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Nervous Nellie

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Nervous Nellie ? I’m a bit of a Nervous Nellie, knowing that there’s a bad hurricane out there. Not that there’s any real reason to get scared about Beryl just yet; but another system is close behind. It’s a good reason to get out there and ride while I can. In this heat, though, I’m using my cool rag a lot. It’s better not to try to push the pace; and I hope it cools off a little soon so I can ride more comfortably! The high temperatures make me a Nervous Nellie in another respect: being sure I take along enough water! This morning I put 2.5 liters of water in my Camel-Bak; and got home after two hours with just a half-liter remaining. It’s amazing how thirsty I got; and probably I should have drunk more before I began riding. I also drank almost a pint of electrolyte drink; and reached home with maybe a tablespoon left. Next time, take more. It was still fairly early when I went out; about 7:15 am. It would be better if I got going at 6:00 am if I want to ride more than 10 miles; but I’ve been very much a sleepyhead of late. Indecision ? Oh, indecision! Should I ride tomorrow, or not? I have a mid-morning appointment; and going for a ride beforehand will mean getting up very early. I’m not sure I want to do that; but it would at least let me ride before the heat of the day builds up. Again, the forecast is for a heat index over 100 degrees! By the time I get back home after my appointment, it will be too hot to ride. When will this end? On the other hand, how else will I get used to riding in the heat? Hence the indecision! 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 Nervous Nellie July 2, 2024 Cyclist’s Shuffle July 1, 2024 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Turn Off the Oven!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Turn Off the Oven! ? Hey, turn off the oven! Who left the dratted thing on? We aren’t cooking pizza; or anything else, for that matter. The heat index continues to hover over 100 degrees. It makes cycling harder; and I went out early today. Well, I usually ride early, anyhow; and that’s more important for longer rides in hot weather. Today I did 19+ miles; and I wanted to shout, “Turn off the oven!” It was in the high 80s or even 90 degrees when I got back home shortly before 9 am. By early afternoon, the heat index was 105! They’re predicting more of the same for tomorrow. ? I don’t know what the succeeding days will bring; maybe it’s too soon to tell. But I do hope it cools off just a bit. Calling All Fans! ? Calling all fans! We need all the help we can get to keep cool. The Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan ought to make a good team member. The Lasko is quiet; and includes a remote control. It has three speeds; and quiet operation makes it a good choice for the bedroom. If we’re calling all fans, I have a small, 4-battery fan that I plan to take along if I do RAGBRAI next year. Last year’s event saw unusually hot weather; and the interior of a tent can be sweltering when it’s 80 degrees all night long. I have a larger, 6-battery fan to use in case a hurricane knocks out our power. A cool rag isn’t a fan; but it helps keep the heat at bay. I was glad I had it during this morning’s 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 Turn Off the Oven! June 30, 2024 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Raising Alarms

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Raising Alarms ? The forecast is raising alarms around here. There’s an excessive heat watch for tomorrow, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. I plan to ride early; but I’ll still want a way to keep cool. I have a cool rag; but even with that, I can get pretty hot. In fact, the heat is reaching the point where I want the cool rag and electrolyte drink, just for the ride to the salvage store; and that’s not far. Round trip, about 11 miles. Before you know it, I’ll be using the Camel-Bak for that short trip. Sounds crazy? I’d rather have that load of water on my back, than risk having too littlte water. Summer is here; and raising alarms before I need to is better than keeling over from dehydration. I’ll see how things are tomorrow morning. Eighty degrees or more at 6 am is getting very tiresome. I also still have to be careful with my hand; but this minimal riding is driving me crazy! What about intense efforts in hot weather? Maybe make them shorter; and allow more recovery time between efforts. Keep hydrating. Stop and rest, if necessary. Not the Gem ? On top of all these heat problems, Beryl is out there; and not the gem. This tropical storm is expected to develop into a serious hurricane; and I’m glad it doesn’t seem to pose a threat to us. So far.  A tropical storm means heavy rain; in fact, often too much rain! So, even when we’ve been drier than usual, we don’t want a tropical storm! All that downpour leads to street flooding; and more than enough times, city pumps have conked out during heavy rains. But those poor islands in Beryl’s path! Hurricanes are a NIMBY thing. Nobody wants them; but unfortunately they’ve got to go somewhere. T.S. Beryl is not the gem; but if only I could harness those winds, and use them to propel my bicycle. I’d set a speed record, for sure! 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 Raising Alarms June 29, 2024 Glutes and Quads June 28, 2024 I Wanna Ride! June 27, 2024 Tired of Sitting June 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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When You’re Broiling

