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RAGBRAI Grades

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

RAGBRAI Grades ✅ The RAGBRAI grades are out! Or rather, the RAGBRAI gradients. Last night I tuned into the RAGBRAI April Town Hall meeting; and they announced the maximum gradients for each day. It was a relief to learn that most of them will be 4% or less. The steepest gradient is on Day 7; and it’s 7.2%. To me that’s quite steep; but I’m reminding myself that it’s the day’s maximum gradient. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole day will be 7.2%. In fact, they say the first half of Day 7 will be fairly flat. It also doesn’t mean that every climb will be that steep. I hope those hills will be short, though. We’ll see how I do with the RAGBRAI grades; but I think I can train better, now that I know what’s coming. For the climbs, anyhow; but will there be crazy weather? Crazy Weather 🥵 Does Iowa have crazy weather like we do? Today the temperature climbed into the mid-80s; and that’s darned near outright hot! But Sunday night it’s supposed to drop to the mid-50s. That’s some crazy weather! Even with modern forecasting, I’m never sure what to expect. How about some RAGBRAI grades for weather? I expect the Three H’s; but at least one video says that the temperature can drop to the 50s at night. In fact, it advised that RAGBRAI-ers bring along a sleeping bag rated for 40 degrees. So I got one; and have a compression stuff sack on order. As far as my personal RAGBRAI grades go, I want to do well on packing! And riding, of course. 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 RAGBRAI Grades April 4, 2025 Keep Your Shirt On! April 2, 2025 Stuffing April 1, 2025 Getting Easier! March 31, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wool over My Eyes

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Wool over My Eyes? 🐑 I don’t like the wool over my eyes any more than the next person; but I can’t avoid it for that moment when I’m pulling a T-shirt over my head. Today I tried out my Merino Protect Wool T-shirt; and it’s quite comfortable. It was 78 degrees before 8:00 am; and that might sound much too warm to be wearing wool. But it wasn’t; and besides, there was a pretty stiff wind to cool me off. So I proclaim the experiment a success; and I ordered another one of these shirts. I’ll take them along on RAGBRAI! Wool over my eyes for that one moment is worth it for a comfortable shirt. But the ride is important, too! But the Ride? 🚲 But the ride, you say. T-shirts, merino or otherwise, are secondary, aren’t they? Well, yes. Today I used the road bike; but I think  I’ll take the hybrid tomorrow, so I can make a trip to the supermarket. With a strong wind blowing today, I rode laps around the park. Happily, it gave me a strong tailwind on the way home from that park; but it won’t die down overnight. 🙄 In fact, it will persist through Saturday. Wind from the Southeast is apt to give a sidewind; and that can be as much of a hassle as a headwind. But the ride is the important thing. I need to get those miles in. Just don’t put wool over my eyes. I need to see where I’m going! 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 RAGBRAI Grades April 4, 2025 Wool over My Eyes April 3, 2025 Keep Your Shirt On! April 2, 2025 Stuffing April 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Keep Your Shirt On!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Keep Your Shirt On! 🎽 Keep your shirt on; especially this Merino Protect Men’s Tee, shown at left. It’s not hot enough yet to go shirtless, I say; and the Merino Protect Men’s Tee keeps you comfy. It’s lightweight; breathable; and wicks moisture away. Odor resistant, too; and easy to care for. Another reason to keep your shirt on, is to prevent sunburned shoulders! I’ve seen numerous videos that show riders in tank tops; and I suppose they must use a lot more sunblock than riders in sleeves. Here is the Merino Protect Wool T-shirt for women. Like the men’s model, it’s breathable; lightweight; odor resistant; and easy to care for. The Merino Protect Wool T-shirt is made of ethically-raised materials. Both of these shirts are available in a variety of colors and sizes. I first heard of merino wool tees when I watched a YouTube about packing for RAGBRAI. I’ve bought one, and tried it on for size; but haven’t worn it for a ride yet. I plan to do so before long; but for now, it can still feel a bit chilly early in the day. Then I want long sleeves!  Where to Ride? 🚴🏿 But where to ride for the next two days? Even if life is a beautiful ride, it doesn’t mean that bicycle rides are always easy! Or fun. It’s very windy just now; and today, gusts were up to 40 mph! Tomorrow and Friday we can expect gusts up to 30 mph; and it’s not fun up there on the levee in such conditions. So, where to ride? Riding laps around the park is monotonous; but at least it means that I can frequently change direction. Then I can alternate headwinds; tailwinds; and sidewinds. That’s better than battling a headwind for mile after mile. Tomorrow morning it will be 74 degrees; but the wind is going to make it seem cooler. That’s a good reason to keep your shirt on; or even wear a lightweight jacket. Or do you prefer the chill? 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 Keep Your Shirt On! April 2, 2025 Stuffing April 1, 2025 Getting Easier! March 31, 2025 What a Forecast! March 30, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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You’re a Brick!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care /

