SpokEasy

Outdoors

Plan for Heat

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Plan for Heat ♨️ We’ve got to plan for heat; and I don’t mean being sure the heater is in working order for Fall. According to the forecast, we’ll get some afternoon high temperatures at or near 100 degrees later this week. That’s only air temperature — before considering the heat index! I hope I can haul myself out of bed in time for some pre-dawn rides. Today I didn’t get going until 8:30 am; and a heat advisory went into effect at 10:00. I didn’t get home before then; but the wind helped cool me a bit. Along with my cool rag, of course!   So plan for heat. Freeze your electrolyte drink the night before your ride; fill up that Camel-Bak before starting; and wear that cool rag! Take a Break 😴 I think I need to take a break. I don’t mean that I won’t ride all week; if I did that, I’d get too out of shape. But this week, I plan to “just ride”. That means skipping hard efforts; and reducing the mileage. Today I was in my heart rate Zone 3 most of the time; but it felt like I was working harder than Zone 3. That probably means I need to ease up!  With the super-hot afternoons ahead, I want to ride earlier, so I get home before the worst of the heat. It would be great if we could take a break from this heat; but the only way to do that is to stay indoors with the air conditioning. Oh, and my headlight still doesn’t work. I had it plugged into the charger overnight, with the new cable. But it only turns on when it’s plugged in. I didn’t get off so cheap, after all!   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 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Plan for Heat Read More »

I Got off Cheap

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

I Got off Cheap 🪙 I got off cheap today; not just once, but twice. First, I got some good stuff at the salvage store. I found a box of a dozen Special K Protein Bars; and for a couple of dollars less than they’d cost elsewhere. That was good, because my stash of ride food was running low. I also found hummus; and Gatorade Zero powder. So now I’m all set for protein bars and electrolyte drink for a few weeks.  I got off cheap at the bike shop, too. I thought my headlight had died; and went to the shop for a new one. But first they did some troubleshooting; and it turned out that the charging cable needed replacing. They didn’t even charge me for it (no pun intended)! Trouble-Free Ride? 🙃 Naturally I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow. Unfortunately I feel a bit tired; and maybe I need to plug myself into a charger block overnight! Joking aside, the big worry is — again — the heat. By midday today, the heat index was about 110 degrees; and there’s another 🙄 heat advisory tomorrow, starting at 10:00 am. Can I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow, then? Hard to say. It’s been so hot that I’ve taken to using the Camel-Bak for the ride to the salvage store, lest a single bidon be too little water. I even took electrolyte drink today. According to the forecast, there won’t be much wind tomorrow; and that always helps. But the overnight low is predicted to be 80 degrees; and it heats up fast. Should I take a day off from riding? I usually take Mondays off; and besides, Tropical Storm Debby is out there now. Who knows what the weather might do in the next few days? Debby is expected to make landfall in Florida; but these storms are capricious. She might change her mind and make a beeline for us; and then the wind would probably make outdoor riding impossible! 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 I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

I Got off Cheap Read More »

Wait Til Morning

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Wait Til Morning 🌅 I might as well wait til morning to check any weather forecasts. Too often of late, the evening predictions of stormy weather don’t come to pass. Why cause myself unnecessary worry? Because of the heat (overnight lows around 80 degrees), I want to get going early. That often means less than an hour between rising and rolling; and that, in turn, means not much breakfast before I climb aboard the bike. I’d like to try these Sweet Loren’s Vegan Breakfast Biscuits; but I take along cut-up protein bars to eat on the bike. It takes my body a while to wake up enough for a real meal. Besides, if I eat a full meal; then wait several hours to ride; I won’t get started until about 10 am. That’s right when the heat starts to get bad; and also when T-storms are likely to start firing up. But if a forecast has shown rain and T-storms for the following morning, I’ll be on tenterhooks; expecting to wake up to a storm. So I say, wait til morning to worry about the weather. Eye on the Clouds ⛈️ All the same, I keep an eye on the clouds while I’m out riding. Even if the morning’s forecast says it won’t rain for several hours, I just can’t be sure; and I for sure can’t carry a barometer with me! This morning I had an eye on the clouds, all right. Off towards the South there was a big thunderhead; and I couldn’t know whether it were coming my way, or not. But as I rode, it seemed to collapse; and that was a relief. Speaking of clouds, it looks like the tropics are waking up again. Time to sort through my stash of canned goods; and fix up a box of emergency supplies. If a storm forces me to stay home several days, I’ll need them! 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 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Wait Til Morning Read More »

