what I’ll need. Packing too much isn’t good; but neither do you want to omit something that you really need. Take along a tent? That depends. If you use, say, Pork Belly Ventures, you don’t need to lug one along. If I ride RAGBRAI next year, that’s what I plan to do. Especially as a first-timer (“virgin”, as RAGBRAI newbies are called), I don’t want to have the hassle of setting up a camp each night. What other RAGBRAI equipment is there? Plenty, as I’ve been finding out!  Charger blocks, for one thing. There are many available; and I don’t know one from the other. 🙄 Packing Your Bag 🎒 OK, so your’re packing your bag for RAGBRAI. What all to take? Let’s suppose you’re using a charter service, and don’t need to pack a tent. But what else? Some items are easy to forget, because we use them daily without a thought; and they’re always there (for example, shampoo). There are things that are easy to forget because we don’t need them in day-to-day at-home life; and we don’t think about them! That’s why a packing list is so important. And don’t forget to check it twice! Last year’s RAGBARI was unusually hot; but the event a year or two previously saw cooler-than-usual temperatures. Some nights got down into the 50s! So you’ll likely want a sleeping bag. But suppose it does get as hot as RAGBRAI L? A personal fan or cooling towel helps to keep your body temperature down a bit. What else?  There are too many items to list here; but I’d say that keeping comfortable is high on the list. When packing your bag, don’t forget that! L 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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Glutes and Quads

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Glutes and Quads ? Glutes and quads are important for the cyclist. No, I’m not suggesting that we take up ballet; but it seems to me that these exercises ought to be helpful. Incidentally, if we did start ballet classes, I bet we’d need TONS of hamstring stretches. We hear all the time that cycling causes the hamstrings to shorten and tighten; and that wreaks havoc on extension!  Fit Simplify bands are good for this sort of thing. They come in five different weights, from X-Light to X-Heavy. You can progress from one weight to the next as you strengthen your glutes and quads. Handy storage bag included. Building Back Up ? I’m building back up now; or trying to. Today I used the road bike; and put in 12.4 miles. I did some efforts at pedaling 15 mph or over; but made them much shorter than usual.  When you’re building back up, you need to rein yourself in a little! Unfortunately, I forgot to wear my heart-rate strap. That’s what comes of using the hybrid several days in a row! Also, I don’t have a FitBit; so I can’t be sure exactly what my heart rate was. How did my hand do? I could hold the handlebar on the hoods without aggravating it; but using the brifter is still uncomfortable. It’s a good thing I wasn’t shifting gears all the time. 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 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tired of Sitting

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care /

Tired of Sitting ? I sure got tired of sitting today; and I don’t mean on a bicycle saddle! I had some appointments this morning; and wasn’t sure about the bicycle parking situation there. So I decided to use public transit; and I was sitting on the bus; and sitting in waiting rooms. Then, when I got home around 10:30 am, there was more sitting on a chair! By then it was about 93 degrees; and a heat advisory was in effect. I also felt tired; and thought I’d skip riding again today. ?  Would I get tired of sitting if I did a long bicycle tour? Who knows; maybe I would, especially if I developed saddle sores. I use Chamois Butt’r; (also available in Her’); but I expect problems could arise if you ride for seven days — literally! — on end. Nobody wants saddle sores to ruin a ride; so here are some tips. So far I’ve been lucky, and had only one sore; developed when I took a ride on my then brand-new road bike. It still had the stock saddle on; and that saddle was both too flat and very hard! Had to Get Out ➡️ It rained for a while about 3 pm; and then the upstairs neighbor started practicing drums! Again, I was tired of sitting; and with that percussion going on, I had to get out for a while. The rain had cooled things off a bit; and I decided to go ride around the park a few times. The sun was dodging in and out; and while it was out, I saw some intensely black clouds around. That made me a bit uneasy. Getting to my route meant riding over railroad tracks; and as I approached the crossing, I heard the rumble of a locomotive.  I was unable to get a break in the traffic; and had to wait for that train to clear the crossing. My route ran alongside the tracks for almost a mile; and wouldn’t you know, that dratted train stopped and blocked the way! I would have waited longer for it to move on, but it started to thunder; so I went back home. I wanted to fix a sandwich; but the drumming hadn’t stopped yet. And it was right over my kitchen! So I had to get out. ? 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 #174729 June 26, 2024 Big Uneasy June 25, 2024 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Big Uneasy