You’re a Brick! 🧱 If you’re a brick, your friends are in luck. Then there’s the charging brick; aka the charger block. The one shown here has 4 USB-C Ports and 4 QC USB-A Ports; charge up to 8 devices simultaneously. Output of 200 watts; and the brick is small enough to fit into hand luggage.  I’m considering one of these for RAGBRAI; the charging block that I already have can power only two devices at once. That’s why I’m got a headlamp that uses batteries; so maybe my two-port brick will do. (The main thing will be my bicycle headlight, as I anticipate pre-dawn starts.) Then I can say to the thing, Gee, you’re a brick! But I’ve got other things on my mind today. Where’s the storm? Where’s the Storm? ⛈️ So, where’s the storm? I’m tired of weather forecasts indicating doom and gloom that doesn’t happen. Well, if I do ride, and get caught in the rain, a Youphoria Microfiber Travel Towel can dry me off. That’s yet another product I’ve bought for RAGBRAI. It takes up far less space than a typical terrycloth towel. I gave it a “test run”; then put it through the laundry. When it’s dry, I’ll put it away for the big ride! I took a walk a few hours ago to get chain lube from the bike shop; and I asked the shop owner where to lube my bike pedals. My road bike’s left pedal squeaks; and he showed me where to put the oil. I should have told him, Hey, you’re a brick! Then I stopped at the little grocery store for frozen blueberries and almond milk. On the way home, I saw it was looking stormy towards the North; and now the sky is overcast. But still no rain. Where’s the storm? 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 You’re a Brick! March 29, 2025 Storms Love Weekends? March 28, 2025 No End? March 27, 2025 Preppie? March 26, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Preppie?

BACK ISSUES, equipment /

Preppie? 📣 I remember when the preppie look was a big deal. In particular, I remember those shirts with the alligators on them. But I never got into it; for one thing, those clothes were beyond my budget. For another, it all seemed silly to me. At present, I’m being a preppie in another way: preparing for RAGBRAI. And it’s about more than getting my legs ready. I’m amazed at how much stuff I need! Among other things, I got one of those quick-dry, microfiber towels. It will take up much less space than the typical terrycloth towel; and microfiber is supposed to dry very quickly. Part of the prep is testing the towel to see how fast it dries; so I washed it by hand, and hung it up. That was about three and a half hours ago; and the thing isn’t dry yet. It probably won’t get as wet when I use it to dry myself after a shower, though. And, the humidity is 71%; which doesn’t help to dry things. Packing Prep 🧳 Yes, there’s packing prep, too; and I don’t care about a preppie look for my luggage! I had already bought a duffle bag; and decided to buy a second one, in a different color. One of them I’ve designated as my check-in bag; and the other will be the carry-on. I’m making lists of what to put into which bag; and I reasoned that the process would be easier if my two bags weren’t the same hue.  Packing prep also entails determining whether this or that may go into checked luggage, such as a tube of Chamois Butt’r. You can get Chamois Butt’r in little 9mL packets; but I’ve tried them, and I prefer a tube with a lid that snaps shut. I never needed to use all of a 9mL packet at once; and then I had to squeeze the remaining cream down into the packet; and fold down the top. I was always worried that it would leak all over the place, which would have made quite a mess.   It looks like alkaline batteries are good to go; and I must test the small bottles I got for body wash and shampoo. I’ll fill them with water; and if they leak, they miss out on 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 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 Preppie? March 26, 2025 Team RWB March 25, 2025 Blank Again March 24, 2025 Scatterbrained? March 23, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Team RWB

