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Passengers

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Passengers I’ve never had passengers on my bicycle; so I can’t speak with authority. Some cyclists, however, do need to carry passengers; and here are some products that can help. I’ve mentioned the trailer many a time. In fact, I fear I’ve become quite the squeaky wheel about it! I don’t have either kids or pets; and have never used mine for anything but cargo. I did have a child, though, I’m sure I’d be glad to have the trailer. Some riders prefer to transport a child in an over-the-wheel child seat. I think I would prefer to use a trailer, because I have an idea that the trailer is more stable. Even a heavily loaded trunk seems to affect bike handling. A passenger over the rear wheel, I suspect, makes bike handling even more of a challenge; and who wants to land on the ground while the little one is riding along? Whether you go for the trailer or the over-wheel seat, don’t forget the child’s helmet! Other passengers are – well — not quite passengers. Some riders want to bring “Rover” with them, so the dog can get a good run; but how safe is it to ride one-handed while holding a leash with the other hand? This no-hands leash is one solution! And now I’ve gotten to thinking of the passenger pigeon! I’ve really got to be careful what I write about, don’t I?

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Foxy?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Foxy? 🦊 How do “foxy” and cycling come together? I, for one, have never seen a fox while out riding; although I’ve seen coyotes. “Foxy”, however, is the word that comes to mind when I think of Raynaud’s; “renard” being the French word for the animal. I’ve certainly got symptoms of Raynaud’s. My right-hand ring finger is especially susceptible. It can go entirely bloodless; and it can take five minutes for it to return to normal. They say the best thing to do for Raynaud’s is keep your hands and feet warm. That’s not so easy! On a cold day, even the heaviest gloves I own don’t keep my hands warm. Maybe I should ask Santa_Claus to bring me a pair of lobster gloves for Christmas! Incidentally, double socks often aren’t sufficient to keep my feet warm.   Trying to Keep Warm ♨️ I hope my symptoms aren’t indicative of an underlying vascular disorder. I’ve got problems enough already! This also had better not mean I’ll be forced to restrict myself to indoor riding in cold weather. Or move to a place I really can’t afford so I can have central heating. Trying to keep warm applies to indoors as well as outdoors! I thought that wearing my lightweight full-fingered gloves under heavy gloves might help. This morning I decided to try it; and it was another idea that didn’t quite pan out. First I put on the lightweight gloves; then I tried to pull the heavy “wombat” gloves over them. I was able to get the wombat glove onto my right hand, but then said hand was too clumsy to pull the other wombat glove onto my left hand. So I had to give up on the idea. I didn’t make me feel very foxy.  Fortunately there wasn’t a wind this morning, although it was very humid. That helped me to stay a bit warmer — including my hands. 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Good Break

5 Comments / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Good Break 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.” Getting a good break will be a nice change, won’t it? Especially if that good break is from a piñata that’s full of all the “goodies” ( e.g. multi-tools) we need for cycling South of the Border! A visit to the capital, Mexico City, might sound tempting. It seems that this city has improved for cyclists in recent years. Even so, I’m not crazy about the noise and exhaust of cars, buses, etc. What about exploring Mexico by bicycle? It’s easy for me to think of that as meaning rutted, rough, dirt roads; the kind of surface that makes me wish I were riding a dualie. Actually, main roads are likely to be in pretty good condition. That’s certainly a good break! Travel Age West offers many options. There are “no frills” tours along the coast of the Pacific, and in the Yucatan peninsula. Or explore one of the southern Mexico states, such as Chiapas. There are also tours of large cities. Getting back to “no frills”, exactly what does that mean? Panniers crammed with ride food; and no SAG wagon? As with any country, there are certain areas to be avoided if possible. In Mexico, a lot of this is along the border with the USA; plus the states of Michoacan and Guerrero. Much of the crime has to do with drug-running. Sure, stay away from those spots. You don’t want to get caught in the cross-fire if trouble breaks out. Stay safe, and Que tengas un buen paseo!

