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What’s in My Panniers?

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

What’s in my Panniers? 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’s in my panniers when I get home from the salvage store? It can be quite a lot! Today’s trip was quite productive. As usual, I headed straight for the grab-bag bins; and this morning I hit the jackpot there! I got seven snack-sized packs of smoked roasted almonds; three chocolate-coated toffee bars that normally cost $1.69 apiece; and more. Twenty items for three bucks! Thus the savings on those candy bars alone more than paid for the other items. In fact, sometimes the savings on grab-bag items cover everything else I buy on that trip! More ride food! Elsewhere in the store, I found Zone Perfect bars, in a Salted Caramel Brownie flavor. Lately I haven’t found much at the salvage store that’s suitable on-bike food; so I pounced on those things and got six. I’ll try one for tomorrow’s ride! I also found a few Vital Performance collagen bars; and some Biosteel. Otherwise my haul today was rather mundane. In fact, I’m trying not to bring home too much! During the pandemic I fell into the habit of stocking up as much as I could, while I could. From what I heard in the news, stay-at-home orders might be handed out at any time; and if it came to that, I wanted to have enough supplies to tide me over. Now I’ve got the problem of using up all that stuff! So what’s in my panniers? For now, I’d better try to keep it to a minimum?

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Dare I Hope?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Dare I Hope? 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.” Dare I hope that Fall is actually going to come? I rode out at 5:00 am this morning to see the moonlight on the river; and it actually felt rather cool! Not that I want it to freeze; but I’m more than ready for some relief from this heat! I kept it short and easy today. Yesterday I rode 19.6 miles — at a leisurely pace, to tell the truth — and as for keeping it short, I needed a few things from the supermarket. I had to get home and get out the hybrid and panniers. Anyway, I’m not yet up to putting in 19 miles every day! ROCKBROS Arm Warmers So, if the weather is going to turn cool, I’ve got to turn my attention to my cold-weather cycling wardrobe. I’m listing arm warmers first, because I’m likely to need to cover my arms before it’s too cool for bare legs. Arm warmers are useful if it’s chilly when you ride begins; but you know it will get too warm for long sleeves before you finish. BALEAF Women’s Cycling Jacket A good cycling jacket is a must as it gets colder outdoors. I’ve had models that feature removable sleeves; but more important to me are POCKETS! Especially on a cold day, when I know my nose will act up; and I need to carry a handkerchief or two. It’s handy to have extra pockets in case those in your jersey aren’t sufficient! Santic Women’s MTB Jersey Speaking of jerseys, there are long-sleeved jerseys for those days when it’s too warm for a jacket; but you don’t want to mess with arm warmers. I’ve never tried one myself; I’m still content with a long-sleeved blouse. GripGrab Leg Warmers Leg warmers are much easier to ride in that regular trousers. They allow a much better range of motion; and you don’t have trouser cuffs flapping around your ankles. That’s an annoyance; and a safety hazard as well. And now for the little stuff. At far left, a helmet liner. Once the temperature falls to the mid-60s or below, I’m miserable without one! Second from left, Pearl Izumi Lobster Gloves. I need these when the mercury drops below about 45! Second from right, Hand Warmers. Not even the heaviest gloves really keep my paws from getting cold when it’s freezing out there! At far right, cycling shoe covers are useful when it’s both cold and raining. Helmet Liner Pearl Izumi Lobster Gloves Hand Warmers Cycling Shoe Covers I hope the above suggestions give you a good start in developing that Winter cycling wardrobe. As I said, it was almost cool this morning. Dare I hope that hot chocolate season will arrive?

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What’s Up?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food /

Add Your Heading Text Here What’s Up? I’d like to know what’s up with the tropics. Hurricane Lee seems to be dissipating; but Tropical Storm Margot is crazy. She keeps changing direction;  and it’s a good thing she’s not close to land. If she were, people in her potential path would be having fits: will she strike here; or not? We’re at the peak of hurricane season; and have to stay alert. Of course hurricanes bring the prospect of an electrical outage; perhaps for days or even weeks. In a hot, humid climate, that’s miserable. I have a battery-operated fan, plus a supply of batteries; but a wearable device such as Ontel Arctic Air would be great! But here’s the snag: after six hours, the device needs recharging; and you can’t do that if the power is out! I have to think about what’s up with the weather for tomorrow. Low of 75 degrees tonight, they say; a little cooler than it’s been lately. Is Fall going to come, after all?  For my ride, I think I’ll wear sun sleeves again; but I’ll still need plenty of sunblock. I just tried KINeSYS; and it’s less heavy on my skin than my usual sunblock. Several weeks ago I was in a sports shoe store; and they had sample-sized bottles of KINeSYS. The drawback was, this version of the sunblock was only SPF 30. The spray-top kept twisting around as my hands got slippery from the sunblock; and I’d wind up spraying the stuff at nothing. That was quite annoying; not to mention wasteful. Alba Botanica has been my go-to sunblock for years. I like the shorter-size tube, because I can fit it into my under-saddle pack. This sunblock does feel a bit smothery, though; and it’s rather hard to wash off. What I like most about it is, it’s fragrance-free! Of course, what’s up with on-bike food? Lately I haven’t had much luck finding ride food at the salvage store; and today I had to buy some protein bars at a different store. MET-Rx Bars seem to be quite sustaining; but some of them are more crumbly than I like. Those crumbs tend to stick in my throat. I don’t know why, but electrolyte drink seems to wash them down better than plain water. I don’t need to drive myself crazy planning tomorrow’s ride, though. It’s not as though I were arranging an expedition to Antarctica.

