SpokEasy

SpokEasy

equipment

Shoo

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Shoo? “Shoo fly, don’t bother me!” I remember my mother singing part of that song when I was little; but I didn’t know it beyond the first two lines. When we’re cycling, we want a good shoo — I mean, a good shoe. The Fizik R5 is especially designed for road cycling; and has a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. I’m still using MTB shoes on my road bike. That sounds quite ironic; but I don’t feel the need for super-lightweight cycling shoes. I also don’t relish the thought of trying to walk in “roadie” shoes. Once I tried some on in the bike shop; and they are SLICK!  MTB shoes typically have recessed cleats; and are much more walkable. That’s helpful when you make stops during long rides; and if I forget to put my heel (not my toes) down first when I stop, I don’t slip. I hope the rain and T-storms will “shoo” during the mornings this weekend. I need to visit the salvage store again; and I especially want some kind of bars I can use for ride food. I’ll have to guard against getting more canned goods, though; and that can be hard to do! It’s especially hard when I bring the trailer; but I need that trailer when I bring a cooler. I want to look for hummus! I don’t want bad weather around Sunday morning, because I want to do a long ride. I think I’ll push for 40 miles; and I hope we get calm winds again. This past week there were several consecutive mornings of little or no wind; and oh, what a luxury that is! But there are plenty of flying insects around. Shoo, fly; don’t bother me!

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Fenders

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Fenders Fenders are much on my mind sometimes; say, when the weather turns wet. During rainy spells this equipment comes in handy; but there’s at least one thing that I have to watch out for — mud! My hybrid has fenders; and I need them, because we average 60 inches of rain per year. It’s one thing to have my road bike’s rear tire toss water up my back; but when I rode a bicycle to work, I needed to stay halfway dry. Fenders can be a problem if you run into mud. At one point, there was a lot of road work going on in my neighborhood; including the street I normally took to reach the bike path. Then one night we got some rain; and that street became an absolute quagmire! I decided to ride the hybrid to work the morning after the rain; but I didn’t even try to  ride through that street. I walked the bike; but even so, the tires picked up so much muck that the rear tire got jammed! For some reason, the rear tire’s fender fits more closely than that on the front tire; and it was very hard to pedal with all that muck on the tire. I put up with it for the ride to and from work that day; and for the next day’s ride to the supermarket. After that, I had to hose down the bicycle’s tires. Even then, there was still a clump of mud stuck under the rear fender. When I was riding to the store, it had made annoying scraping sounds; and twice it nearly jammed the tire.  Lesson learned: don’t even walk that bike through mud again! And if I ever get new fenders, I want some with a little more clearance between fender and tire. I can see why mountain bikes don’t use this particular piece of equipment. Imagine the result if a MTB tire got jammed during a highly technical descent. Disaster!

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Great Strides

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Uncategorized /

Great Stides Let your youngster make great strides towards the enjoyment of cycling! The Strider Balance Bike helps a child to learn how to balance on two wheels; and she doesn’t have to worry about pedaling. Or he can start to explore his world; and the puncture-proof tires eliminate worries about flats. Back when I was about to “graduate” from the tricycle to two wheels, I googled around for advice; and I found this. It gave me the idea to temporarily remove the pedals from my new hybrid bike; and do glide biking. No, it didn’t make me feel silly; because I made up my mind that it wouldn’t! I’m not sure you can say I made great strides; but I did get the hang of two wheels after a while.  The Strider Balance Bike has a sturdy, easy-to-maintain steel frame; and can be adjusted to a child’s growth. The handlebars are especially designed for small hands; and the Strider can be used by youngsters ages 18 months to five years. Of course, don’t forget to equip the little one with a helmet. The Joovy Noodle X-small is for kids ages 1-4; and meets CPSP standards. Comes in assorted colors; so you might not have to settle for pink! I don’t much care what color my helmet is, although a light or bright color is a good idea. I’ve never had a pink one, though!

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Outdoor Elliptical

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Outdoor Elliptical? The StreetStrider amounts to an outdoor elliptical machine! Sometimes I see someone using one of these; and it looks like a vigorous workout. I do wonder whether it’s normal to swing widely back and forth while using this outdoor elliptical machine. I’m not at all sure I have the upper body/core strength to hold a straight line on a StreetStrider! Or maybe some folks simply enjoy swinging back and forth; but it makes me a bit nervous when I need to pass them while I’m on a bicycle. Will they sway right in front of me? The StreetStrider comes with a stand that allows for indoor use during foul weather; or, you can always pull on the poncho and go out, anyway.  And don’t forget the helmet! I don’t remember noticing whether the StreetStrider riders I’ve seen were wearing head protection; but I think it would be a good idea. No sense in risking a TBI! Protective pads for knees and elbows are a good idea, too. I don’t have the space to store a StreetStrider; and for me, this piece of equipment is very expensive. From what I hear, that’s unfortunately becoming the norm for many people! The outer side of the front-center tube looks like an odd place for a water-bottle holder. Is it awkward reaching for the water bottle? Or maybe you just learn how to do it — as I learned how to handle a water bottle on the road bike’s down tube. And after nine years’ riding, there are still many times when getting that bottle back into its cage takes some doing. Another think I’ve long noticed is that it’s harder at low velocity. I guess I don’t have the gyroscopic effect then!