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Team RWB 🇺🇸 In watching all I can about RAGBRAI, I came across Team RWB. This organization supports veterans; those in the armed services; and their families and supporters. Team RWB discusses RAGBRAI packing in this video. It mentions some items that I might want to consider. Maybe this handheld fan? Some years RAGBRAI gets very hot; and even stays hot all night. If that’s going to be the case this year, a fan in my tent will be great. But the fan is one more thing to pack; and one more device that will need charging! Sounds like I need a charging block with a lot of ports! List Goes On ✍🏻 And the list goes on … and on! Seems like the more stuff I get, the more I need! I don’t need a tent, though; I’ll be using Pork Belly Ventures. PBV sets up/tears down your tent for you; and even puts your bags in it at the end of the day. PBV also picks up your bags in the morning. That’s a boon for a first-time rider; and I think it’s worth the cost. If I do more RAGBRAIs in the future, I might consider getting a cheap Walmart tent, as Team RWB mentions. There are things I’ll want to have on RAGBRAI that I already have at home; but they’re items that I use without a thought. They’re always here, after all. If I don’t write them down, I’m liable to forget them. Thus the list goes on! 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 Team RWB March 25, 2025 Blank Again March 24, 2025 Scatterbrained? March 23, 2025 Three H Club March 20, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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On the Fence

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

On the Fence ? We all know the feeling of being on the fence; and it can make you feel out of “CTRL“. For example, I’m preparing for RAGBRAI LII; and am on the fence about bike locks. Should I bring one; or not? Some people say, don’t worry; you don’t need a lock. Others say, it’s better to have a lock; especially if you want to ride into the overnight town and will be away from your camp site. I have a cable lock; but it’s quite heavy. If I bring it along, maybe I can let it stay in my luggage; then I’ll have it if I need it at the camp site. And it won’t be weighing down my Camel-Bak all day long. Oh, and what about getting my electronic devices locked in at a charging station? Locked In? ? Here is another subject on which I’m on the fence. PBV service includes a charging trailer, with locking compartments. Some videos I’ve watched say, bring a padlock. I immediately though of a standard padlock; the kind you might use for a school locker. Then I watched another video; and that one mentioned the small kind of padlock that you’d use for luggage. Wouldn’t you know, I can’t find that video again. Which kind of lock do I need? No wonder I feel like I’m on the fence! Of course I’ll want to get my devices locked in at night; and my list of RAGBRAI questions includes this issue. Are PBV users assigned a charging cubby, just as they’re assigned a tent number? If not, how will I easily find the cubby that I’ve chosen for my headlight, etc? I soon thought of putting a small piggy charm (such as you’d carry on a keychain) in the cubby. While I was considering where to look for such a thing, I remembered that I didn’t need to buy one; I already had one! I think it’s supposed to be a baby peccary; but that’s close enough. I was able to find it easily; and now it’s with the stuff I’m accumulating for 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 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 ✍? On the Fence February 21, 2025 Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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More Winter

