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To Ride or Not?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

To Ride or Not? ?‍♂️ To ride, or not to ride? That’s always the question when the weather look uncertain; and many times I wonder whether I made the right call. Today was another one of those days. Last night, the forecast showed showers and T-storms possible from 8:00 am; and I didn’t even wake up until past 7:30. On top of that, I felt weird: I was tired, with a stuffy head. Allergies? Or a mild reaction to yesterday’s vaccines? As usual, I asked myself: to ride, or not? Parts of the sky were clear; and I finally decided to take some easy laps around the park.  As an aside, they say that, if you don’t feel so hot, do a “neck check”. Are your symptoms above your neck; such as a stuffy head or a scratchy throat? It’s probably OK to ride; but it’s better to ride easy. But if your symptoms are below the neck (such as chest congestion), or you have a fever, don’t ride. Enough Detour ↳ OK, that’s enough detour for one day. But just in case you do have to go out of your way, be sure to take along some snacks! This morning I rode the hybrid, so I could use the trunk. I wanted the poncho in case it began to pour. On the way to the park, I noticed a big, black cloud towards the Northeast; and it looked like it meant business!  I didn’t try to ride fast; but I sure kept an eye on the sky. Sure enough, before I was halfway through Lap 1, that cloud covered the sun; and I figured it might be wiser to head home. Who knew when lightning⚡️ might break out? I rode through some sprinkle before I reached home; but I probably could have kept on riding. The rain has been on and off all day; and heavy rain is expected tomorrow. Time to set up the trainer! I don’t enjoy “riding” indoors; but sometimes it’s the only choice. 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 All Shot Up September 3, 2024 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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All Shot Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Personal Care /

All Shot Up? ⁍ Today I got all shot up, so to speak: vaccinations for both flu and COVID. Not the most fun thing in the world; but I should be reasonably safe from both illnesses for a year. Who needs sickness to cut into riding time? It looks like my chances for a ride tomorrow might be all shot up, too: showers and scattered T-storms from 7 am onwards. Time to haul out the trainer again! My legs weren’t exactly shot this morning; but after two 20.2-mile days in a row, I thought I needed to take it easy today. So I left the road bike home; and headed to the park on the hybrid. I did three easy laps; with a detour to a farmers’ market ? during the final lap. Oh, Forecasts! ☔️ Oh, forecasts! You’d think that, by now, I’d have learned not to put too much stock in them. Many a time I’ve seen weather predictions change overnight; and maybe I need to adopt a more wait-and-see attitude. As I’ve often stated, my major concern about weather is getting caught in a lightning ⚡️ storm. I feel like I’m too good a target when I’m riding on top of the levee. Maybe I could try riding on the side of the levee; but I don’t feel that my riding skills are up to pedaling on a sloping surface. It might be time to try it! 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 All Shot Up September 3, 2024 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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With Dinah?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

With Dinah? ? Was I with Dinah, as the song says? No; although I was in the kitchen. I wasn’t using a cookbook, either; I was concocting another Hoppin’ John variation to add to the SpokEasy Recipes page! Today being Labor Day, I named my new recipe Labor Day Quinoa Mix. Why quinoa? Sometimes I want a change from rice; and maybe someday I’ll try barley. Or cracked wheat! If I were with Dinah, though, I wonder what she’d think of all the crazy stuff I dream up. Good Weather ☀️ We had good weather today, which was lucky for folks who wanted to enjoy the outdoors. I went for a 20-mile ride; and of course some people were busy with barbecuing! At one point, I could smell the starter fluid that people use to get the fire going. I’d prefer to use fat pine; starter fluid stinks. Today’s ride was pretty casual; and I didn’t bother with any attempts at speed. On the way home, of course I had a headwind; and keeping a steady pace was quite hard. Tomorrow I plan to take it easy: a short ride on the hybrid, including a visit to the farmers’ market; and I have an appointment to get myself “armed” against flu and COVID.   Good weather is predicted for tomorrow morning; but it will be stormy again by mid-week. And we’ve got to keep watching the tropics!   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 With Dinah? September 2, 2024 FOMO Strikes Again! September 1, 2024 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Another Missed Call

