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RAGBRAI with Diabetes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

RAGBRAI with Diabetes ? Can you do RAGBRAI with diabetes? I don’t see why not; although I’m sure it takes some extra planning and effort. Just look at Team Novo Nordisk! They all have Type-1 diabetes; and as pro cyclists, they do serious training. How does the recreational cyclist who has diabetes manage on-bike fueling? Does what you eat, and how much of it, depend on how hard you’re going?  Years of reading have taught me that, during exercise, you burn both fat and carbs; but whether you use a higher ratio of fat or carbs depends on the intensity. In recent weeks, my Garmin’s data show that most of my riding time is spent in my heart-rate zones 3 (steady/tempo) and 4 (brisk/lactate threshold). But must I ride in Zone 5 (max) to burn off lots of carbs? I can’t help but think of all the carbs along the RAGBRAI route; and doing RAGBRAI with diabetes must make eating hard. At every turn, there’s yummy pie; ice cream; pancake breakfasts; and so on. Just Count Calories? ???? If weight loss through cycling is your main goal, focus primarily on burning calories; and worry less about fat vs carbs. Just count calories! For folks who have diabetes, it can be a lot more complicated. According to some accounts, lifestyle changes can reverse Type-2 diabetes; but not all are so lucky. Depending on the severity of the condition, these riders must constantly monitor glucose levels; and be on guard for signs that blood glucose is either rising too high, or dropping too low. I just count calories when it comes to ride food; and aim to finish a ride with a slight calorie deficit. After all, I’ve got 12 or so excess pounds to ride off! 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 with Diabetes July 5, 2024 Happy Fourth!! July 4, 2024 Green Light July 3, 2024 Nervous Nellie July 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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A-OK

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

A-OK ? The gut test went A-OK! I felt minimal discomfort at one point; but nothing like nausea. So I’d say it was a success. Today’s experiment brings up a good point: how long before a ride to eat; and what to eat. Get Fast! includes a discussion of this. What to eat; when; and how much, varies depending on the planned workout. Short and easy? You can chow down as you’re pulling on your cycling clothes. Long and hard? Eat a good meal three hours or so before riding, so your food can digest. About half an hour before starting, have a small snack, such as a fig bar or two. Another gut test in a few weeks will let me try having a larger meal than I did this morning; and we’ll see how that goes. It’ll be A-OK, I hope! Short and Easy? ? Was this morning’s ride short and easy? Depends on how you define it. I rode 19.60 miles; with a roll time of 1:44:42; and an average speed of  11.25 mph. On the surface, that looks pretty casual. It wasn’t exactly a beautiful ride, though, because the sky was overcast! Today I did pace work: three efforts of 6 minutes each, trying to hold to 15 mph or over; and 4 minutes between efforts. I was pretty tired by the last effort! But to develop a better pace, you need to gradually do longer and longer efforts; with shorter recovery times in between. Incidentally, I was passed by a paceline of about eight riders. They were flying; and made me feel mighty lame. ? Tomorrow I’ll just ride; and the next day I plan to work on force-development exercises. I remember too well my participation in Tours de Cure on a course that included hills. I was always frustrated to discover that the training I did never was adequate for those climbs. If I ride RAGBRAI, I want to do better than that. Because this much is certain: RAGBRAI isn’t short and easy! 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 A-OK June 3, 2024 Gut Test June 2, 2024 Let’s Take Off! June 1, 2024 It’s Easier! May 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Gut Test