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

More Winter ❄️ We’ve got more Winter coming. There are cold-weather warnings posted for the next two nights; and early tomorrow the chill factor will be well below freezing! It’s good I’ve got some cold-weather clothing; but when it’s that cold, nothing seems warm enough. Leg warmers help; but even with an additional base layer, my legs get cold. A long-sleeved blouse with three layers over it doesn’t keep out the chill.  Would these AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves keep my hands warmer? Even with hand warmers inside of my gloves, my hands can get pretty cold. Frigid wind on my head gets painful, even when I’m wearing a skull cap. My feet get cold, even with heavy socks. More Winter for us doesn’t often mean sub-freezing temperatures; and when they occur, it’s apt to mean a training disruption for me. Training Disruption ? Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a training disruption; it’s possible to “ride” inside. If only such exercise weren’t so tedious! I got enough of it during the recent cold snap; and now I need to resume it. And we’ve got more Winter. It’s not the end of February yet; but I hope it stops dropping down to freezing. This city isn’t made for it; and I don’t blame anybody for not wanting to buy a lot of polar-rated clothing that they’ll need only a few days per season. Hence a training disruption can easily occur when the mercury drops like a stone. 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 ✍? More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Roll Over

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Roll Over ? “Roll over” sounds like a command you might teach to a dog. A roll over is what might  happen, too, if you’re riding; and drop a water bottle. It happened to me this morning. I was trying to put my bottle of electrolyte drink back into its cage; and dropped it. Then I rode right over it before I could stop. The bottle seems to be OK; but it might take another use or two before I’m sure it isn’t damaged. I hope I don’t drop too many bottles as I roll through the corn in July! Roll through the Corn ? Preparing to roll through the corn (aka ride RAGBRAI) is keeping me busy! I have quite a shopping list; but I’m trying not to buy everything at once. It’s better to spread out the expenses if I can. I did order a duffle (of is it D-U-F-F-E–L?) bag. Better to have the bag first, I think, and then buy stuff that will fit inside the bag. It’s sort of like making the bike fit the rider; not the other way around. Preparing to roll through the corn also means, of course, the physical training required. I’ve begun working on back-to-back long rides; “long” at this point meaning 25-30 miles. I do that once a week. Training advice for over-40 riders says to ease up every third week; so I won’t increase my long-days mileage until the week of March 2. No hard riding this week, either. They say your body doesn’t get stronger if you stress it too hard, too often. You don’t want to reach the roll-over-and-play-dead stage of fatigue! 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 ✍? Roll Over February 17, 2025 Law of Averages February 16, 2025 RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Time Warp? February 14, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Time Warp?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Personal Care /

Time Warp? ?‍? Am I caught in a time warp? It doesn’t feel like Friday! Maybe it was today’s riding. A friend and former co-worker lives nearby; and we had plans to meet at 9:30 this morning for a walk. I wanted to get in some miles before then, in case it turned rainy in the afternoon. But I didn’t get going until about 7:00; and I needed time to fix and eat breakfast after I got home. Thus I didn’t ride as long as I really wanted to; and got in less than 11 miles. After I was home from walking, I got busy with other things; but by early afternoon I was tired of sitting around. I decided to get on the ball, and went out again, this time on the hybrid; and rode another 9 miles. Two rides in one day upset my sense of time; so no wonder I feel like I’m in a time warp! Get on the Ball! ⚽️  Time warp or not, I’ve got to get on the ball. Not that I’m behind on RAGBRAI training, at least as far as miles go. But I do need to be more diligent about my  off-bike exercises! If all that exercise leaves you with sore muscles, these Massage Balls can provide some relief. Different colors have varying stiffness/spike length. Good for phyio-therapy, relief of plantar fasciitis, aching quads, etc. RAGBRAI, in fact, is why I decided to get these massage balls. I’m bound to have some aching legs; and with these “sea urchins” on hand, I won’t have to stand in line for a massage! At 3 inches in diameter each, they’ll take up far less space than a foam roller. I just have to be careful not to roll myself into a time warp!   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 ✍? Check Your Pockets February 13, 2025 Under-Trained February 12, 2025 Muscle Forgetfulness February 11, 2025 Fog Away! February 10, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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