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Another Missed Call ? I think today was another missed call; and I don’t mean a malfunctioning cell phone.  The forecast looked chancy; so I didn’t ride to the salvage store. It looks like I could have gone there, after all! This isn’t the first time I didn’t ride to the store because storms seemed likely; and then those storms didn’t materialize. I don’t think it’s rained here; although it’s hard to tell when I’m indoors. And, as I say so often, you never know what conditions are like just a few miles away! My concerns over the weather led me to go ride some laps around the local park; then head for a nearby grocery store. The sky occupied a certain past of my attention the entire time; but it didn’t rain. It has me thinking that I made another missed call. Time will tell, though. We’re under flood watch until 7 pm. Back to the Kitchen ? It’s time I got back to the kitchen. My stock of frozen stuff is running low. Fortunately cooking doesn’t depend on the weather; unless, that is, we get a power outage. I sure miss having a gas stove! I’ve got two Hoppin’ John variations in mind; one with yellow split peas/lentils and brown rice; and one with pinto/kidney beans and quinoa. Now I have to think of names for them! We’ve got yet another rainy forecast for tomorrow. I hope there isn’t lightning.⚡️It’s actually good training to ride in the rain now and then; but if lightning is cracking overhead, it’ not a wise time to head out for a ride. Also, the road bike doesn’t have fenders; and riding in wet/rainy conditions means my poor bicycle gets splattered with muck and grit. A rainy day is a good time to get back to the kitchen; but at the same time, I want to finish my weekly mileage! 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 Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In the Nick

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

In the Nick ⏱️ I got home in the nick of time this morning! Last night’s forecast showed more rain and T-storms. It wasn’t raining when I got up; but who knew when it might start pouring. When things are iffy like that, I prefer to ride the hybrid; use the trunk so I can carry a poncho; and  ride laps around the local park. I want to be fairly close to home if bad weather breaks out. As I was nearing completion of Round 4, I saw a dark cloud towards the South. It seemed to be getting bigger; and I decided it was the better part of wisdom to head home. It’s a good thing I did; I was just in the nick of time. In fact, it began to rain when I still had about a half-block to go. Barely an hour later, a flash flood warning was issued; and it will be in effect for several more hours! Keep It Up ?? “Keep it up” sounds like continuing to ride regularly. That’s not so easy when it finally rains after a long dry spell; and the weather decides to keep it up. The weather doesn’t care that you want to get out there and ride! So, what to do? The least complicated thing is to just ride even if it means getting soaked, but in cold weather that’s probably not the wisest idea; and it certainly isn’t comfortable. Naturally it’s not a good idea if the lightning is cracking overhead! If weather conditions include torrentnial rain and/or strong wind, an indoor ride lets you do some pedaling. Ride Inside shows you how to make the most of these sessions; including mental aspects and shifting patterns.  I don’t have the space to keep an indoor trainer set up; and I can’t afford those fancy things that let you simulate an outdoor ride. They sound like fun, though. I guess I need to win a mega-lottery! 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 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hard to Plan

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hard to Plan ?️ It’s hard to plan your rides when the weather outlook is unfavorable. It doesn’t matter whether you’ll be on a gravel bike; a road bike; or an adult trike; if you can expect rain during your ride, extra planning is required. Do you have work materials or schoolbooks that must be kept dry? Thule Shield Panniers are waterproof, and have handy shoulder straps for off-bike carrying. Loops allow you to attach lights. Such bags are also good for trips to the grocery store; rain or shine. Incidentally, it can be hard to plan a trip to the store when there’s a flood advisory in effect; and I’m not sure which streets will still be hard to navigate tomorrow morning. In some areas, water can stand for days after a downpour! I also dislike riding close to traffic; especially when it’s raining. Playing Catch-Up ?? Maybe our weather is playing catch-up. It’s been quite dry; and we need rain. It looks like things will be pretty stormy for at least the next three days; and I hope it won’t mean playing catch-up with my mileage goals!   I can get in at least some pedaling if I hitch my road bike into the trainer. As I’ve said so often, it’s tedious to the nth degree; but better than nothing at all. As an alternative, I can don the poncho and go out on the hybrid. The biggest worry about riding in the rain is, it’s still T-storm season! 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 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Kitchen Antics