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

BIG UNEASY 🌀 New Orleans is the Big UNeasy this time of year. With hurricane season in progress, we’re on tenterhooks! Who know when a bad storm might head our way? In case one does, an Emergency Crank Weather Radio is a good tool to have; especially if you stay in town. It would be great if you could charge it up by hooking it to a bicycle! For less  powerful hurricanes, staying put means avoiding the crush of evacuating; although an electricity outage is all but certain . No using laptops and cell phones except in an emergency; and probably no getting out to ride for at least a few days. How tedious! But we don’t always know until quite late how bad a storm might be. To go, or to stay? No wonder we’re the Big Uneasy! On top of that, fleeing for every hurricane that comes near can lead to evacuation fatigue. Scram 🏃🏽 For a storm above Category 2, it’s probably better to get out; aka scram. I’m tempted to think that it would be fun to make the evacuation a bicycle tour; but I’d have to leave town at least a week prior to expected landfall. Plus, I don’t know of a safe way to do it. Riding a bicycle along a busy interstate highway is suicidal! And I don’t have a touring bicycle such as the SixThreeZero, either; but the hybrid that I already have ought to suffice. The SixThreeZero does have seven speeds, and a built-in rack. But that soft foam saddle? I’d want something firmer, especially if I needed to trek several hundred miles. If only there were a way to make a hurricane scram! Then I could stay put; and continue to train for next year’s 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 © 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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Loose Change?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Loose Change? ¢ Penny-Farthing makes me think of loose change. It also makes me think that riding one at all takes some doing. And riding a penny-farthing all the way across the USA? Wow! Although a solid-tire bicycle won’t need a pump! Danny Davis rides to raise autism awareness; and also to get special bikes to special kids. My nephew is on the autism spectrum, so this is interesting to me. I myself have Asperger’s; but didn’t know it until well into adulthood! Oh, and loose change?  Maybe it’s a good thing a penny-farthing isn’t loose change; or it would probably fall apart as you’re riding it! As to the penny, don’t throw your pennies away. They add up! Can’t Wait to Ride! ?? I can’t wait to ride again — really ride, I mean. Easy pedaling around the park isn’t much riding, although it’s better than nothing at all. This morning I bummed a ride to the salvage store, because I don’t think my hand is ready for me to be riding alongside a 3-lane highway. I might need to make some sudden moves and/or do hard braking; and that still doesn’t feel good. When I can get back to my usual cycling, I’ll start working to increase my daily distances; and leave pace development on the shelf for a bit. They say it’s better not to try to work on both increased mileage and greater speed at the same time. It will take at least a few day for me to get back into the groove, anyway.  But I miss riding; and I can’t wait to ride again!  

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And They’re Off!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

And They’re Off! ? And they’re off … no, not thoroughbreds; nor foot racers. Not even bicycle racers; but the named storms of the season. Tropoical Storm Alberto has gone ashore; but there’s been another system off the Florida/Georgia coast for a few days; and there’s a new system in the Bay of Campeche! It seems that, once the first named storm appears, further storms follow in rapid succession. And they’re off! They might keep coming as late as November, too. What a drag hurricane season is! Hurricane season means worrying about when the next hurricane will appear; how strong it is; and where it will go. It’s about concerns over having to flee on short notice; and a big question: how will my cycling be impacted? Indoor Cycling ? I guess it’s time to think of indoor cycling, boring though is. This Mini Cross-Trainer is lightweight, and you can use it for both legs and arms. It even has an automatic stop in case of bad muscle cramps. The Mini Cross-Trainer is designed principally as a rehab tool; but I don’t see why it can’t substitute for a bicycle in a pinch. At least, for some gentle pedaling to prevent leg-muscle atrophy! For more vigorous indoor cycling, rollers might fit the bill. I personally found rollers too slick when combined with slick road-bike tires; but in retrospect, I think I was too tentative about my pedaling! 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 And They’re Off! June 20, 2024 Senior Cycling June 19, 2024 Dull Days June 18, 2024 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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False Alarm

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

False Alarm ? I got a false alarm this morning. I checked the weather forecast at about 6:15 am; and it showed that T-storms were possible from 8 am onwards. I decided there was enough of a weather window for me to go for a ride. The sky looked very stormy; and it was making me nervous. I can’t crank a weather radio as I ride, so I couldn’t know what might happen. As a result, I turned back a few miles early. It was a false alarm, even though it briefly got quite dark. It’s annoying to lose those miles; but I didn’t want to take chances with lightning! More Forecasts ⛈️ There are more forecasts comparable to today’s in the coming week. Sometimes I think I should invest in some good rain gear; but I wouldn’t be surprised if the legs of a rain suit were too long for me. If they aren’t too long, they might well not be wide enough. I’ve long had the impression that manufacturers of these items think that short legs mean skinny legs. Not automatically, they don’t! In hot weather, a rain suit might cause me to get overheated; and that does no good. It has the potential to lead to dehydration. That’s a more serious problem than bonking. At least I did get in a ride today; and I included four 5-minute efforts at pushing for 15 mph or over. I don’t know how it will go for the rest of the week, though. I have trigger-finger release surgery scheduled for tomorrow; and my brother is here. We’ll probably be doing some visiting; and as I said, there are more forecasts for stormy weather! If I can fit in rides around all that, I’ll ride. If not, well, we need a bit of downtime now and then! 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 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 My Group June 15, 2024 SAG June 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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