SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Food

Lost?

Lost? 🔄 Lost? Can a Findway Pro Bike Helmet help  you get back on track? This helmet, for men and women, is great for cycling; and also for other sports, such as skating. Made for head measurements 54-61.5cm/21.26-24.21inc. Dial in the back allows for size adjustment; there’s also an adjustable chin strap. Durable ABS shell and dense EPS foam interior for protection from impacts. Fourteen vents to help keep your head comfortable in hot weather. Available in Black-Black (shown); Teal-White; and other colors. I’m unlikely to get lost while riding, as long as I’m starting from home; but if you’re worried about that, don’t forget extra snacks. Olyra Organic Breakfast Biscuits are high in fiber; low in sugar; non-GMO; and USDA certified organic. Available in Greek Yogurt & Blueberry (shown); Hazelnut; Dark Chocolate; and Variety Pack. 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 Flood Watch July 17, 2025 Packing Woes July 16, 2025 Team Up July 15, 2025 Always Electrolytes! July 14, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR Add Your Heading Text Here

Lost? Read More »

Ben’s Original Street Food

Ben’s Original Street Food 🍲 Ben’s Original Street Food another of my salvage-store finds. I like being able to try new things at a low price! Ben’s Original Street Food comes in four delicious flavors. I like the Fried Rice with Vegetables (shown) best; but the others are good, too. These meals are ready to eat after 90 seconds in the microwave. They come in packs of six — well, there’s a new meaning for the term “six-pack“.  So just heat; grab your spork; and dig in!   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 Packing Woes July 16, 2025 Team Up July 15, 2025 Always Electrolytes! July 14, 2025 Final Week July 13, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Ben’s Original Street Food Read More »

LMNT Sampler

LMNT Sampler 🧂 LMNT Sampler lets you try a variety of LMNT (pronounced “element”) flavors. Each stick of powder supplies 1000 mg of sodium; plus magnesium and potassium. Just mix contents of one packet with 16-32 ounces of liquid. LMNT Sampler contains one stick each of eight flavors. I’ve tried them with the idea that this product might be a good choice if this year’s RAGBRAI turns out to be as hot as the 2023 event. I suppose I’d need to use the stuff regularly for a few weeks before I can be sure it works better than, say, Biosteel. I can’t say I’m crazy about the taste of this product. I love salt; but somehow salty electrolyte drinks don’t appeal to me. But LMNT is sugar-free; and contains no gluten or fillers. It isn’t, of course, recommended to folks who have hypertension; but supposedly many people actually need more salt. So fill up your bottle with your choice of LMNT, and take off! Beating the Heat ♨️ Beating the heat might be the name of the game during RAGBRAI; and a South Sport Cool Rag sure will help! I’ve been doing without it this past week, because I washed it; and wanted it to get thoroughly dry before packing it into a duffle bag. If it’s coo in the morning, I can stuff the cool rag into a  Camel-Bak pocket until I need it. I’m constantly mullig over what all I need to keep handy; the big ride begins day after tomorrow!   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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

LMNT Sampler Read More »

Always Electrolytes!

Always Electrolytes! 🧂 Gosh, it’s always electrolytes! In this heat, that’s true even for a short ride of 10 miles. When the temperature is close to 80 degrees before 7:00 am, water alone just isn’t sufficient after half an hour; and I really noticed it this morning. I didn’t use the Camel-Bak because I want it to air out and get as dry as possible before I pack it up in a duffle bag. I thought that plain water would do; but as I’ve said, after 30 minutes of riding I wanted more hydration than plain water. And I was riding easily! Grab That Gatorade! 🐊 So grab that Gatorade! Actually, I go for Gatorade Zero; I can’t drink much regular Gatorade before my stomach starts to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Who needs gut rot? Since it’s always electrolytes, I’ve tried many things over the last dozen years or so. Skratch Labs was one of the earliest; and back then, they made a raspberry flavor that I really liked. Unfortunately it seems to have gone out of existence. Skratch Labs is also high-carb; and as I have prediabetes, I look for low- to no-carb drinks.. I’ve found things at the salvage store that I”ve tried, such as Biosteel and Propel Powder Packets. It’s great when I can experiment with new things at a low cost! Tomorrow I plan to ride 8 or 10 miles; and short a ride as that is, I’ll be sure to grab that Gatorade — I mean, that Gatorade Zero! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

Always Electrolytes! Read More »

Salt and Vinegar?