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

Kitchen Antics ? ?  My kitchen antics have been on hold for quite some time. I don’t feel like heating up the kitchen in this hot weather; and the freezer is still too full of stuff that I’ve already cooked. I need to use it up before I make more! When I do get back to cooking, I think I’ll make another tikka masala variation. Or maybe I can use some of my garbage soup as the base for a daring new recipe! Garbage soups have a lot of “scope for imagination”, as Anne of Green Gables would say. When I’m ready ready for more kitchen antics, maybe I’ll hunt for a recipe in the ADA Vegetarian Cookbook. Possibly I’ll devise a variation of it, as I did with Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash (p. 87). The original recipe calls for russet (aka baking) potatoes. After I made the recipe according to the book, I made it again; and this time I substituted sweet potatoes. I think the sweet potatoes taste a lot better; and they’re lower in carbs than russet potatoes. Chill Out ? It’s been so hot, though, that I’d far rather chill out than work away in a hot kitchen. A Cool Rag helps with that, both on the bike and off. By 10:00 am today it was already broiling; and I needed to walk to the bike shop. The Cool Rag made it somewhat more bearable. I rode early again, just after 7 am; partly because of the heat; and partly because T-storms were in the forecast from late morning. I tried to work on my pace; but didn’t do as well as I would have liked. Same old story! Once home from riding and running errands, I could chill out. But I’ve got to think about tomorrow’s ride. Maybe go sort of easy? I’ll see how the legs feel. And what the weather is doing! 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 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Shut off the Furnace!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Shut off the Furnace! ? PLEASE, somebody shut off the furnace! How often must I repeat it? Unfortunately it’s not as simple as switching off a Dr Infrared Heater. There’s a huge geographical area that needs to cool off; and until it does, we outdoorsy types must continue to plan for heat. I’m not the only one who wishes someone would shut off the furnace; but for now, that’s a vain hope. Tomorrow is going to be yet another scorcher; with a heat index as high as 113! Cool Down ? So, what’s your cool-down strategy? An Arctic Air Fan? This cooling device is lightweight; cordless; and lets you choose from three speeds. It’s rechargeable, and hands free — simply hang it around your neck. One charge lasts up to six hours. But what if you forget to charge up that fan? How do you cool down then? Maybe a Mission Cooling Neck Gaiter? This requires no electricity; and can we worn a dozen or more different ways. If the conditions outdoors are truly unbearable, there’s always “riding” inside. But I’d much prefer for somebody to shut off the furnace. 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 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Uneasy Times

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Uneasy Times ? These are uneasy times; and I don’t mean worrying that we’ll be misfits in some way. The tropics seem to be revving up to high gear. Some folks are still reeling from the onslaught of Debby. Now there’s a system out there with the potential of becoming this season’s next named storm (Ernesto). Its projected path looks like this system might impact areas just hit by Debby. No wonder these are uneasy times. New Orleans, being surrounded by water, has to stay on the alert. I have moments when I wonder whether I’d be better off relocating entirely; but that would probably mean dealing with other weather threats. I’ll take hurricanes over tornadoes any day. With hurricanes, you get much more advance warning. Long Ride Problems ? “Uneasy times” isn’t only worrying about hurricanes. There are long ride problems even if you aren’t shooting for the century mark. Putting in lots of miles can mean uneasy times; especially in this heat. Today I put in 29.3 miles. When the temperature is already in the low 80s at 6:00 am, that’s enough distance to have me worrying that my Camel-Bak will run dry. When I use the Camel-Bak, I carry a spare bottle of water in the cage on the seat tube; but I prefer to reserve this water in case I need more electrolyte drink. That, however, means I have to remember to bring along the needed tablets or powder. To help solve these long ride problems, I really need to leave the bike path on the levee to find stores where I can buy water if I need it. The trouble with me is, I don’t like going out of my way! 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 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Go Homemade?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Go Homemade? ? Should I go homemade with the electrolyte drinks? It’s been so hot that I’ve been taking such beverages along even when I’m only riding to the salvage store. Store-bought electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade, can get quite expensive, even when I get them from the salvage store at a lowered price. Can I make my own electrolyte drinks? I once decided to go homemade; and tried a drink recipe that I found online. As well as I can remember, it had a bit of maple syrup in it; and I love maple! But highly-diluted maple syrup with a bit of salt in it tasted rather odd. And I can’t keep fluids chilled when riding in hot weather. Even a frozen bottle of electrolyte drink thaws and melts quite quickly. How Does Cool Feel? ? How does cool feel? After weeks of unrelenting heat, I think we’ve forgotten; and we need to find ways to keep from melting. An Arctic Air Fan is an alternative to a cool rag; but what if it runs out of charge in the middle of a hot ride? I would get most uncomfortable if it did! I think having the cool rag has spoiled me; but on the other hand, we’ve got to do what we can to avoid heat-related illnesses. The heat index today is below 100 degrees; but it’s still plenty hot. So how does cool feel? Maybe we’ll find out when October arrives!  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 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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