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Outdoors

Park Mode

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

Park Mode 🏞️ I might have to go into park mode tomorrow. The forecast predicts rain (again); and if the “cloudy” window between 8:00 am and noon means that it will rain anyway, maybe I’ll be better off riding my hybrid in the park. Yes, I’m glad to have my road bike back from the shop; and it’s more fun to ride than the hybrid; but the road bike doesn’t have fenders. In wet weather, riding the road bike means a mucky bike; and a dirty, wet stripe up my back!  I’ll see what the weather is up to in the morning; then I’ll decide whether to risk taking the road bike on the levee; or to ride the hybrid around and around the park. Hence the term, “park mode”. The Drawbacks ⚠️ The drawbacks to long rides on the hybrid — whether in park mode or otherwise — are the hybrid’s heaviness; and the fact that I don’t have a handlebar bag for it. I don’t need one often enough to make buying one worthwhile; and I have a rear rack on the hybrid, so I can carry a trunk to hold a poncho; food; and so on.  The catch is, this means that I have to stop and dismount every time want to get a bite of food. I’d rather be able to eat while rolling. Stopping every 15-20 minutes is no way to develop endurance; but if using the hybrid is what I have to do to get in a ride, then I’ll have to put up with the drawbacks. 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 Park Mode November 9, 2024 Woman Is Fickle? November 8, 2024 Twice Soaked November 7, 2024 Eye on the Weekend November 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Woman Is Fickle?

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WOMAN Is Fickle? 👩🏻‍🦳 Woman is fickle, so the famous opera aria goes. Sometimes it seems that woman has nothing on our weather! Forecasts change constantly; and I’m glad it’s not my job to determine them. Several days ago, the long-range forecast showed rain for tomorrow. Now, it says mostly cloudy until early afternoon. I’m glad that I’ll probably be able to make a trip to the salvage store without getting drenched; but it looks like the Sunday ride won’t be a dry one. And we all hope that Rafael won’t pull a “woman is fickle” stunt, and turn our way. Still Not Fall 🍁 It’s still not Fall, if the temperatures are to be believed. I guess I won’t need a jacket for a while; but when I finally do, I can just see it going from high 80s one afternoon, to 40 degrees overnight. I’d prefer a more gradual cooling down; and not these crazy, wild fluctuations between heat and cold. Everybody here complains about that. Yesterday afternoon I got my road bike back from the shop; and it’s great to be riding it again. The problem had been a badly snagged shifting cable; and the poor guys at the shop had a hard time getting it out. If they’d been unsuccessful, I might have had to buy a new bicycle! Parts for my road bike have become hard to find; and it looks like planned obsolescence is waiting to spring!  There was a pretty good wind today; and that slowed me down. I didn’t think to get down on the drops; which would have helped. I need to work on that again; especially learning to grab my Camel-Bak’s drinking tube while on the drops. Since it’s “still not Fall”, I can do without leg warmers; and even use sun sleeves. When will I need arm warmers? Who can tell? If woman is fickle, so is the outdoors! 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 Woman Is Fickle? November 8, 2024 Twice Soaked November 7, 2024 Eye on the Weekend November 6, 2024 Test a New Route November 5, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Twice Soaked

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Twice Soaked ☔️ I got twice soaked today. First, while I was out riding the hybrid; and then again as I was walking my road bike home from the shop. An Alpha Cycle Gear rain suit would have helped a lot; or, at least, the jacket part of it. It’s too warm today for the full outfit! Incidentally, if I ever got a rain jacket, I’d want one big enough to go over my stuffed Camel-Bak. Then I can keep my things dry. So now I have two sopping pairs of socks; and two very wet pairs of sneakers. It’s no fun getting twice soaked; and now I don’t want to go anywhere else today. If getting caught in the rain two times in one day isn’t fun, it’s even less fun to pull on wet footgear! More Coming 💦 As if today’s rain hasn’t been enough, there’s more coming. What a pity it is that a bright-colored jersey, such as the YOUALSO Women’s Cycling Jersey, doesn’t guarantee fair weather. I’ve still got to keep my eye on the weekend — there’s plenty of precipitation in the forecast, even though it looks like Rafael isn’t likely to come knocking at our door. We’ve had a prolonged spell of little rain; and I guess we’re making up for it now, because there’s still more coming! How do you ride in the rain? Slow down; if you aren’t racing, or late to work, there’s probably no need to hurry. If the weather is chilly, a poncho helps keep you warm. A major nuisance is that glasses can get so wet that visibility is a problem; which brings me back to the first point — slow down! 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 Twice Soaked November 7, 2024 Eye on the Weekend November 6, 2024 Test a New Route November 5, 2024 Stormwatch November 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Test a New Route