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

When You’re Broiling ? ? When you’re broiling, the Lasko Cooling Tower Fan can help you beat the heat. But that’s indoors. What about outdoor activities — cycling or otherwise? I ought to be used to hot and humid conditions. This is New Orleans, after all; and I’ve been here all my life. But when it’s hot enough that NOAA posts heat advisories, it’s hard to keep cool. This South Sport Cooling Rag is very helpful. If my neck is cool, the high temperatures are a bit more tolerable. That means a lot when you’re broiling on 90+ – degree days. More Heat Beating ? With overnight low temperatures near 80 degrees, we need more heat beating measures than cooling rags. When you’re outdoors and riding, plain water won’t do except for very short rides. You need electrolytes, too; and there are many choices available. Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few of them. Since I carry bars to eat during long rides, I look for electrolyte drinks that are low in carbs. Propel is one such option;  Gatorade Zero is another. For more heat beating measures, ride early in the day. Sun sleeves help keep you a bit cooler. For me, not riding is hardly an option. I need the exercise; and I’ve always got RAGBRAI in the back of my mind. I’ll need to be in proper shape for that! 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 When You’re Broiling June 24, 2024 Camel Or Not? June 23, 2024 Loose Change? June 22, 2024 Pedal and Sea June 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Senior Cycling

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Senior Cycling ??? Senior Cycling has been around for two decades, offering easy cycling tours for riders age 50 and over.These multi-day rides are primarily on Rails to Trails routes; and follow interesting and scenic places in North America. Tour groups are small (limit 13 riders); and led by experienced guides. SAG support is available; so you can feel safe. The Tours ?️ The tours offered by Senior Cycling are structured; yet allow ample time to enjoy things along the way. Some of this year’s tours are already sold out; so don’t delay! Cape Cod still has room as of 06/19/2024; and will let you enjoy late Summer on the beautiful coast. The North Idaho & Washington Rail-Trails tour still has room; and includes four scenic trails; some of the most beautiful in the USA. Or, you can pre-register for next year! Some of the routes on the schedule are: Dunedin Hub Tour; Uncommon Florida; and NC Outer Banks. Details are not yet settled; so check their web site later. These tours sound great, and I wish I could do some of them — the Katy Trail, for one. With SAG service available, I might not need to carry much on my bike. I guess I’ll have to add these tours to my bucket list! 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 Senior Cycling June 19, 2024 Dull Days June 18, 2024 False Alarm June 17, 2024 Thwarted Plans June 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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SAG

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

SAG ? No rider wants to sag; or, to be more exact, need the SAG wagon. RAGBRAI provides SAG wagons for registered riders who need them; and yes, some riders do require this service. Last year’s RAGBRAI coincided with a heat wave; and riders who came from cooler regions must have had a terrible time with it. A  heat index of 100+ is tough even if you live where heat and humidity are the norm. Ways to keep cool are essential; but even with them, hours in blazing sunshine and heat can really wear you down. Other riders, unfortunately, are physically unprepared for all the miles. Yes, it does happen. Add hills, and the difficulty intensifies.  Beat the SAG ?? How do you beat the SAG? Train up, of course. You don’t have to resort to body-building; but a little bit of work with weights helps firm up your arm muscles. This is surprisingly important for riding a bicycle. And naturally, train your legs! You can follow this training plan; or create your own. My weekend long ride is short of what this plan indicates for June; so it’s a good thing I’m starting to work towards RAGBRAI 2025 right now! RAGBRAI, after all, is physically very demanding! Another way to beat the SAG: train your gut. I’ve read it often. Don’t do training rides on only a little food; then expect to manage long rides — when you’ll need to eat more — without stomach distress. And of course, look for ways to beat that 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 SAG June 14, 2024 Grease June 13, 2024 How about Some Joplin? June 12, 2024 Blast Furnace Time June 11, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Bathtime