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Give It Up

BACK ISSUES, equipment, Outdoors /

Give It Up I might as well give it up when it comes to seeing the comet. There’s simply too much light pollution around here. The time frame for spotting it is nearly past, too. I hope I never have to give it up when it comes to cycling. For one thing, I really need the exercise! With Fall — and, we hope, cooler weather — approaching, it’s time to get that cold-weather cycling wardrobe ready. With the right clothes, there’s no need to go into hibernation for the Winter! When the morning temperatures are still around 70 degrees, a long-sleeved blouse often suffices; but as it drops below 70, I’ll need a jacket.  The jacket shown has elastic cuffs; but I prefer one with velcro sleeve openings. It’s easier to get it on even after I’ve donned heavy gloves. Keeping my hands warm during cold-day rides has always been a problem for me. Not even heavy gloves do the trick. Two seasons ago, I began using hand warmers; and they help a lot. Unfortunately my feet still get cold, even with thermal socks. That doesn’t automatically mean that the socks aren’t any good; I just get cold easily. Once the temperatures start falling below the mid-60s, I want leg warmers. They’re far less binding than regular slacks; and if it warms up during a ride, leg warmers are easily removed. They also take much less space in a Camel-Bak pocket than a pair of jeans. Keeping your head warm is very important; we hear all the time that we lose a lot of body heat through our heads. A helmet liner works well; and is especially useful if your helmet is well ventilated. Jacket, gloves, leg warmers, and helmet liner are just a few of the items that come in handy when the mercury begins to drop. The problem is, none of it keeps my nose from running!

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Back to School

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Back to School Back to school means getting back into the groove. Books; pens; and many other items. And, of course, back to school means getting the kids to school. If you opt for active transport, there are a number of options. To take a very young child to daycare, the Copilot Child Carrier is an option. This seat can carry up to 50 pounds; and its sides are a bright, highly visible color. Copilot Child Carrier works best with recreational bikes.  For a child who’s ready to do some pedaling, the Kent Wee Ride lets your youngster ride behind you. The Kent Wee Ride has a saddle and handlebars as in a regular bike. Twenty-inch wheels; coaster brakes; and a chain guard to keep clothing from getting snagged. The Kazoo Bicycle Trailercycle is designed for children ages 4-10; and up to 85 pounds. Excellent stability; with reflectors for better visibility. Oh, and how about humming a tune on the way to school? If your child is ready to pedal independently, there’s the Huffy Upshot. This bike is for kids ages 3-9. The quick-release seat clamp lets you adjust the saddle height as your youngster grows. For carrying lunch or other needs, the Anzome Kids Bike Basket fits most children’s bikes. Velcro fastenings make it easy to attach/remove; and it has a rust-resistant coating. Easy to clean, too. Naturally, getting to and from school by active transport means being mindful of safety. If possible, avoid routes with heavy motor traffic. A safety wing and lights enhance visibility. Lighting will be increasingly important as the days shorten, and kids might be starting out when it’s still dark. If your young ‘un enjoys the creepy, there are Spider Spoke Lights!

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What Day Is This

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

What Day Is This? What day is this? I keep thinking that it’s Saturday, because I went to the salvage store; but today is Thursday! It’s funny how such a small thing can throw off my sense of time. But when I checked the NOAA 7-day forecast yesterday afternoon, I saw that tomorrow through Monday looked quite stormy. Ergo I decided to go to the store today. I don’t want to be up there on the levee in a T-storm! Yesterday morning I rode at 5:00 am so I could see the full moon over the river. It was worth getting up at 4:30 am! The moon was low enough in the sky that I could see the reflection of the moon, instead of only moonlight on the water. That happens only a few times per year; so when I see it, it’s something special. Getting back to the weather, it’s been clouding up since about noon. Tomorrow the T-storms might begin about three o’clock in the morning. So if you’re determined to ride — but it’s pouring — what do you do? In warm weather, maybe just go out there and ride, even if it means getting soaked. During heavy rain,  the wind can get quite strong and gusty; and a flapping poncho makes bike control harder. From that point of view, it’s better not to have the poncho. With a windblown poncho you’ll still get wet, anyhow. In cold weather, you might want to consider using a rain suit. So far I haven’t tried one; but one of these days, maybe I will. I keep thinking that the Sunday long ride is tomorrow; but it isn’t. So what day is it, anyway?        