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if bike fits II body geometry retul

If the Bike Fits

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If the Bike Fits If Bike Fits II! A good bicycle fit is essential for comfort on the bike, especially if you intend to do long rides. There are several bicycle-fitting systems out there. Specialized Body Geometry and Retul are the only two that I’ve experienced. It is said, quite rightly, that any bicycle fit is only as good as the fitter who is carrying out the procedure. If you want to explore bike-fit options, Cutting Edge Cycling discusses several systems in Chapter 7. These are: Wobble-Naught [site not secure]; Retul; Serotta Personal Fit; and BikeFit. Changing where you sit on the saddle can change a bike-fit entirely, as I found out. Moving backward a few inches changes everything! When I went for the re-refit  a few weeks ago, I expected that the fitter would move my saddle forward, and/or do something with the handlebar position. Instead, I wound up with a new saddle. He had suggested at past fittings that I might want to consider a slight wider saddle, and that’s what I have now. I still have to check  myself to be sure I’m not sitting too far forward; and that my sit bones are where the saddle supports them. Thus, If the Bike Fits II. Is that why I suddenly seem able to pedal harder, and why I’m feeling my calves like never before?

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What’s In a Name?

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What\’s in a name? How do people and places acquire names, or nicknames? One of the signs of a true cyclist, they say, is that you name your bicycles. If that really is the case, count me in! I named the tricycle Valkyrie. That came about one morning when I\’d had the trike about 10 days. I was riding around the local park before going to work, pedaling as fast as I could; and a certain number by Richard Wagner popped into my head, out of nowhere. I had been considering names for the trike, and in that moment I had it: Valkyrie! The hybrid wound up with the name of Katy. Not long after I got it a co-worker, who is originally from Missouri, was telling me about the Katy Trail. It sounded like a lot of fun, and still does. As the Katy is a Rails-to-Trails ride, it\’s nearly flat, which would suit me just fine. For a while I was considering doing the Katy Trail Ride, and was thus inspired to name my hybrid bike Katy. As time went on, I began to realize that I could actually spend quite a lot of money on such a trip. I\’d have to find a way to get me and my bicycle to Missouri and back. I\’d need to borrow, rent, or buy a sleeping bag and tent. I decided I\’d rather put my dollars on a road bike, and have never regretted it; although I still would like to ride the Katy Trail some day. But the poor road bike got shortchanged when it comes to naming. It\’s a Scott, so I call it … Scottie. Now we know what\’s in a name; at least, where my bicycles are concerned.

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Achilles’ Heel?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Achilles’ Heel? 🦶🏻 Achilles’ Heel is quite famous; or maybe infamous is more like it! Have you ever noticed that one particular part of your bicycle seems more prone to causing problems than the rest of the machine? It’s rather like Achilles, of Greek legend. He was invulnerable, except for his heel. My road bike’s Achilles’ heel seems to be the rear derailer hanger. I’ve had to replace it three or even four times in less than six years! I now keep a spare on hand at all times, because it takes the bike shop about a week to get a new one; and while I wait for it, I miss a lot of riding. I don’t know why that rear derailer hanger is so prone to damage, unless it’s because of its placement on the bike. I does rather stick out; and if the bike falls and lands on its right side, the derailer hanger is a very likely impact point. You’d think the pedal sticking out would catch the bike, wouldn’t you? Or the handlebars. But the rear derailer hanger still takes the brunt. Maybe the weight of the cassette comes into play. It would be nice if we could all make our bicycles impervious to whatever bumps, falls, etc. we’ll ever encounter. Unfortunately there’s no River Styx at hand.   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 Done! May 6, 2024 Halfway May 5, 2024 Do-si-do? May 4, 2024 Rain Drill? May 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wolf!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Wolf! Is there a wolf out there? If the forecast for this coming weekend is accurate, it’s going to seem like the Big Bad Wolf (of Three Little Pigs notoriety) is trying to blow down the brick house. The strongest winds are expected over Saturday night. Gusts up to 35 mph! Showers are in the forecast for Saturday morning; and that rather dampens (no pun intended) any plans to run errands by bicycle. At least Sunday is expected to be sunny; but the wind will still be 15-20 mph. With the temperature already in the low 40s, that will push the chill factor as low as the freezing point. It makes riding so much harder! One, it’s already cold; two, I’m fighting the wind; and three, heavily gloved fingers make on-bike eating harder. It’s also hard to drink enough when I’m already cold; and all I have is cold fluid. Then, Sunday night, it’s going to get even cooler. That probably won’t last long; but it’s also likely to rain once the temperature rises a little. All these crazy fluctuations in temperature from day to day make me yearn for Summer. At least then I know it will just be hot and humid. It’s a nuisance having all sorts of gloves, leg warmers, and other cold-weather gear lying all over the place. They take up precious space; and it can be hard to keep track of them all. Maybe we can persuade the wolf to go elsewhere. Maybe to Blow the Man Down? 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 Bolivia January 7, 2024 Beating the Weather January 7, 2024 Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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