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Waiting to Pounce

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Waiting to Pounce? ? Do you ever get the feeling that the weather is waiting to pounce? Today was just such a day. When I went riding at about 7:45 am, the sky was mostly clear. There were a few white clouds; but as I rode, more and more clouds gathered. By the time I reached home at about 9:40 am, the sky was mostly overcast.  These Giro Rev shoes might be ready to pounce into cycling action; but they won’t keep me dry if it rains. And it looks like tomorrow will be a very wet day. Indeed, the forecast is for T-storms! Not a Harbinger ? According to the forecast, this rain not a harbinger of Fall; so I won’t be getting out the hot chocolate just yet. Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, hot chocolate is good with a bit of cinnamon in it! So, shall I ride tomorrow; or skip a day? Today I just tried to keep a steady pace; and of course the headwind on the way home made it harder. I also made today’s ride a bit shorter. But riding in the rain? I hope tomorrow’s rain is not a harbinger of a prolonged wet spell! I’ll need practice with riding in the rain, though, if I’m going to do RAGBRAI; participants can’t count on nice, sunny weather all week. The weather is waiting to pounce at any time! 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 Waiting to Pounce October 3, 2024 All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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All Streaks Must End

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Outdoors /

All Streaks Must End ? All streaks must end sometime; whether it’s an unusually good stretch of training rides; winning races; or a spell of no rain. We’ve had less rain than usual for a while, aside from Francine; and amazingly few T-storms. But it looks like that’s about to end. Tomorrow night through Sunday night we’ve got chances of rain and, yes, T-storms. Knowing that all streaks must end doesn’t cheer me up. Riding in the rain isn’t my favorite thing to do; especially when I’m trying to get in long miles. I have a poncho, but it’s really too long for cycling; and it flaps around like crazy in the wind. Not Gene Kelly ? Sure, riding in the rain is entirely possible, especially with the right gear; but I am not Gene Kelly. He was dancing in the rain, anyway. Besides, even the best rain gear can’t protect you from lightning, which is my major concern. I’ve been enjoying the current spell of un-rainy weather; it lets me ride farther while not worrying that rain might catch me at any moment. We also get the opposite: spells when it seems like it will never stop raining; and when I constantly have wet gloves, socks, etc. spread out all over the place. When I get sick and tired of rain, I have to remind myself then that all streaks must end. 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 Facebook Twitter Youtube All Streaks Must End October 2, 2024 Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Nervous Breakdown

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Nervous Breakdown? ? All this tropical activity is enough to give us a nervous breakdown! Maybe we can work off those nerves as long as we keep our legs pumping! Joking aside, there’s another tropical system developing right where Hurricane Helene was born. It’s too soon to say how much/fast further development will be; nor where Kirk-to-be might go. Of course I hope New Orleans isn’t in this new storm’s path; but I certainly don’t wish it on Florida. All this watchfulness is enough to give anyone a nervous breakdown! Have I got enough bottled water? And enough canned food? Even worse, will I have to evaacuate? Stay away Kirk! ? So, stay away Kirk! Better yet, disintegrate! Most of all, leave poor Florida alone. We should also think of the islands in the Caribbean that are getting hammered. Here I go again, considering cramming. If that new tropical system strengthens into a serious storm; and heads our way; I might have to miss several days of riding. I’d like to get in some extra miles in case it does come to that. Missing a few days shouldn’t affect my readiness to do RAGBRAI (if I can get to Iowa for the event); but I guess I’ve got an OCD streak. I’m rather hung up on getting my long-term mileage total to 70K by December 31!  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 Facebook Twitter Youtube Bike Bus October 1, 2024 One Last Lick September 30, 2024 No Leg Warmers Yet September 29, 2024 Nervous Breakdown September 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hit and a Miss