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Hutch

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

Hutch? Rabbitroom sounds like a hutch to me. I’ve never had a pet rabbit; but of course I’ve heard about a rabbit hutch. These gloves sound like great wear for Winter rides. So far I’ve never found any gloves that really keep my hands warm on cold days. Even if they did keep my hands warm, full-finger gloves make eating on the bike awkward. It might sound like insanity to be talking about heated gloves now. Our afternoon high temperatures have been at or near 100 degrees nearly every day for weeks; and excessive heat warnings have become the norm. These warnings go into effect as early as 10:00 am; and I try to be back home from riding by that time. Going out to ride when it’s baking hot is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you have to be extra careful about hydration; and the you certainly want to avoid heat stroke! On the other hand, riding in such heat is the only way to get acclimated if you’re aiming at an event such as RAGBRAI. Iowa can get hot and humid; and the average daily mileage for RAGBRAI is something like 60+ miles! That means riding during the heat of the day. How to get acclimated? It’s a matter of starting with short, easy rides; and building up distance and speed. Use a hydration system; and take a electrolyte drink. Allow youself plenty of time to get used to hot rides. But don’t drive yourself crazy about it; you don’t want to make yourself into a basket case. Or should I say, a hutch case?  

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Waterproof

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Waterproof? When I see a product touted as “waterproof”, I’m frankly skeptical. Too many times I’ve been caught in a heavy downpour that soaks my jacket and everything else! Rain here is typically heavy enough to penetrate the “waterproof” zipper on a bicycle trunk! All the same, I wish I could try out some waterproof jackets, such as this BALEAF model. It would be nice to ride through the rain and stay at least halfway dry! If the jacket doesn’t cut it, a rain suit might work.  We’ve had so little rain in the last few months, though, that we’re going to forget how to ride in it. A major annoyance of mine is the visibility problems that come with riding in the rain; especially if there’s a wind to drive the rain into my face. That was especially annoying when I was still riding before daylight. Dark + wind-driven rain has me pedaling almost blind! At least my skin is waterproof; but that wasn’t much consolation when I had gotten soaked; and it was cold out; and I had to go to work — often getting all wet again in the process. I don’t have that particular pain in the neck now that I’m retired; but I know I’ll get poured on one of these days. At least now I can stay put after I get home; and if it’s cold, I can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate. Incidentally, do you find it easier to cope with riding in the rain, if the shower begins when you’re already out? I certainly do; probably because the only course of action I have is to keep going. And if I’m still home when the lightning starts a-crackin’, it’s wise not to go out until things settle down!    

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Stuck

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Stuck! I’m stuck, you might say; yesterday I got my flu shot for this season. This WOTOW Bike Tire Repair Kit  can keep you from getting stuck beside the road. The WOTOW comes in several versions; you can buy one with an 11-in-1 multitool; a 16-in-1 multitool; or a 16-in-1 multitool with valve core remover. Tire levers; pre-glued patches; and 1 120 psi mini-pump are included in all versions. Waterproof carrying bag hangs from your top tube; and this bag also has room for your cell phone. Great for road, MTB, and BMX cycling. Also good to have on a tour, when you might be a long way from any bike shops. You don’t want to get caught out there!

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Keep on Rolling

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Keep on Rolling With ROCKBROS Bike Rollers, you can keep on rolling. It doesn’t matter whether it’s 100+ degrees outdoors, and you’d risk heatstroke out there; or you’re house-bound by whiteout conditions. This “treadmill for a bike” will let you have your ride! ROCKBROS Bike Rollers consist of a sturdy aluminum frame; and three rollers to support your bicycle’s wheels. The frame can be adjusted for different-length wheel bases; and it folds for easy storage. It’s also lightweight enough for easy carrying. It can be used with various kinds of bikes, such as MTBs and folding bikes. I had a set of rollers a long time ago. I became tolerably proficient on them with my hybrid; but couldn’t seem to manage my road bike on rollers. In retrospect, I think I was overly tentative when trying to get started. The road bike also has slicker tires than the hybrid; and that may have been a factor. I finally sold the rollers; but now I sometimes wish I still had them. When I must pedal indoors, rollers might be closer to a real ride than being hooked into a trainer. I find pedaling in that trainer extremely tedious; and usually can’t tolerate it for more than 15 minutes. This morning I set out before sunup. I knew it was going to get very hot again; and I wanted to ride early. I was glad to be back in by about 7:30 am. It was already well into the 80s by then. Yesterday afternoon  we  reached 100 degrees; and that was the air temperature. The heat index was 112! Our weather didn’t do this when I was a kid! I can easily believe in global warming!

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