Training Archives

Forty Below?

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Forty Below? 🥶 Forty below? I hope the temperature doesn’t plunge that low! Maybe “forty down” is a better phrase. I got in forty miles today! I’m thinking more and more of consecutive long-mileage days, as mentioned in this video at about 6:57 minutes. It’s already May; and I don’t have time to waste. I’m glad it’s not expected to rain tomorrow; I want to shoot for at least 30 miles. Consecutive 20-mile days didn’t seem to cause much of a problem for me; so it’s time to go for longer days. Say, get 40 below the belt? Plodding 🐌 For the time being, at least, longer rides feel like plodding along. Today’s miles — 40.70 to be exact — took over four hours to complete. If that’s not plodding, what is? Riding 30-40 miles might mean another long day tomorrow. I plan to make Tuesday’s ride short and easy; but the next day, I want to work on force. I hope the weather cooperates; but the forecast, unfortunately, is for rain. Not the best conditions for exercises that might get me up to 18 mph. You need to see where you’re going to do speed work! During RAGBRAI I’ll have all day to complete each day’s mileage; except for Day 7. But the more often I can get 40 below my tires in one day, the better. As time goes on, I can increase the 40-milers to three a week. I can save pace improvement work for shorter rides. A mix of long and casual, and short and hard, is supposed to be a good way to work up to a big event. And RAGBRAI is big! 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 Forty Below? May 4, 2025 Weather Window May 3, 2025 A-riding I Will Go May 2, 2025 Vesti la Giubba? May 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Murky Waters

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Murky Waters 🏊🏻 We’ve got some murky waters around here. In the past two weeks, the Mississippi River has risen a lot; and the backwater at the foot of the levee is some very murky waters. I’ve been watching for signs of alligators; but haven’t seen any yet. If I went for a pre-dawn ride, though, I’m sure I’d see their eyes gleaming in my headlight’s beam. Mornings are in the low 70s now; a bit too cool for me to omit a vest at the start of a ride. But by 9:00 am or so, it’s quite warm; and soon I’ll want the cool rag. I wish hot weather came on more gradually; but many a year it’s a very rapid crescendo! Crescendo 𝆒 I expect we’ll experience a steady crescendo in both heat and humidity now; and an Ergodyne Chill Cooling Vest sounds like a good thing to have. If, that is, the smallest size available isn’t too big for me! I was looking for the measurements, and didn’t find them. I bet this vest would be great if it gets very hot on RAGBRAI. Nobody wants it to get as hot as it did for RAGBRAI L; but we can’t predict the weather this far ahead. Long-range forecasting is murky waters. It’s time for a crescendo in my prep for the big ride in July. Yesterday I finally got up to 40 miles; but I think it’s time I took a day off. Today my legs felt tired; and I managed only 20.25 miles. I’m still keeping ahead of the recommended training schedule’s mileage; but I mustn’t get complacent! 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 Murky Waters April 28, 2025 At Ease! April 27, 2025 Why? April 26, 2025 Or Leave It? April 25, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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At Ease!

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At Ease! 😌 It’s a refreshing change to feel at ease on the bike. Today, for once, there was almost no wind; and that was perfect for my planned ride: forty miles at a leisurely pace. I didn’t have to fight headwinds; and it didn’t get uncomfortably warm until the final five miles. The sky was mostly cloudy; but it didn’t rain. As the road bike is still in the shop, I was on the hybrid. That meant stopping every time I wanted a bite to eat; which was fairly often. I had my snacks in the bike trunk; and that was behind me. After a long ride, muscles can feel a bit stiff and sore. Some folks swear by epsom salt baths; but I prefer massage balls. In fact, I plan to take them along on RAGBRAI. I wouldn’t be able to soak in a tub. And I’ll probably want some way to get a massage; RAGBRAI will mean hill repeats! That’s hard work for the legs. Hill Repeats 🚵🏽 But I don’t think I’d be at ease with hill repeats! Even so, I’ve remembered that there’s a vehicular access ramp to some kind of docks, only a mile from here. It’s where I typically turn left to go to the park; and this ramp is to the right. I’ve developed the habit of ignoring it; so I don’t think of it when hill repeats come to mind. I’ve seen cyclists riding up and down that ramp; and if I start doing that, I’ll get more climbing practice. The scary part will be coming back down: I won’t want to keep going straight and cross the railroad tracks; and will I be able to turn quickly so that I avoid the tracks? There might be other cyclists riding past; and of course I”ll have to watch out for any cars coming up or down. I’m more at ease with performing hard intervals on flat ground. I must also remember that repeated stopping at the bottom of a steep ramp will wear out my brakes. I sure don’t need 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 Ride Easy April 27, 2025 Why? April 26, 2025 Or Leave It? April 25, 2025 Not So Hot April 24, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Why?

