SpokEasy

Outdoors

One or the Other

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

One or the Other! 🆒 🥵 I wish our weather would settle on one or the other: is it Fall (almost Winter); or is it still Summer? The temperature is see-sawing back and forth. Yesterday morning it was 40 degrees; and this morning it was close to 60! That’s very annoying when you’re trying to plan your rides. It doesn’t have to be epic rides, either — even if you’re only riding to the store, you want to be dressed for the weather. I’ve often heard people complain about these crazy switches between heat and cold; they say, with justification, that “you never know how to dress”. No wonder we all want one or the other! Keep the Layers Handy! 🍰 The only thing we can do is to keep the layers handy. Unfortunately, that means having all sorts of items scattered all over the place. One day I’ll need leg warmers; the next day, I won’t. I’m not about to shove sweaty items of clothing back into storage; so I end up with leg warmers, helmet liners, etc. draped over furniture; the bicycles; and so on, so they can air out. That’s another reason I wish the weather would be one or the other. And what of longer rides, when the forecast indicates a sudden change during the day (aka your ride)? Keep the layers handy, if at all possible. It can get quite miserable if cold rain and wind suddenly begin, and you’re still miles from home. The action of pedaling does only so much to keep you warm, or such is my experience. And I’d rather be a tad too warm, than a bit too cool. If it’s the latter, what happens if you have to stop before you get home? 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 ✍🏻 One or the Other December 8, 2024 Change of Pace December 7, 2024 Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

One or the Other Read More »

Remember the Sunblock

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Personal Care /

Remember the Sunblock! ☀️ Remember the sunblock! It can save your ride; not to mention your skin. This morning’s ride plan was a few laps around the local park, before heading for the grocery store. Half a mile from home, it suddenly occurred to me that I’d forgotten about applying sunblock. I’m glad I remembered then, even though it meant missing some miles.  If I’d been on the road bike, I would have been all right; a tube of sunblock is part of my under-saddle pack’s inventory. But this morning I was on the hybrid, because I wanted to take along a pannier; and I didn’t have any sunblock with me. Just think of what my face would look like now if I didn’t remember the sunblock when I did! Wind Burn? 💨 I’m not sure how well KINeSYS — or any other sunblock — would help with wind burn. I imagine you’d have to be out for many hours, in very strong wind, before wind burn develops; but that’s not much consolation when you’re out there on a bicycle fighting a headwind.  Wind-wise, it looks like tomorrow won’t be bad; but early in the day the temperature will be around 40 degrees. As far as I’m concerned, that’s cold! I’d better dig out the hand warmers. The next day, the wind will be a bit stronger; and after that, it looks like we’re in for several rainy days. It makes Winter Wheelers a much bigger challenge! 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 ✍🏻 Remember the Sunblock December 6, 2024 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Remember the Sunblock Read More »

Lost Gamble

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Lost Gamble 🎲   Sometimes a ride is a lost gamble. Like today, for instance. At 8:00 am, the weather site I checked said there was a 40% chance of rain; and I decided that that was a low enough chance for me to go out riding. It was a roll of the dice; but that’s weather for you. I used the hybrid, because it rained last night; and I knew the surface would be wet. Riding the hybrid lets me take along the trunk; and I carried a poncho (still in its store packaging) with me. The sky had me rather nervous; it looked like rain. On the way home, with some five miles still to go, the rain began. I knew that this was a lost gamble!  When that happens, I wish I were home and dry; perhaps playing a game of Bananagrams! The rain lasted for about three miles; and the wind seemed to be getting a little stronger. That’s not the most fun thing in cycling! Getting Dry 🌵 There was no getting dry until I could arrive at home. Heck, I couldn’t even keep dry! Yes, I had the poncho; but it’s hard to don a poncho when it’s already raining, and the wind is blowing. So I just kept riding. Once I had gotten damp, my leg warmers didn’t even seem to exist; and my legs felt quite chilly. My socks and shoes got soaked; and was I ever glad of the skull cap! When I at last reached home, getting dry had to wait until I could lube the hybrid’s chain. It was overdue for it; and if I had waited until I  could dry myself off, I might not have done it.  It’s supposed to clear up overnight; and get much cooler. Below 40 degrees! 🥶 Then more rain early next week. I might get caught up in another lost gamble! 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 ✍🏻 Lost Gamble December 5, 2024 Growing Gray December 4, 2024 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Lost Gamble Read More »