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Gut Test ? It’s time for a gut test! My usual pre-ride snack is a banana with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter; but I need to know how my stomach will react to riding right after a heavier — and stronger flavored — meal.  Video after video of RAGBRAI mentions all the food along the way: sweet corn dipped in melted butter; home-made ice cream; pork chops; and pie, pie, and yet more pie. (Ragpie, I always say! ?) How will I manage if my gut is stuffed when I’ve got hills to climb? Hence the need for the gut test. I’ve got the gut test all lined up. Today I went to a nearby pizza restaurant; and got a take-out calzone. Those calzones are huge, and I cut mine in three; ate one piece; and put the rest in the fridge. Tomorrow I can eat another piece of calzone right before I ride. We’ll see how I feel when I’m pushing the pace. Moderation ? Dietary moderation during RAGBRAI won’t be easy with so many tantalizing offerings along the way. It would be very tempting to try all I can on the first day, to be sure I don’t miss anything; because how can I be sure of being able to return for subsequent RAGBRAIs? But I don’t need to stuff myself like that, or I’ll be miserable on the bike. My idea is to try one thing each day: Beekman’s Ice Cream the first day; Mr. Pork Chop the next; and so on. I can carry a piece of aluminum foil for wrapping that chop, because I’ve got an idea that it will be too big for me to eat all at once! I recently found an online RAGBRAI article that does address the issue of fueling during the ride. It says, pace your eating; you don’t want or need to be riding on an overloaded stomach. At the same time, riding all day burns lots of calories; and that means eating to keep going. It’ll be hard to draw the line between enough, and too much! 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 Gut Test June 2, 2024 Let’s Take Off! June 1, 2024 It’s Easier! May 31, 2024 Early Is Wise May 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Doubling Back

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Doubling Back ➰ Doubling back isn’t my favorite way of putting in the miles; whether I’m on a road bike or a hybrid. But sometimes I have no choice. My usual route is blocked about 12-13 miles from home; and today I was gunning for 40 miles. As a complication, the pocket park that has some KYBOs was either hit by some terrific wind gusts yesterday; or was visited by vandals. Three of four KYBOs were down on the ground; and the fourth was locked. I’m lucky I didn’t need one so urgently that I couldn’t make it home first. Even with some doubling back, I didn’t manage to ride 40 miles, as I had planned. At about 21 miles, I felt very tired for a while; and wasn’t sure whether I was starting to get a bit dehydrated, or needed to eat more. I decided to go home; and my mileage wasn’t quite 34.  Hitting the Wall? ? Maybe I was hitting the wall. That can happen during long rides, especially if you don’t eat enough. But per my calculations, I ate 699 calories during this ride; and I burned 934. A deficit of 235 calories doesn’t seem excessive to me. But I had my recovery drink waiting for me at home. Chocolate! If I had frozen blueberries on hand, I would have blended some of them in. After a long or hard ride, replenishing your muscles is important; and protein powder is a big help. I don’t want to be hitting the wall; so next time I’ll eat slightly more. I’m learning how to manage miles and fueling; because if I get to do RAGBRAI, avoiding the bonk will be vital. 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 Doubling Back May 19, 2024 Hurricane Rehearsal? May 18, 2024 Still on Edge! May 17, 2024 Meteorologist May 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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What Happened?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