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Why? 🫤 “Why?” isn’t a question exclusive to curious toddlers. I’m sure I’m not the only cyclist who sometimes wonders, “Why?” Every time I’ve done a century, at some point, I’ve begun to ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” It can be hard to keep going when this doubt begins to set in; but it seems to be part of any endurance event. I won’t be surprised if it even pops up during RAGBRAI! So remind yourself of the reason for your doing the ride. Some folks do RAGBRAI because they enjoy meeting the people: this event attracts riders from all 50 states; and a number of foreign countries. Others love the roadside attractions: petting farm animals; Slip ‘N Slides; and food of all sorts. I have quite a list of things I want to try! But the principal attraction, for me, is the challenge of riding all those miles. It’s why I’ve been working up to longer rides. Maybe shoot for 35 tomorrow? At a rather leisurely pace; day before yesterday I rode hard! Wherefore? 🤔 So never mind the why and wherefore; let’s just ride! There’s nothing wrong with sometimes going for a spin that’s not focused on some aspect of training (e.g. working on force) — even when you’re training up for a big event. Tomorrow I think I’ll keep the pace moderate; and, for a change, take longer breaks. Typically I try to keep breaks short and to a minimum; I always have wanted to improve my endurance. During long events, I think it’s better if you can stop for breaks because you want to; not because your body forces you to stop. Ergo the need for endurance training. And the why and wherefore of that? The better you train, the more fun the event! 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 Why? April 26, 2025 Or Leave It? April 25, 2025 Not So Hot April 24, 2025 Longer and Longer April 23, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Not So Hot

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Not So Hot 🥵 Today it was not so hot when I went out to ride; but I’m sure it’s coming! I need to get more practice riding in the heat; and today I didn’t go out until 11:00 am. It was 76 degrees then; still not so hot by New Orleans standards. But I’ll probably be able to put away my heater soon; and I can wait until Summer to order more hand warmers. I have only a few pairs left; but that’s enough for me to to pack along two sets for RAGBRAI. If it does get cold during RAGBRAI, I’ll be glad of them! Meanwhile I’m working to mix it up from day to day. Mix It Up 🥣 I’m trying to mix it up because, as I’ve read so often, you need to train at different intensities and for varying distances. Day before yesterday, I kept the distance short; and worked at hard efforts. Yesterday, I pushed for 30 miles, but at a rather leisurely pace; and today I did another short, intense ride. Specifically, I attempted to find the intensity of climbing a 7%-grade access ramp. Also, I kept the efforts going for more than 12 seconds! It would be nuts to think that climbs in Iowa will all be very short. Besides, riding at the same old pace day after day is not so hot. It would get too boring; and when you mix it up, things get a lot more interesting! 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 So Hot April 24, 2025 Longer and Longer April 23, 2025 Dress Rehearsal April 22, 2025 In a Flash April 21, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Longer and Longer

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Longer and Longer 📏 My weekday rides are getting longer and longer. Today I pushed it to 30 miles; but I sure wasn’t fast! Yesterday I put in intense efforts; so today I rode at a more leisurely pace. For the time being, I’m riding the hybrid. The road bike is in the shop for a tuneup; and it’s also due for new tires and tubes. I’d rather get that done now; and not leave it until too close to RAGBRAI! The weekend long ride also needs to get longer and longer. It’s time to aim for 40-45 miles; after all, there are only three months left to train. It’s also getting warmer and warmer; a good “warm-up” for the conditions I’ll meet dudring RAGBRAI. Warmer and Warmer ♨️ Right when I’m working to make my rides longer and longer, the weather is getting warmer and warmer. I might as well say, “hotter”. Afternoon temperatures are climbing well into the 80s! Soon I’ll need that cool rag! It’s time to start doing rides later in the day, so I can get used to riding in the heat. In fact, I did one such ride last week. It’s getting warmer and warmer, so before long it won’t be difficult to pick a hot time of day. For now I can do short and easy hot rides, maybe 10 miles; and start making such treks longer and longer. It’s time to pull out the sun sleeves; and now that it’s warm enough for bare legs, I need a lot more sunblock! 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 Longer and Longer April 23, 2025 Dress Rehearsal April 22, 2025 In a Flash April 21, 2025 Down the Bunny Trail April 20, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In a Flash