Plugging Away

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Plugging Away 🔌 We can all keep plugging away at our goals; whether that means training for a big ride; working at a health goal; or something else. In fact, keeping steadily at it is probably the best method. Remember the Tortoise and the Hare! Fortunately I don’t have to worry about the goal of reducing my blood pressure; and that’s lucky, because I love salt! I’m pegging away at a mileage goal instead. To meet my mileage goal, I now need to average about 13.25 miles per day; and that’s very doable. Maybe tomorrow I’ll do a shorter ride than 20 miles; and add in some hard efforts. I’ve been focusing on getting in the miles; and I think I need to do some intensity work! Doing a shorter ride will also mean I don’t need to eat on the bike; although I’ll take along a few energy gels, just in case. That will be a nice change, I think.  Will the Weather Cooperate? 🌧️ But will the weather cooperate? That’s always a big question. We don’t have the threat of severe weather; but rain is rain is rain. We could get showers between tomorrow afternoon and the next day; and that makes me glad that I ride in the morning. Part of weather is, of course, the wind. It was strong enough this morning for me to feel like I was working pretty hard; and all I can do about that is to keep plugging away. But wind often makes one-handed bike control difficult, as well as slowing me down. On the other hand, riding hard into the wind is good for developing strength. The breeze is quite the frenemy! 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 ✍🏻 Plugging Away December 3, 2024 Let’s Roll! December 1, 2024 Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Plugging Away Read More »

Winter Wheelers

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Winter Wheelers ☃️ 🚴🏿 Hold on, there! I said, Winter Wheelers; not cross-country skiing. Not that there’s anything wrong with cross-country skiing; but here in New Orleans, it’s impossible. It’s rare for us to get snow at all; let alone enough of the white stuff for long enough to make having skis practical. So Winter Wheelers it shall be; at least, for me. This is another of Love to Ride’s  one-month challenges; and I hope the weather is cooperative enough for me to ride daily. It looks like tomorrow won’t be bad; so I can get off to a good start. What Shall I Wear? 🧥🧤 What shall I wear for Winter Wheelers? If anything, correct clothing choices are more important in cold weather than in the heat. There’s layering, of course; and there’s quite an array of Winter clothing to choose from. The question is always, how many layers? Will one more make me too hot? Suppose I’m too cold if I don’t add that extra layer? That’s especially important if you expect your ride to last all day; and you won’t be able to detour to your home for additional clothes. The worst thing about cold-weather riding, aside from a chronically runny nose, is: cold hands and cold feet. I ought to put Rabbitroom Electric Heated Gloves on my Christmas wish list. If they aren’t too big for me, that is. I’d rather be able to get something like that from a brick-and-mortar store, where I can try them on before buying. We’ve got to get through Winter — and cold weather — before Spring. Then we’ll be right back to complaining about the heat! 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 ✍🏻 Winter Wheelers November 30, 2024 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Day of Doom? November 28, 2024 Anytime Anywhere November 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Winter Wheelers Read More »

Harbinger of Winter

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Harbinger of Winter ❄️ Today seemed to be a harbinger of Winter. Soon I’ll need to haul out the hand warmers and warm socks.  The temperature this morning wasn’t really terribly cold; about 51 degrees. The wind, however, made it seem much colder! It was blowing at 15 mph; and gusts were up to 23 mph. Those gusts made it feel like my bicycle was skidding sideways; even though the path was dry. Fighting the wind like that causes me to grip my handlebars more tightly; and at one point I had to remind myself to loosen up because my hands were on the verge of numbness Bundle Up! 🧥 It’s a nuisance to have to bundle up for a ride. You want enough layers to keep you warm; but not so many that you’ll overheat. There seems to be a fine line between the two! The usual advice is that underdressing a little is better than overdressing; but if you go with the former, take along an extra layer in case something forces you to interrupt your ride. Wearing more layers means that I have more pockets; and sometimes I forget what I’ve put into which pocket. When I need to bundle up, it takes longer to prepare for a ride. If I do start to feel too warm during the ride, I’m in a rather tight spot. My Camel-Bak pockets are often stuffed with a cable lock; a tube of Chamois Butt’r; and bathroom tissue. There’s not much room to add clothes. So if I start to feel a little over-warm, I just put up with it. I hope today’s harbinger of Winter doesn’t prophesy weather so bad that we can’t ride. Day after tomorrow begins Winter Wheelers! 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 ✍🏻 Harbinger of Winter November 29, 2024 Day of Doom? November 28, 2024 Anytime Anywhere November 27, 2024 Wet Turkey November 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Harbinger of Winter Read More »

Cotton Tale?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Cotton Tale? 🐇 Have you ever heard a cotton tale? Here’s mine: when I was six or seven years old, my father raised a few cotton plants in his backyard garden. I think it was so that we kids could see what growing cotton plants looked like; because it was a one-time thing. Daddy preferred to grow tomatoes that he could eat! Of course it wasn’t nearly enough of a crop to make a T-shirt; and as I discovered, it’s hard to separate the cotton from its seed without tearing it apart. It really makes me respect the folks who had to “seed” an entire cotton crop by hand! This morning I came up with another cotton tale — I mean, a cotton tail. On the way to the salvage store, I saw a rabbit running along; and that white tail was very visible! But Don’t Wear Cotton! 🎽 But don’t wear cotton for riding, they say. It absorbs perspiration; and then doesn’t dry out. That’s not what you want on a cold day; especially if you intend to include hard efforts. Sure, you’ll get heated up during those efforts; but when you slow down, you’ll quickly begin to feel the chill. I’m not feeling much of that just yet. This morning was chilly; but over the next few days it will warm up again. As usual, Winter is taking its time coming in! Even so, I’m hauling out the cold-weather wardrobe! I’ll want to keep it handy for when it really does get cold. 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 ✍🏻 Cotton Tale? November 23, 2024 Cold Turkey? November 22, 2024 Thermal Shock November 21, 2024 Cold Shock November 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Cotton Tale? Read More »