What Happened? ? What happened to Summer? Yesterday I was sure it had come; but this morning it was almost chilly! Has Summer taken off on an epic bike ride? It seems strange to have it be so hot — nearly 90 degrees! — for a few days; and then cool off again. So often, when it starts to get hot like that, it keeps on until Fall. It looks like tomorrow will be nice for riding, although probably windier than I would like. I’d better ride tomorrow, too; the outlook for the rest of the week is gloomy. Yes, I need to learn to deal with riding in the rain if I’m serious about doing RAGBRAI; but if there’s lightning, I’d rather not ride if I don’t have to. Of course there’s rain gear, such as this Alpha Cycle Gear suit; but during RAGBRAI it might be too hot for something like that. I guess I’ll work out something that’s a happy medium between getting soaked and smothering. On the other hand, it can get cold in the rain, even during hot weather! But right now I’m saying, what happened to Summer? Five Years? ?️ Incidentally, it’s some five years since I first learned about RAGBRAI. What happened to all that time? I didn’t really begin to consider tackling the event until recently. Last year, hand surgery and foot surgery cut into (no pun intended!) my riding. But as my foot healed after the bunion surgery, I rather quickly began to ride more and more; and retirement means I have much more time for riding.? So I’m trying to train up! I’m trying rice cakes (made from a recipe in Feed Zone Portables) again as ride food. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to use protein bars all the time. The catch is, during RAGBRAI I won’t be able to cook! 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 What Happened? May 11, 2024 Make the Grade May 10, 2024 Forget the Calendar May 9, 2024 Disassembly May 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Keep It Neutral!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Keep It Neutral! ⚙️ C’mon, wrists; keep it neutral! Lately my right wrist keeps moving into a hyperextended position as I ride; and after about half an hour, my hand starts to feel numb. I don’t know why it’s only the right wrist that does that; but now I’ve got to pay more attention to that wrist. As I was about to start down the levee access ramp near home, my thumb was too numb to operate the lap button on my Garmin! So I’ve got to keep it neutral! I tried to work on my pace this morning. Outward-bound, I had a good tailwind; and 5 minutes of pushing for at least 15 mph was little problem. Coming back home, it was all I could do to push it to 12-13 mph for 25 seconds. I ended up working just to keep moving. This Is April? ? This is April? The weather sure doesn’t feel like it. Last night the temperature dropped to the mid-fifties; unusual for us at this time of year. The wind was quite strong today, too: 15-16 mph, with gusts 25-28 mph! That didn’t stop me from trying a new electrolyte drink: Gatorade Zero. When I ride more than 12 miles or so, I need electrolyte drink, even if it’s freezing cold outdoors. Last Saturday I found Gatorade Zero Powder Packets at the salvage store (Glacier Freeze flavor); and decided to try it. Meh. It’s tolerable; but I’ve tried other electrolyte drinks that I liked better. But this is a good time to experiment if I’m considering next year’s RAGBRAI! It gives me plenty of time to try things out; and consider what I’ll need if I do get to tackle RAGBRAI. But oh, this crazy weather! This is April? 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 It Neutral! April 22, 2024 Melting Point April 21, 2024 Bee in My Bonnet? April 20, 2024 Farsighted April 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Melting Point

BACK ISSUES, Food /

Melting Point ? Now that the weather is warming up, I must keep the melting point of various ride foods in mind. Gatorade Bars, for instance. Gatorade Bars have a chocolate coating; and that gets half-melted in a hurry. Even on cold days, it can be quite a mess if the weather is sunny. If only I could carry a cooler along on my rides! This morning it was some 10 degrees cooler than it was yesterday; and I did such a short ride that I didn’t need to bother with ride food. Thus the melting point was of no concern today. But I don’t expect this cooler spell to last long. Soon it will stay at 80 degrees overnight! Slump? ? I feel like I’m in quite a slump, because I didn’t ride much at all today. I may as well have stayed in the sack all day!  But I can get going again tomorrow; and I could go out right now. Much of the rain seems to have missed us; and now the sun is trying to come out. But I already totaled up this past week’s mileage and time; and I don’t feel like re-doing it. There’s the slump again! I probably don’t have to worry about the melting point tomorrow. The predicted high temperature is about 72; yesterday morning’s LOW temperature! Cooler weather also means I can cook without getting too hot. This morning’s mini-ride was to pick up bananas and zucchini. My freezer is starting to get rather empty; and I want to make squashed sauce! 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 Melting Point April 21, 2024 Bee in My Bonnet? April 20, 2024 Farsighted April 19, 2024 Don’t Go to Sleep! April 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Feel Stuffed!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