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hit and a Miss ? Today was a hit and a miss; and I don’t mean slinging kettlebell weights around. The hit was pleasant temperatures for riding this morning. It was barely 70 degrees; and the wind wasn’t as bad as the forecast last night indicated. For a change, I had a tailwind on the way home. On the way out, I did a little practice riding in the drops. This is a useful skill; and helpful when you have to buck a headwind. I need more practice at it, so I can reach for a water bottle while in the drops. It also takes practice to get comfortable riding in the drops for prolonged periods. I personally wouldn’t try it during a large group ride, however. It keeps my hands farther from the brakes than I like; and for me it makes quick steering much harder. Last Gasp? ? So much for the hit. The miss is that we weren’t impacted by Helene. Those poor folks in Florida weren’t so lucky; and neither were many people who live farther inland. There’s Hurricane Isaac out there, too; but he seems to be heading nowhere. Let’s hope that hurricane season is in it’s last gasp. So yes, it’s possible to get a hit and a miss at the same time. Maybe Quest Chocolate Caramel Pecan bars will be a hit on your next long ride? 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 Hit and a Miss September 27, 2024 Flashback? September 26, 2024 Get Corny September 25, 2024 Still Nervous September 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Another Lull

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Another Lull ? We’re enjoying another lull in tropical activity; but we still can’t afford to go to sleep. Hurricanes are still possible! Last week was full of rainy forecasts; and it’s a relief to see that change this week. Another relief is the break from 100º+ heat indices by 10:00 am! I’m starting to push for daily rides of 20 miles; and it’s nice to not need that cool rag! Get the Mileage First ?️ Oh, all this talk about getting faster! But maybe I’d better get the mileage first; because speed work will mean reducing the distance. Otherwise I could be risking overuse injuries; and besides, I still hope to bump up my long-term mileage total to 70K by the end of this year. There’s bound to be another lull in my riding after next Wednesday, when I have the second past of my varicose vein procedure. It’s another in-office procedure, with only local anesthetic; but I probably should ride short and easy for a few days afterwards. Naturally that’s the big question for the doctor! But I do want to ride. It’s Cycle September, after all. When there’s a Love to Ride month-long cycling challenge in effect, I try not to miss even one day! 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 Lull September 18, 2024 Not My Job September 17, 2024 Trial Run September 16, 2024 Out of Reach? September 15, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Not My Job

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors /

Not My Job ?? “It’s not my job!” is a frequently used phrase. People say it when they want to avoid doing whatever task is at hand. I’m glad that weather forecasting is not my job; but I was delighted that this morning’s predictions weren’t accurate. At about 5:00 am, I checked an online weather site; and it said, “mostly cloudy”.  And at full-moon time! I decided to ride anyway; and hoped I might get a glimpse of the moon between the clouds. Most of what clouds there were, were down near the horizon. I got a great view of the moon; and the moonlight on the river! It would have been a fitting time to munch on Luna Bars. Where Is Fall? ? But right about this time of year, I begin to say, “Where is Fall?” Here it is, mid-September; and afternoon temperatures are still reaching the 80s! We won’t be wearing jackets any time soon, I guess. Not that I’m eager for freezing days; but I rather like it when it’s cool enough for leg warmers and long sleeves. It means less sunblock to wash off after every ride! I also don’t get so hot while riding. Despite the Summer-like weather, I can tell that Fall is setting in. It gets light later; and dark earlier. But those temperatures make us all ask, Where is Fall? Don’t ask me to detemine that. It’s not my job! 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 Not My Job September 17, 2024 Trial Run September 16, 2024 Out of Reach? September 15, 2024 Borrowing Trouble? September 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Francine

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Francine ? Francine has come and gone; but fortunately for me, it wasn’t an epic disaster. Wednesday, between early afternoon and 9 pm, we had several flash flood warnings; but my neighborhood luckily didn’t suffer. I still had  electricity when I went to bed Wednesday night around 10 pm; and hoped that I wouldn’t see an outage at all. Vain hope! I woke up yesterday about 1 am; and the window unit and electric fan were both off. Possibly the cessation of their sounds was what woke me! The power outage continued until about 1:15 pm today. Coastal Louisiana got the brunt of Francine; but so far, no deaths have been reported.?‍? We were lucky this time; but who knows when another monster hurricane might arrive. It’s when; not if. Passing the Time ⏱️ When the electricity is off for a prolonged period, there’s the matter of passing the time; and it’s much the opposite of being time crunched. It was rather dark in here for reading; I didn’t want to get into heavy house cleaning because I would have gotten too hot; and no “juice”means no internet and no blogging! By 11:00 am yesterday the clouds were breaking up; and I went for a walk. I was tired of being cooped up indoors; and I had heard nothing about orders to stay at home. It was great to get outside and get moving! Several hours later, I decided to go for a bicycle ride. I was going to use the hybrid; but “General Tzo” had other ideas. The rear tire went flat; and I’m not sure whether the valve got stuck open; or tore away from the tube. Either way, I can’t ride the bike. The bike shop seems to be closed today; so I couldn’t go get the tire taken care of. After the Storm ☀️ But I was keen to put in some time behind bars; and yesterday I used the road bike to do some laps around the park. This morning I went out on the levee. I didn’t do my usual mileage; but I’m getting moving again after the storm. It was a relief to get electrical power back; but I’m going to have to toss out quite lot of food! ☹️ I saw a news article that says, a lot of stores are running out of stuff. People are trying to replace lost supplies post-Francine; so I don’t know how much I’ll find at the store tomorrow! Things are crazy after the storm. It will take a while for everything to settle down again! 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 Francine September 13, 2024 Hurricane Update September 11, 2024 Vanguard? September 11, 2024 Forget the Score September 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hurricane Update