Cold Turkey?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Cold Turkey? 🦃 It looks like Thanksgiving Day won’t be “cold turkey”. The weather will be warming up again; and for next Thursday there’s a chance of rain besides. I hope the rain waits until afternoon, so I can go for a ride first. I’ve been working on my diet. The smart watch shown at left won’t help me to cut out sweets cold turkey; but it can do a lot of other things! You can track your heart rate; keep track of time; and so on. Bluetooth connectivity, too. Unfortunately this smart watch doesn’t seem to be for cycling; but some of us swim or go for runs, in addition to riding a bike. If It Rains 🌧️ Getting back to the weather for Thanksgiving, what shall I do if it rains? Stay home and eat ice cream? Like Butter Pecan and Cookie Dough? Obviously, I should avoid ice cream on a prediabetic diet; but I still love it! It isn’t that I don’t know how to ride in the rain, but I don’t enjoy it; and I’ll have to get out a new poncho. The one I’ve been using for years got a big tear in it a few days ago; and it’s hit the trash bin.  If it rains on my ride, I’ll feel colder; especially if it’s windy. But I hope I don’t end up feeling like cold turkey! 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 ✍🏻 Cold Turkey? November 22, 2024 Thermal Shock November 21, 2024 Cold Shock November 20, 2024 Front? November 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Cold Turkey? Read More »

Thermal Shock

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Thermal Shock 🥵 How long will it be, before thermal shock returns? We just got some cold shock; but I know that it might be of brief duration. It could well be in the 80s on Christmas Day! Riding in cold weather certainly has its downside. My nose runs like crazy; and if it’s windy, of course the temperature feels even colder. The upside is that I’m mostly covered; and need sunblock only on my face. I’m glad our brand of thermal shock is nothing like that of Herculaneum. The victims, they say, probably never knew what hit them. But it’s bad enough when you’re out on a bicycle; and the heat index is 100+ degrees! Storm Protection? 🌀 Maybe a good cold front or two will act as storm protection; and push away any further potential hurricanes. If so, being chilly will be worth it. Speaking of weather, it might be fun to track temperature, barometric pressure, and so on with a Fischer Sheraton Weather Station! Early today I rode laps around the park. All morning the wind was 13-14 mph; with gusts as high as 26 mph! I decided to get in some miles on the road bike while avoiding the worst of the wind. It was the lazy way; but I wanted to ride over to Walmart later in the morning. I knew that I’d get the full brunt of the wind then. And I was right. For part of the way, I could barely ride at 5 mph in my granny gear! It looks like the wind won’t be nearly as strong tomorrow. Good thing; I want to get out there and do a good 22 miles! 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 ✍🏻 Thermal Shock November 21, 2024 Cold Shock November 20, 2024 Front? November 19, 2024 Cop-Out? November 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Thermal Shock Read More »

Cold Shock

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Cold Shock 🥶 We’ve got cold shock coming: the temperature is going to drop to the low 50s tonight; with winds of 12-13 mph. That might not be “cold” per se; but according to me, it’s cold shock! Maybe I’ll go out early and ride laps around the park; go home for breakfast; and then ride to Walmart. If I wait until about nine o’clock for the Walmart trip, I ought to miss the rush-hour traffic. Cold weather means that I have to dig out  the leg warmers; skull cap; jacket; and full-fingered gloves. Heavy socks might not be amiss, either. Thank goodness it won’t be raining. Rain only makes the cold and wind feel colder. A Day Off 😴 Today I took a day off from cycling; but not from cooking. I borrowed a bit from one recipe in The Feed Zone Cookbook; and added some curry powder to today’s concoction. I named it Brassica Curry, because I put cabbage and cauliflower in it. I must add it to my recipe collection soon, before I forget it. I still have big stash of canned food; and making Brassica Curry let me get rid of four cans. Even so, I have lots of canned stuff left. But I have to back off from cooking big batches for a while (today’s recipe yielded about 8 1/2 cups!) because I’m running out of freezer space. I’m lucky that cold shock doesn’t cause the food to multiply itself! 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 ✍🏻 Cold Shock November 20, 2024 Front? November 19, 2024 Cop-Out? November 18, 2024 Weather Plans November 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Cold Shock Read More »