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Bathtime ? It’s bathtime again. Take-a-bath-in-sunblock time, that is. Nobody wants to get sunburned; especially not these days, when we hear so much about skin cancer from excessive UV exposure. I’ve tried KINeSYS; and I like it well enough. However, what I had was a sample-sized bottle that I bought at a sports shoe store. I prefer a tube that can fit into my under-saddle pack; so I’ve been sticking with Alba Botanica. I’m not all that crazy about this sunblock bathtime. I have to use a lot more of the stuff than I do when it’s cool enough for long sleeves and leg warmers. But I can’t change the seasons; and the upside of warmer weather is that my nose isn’t such a nuisance as it is on cold days. Sauna? ♨️ It’s time to turn up the steam during my rides; and I don’t mean a sauna. It will feel like a steam bath out there soon enough; but no matter how hot it gets, I need to work on speed. Today I did three five-minute efforts to ride at least 15 mph; with five minutes rest in between efforts. I hit a top speed of 18 mph; so does that mean I have the potential to develop a cruising speed that’s 18 mph? The wind was more or less behind me, though. Coming back home, I had more headwind; and it was hard to push myself to 13-14 mph for 10-25 seconds. Good thing it wasn’t too much of a sauna out there yet! I still sometimes wish I had a power meter; but every time I’ve come close to purchasing one, a more urgent expense has emerged. But knowing how much power you can generate tells you more about your strength than does speed. So many factors influence speed; but X watts is X watts,  whether you’ve got a calm day; or are battling a 20 mph headwind! 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 #170979 May 21, 2024 Why Didn’t I Look? May 20, 2024 Doubling Back May 19, 2024 Hurricane Rehearsal? May 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Hurricane Rehearsal?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hurricane Rehearsal? 🌀 Is today a hurricane rehearsal? When such a storm is threatening, it means hunkering down indoors; or, at the very least, staying very close to home. This morning there’s still the possibility of severe T-storms; and I didn’t want to risk getting caught in a lightning storm. So I skipped the trip to the salvage store. A missed chance to stock up! 😞 It’s supposed to calm down by late morning; and I hope to go for a good ride then. I rode very little yesterday for the same reason that I’m staying indoors right now; and I’m not enjoying this hurricane rehearsal. Pacing 🚶 Pacing might be a good way to get a bit of exercise while I wait out the rain. Not in cycling shoes, though! Today should be a good time to go “pacing” on the bike; namely, to work on my pace. I’m still quite a snail; 🐌 and as I keep saying,  if I’m serious about doing RAGBRAI next year, now is the time to work on my pace. If I wait to train until next March, it will already be too late! I’m not sure whether I’m not working hard enough, often enough; or whether I’m what Joe Friel calls a “slow responder”. Some people’s bodies respond more readily than others’ to training stress; and the latter need more time to train. Maybe I’m also overly concerned that I’ll push too hard, too soon; and as a result, I don’t work hard enough! H’m. Maybe I just answered my own question. Addendum ➕ I’ve wound up having to create an addendum. By about 10:00 am, the weather seemed to be clearing. I was getting tired of being house-bound; and started to prepare for a ride. Before getting underway, I checked the weather site once more. It said, wind gusts 40 mph! 😳 Conditions didn’t seem nearly that extreme; and I figured maybe it was supposed to be 14 mph. All the same, I didn’t want to get blown away with my road bike; so I took the hybrid to the park. During Lap 2, I heard an announcement that some kind of event was about to start; so I left the park and headed for the levee. The wind wasn’t any 40 mph😊; and I worked at pushing my pace. 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 © 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 INTERPRETER

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Still on Edge!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Still on Edge! ? I’m still on edge about the weather. If only these batteries could power a crystal ball that would tell me what’s going to happen! Yesterday we were under flood watch from 7:00 am onwards; and by 5:00 pm a tornado watch had been added. I was lucky that the weather was OK in the morning; and I was able to put in 20 miles.  It got rough during the night, though. At midnight, my cell phone woke me, screeching a Severe T-storm warning. I’m glad it wasn’t a tornado warning! And today, I’m still on edge about the weather. My concerns provoked me to cut my ride short; and as too often happens, I needn’t have taken such action. What Next? ⚡️ What next? Is it going to rain, or not? The forecast says, severe T-storms are possible tonight. We’re still under flood watch. The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look good for a trip to the salvage store. As always, when I rode this morning, I didn’t want to get caught out in a storm; and besides, I wanted to visit the grocery store. I needed bananas!? So, what to do? Rain isn’t expected for another hour or two; but this morning it was already overcast. I decided to ride the hybrid; and make it a short, easy ride in the park. I needed some recovery after yesterday’s miles. Before I finished the first lap, the clouds were getting darker. It looked too much like rain; and I don’t like taking chances with lightning! And here I am, on edge about what the weather will do. I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking, what next? 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 Still on Edge! May 17, 2024 Meteorologist May 16, 2024 Slow It Down? May 15, 2024 Welcome Change May 14, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Meteorologist

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Meteorologist ⛈️ Do you ever wish you were a meteorologist?  Sometime I wish I had that kind of knowledge about the weather! The compass on my road bike lets me know which way is North; but it doesn’t help me predict whether it will rain. At the same time, I’m glad I’m not a weather forecaster. Those folks have their hands full, trying to tell us with at least reasonable accuracy what the temperature will be; how strong the wind will be, and from what direction; and of course, whether we’ll need to pack along rain gear. Forecasters probably have a lot of people irked at them many a time — when the forecast says clear weather, and it pours; or when they predict possible severe T-storms, and nothing happens — and cyclists like me are disgusted at having missed a ride. What a job it must be, having people mad at you. It’s a good thing after all that I’m not a meteorologist! Will It Come True? ? Will it come true? The forecast says we could get heavy rain and severe T-storms overnight. Recently, similar predictions haven’t come true. So I’m not sure I can ride tomorrow, or not. A crystal ball sure would be handy right now. Failing a crystal ball, this book would be handy. If the weather precludes riding outdoors, a set of rollers is a big help. This “treadmill for a bike” lets you either ride easy; perform an intense workout; or anything in between. Riding on rollers is supposed to help you learn to hold a straight, unswerving line. This is a valuable skill to have for group riding. Or for riding, period. I still have a tendency to waver all over the place when riding one-handed. Wind conditions have a lot to do with it; and I notice that I swerve less at higher speeds and/or in harder gears. At the moment, I’m less concerned about being “squirrely” than I am about tomorrow’s weather. I checked the forecast; and will it come true? 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 Meteorologist May 16, 2024 Slow It Down? May 15, 2024 Welcome Change May 14, 2024 Missed Opportunity? May 13, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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