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Test a New Route 🚌 It’s fun sometimes to test a new route. You don’t have to be going out into the middle of nowhere; it can be as simple as adding an errand to your usual ride. That’s what I’m thinking of doing tomorrow. The forecast for the weekend looks like we’ll have a lot of rain on Saturday; and I’d rather not be hauling home a lot of stuff from the salvage store when it’s pouring.  I can hang the panniers on the hybrid, and go for a regular ride; and make a detour to the store on the way home. Beat the Hurricane 🌀 I also want to beat the hurricane. Rafael has reached hurricane status; and it still looks like we’ll feel some effects from the storm. I can test a new route and get my shopping done well in advance of any tropical weather conditions. I’m glad that my sister and her husband will beat the hurricane home. They were visiting this past week; and they fly home tomorrow. But today we did a Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour; and it was a lot of fun. If you’re ever down that way, check it out! Between voting and doing the swamp tour, I didn’t ride until mid-afternoon today. Good thing we aren’t suffering heat indices of 100+! That would have been 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 Test a New Route November 5, 2024 Stormwatch November 4, 2024 Morning Looks Like Morning November 3, 2024 All Is Relative November 2, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Stormwatch

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Stormwatch 🌀 It’s stormwatch again! We’re all groaning about that, for sure; but what can we do?  Rafael is out there now; and at present, it looks like we could very well feel the impact of that storm by this weekend. Hence the stormwatch! When the system that became Francine was first developing, I ordered a set of tap lights and a supply of AA batteries for them. As it turned out, I didn’t need to use them; but if Rafael is heading this way, I might need them. Especially as Daylight Savings is over; and overall we have fewer hours of daylight. Cycling around Hurricanes 🚴🏿 How do you go about cycling around hurricanes? Isn’t it a pity that indulging in Rebel Ice Cream can’t “lick” a storm? First, stay aware of the forecasts; and any watches and warnings. Second, if tropical storm conditions are expected, try to time your ride so that you’ll reach the safety of your home well before conditions are expected to deteriorate. Or, you could ride inside; but I prefer to avoid that. To me, it’s a last-resort method, as I find it tedious to the nth degree; but it’s better than no ride at all. Between a stormwatch and determining the best method of cycling around hurricanes, I’ve got a lot to think about!  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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Stormwatch November 4, 2024 Morning Looks Like Morning November 3, 2024 All Is Relative November 2, 2024 Spooky Washout October 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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All Is Relative

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All Is Relative 👺 😇 We always hear that all is relative. It might mean the length of a ride; or it might mean how bad the rain is. When it hasn’t rained much for weeks, any rain seems like a lot (all is relative!); and such was the case with me this morning. I heard it raining at about 5 am; but by six o’clock there were only a few scattered drops flying around. I set out to ride, wearing my poncho in case it began to rain heavily. It was a wise move, because I did run into heavier rain about three miles out. I had to stop; dismount; and take my hemet off so I cold pull the poncho’s hood over my head.  And That Wasn’t All ☔️ My ride got some rain; and that wasn’t all that Mother Nature threw at us. We went to visit some relatives; and on the way home it poured. On top of that, there was a terrible rush-hour traffic jam. It was the kind of stop-and-go crawl that drives you nuts; and I sure felt sorry for my sister, who was doing the driving. Today I decided to skip the salvage store. I don’t need to do any restocking; and I need a few extra hours’ sleep. Then I went for a ride. Since all is relative, an 18-mile jaunt now seems pretty short! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Spooky Washout October 30, 2024 Legs Are Feeling It October 29, 2024 Not the Chain! October 28, 2024 Have I Derailed? October 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Legs Are Feeling It

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Legs Are Feeling It🦵🏼 My legs are feeling it today. Maybe some cinnamon would spice them up? Not that I rode more miles than usual; but I used the hybrid instead of the road bike. That made quite a difference. The road bike’s brifters are acting up, especially the right-hand one; so I knew it wouldn’t make sense to use the road bike today. However, the hybrid is considerably heavier; which meant I had to work harder. Of course my legs are feeling it now. Is It Still Summer? 🥵 Is it still Summer? Thank goodness it’s not hot enough for that cool rag; but good grief, afternoons still get up to the 80s! It doesn’t feel like October at all! But I bet when cold weather does arrive, we’ll go from 85 degrees one afternoon, to 45 degrees by the next morning. If my legs are feeling it after the morning’s ride, I’m glad I’m not out there now. I’d be fighting a 21 mph wind on my way 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Legs Are Feeling It October 29, 2024 Not the Chain! October 28, 2024 Have I Derailed? October 27, 2024 On the Edge October 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Rainy Day Ideas