Selective Blindness

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Selective Blindness? 🕶️ No offense meant to people who are blind; but I think we’re all subject to selective blindness now and then. If we don’t use something, we soon stop noticing whether it’s there or not. For those of us who live car-free, availability of parking spaces for motor vehicles is a non-issue. I, for one, hardly notice how many parking spaces are empty when I arrive at a store; and for people who use cars, the presence — or lack thereof — of bicycle racks probably doesn’t enter their minds. For example, this morning I rode my hybrid to the bank. When I got there, I found that the bike rack was gone. I asked one of the bank’s personnel what had happened to it; and they said that they’d never noticed that there was a bike rack. Selective blindness, I suppose; that person probably uses a car. Sun Blindness ☀️ Then there’s sun blindness, which I’m sure we all know. Today I kept finding myself heading into the sun; and sunglasses don’t do any good under such circumstances. That’s all the more worrisome when I have to ride near traffic. I’m lucky there wasn’t a lot of it this morning; but I bet that will change soon, when school starts. I might avoid sun blindness if I rode later in the day, when the sun isn’t so low in the sky; but when the weather is hot, riding early is important. We’re actually getting a break from the extreme heat this week; but cool it is not! I don’t expect cool weather for at least two months; probably longer. Speaking of heat, RAGBRAI is in progress. Last year’s RAGBRAI suffered a bad heat wave; and I hope this year’s event is cooler. 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 Selective Blindness July 23, 2024 Downhearted? July 22, 2024 Forget the Split July 21, 2024 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Selective Blindness Read More »

Forget the Split

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Forget the Split ➡️ I decided to forget the split ride today, for two reasons. First, like the bicycle in the joke, I was two-tired to get up at 6:00 am for a trip to the supermarket. Second, the forecast I checked last night predicted rain and T-storms from about 10:00 am. It was already around 8:15 when I finally began my ride; and already there were a number of ominous-looking clouds in the sky. I wasn’t trying to push the pace; but I still wanted to try for more than 20 miles. All I could do was hope. When I stopped to eat a GU-Gel and reapply sunblock, I thought I heard faint thunder. That made me uneasy; and as I rode, I kept an eye on the sky. When I arrived home, I heard thunder just as I was heading in the door; and 15-20 mintues later, we had a full-blown T-storm in progress. I just made it! If I had gone to the supermarket, and then tried to put in 20 miles, I would have been caught in that storm; so it’s a good thing I decided to forget the split. Compensation 🏦 Happily, I got some compensation for the storm. It wasn’t entirely overcast while I was riding; but part of the time the sun was behind the clouds. That kept me from getting so hot. Since I got home, it’s been mostly overcast; and that keeps it cooler indoors. What a relief that is! Compensation isn’t always financial. Today on the bike, I ate a Gatorade Whey Protein Bar; and part of a Zone Perfect Bar (plus the “goo”). Frijoles would be great; but my bike-handling skills are far from the a ability to ride no-hands while spooning frijoles out of a pouch!   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 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Pretend July 19, 2024 Nature’s Fury July 18, 2024 Gearhead? July 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Forget the Split Read More »