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In a Flash ⚡️ Things can change in a flash; too often, when we aren’t expecting it. Take the weather — it can go from sunny to torrential rain in a hurry! We got some heavy rain today; fortunately, not while I was riding. We’re still under flash flood warning; and we might get more rain tomorrow. Rain is a good reason to keep lights on your bike. You need to be able to see; and perhaps even more important, you need to be seen. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to ride on a bike path almost entirely free of motor traffic; and that means staying extra alert in bad weather. Trouble can happen in a flash! Getting back to rain, it’s amazing how much grit and muck get kicked up by the wheels after a rain; the rear wheel in particular. I guess many cyclists would be glad of a spare bike to ride; one that has fenders. Glad of a Spare 🚲 I expect the ground will still be wet tomorrow morning, even if it isn’t raining. That’s when I’m glad of a “spare” bicycle; namely, my hybrid. It has fenders, so the bike and I stay a bit cleaner. This wet weather isn’t great for this week’s riding plans. I want to start doing some shorter rides, with bursts of much greater intensity. If it’s pouring, visibility of course is poorer; and that’s not the best time to be blasting down the path! An unexpected obstacle can come up in a flash; and you need to be able to see it in time. Hard efforts, though, are what I need to get ready for RAGBRAI. I don’t expect that each day’s maximum gradient means I’ll be facing such climbs the whole day; but I’m sure there will be more than one such hill. It’s repeated hill efforts that I’m thinking about. I might be glad of a spare pair of legs! 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 In a Flash April 21, 2025 Down the Bunny Trail April 20, 2025 Serenade April 19, 2025 Pack It In April 18, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Down the Bunny Trail

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Down the Bunny Trail 🐰 Today felt like biking down the bunny trail: I went out for a short ride, and I saw some rabbits! They live in the woods/underbrush alongside the river; and I hope they aren’t getting flooded out. The river has risen over the past week. Easter is a day for chocolate; and of course I’ve enjoyed some. I’m trying to control myself, though; I hardly need all those calories! In fact, I might have gone farther down the bunny trail — and gotten more calorie burn — if not for knowing I’d have a headwind on the way home! I was lazy today; but now I’m thinking of getting back to work. Back to Work 🚵🏽 This past week I eased up on both mileage and effort level; and now I have to get back to work. Unfortunately it looks like the weather might not be very cooperative for the next three days. Complicating my back-to-work plan is, I want to take my road bike in for its pre-RAGBRAI tune-up. Of course I can ride the hybrid while the road bike is in the shop; but that really isn’t the same when it comes to training. Well, there’s this: riding the hybrid at X miles per hour takes more effort than trying for the same pace on the road bike. Ergo it’s useful for pace development. On the other hand, I don’t have a handlebar bag for the hybrid. That means using the trunk; and I have to stop and dismount whenever I want to get a bite to eat. It’s a nuisance when I want to keep rolling down the bunny trail! 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 Serenade April 19, 2025 Pack It In April 18, 2025 Egg Hunt April 17, 2025 Morning Machine? April 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Dead Heat

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

Dead Heat? ♨️ I thought of “dead heat” when I rode today. It was already at least 2:00 pm when I went out; and it was 76 degrees. Just coming out of Winter, that’s quite warm; but it’s time I started doing rides in the hotter part of the day. I’ll need at least one such ride per week. Having the sun overhead makes it seem even hotter; and I’m used to riding early in the day, when the sun is lower in the sky. But during RAGBRAI, I’ll be riding more than 20; or 30; or even 40 miles most days. Luckily I won’t need to worry about getting caught up in the dead heat of a race; but I won’t be able to avoid riding in bright sunshine. And it could get very hot! So, I’m considering ways to take the edge off of the heat. Take the Edge Off 🔪 A cooling rag really does help take the edge off of the heat; and I definitely plan to take one to RAGBRAI. Or maybe even two! I can use one during the day’s ride; and one to drape over my head if it’s hot in my tent at night. I won’t want to be in a dead heat while trying to sleep! A fan would be nice; but a fan would be one more thing to 1) take up space — and add weight! — in my luggage; and 2) another thing to keep charged up. So I’m looking for another way to keep cool. A cooling rag should at least take the edge off! 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 Dead Heat April 14, 2025 Stacks April 13, 2025 Horning In? April 12, 2025 Trampoline? April 11, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Stacks

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Stacks 🥞 We’ve all got stacks of things in our lives; and wouldn’t it be nice if that could mean piles of ice cream! Unfortunately those stacks are usually much more mundane: a heap of laundry to be washed; and a big pile of dishes in the kitchen sink! I enjoy riding; and it’s a satisfaction to see those stacks of miles in my ride log. Sometimes I have to rein myself in a bit; and remember what they say about big miles. Steadily increasing the distance week after week, with no letup, can lead to burnout; or, worse, overuse injuries. Or, worst of all, loss of interest. Three out of the past four weeks, I’ve put in over 100 miles. In fact, this past week I rode almost 155 miles; and that was a big increase! I think it’s time to ease up for a week. Ease Up! 😌 It’s OK to ease up sometimes; this isn’t boot camp, after all. And sometimes, when you ease up for a while, you’ll come back even stronger! A break after riding stacks of miles lets your muscles recover; and also gives your mind a rest. It can also be a time to focus on other aspects of your training, such as resistance work for the arms and upper body. And don’t forget core work! Not that I never do such exercises except during lower-mileage weeks; I have to keep them going as a regular thing. It looks like we’ll have nice weather all week. If I didn’t see that it would be wise to give myself a break, this would be a great time to put in stacks of miles! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Stacks April 13, 2025 Horning In? April 12, 2025 Trampoline? April 11, 2025 Jump Start April 10, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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