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Rainy Day Ideas 💡 We could all do with some rainy day ideas, other than prancing around outdoors in our bare feet. Before long it might be too cold for such antics, even if we want to do it! Rainy weather might be a good time to hook the bike into the trainer; and try some cadence drills. I’ve tried that before; and certainly find one-legged pedaling awkward. It also tires me surprisingly fast; which might indicate that I need more general leg-strengthening exercises. Not today, though. Day before yesterday I rode almost 30 miles; then yesterday I put in nearly 20 miles. I decided I needed to keep it short and easy today; and I can aim for 19 miles or so tomorrow. Dry Day Ideas ☀️ Dry day ideas are easier for me to invent than rainy day ideas. If it’s raining, I have to steel myself for getting wet (and possibly very cold); trying to tolerate more than 15 minutes in the trainer; or simply doing nothing at all. Dry day ideas can include doing long miles; and if the Natchez Trace were within reach, I might head there: one segment here; and another segment there. It probably would take a week for me to ride the full length of the 444-mile trail; and that means bike packing equipment if I don’t want to go inn-to-inn style. I hope I won’t need to come up with rainy day ideas next week, though. My sister and her husband are coming to visit; and we don’t want our dry day ideas washed out. 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Rainy Day Ideas October 22, 2024 In versus Out October 21, 2024 Almost! October 20, 2024 What Happens? October 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Wind Relief

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

Wind Relief 😮‍💨 I actually got some wind relief this morning. Not that I had a wind screen to hide behind; but the wind was less than I expected.  It was a little cooler than yesterday, chilly enough for leg warmers; but I needed to get in a full ride. I had to shortchange myself for two days because of various appointments; and besides, I wanted to see the moon! So the wind relief was most welcome; and cooler weather brings its own relief. There were fewer bugs flying around; and of course I didn’t get as hot. Planning for Winter ☃️ Now I’m planning for Winter. Although this is a warm climate, we can get weather cold enough to threaten pipes; and on such days, I need warm clothes to ride. I also need hand warmers; and I must double check to be sure I’ve got a sufficient supply. Hand warmers are a great boon for cycling when the temperature gets down to the mid-40s or lower. My hands and feet get cold easily, which is a big  nuisance. But the trouble with using hand warmers is, they tend to work their way out of my gloves. Sometimes I don’t even notice it until too late. For wind relief on cold days, I can head to the park to ride laps. I won’t have to slog against the wind for mile after mile. The trade-off is the monotony! But I’ve to to be planning for Winter. I can’t afford to jet ✈️ off and ride where the pros do; so I’ve got to come up with my own plan. 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Wind Relief October 17, 2024 Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Take the Cake

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Take the Cake 🧁 Does layering take the cake? Dressing for a ride on a cold day can certainly make me feel like a layer cake! Layers are important for keeping warm during a cold-day ride; and it’s also important to be able to remove layers as you heat up. This morning it felt pretty cold: 62 degrees, which was quite a change; and a stiff wind. I stayed off of the levee, mostly because of that wind; but tomorrow I’ll want to be up there. It’s full moon time! There I go, being a lunatic again. 😉 I really do take the cake, don’t I? But tomorrow morning’s temperature is expected to be about 55 degrees; and with a NE wind of 10-15 mph. Time to start bundling up! Building the Cake 🍰 A base layer is a good place to begin building the cake; especially once the temperature starts to fall below 50 degrees. I have a base layer; but it’s buried in a cedar chest. I’ll have to dig it out soon. I have a vest that’s actually an ancient cycling jacket without the sleeves; and I have two jackets of differing weights. If the vest and both jackets are still not enough, I have an ancient (older than the vest!) windbreaker to pull on over all the rest. Then there are gloves and skull caps, and so on. Building the cake can be rather time-consuming. I’ll think I’m finished, and ready to ride; then I’ll have to pull off one or more layers because I put my keys into a pocket; and said pocket has gotten covered up. Winter can be a real drag! 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; and I hope I can provide a bit of inspiration.   Along the way, I got into blogging; presenting my kitchen experiments; and even setting up a store. You can visit my Facebook page here; or check into my Twitter (aka X) page, Cyclo_Pathy. 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube Take the Cake October 16, 2024 Easy 100? October 15, 2024 Fitness Freak? October 14, 2024 Smog? October 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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