Split Ride

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Split Ride ⇉ I was considering doing a split ride tomorrow. First, a trip to the supermarket to get a few things that the salvage store didn’t have; then a longer ride with the road bike. I’ve got to watch the weather, though. The forecast is for showers and T-storms; and of course that is bad news. It’s no fun to be caught in a downpour so heay that you can hardly see; and if strong winds and lightning enter the picture, I don’t want to be out there! A split ride would allow me to get in some miles; and if the weather cooperates, I might make it to 25 or even 30. And wouldn’t a banana split afterwards be good! Meanwhile in the Kitchen 🍳 Meanwhile, in the kitchen there’s always something to be done; and I don’t mean Feed Zone or frying eggs. I’ve got to use up some of the rice and dried beans in my cupboard; and today’s result was Wild Saturday. Another addition to my SpokEasy recipe collection! The pleasure of inventing a new recipe, alas, is always dimmed by the chore of cleaning up the kitchen afterwards! Despite my uncertainties about tomorrow’s weather, I’m thinking about tomorrow’s ride: what to use for on-bike food; which electrolyte drink to take along; what time to ride for the best chance of avoiding storms; and so on. Meanwhile, in the kitchen there’s a pile of pots and dishes to be washed! 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 Split Ride July 20, 2024 Pretend July 19, 2024 Nature’s Fury July 18, 2024 Gearhead? July 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Split Ride Read More »

Nature’s Fury

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Nature’s Fury ⛈️ I’m glad I dodged Nature’s fury today! A helmet cover would have been of no use at all against lightning and a torrential downpour. Rain gear wouldn’t have been much help, either; that’s how hard it rained! When I went out this morning, at about 7:30, there were already clouds building up. The sight of them always makes me rather nervous; you never know how fast bad weather might develop; and Nature’s fury is not to be trifled with. Once again, I was lucky. I got home around 9:30; and it wasn’t until around 1:00 pm that a T-storm moved in. It was a doozy, too: lots of close lightning; and after it had been pouring for an hour or so, a flash flood warning was issued. I hope we don’t get any more rain for a few days; we need to dry out after today’s deluge. Caught Out 😱 What do you do when you’re caught out by nasty weather? I wish I were better at reading Nature; then I’d likely be better able to judge whether to go riding or not. Farmers of past times, who worked outside much of the time, were probably whizzes at this! But as I’m not that sophisticated about weather prediction, I have to rely on online forecasts; and they change all the time. Naturally there are times when I take chances; and sometimes I lose the gamble and get caught out in the rain. What’s the best thing to do if you’re out riding and the lightning starts to fire up? That’s a huge concern when I’m up there on the levee; and totally unprotected. Maybe I need to learn how to ride on a slanting surface; then I could pedal along on the side of the levee, if there’s no place along the way for me to take shelter. Riding in the park when lightning breaks out isn’t much better. There are many huge oak trees there; and I figure that lightning is more likely to hit a tree, than strike me directly. Even so, that could be bad news if I were just riding under that tree! So what am I to do? Just keep an eye on the forecasts; and hope for the best.

Nature’s Fury Read More »

Too Hot to Ride?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Too Hot to Ride? 🥵 At what point is it too hot to ride? Are there days so warm, you’d rather be soaking in a tub; perhaps in an epsom salt bath to soothe sore muscles? It’s hard for me to say. I’ve lived all my life in a hot, humid climate; and I should be used to it. At present, I try to get going by 7:00 am, if not earlier, because we’ve been getting many heat advisories. Another one is lined up for tomorrow; and it goes into effect at 11:00 am. I’m thinking of aiming for 30 miles tomorrow; and that will have me out there for several hours. As long as I go early, it shouldn’t be too hot to ride; but my ride food quickly becomes a sticky mess in this weather! Heat and Ride Food 🍫 Heat and ride food do not mix well. A favorite on-bike food of mine is the Gatorade Whey Protein Bar; but the chocolate coating is a half-melted sludge in a short time. I cut the bars into pieces prior to starting a ride; and as the heat’s effects become more pronounced, those pieces are apt to fall apart when I pick them up. RXBars are sturdier; but still get messy on hot rides. They’re somewhat tougher than I like for ride food, too. A big nuisance with heat and ride food is that the food sticks to the snack bag; and as I get to the last piece or two of Gatorade Bar (or whatever), it’s hard to get the food out.  What about alternatives to protein bars, such as Epic Bites? I tried that; and they’re even tougher to chew than RXBars. On top of that, they make me too thirsty — even when it’s not too hot 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 Another Heat Wave July 12, 2024 Heat Drill July 11, 2024 Respite July 10, 2024 Dodge the Bullet July 9, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Too Hot to Ride? Read More »