Salt and Vinegar? 🧂 Do salt and vinegar, aka pickle juice, make a good drink? Today I tried mixing a quarter-cup of dill pickle juice with water to make one pint; and drank a little of it. I wondered whether it would work as an on-bike drink. Full-strength pickle juice at a rest stop is one thing; but I don’t think I’d enjoy sipping at that diluted stuff every five mintes. For on-bike electrolyte drinks, I’ll stick with things like Gatorade Zero. Tomorrow I’ll take along half a giant dill pickle, and eat some of it when I take a break from pedaling. That’ll give me some salt and vinegar without the diluted taste. And the sodium ought to be helpful. They talk about pickles and pickle juice shots at RAGBRAI. I’ve had these things along the Tour de Cure routes; and I’m aware of  how good a shot of pickle juice tastes on a hot day. And now it’s almost time for the final countdown! Less than two weeks to go! Countdown! ⬇️ I can’t believe it’s almost countdown to RAGBRAI time. Now that the event is getting so near, it almost doesn’t seem real! But it is. I’m considering what to do in the next few days as far as riding goes. I was thinking of riding 30 miles tomorrow; and maybe 20 on Monday. But the RAGBRAI training plan shows short rides during this week; 15 miles at most. Also, I’ve read plenty about event training; and I know that it’s counterproductive to try to make up miles in the last week or two before event day. I have only tomorrow and the next day for the road bike; on Tuesday I must get the bike shipped off. That will make the countdown seem more real! Oh, and maybe I should tank up on salt and vinegar before I  head to Iowa? 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

Salt and Vinegar? Read More »

Tired of Bars

Tired of Bars 🍫 I get tired of bars as ride food. Now that I’ve been using them almost daily for some months, bars have become monotonous. Now that the weather is warm — OK, hot — bars are messy. They melt! But I need to eat during long rides! I’m not sure what to take instead for ride food. Will sandwiches made of bologna or salami be risky in the heat? Even if I make them without mayonnaise? Rice cakes, as presented in Feed Zone Portables? I’ve tried them; and I must be doing something wrong. My rice cakes come out sticky; and they tend to be too soft. The rice also sticks to my teeth; and drives me crazy.  So even though I’m tired of bars, I’ll continue to use them until I can figure out something else. Something Else 🤔  “Something else”, unfortunately, has a broad definition. Gels? I don’t want to fuel a ride of several hours on gels alone. I’m not sure my stomach would take to it very well. Sandwiches, as mentioned above? Maybe; if I can find a way to keep them cool. Sandwiches are bulky, too. Feed Zone Portables is about much more than rice cakes; but I don’t have the ingredients needed for, say, their two-bite pies. I also don’t want to turn the kitchen into an oven by making things that require baking. I might have to, though — I’m getting tired of bars!   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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

Tired of Bars Read More »

Slump

Slump 😩 I feel like I’m in a slump; and unfortunately it’s not the kind that can be helped with energy chews. I seem to have a cold; but if I’m to have a slump, better now than three weeks from now. How can I handle a rough patch like this? One obvious move is to ride less until I feel better; and to skip hard efforts. I hope I’m up to putting in at least 40 miles come Sunday! But if I can’t, I can always do my long ride on another day of the week. Another tactic is getting some extra sleep; and also skipping the off-bike exercises. The catch is, I’m sitting around too much! It’s not the best thing to slump over a keyboard for hours and hours. I do get tired of planning around the weather, though. We had quite a long stretch without rain; and now we seem to be making up for it. Planning around the Weather ⛈️   Planning around the weather is something I do all the time; but it’s more of a worry when T-storms are possible. Rain gear won’t keep lightning at bay! So planning around the weather is often easier in cold weather, when I can always add more layers; and T-storms are far less likely. Even then, my hands and feet are apt to get cold; then I’ll slump over the handlebars, tying to keep going in spite of numb fingers. With heat advisories increasingly frequent, I now have to work to keep cool while riding. I’m glad RAGBRAI offers frequent opportunities to refill hydration systems; and maybe even get ice! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

Slump Read More »

What a Mix!