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors /

Hurricane Update ? Here’s the latest hurricane update from SpokEasy. It’s now mid-afternoon; and the rain has gotten more and more heavy and steady. The wind has become stronger, too; and since about 12:40 pm, we’ve been under tornado watch. No surprise there; I was expecting it. I’m unsure when the electricity will fail; so in spite of the early hour, I already had supper. The stove here is electric; if it can’t work, I can’t heat food! I think that’s what bothers me most about this storm. No power means no Internet; and no Internet means I can’t work on this site; or get news; or watch YouTubes. I might be in for a few rather dull days!   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 Elementor #181646 September 11, 2024 Vanguard? September 11, 2024 Forget the Score September 10, 2024 Watch Out!! September 9, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Vanguard?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Vanguard? ?️ Well, I think the vanguard is here. Hurricane Francine’s outer rain bands seem to have reached us. It’s the kind of weather that makes me want to stay home and enjoy a Diet Coke, and forget about going out; whether on foot or on a bicycle. Residents of New Orleans are advised to be off the roads by 11:00 am; and as I type this, it’s already past 9:30. Half of me actually feels a rising urge to walk to a store; maybe to get an extra Diet Coke®. Not that I truly need anything; it’s just for the heck of getting outdoors for a while before conditions deteriorate. My other half says it’s wiser to stay indoors. The vanguard of a hurricane can be deceptive. Rain comes in spells; and sometimes it even seems like things will calm down. But beware! At some point, steady and  heavy rain sets in; along with strong wind. Substitute ? I’ll need a substitute for riding today; and possibly tomorrow. It’s time to set up the trainer again! What kind of “ride” shall I do? Slow and steady? How many hard pushes, if not slow and steady? And how long will I want to pedal? Or, perhaps better expressed, how long can I tolerate the tedium of “riding” in a trainer? I wish I could use my substitute ride in the trainer to charge up my emergency weather radio. I might need that radio later on, because I’m almost certain that we’ll lose electrical power. That’s what happens during hurricanes! 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 Vanguard? September 11, 2024 Forget the Score September 10, 2024 Watch Out!! September 9, 2024 Real Ride Today! September 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Forget the Score

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Forget the Score ? Forget the score. No matter what the notes say, I’ll have to play it by ear for the next few days. There’s no point in making a plan for a ride, when I’m not even sure that weather conditions will let me ride! I was able to do what I planned yesterday; namely, some Tabata intervals. Or to be more exact, Tabata intervals my way. I did the 20 seconds hard/10 seconds coasting thing; but I can’t generate as much power as a racing cyclist in training. Moreover, I didn’t know what FTP meant, let alone what my own FTP is; and do I really need to know? Stormy Days ? We’re in for some stormy days, thanks to Francine. It’s sure not the time to go out there and try to fly a drone; not even to gather weather data. This morning it was only sprinkling; and I decided to go ride the hybrid around the park a few times. Might as well get in a few miles while I can! I would have stayed out longer, but was getting too hungry for it. That’s when it’s time to forget the score. No point in letting myself bonk! Last night I put out the trash for pick-up, thinking that today was Wednesday. Well, it’s only Tuesday; and a Google search elicited the information that tomorrow’s trash pick-up is cancelled. Stormy days make weird things happen. So far not much is happening, but heavy rain is possible this afternoon and tonight; and we could have tropical storm conditions by tomorrow morning. I suppose I won’t be able to ride. ? 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 Forget the Score September 10, 2024 Watch Out!! September 9, 2024 Real Ride Today! September 8, 2024 Five Minutes September 7, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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