I Feel Stuffed! ??? I feel stuffed when I view YouTubes about RAGBRAI, and they talk about all the can’t-miss-it foods along the route. Sweet corn dipped in melted butter. Huge pork chops. Ice cream; and pie, pie, and more pie! (I keep saying, maybe that ride ought to be called RAGpie!) To be sure, cyclists need ample food during long rides; but we have to find a way to eat enough, yet not overdo it. An overloaded belly can make a ride miserable. When you’re pedaling, your body’s circulation sends your blood to your legs; and that means less blood to work at digestion. The more intensely you ride, the more true that is. Many a video about RAGBRAI tells of the hills; and that means some intense riding. Or, it sure would for me! For years, I’ve practiced on-bike eating when I do rides over 15 miles; and with the rolling hills of Iowa in mind, maybe it’s time to start working at eating a little more. But here’s the catch: I don’t want to eat so much that I gain weight! I feel stuffed thinking about it. Time for a 50 ½ I think it’s time for a fifty-miler; that is to say a 1/2 century. Today would have been a great time for it, as the wind is calm. Unfortunately I was a bit tired this morning; and anyway I was planning to do the ride tomorrow. So, what shall I take along as ride food? I still haven’t gotten around to trying to make rice cakes; and I’m getting rather tired of energy/protein bars. I’m going to try some Clif Bloks; but for the rest of it, I’m stuck with those 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 I Feel Stuffed! April 13, 2024 Reconnaissance April 12, 2024 Getting Shortchanged April 11, 2024 Paraphrase April 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Blockage

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Blockage ? Who wants a blockage in the bike path? Doesn’t it drive you crazy? It’s enough to make a body resort to virtual rides! I was out riding this morning; and the bike path was closed a couple of miles short of my intended turnaround point. Goodness knows, that’s not as catastrophic as a blockage in the coronary arteries; but it did mean that I had to turn around early; and I couldn’t make the planned pit stop.  As a result, I don’t think I hydrated quite enough. The wind was a problem, too; and I even caught myself thinking: Do I really want to fight headwinds for hours a day, for seven days straight? I might get that if I did RAGBRAI! New Ride Food ?? I tried my new ride food today: Isadora Vegetarian Refried Beans. I didn’t take an entire pouch; that would have been too large and bulky. Instead, I put a serving’s worth into a snack bag; and put that into a larger plastic bag in case of leakage. I also took along half a large wheat-flour tortilla and a plastic spoon. It made a tasty enough snack; but even with a spoon to use, it was rather messy. Refried beans seem to dry my throat, which didn’t help my hydration problem; and with the uncertainty of being able to find a restroom, I didn’t dare drink as much as I really needed. I have a similar problem with pretzels; and it’s actually a long time since I last used them as ride fuel. Maybe I’ll think up a way to make “refritos” moister next time. I don’t have any knee warmers; so I used full-length leg warmers. But my knee felt all right today.? 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 Blockage April 7, 2024 Be Adaptable April 6, 2024 Smorgasbord April 5, 2024 The Power of Suggestion April 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Smorgasbord

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Smorgasbord ? ? ? We cyclists nowadays have quite a smorgasbord of on-bike food available. It’s great to have so many things to try; from cookbook recipes to salvage-store finds. As to the latter, I’ve got to use up my overstock! For some years, my cycling smorgasbord has consisted of various protein/energy bars and GU-Gels. I’ve used Clif Bars; RXBars; and many others. Now, however, I’m getting interested in expanding the menu. At least one video about  RAGBRAI mentioned frijoles and tortillas; and now I’m eager to try it. For the first experiment, I’ll make it only part of my ride food. I don’t really expect it to cause stomach issues; but it’s better to ease into a new food regimen.  I’m also considering fruit pouches. GoGo squeeZ comes in handy, recloseable pouches; and that’s handy when you don’t want to eat an entire serving at once. Taste of RAGBRAI? ? Did I get a taste of RAGBRAI this afternoon? And I don’t mean electrolyte drink. It was at least 2:00 pm when I decided to head out to a bicycle shop — not my usual one, which is within a mile of home. This one is more like 2.5 miles away; and I was riding in the blazing sunshine. The temperature was a relatively cool 75 degrees; and even that felt quite hot. If that was a taste of RAGBRAI, I’ve got a long way to go before I’m ready! Why did I go out on a bicycle at that hour? I’m looking for a pair of light-ish Winter cycling gloves; something lighter than Giro Candela 2.0 Gloves. Last time I was at my usual bike shop, they didn’t have any; and neither did the shop I visited today. I may not need them until Fall; but I figured they might be on sale now. Then I’d have a few bucks to save towards doing 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 Smorgasbord April 5, 2024 The Power of Suggestion April 4, 2024 Bare Legs April 3, 2024 Fuel Supply April 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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