What a Mix! 🍲 What a mix today was; both ride-wise and meal-wise. What a mix it is to start with the hybrid; switch to the road bike; then go back to the hybrid. But that’s how today’s ride played out. I wanted to push for 60 miles; and planned to start by riding five laps around the local park. After yesterday’s rain, I knew the path in the park might be wet; thus I used the hybrid to begin the ride. I also knew that T-storms were possible from early afternoon; and I wanted to push for 60 miles today.  That plan didn’t work out so well. I got to the park; and discovered that a local track club had a Father’s Day Run going. Such events typically post signs reminding participants to stay to the left; that is, in the pedestrian lane. But there are always plenty of people who wander into the bike lane, aka to the right. This makes for hard going; and I certainly regretted not having started an hour earlier! I gave up and left the park after only two laps; and went home for a break. Crazy Menu 🥞 🍧 🌮 What a crazy menu I had today, too! Pre-ride was quite usual: a banana and some peanut butter. As always, I took along cut-up protein bars. Aside from that, I had a crazy menu. Home from the park, I fixed a small sandwich. Sandwiches usually aren’t part of my on-bike menu; when I’m not making stops at home, they can get too hot in this weather. Then I headed out on the road bike; and didn’t start eating again for a good half hour. I didn’t want to get too stuffed while riding! This segment of my ride was 19.7 miles long; and when I got back home I fixed a smoothie from almond milk; chocolate protein powder; and frozen blueberries. This was unusual, too; I usually don’t fix a smoothie until after I’ve completed a ride. Then back to the park on the hybrid; and I cut this short, too. The clouds were piling up; and I thought I heard thunder. As it turned out, I could have kept riding! What a mix of a ride! And well short of the 60 miles I wanted to do. 😓 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

What a Mix! Read More »

Six Months

Six Months 6️⃣ Here it is again: six months of anxiously watching the tropical weather map. If a storm should strike and knock out the power, an Arctic Air Fan would be great — until it runs out of charge! If a hurricane were threatening, I’d have to be sure to charge up my charging blocks. Then I could recharge the fan a time or two. Six months is a long time to be so concerned about weather; so I guess a lot of folks do as I do. I check the NHC site frequently; lay in a supply of non-perishable food and some jugs of water; and look for a way out of town in case an evacuation is called. Then I hope for the best. Hope for the Best 🙏🏻 Hope for the best is all I can do during hurricane season. This is about the only time I wish I had a car; because it’s easier to get out of town on short notice when you’ve got your own vehicle. But cars cost too much for me to own one; so I’ve got six months of hoping I don’t have to flee a storm. Interruptions to my riding is what I dislike most about visits from tropical storms. With RAGBRAI getting nearer and nearer, I don’t need disruptions to my training! I’m pushing for a 50-mile ride once a week; and in fact, it’s time to bump it up to 55 miles. So I hope for the best as far as weather goes. I often wish there were small stores along my usual riding route; but unfortunately there aren’t; unless I ride at least a few blocks out of my way. If there were some stores easy to access, I could vary my usual ride food (bars) with a hot dog or a slice of pizza. I need to know how I do on such food while doing long rides; RAGBRAI is sure to bring such foods! 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 Six Months June 1, 2025 Quiet in the Tropics May 30, 2025 Coming in Waves May 29, 2025 Unsettled Weather May 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

Six Months Read More »

On a Full Stomach

On a Full Stomach 🥡   Today I got a little practice riding on a full stomach. I got Chinese take-out for lunch; and contrary to my usual practice, I didn’t put half of it away for another meal. I demolished the whole thing! Naturally I felt stuffed afterwards; but in a short while I headed out for a short, easy ride. I need more practice riding in the heat, for one thing. It’s part of my RAGBRAI preparation! Riding on a full stomach is rather uncomfortable; and during RAGBRAI I want to space out my food intake. Especially if I’m climbing! Vigorous effort on a full stomach is even less fun than riding easily on a full stomach! In addition to considering food during RAGBRAI, I’m planning how to get my bicycle there; and one alternative is Bikeflights. Maybe I can even send a supply of gels with the bike! Bikeflights ✈️ Part of RAGBRAI preparation has been, of course, figuring out how to get my bike up to Iowa; and I’m planning on using Bikeflights. I don’t like the idea having to lug a bicycle in a case to luggage check-in at the airport. There’s a service called Bikeflights; and my bike shop uses it all the time. Bikeflights works with RAGBRAI; and other events as well.  So I’ve registered for Bikeflights. I’ve got to review what all I may put in the case with the bicycle; I think they say there’s also room for two pairs of shoes and a helmet. I plan to pack two water bottles and one pair of shoes. If I can fit a full duffle bag in there as well, I can ship one in the bike box. Then I’ll only have one bag to worry about during the trip up to Iowa. At the moment, I’m more concerned about tomorrow’s weather. There’s a chance of T-storms; but they might not crop up until noon. So my ride might be OK; but as I plan to do some force work, I don’t think I’ll ride on a full stomach! 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 a Full Stomach May 27, 2025 Til Next Year May 26, 2025 Test Aborted May 25, 2025 Snap May 24, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

On a Full Stomach Read More »