SpokEasy

SpokEasy

equipment

Give It Up

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 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

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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Gravel Bike

Gravel Bike This Tommaso Siena Gravel Bike is ready to go when you’re heading for some rough riding surfaces. Extra-wide tires offer better traction than the narrow tires of a road bike; and the 21 gears can help you adapt your pedaling to varied terrain. I’m not a gravel rider myself; and I’m sure not ready for the Dirty Kanza!

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Hutch

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

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

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

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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Circle of Light

Circle of Light Why not a circle of light for cyclists? After all, in music there’s the circle of fifths! These LED wheel lights make a cyclist visible from more angles than standard head- and tail lights. The flashing mode is especially easy to see. They make a ride on a Summer night more fun; especially for kids. Alas, vacation is over for many youngsters; but soon kids who ride bikes to school will be doing so while it’s still dark. This circle of light makes them easier to see. If it rains, not to worry; this product is waterproof and durable. Batteries are included; installation is easy and requires no tools. Available in many colors; shown here in Pink. This item seems to come in one-wheel packs only; but even one wheel with a display like this should help a lot. And it ought to make a unicycle downright dazzling! I don’t ride before sunup nearly as much as I did before I retired; but I still make an effort to go out early when there’s a full moon to be seen! As most of my riding is away from traffic, I don’t feel the need for a circle of light on my wheel. But it’s something to keep in mind in case things change.

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spokes as web

Spokes as Web? Spokes as web? How do bicycle wheels turn into a spider’s web? When you put spider spoke lights on them, that’s when! These lights add a touch of creepy fun to your rides; and I suppose kids especially would enjoy them — most of all boys. How about a Hallowe’en ride with your spokes as web; including glowing red spiders? October 31 is still two months away; but advance planning never hurts! It’s hard to think of Fall and Hallowe’en just now, because it’s been so hot! At 7:15 pm, it’s still 91 degrees. Tomorrow morning it will already be in the 80s at 6 am, with a predicted high of 97! I hope I can get myself in the saddle and pedaling by six o’clock. Then I can be home by nine or sooner. This afternoon we got a good T-storm, with one very close lightning strike. Fortunately the forecast is for clear skies tomorrow morning. I’d be worried if there were a chance for bad weather. But I sure wouldn’t mind if it were ten degrees cooler! It’s too bad that spokes as web can’t help with that.

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