Another Heat Wave

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Another Heat Wave 🌊 Another heat wave is upon us. We’ve gotten two days of somewhat cooler weather; but tomorrow the blast furnace will be back. We’ve got to watch our internal gauges at these times; and be mindful of  signs that we need water or electrolyte drink. Ride early in the day if possible; and if you’ve got a cooling towel, use it. No, that isn’t being a sissy! I’m glad tomorrow’s heat advisory doesn’t go into effect until 11:00 am. That gives me time for a trip to the salvage store! Even so, I’ll need to take two bottles of water along. Even better, one bottle of water; one of Propel or some such drink; and refill the water bottle at the store. In fact, with another heat wave moving in, maybe I should use the Camel-Bak! False Alarm? 😱 I think we had a false alarm today; at least, right here in my neighborhood. Several hours ago, the weather site posted a flash flood warning; and I don’t believe it’s rained a drop! I guess somebody else got the downpour. If you start to feel weird while bicycling, how do you know whether it’s a false alarm; or something more serious? Ease up your efforts; have a bite to eat; and take a drink of water and/or your Propel. If you don’t feel better in a minute or two, you might better stop a while. In the shade, if possible. When you feel better, carry on. I guess that’s why RAGBRAI pass-through  towns are fairly close together; and by all accounts, there are plenty of folks along the route, ready to spray water on the riders! Riders can stop in pass-through towns and find some shade; refill their hydration systems; and have a snack. RAGBRAI 2024 begins a week from tomorrow; and I sure hope Iowa doesn’t get a heat wave like they did for last year’s RAGBRAI. Especially as this year’s route is said to be the hilliest ever! 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 Heat Wave July 12, 2024 Heat Drill July 11, 2024 Respite July 10, 2024 Dodge the Bullet July 9, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Another Heat Wave Read More »

Heat Drill

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Uncategorized /

Heat Drill? 🥵 I got a bit of a heat drill today. The only way I’ll develop any conditioning is if I look hot rides in the eye! But more than anything, I wanted to get outdoors and get moving. This morning I had a doctor’s appointment, and I didn’t want to arrive there hot; sweaty; and stinking. So I didn’t ride beforehand; and by the time I got back home afterwards, the sky was starting to look threatening. And in fact, it did rain. By mid-afternoon the rain seemed to be over for the time being; and I was getting antsy from sitting around indoors. The heat index was only 94 degrees, far lower than it was a few days ago. There was still a good bit of cloud cover to help keep things cooler; so I kitted up; grabbed my cooling rag; and took off for a short heat drill. Stay Hydrated! 💦 Naturally I need to stay hydrated; even on a very short ride. It’s cooler today than it was two or three days ago; but still hot. Thus I had my Camel-Bak along for the ride. (Query: why isn’t that thing called a PIGGY-Bak? That’s what it does, after all; it rides piggy-back!) I decided I could skip the electrolyte drink for this jaunt; but I must be sure to take some along tomorrow. I’m thinking of shooting for 18-20 miles; and I’ve got to stay hydrated. Depending on what the weather does, I might get my hydration direct from the sky! I kept the ride short this afternoon, because it looked like it might storm again; and I also wanted to detour to the store. 🍌🥬 And with the hottest part of the year still to come, I’m sure I’ll have more opportunities for the heat drill! 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 Heat Drill July 11, 2024 Respite July 10, 2024 Dodge the Bullet July 9, 2024 Shoo In July 8, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

Heat Drill Read More »