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Happybuy Adult Trike

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Happybuy Adult Trike A great alternative for folks who aren’t able to manage a two-wheeler. I bet this Happybuy Adult Trike can make many people very happy. Some folks who want to pedal have balance/dizziness issues; and aren’t able to manage a regular bicycle. For them, an adult tricycle can open up the world of cycling! You can choose from one or seven speeds; and if you have hills to deal with, extra gears are a great help. The same is true of persistent headwinds. The Happybuy Adult Trike has a large rear basket; and that’s great for bringing home groceries. If you want to go on pedaling expeditions, that basket can carry your supplies. My own tricycle was a single-speed. When I first got it, I didn’t expect to ride as much as I did; and additional gears didn’t occur to me. But I was hooked on riding before I made it the one mile home! Over the next two years or so I rode more and more; and eventually I had the trike fitted with a three-speed hub. I’m sure I couldn’t have gotten through my tricycle century without it! A big disadvantage to the tricycle was that I couldn’t bring it indoors. The rear wheels assembly was just a little too wide to get in through the door. In addition, that trike weighed about 55 pounds; and I have three steps up to my front door. Another thing about a tricycle: if you’ve been used to riding two wheels, remember NOT to lean a trike into a turn. The result quite likely won’t be so happy.

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Seeing Double

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Seeing Double? Do you ever feel like you’re seeing double? It can seem like it when you see a tandem! I’ve never tried to ride a bicycle built for two; but it does look like fun. I’ll bet it takes a lot of adjustment, though, when you’re used to riding solo.  Which position on a tandem is more difficult — captain or stoker? Check here for advice for beginning riders. The mounting technique for the captain is definitely different from that used when starting a solo ride; but it makes sense. If the “cap” tried to get on by swinging the leg to the rear, the handlebars for the stoker would cause complications — possibly including a fall! The stoker climbs on in the usual mounting manner. After that, things might get tricky. The captain decides which foot will be the starting foot. I’m very accustomed to starting off right-footed; and if I were paired with a left-footed captain, it might be awkward. It also seems weird to me that the stoker has both feet on the pedals; and the captain is still holding up the tandem.  At stops, e.g. stop signs, the stoker stays on the saddle; and keeps the feet on the pedals; and then it’s easier for the riders to get started again. A very important job of the captain is to warn the stoker of any road hazards that lie ahead: potholes; bumps; debris in the road; and so on. For the stoker, especially, reflective gear is an excellent idea. As I said, have no experience at all with “seeing double”; but if I wanted to try, is it better to start as the stoker; or the captain? I’m sure of this much — the stoker has no right to expect the captain to do all the work.

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curveball

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

Curveball Life sometimes throws us a curveball, so they say. I sure got one a week or so ago. This place where I’ve been renting since before Katrina, is up for sale; and the manager has no info as to what the buyer will do with it. S/he might want to leave it as is, and keep renting the units out. On the other hand, the buyer might want to demolish the place; and build something new. I don’t quite dare wait to find out. It might be August before I an get definite info; and this is a  college town. By August, the students will be pouring back into town; and anything close to campus will quickly get snapped up. I need to stay close to here, where I am. The levee bike path is a stone’s throw away from my current front door; and that’s very important to me. I really need the exercise! My application for an apartment is under consideration; so we’ll see how that works out. If I do move, that trailer will come in handy! When I began stocking up like crazy because of possible COVID stay-at-home orders, I had no idea I might have to move. Now I have scads of canned goods, bath tissue, and so on. So, I really don’t want to move; but if I’m accepted for that apartment, I don’t quite dare refuse it. I just hope that, whatever I decide to do, it will be the best thing. I don’t need any more curveballs!

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Steady Does It

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Steady Does It! Helpful for adult riders who need an assist with balance. Steady does it; especially when you’re on two wheels! If you’re an older beginning rider; and balance is a problem; the Stabilizer Wheel Kit can help. Unlike the adult trike that I once had, this assembly can fit through standard-width doorways. I have three steps up to my front door; and one time I struggled to wrestle that trike up the steps and to the door. Only then did I learn that the rear wheel assembly was a bit too wide to get in through the doorway! If you’d rather skip this stabilizer kit; but aren’t sure how to get going on a bicycle; this video might help. Whichever route you take as a beginner, don’t rush things. Steady does it! Remember the tortoise and the hare. At the time I began on two wheels, I was only vaguely aware of training wheels for grown-ups; and never used anything like it. Speaking of stability on the bicycle, my friend who gave me the trailer says she felt more unsteady while trying to pull it. If anything, I feel more stable when I’ve got the trailer. How’s that for weird? Steady does it, too, when I’m out for my long Sunday ride. I frequently voice my frustration that my pace doesn’t seem to be improving; but if I’m shooting for 40 miles and more, a slower, steady pace is better than taking off like a rocket; and then fizzling before I’m halfway through. Pulling back the effort might be better in this heat, anyway. It got into the high 80s today; and tomorrow will get hot, too. No matter what the calendar says, Summer is already here.

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End of the World

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

End of the World Some people have completed a bicycle trip around the world! It feels like the end of the world. This morning I went to the salvage store; and they don’t have the grab-bag bins any more! I’ll sure miss them. Today I took the trailer; but it might have been better if I had left it home. Good for big loads; but I admit it’s quite heavy to drag along. There was a train blocking my usual crossing; and I had to make a detour. It’s lucky I allowed myself extra time to get to that store! I hoped the train would be gone by the time I came back home; but the dratted thing was still sitting there! There was no locomotive on either end; and who knows how long it might be before those cars get moved. Of course I had to make another detour to get home; and the trip that’s normally under 10 miles came to 12.66 miles! I planned to go out for a spin on the road bike after I got my loot from the salvage store home; but if that train is still there, it will mean yet more detours. I’m not in the mood for that; and I got a bit too hot on the way home from the store. (Next time take an extra bottle of water!) In addition, there’s an air quality alert in effect; and maybe I’d better wait a few hours to ride. Oh, well. It’s not the end of the world if I can’t ride. Meanwhile, I enjoyed Schumann’s Third Symphony; and of course I need to get the laundry done!  

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