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Burnout?

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

Burnout? 🔥 Today’s Featured Product! 🎉 Santic Cycling Jersey Women’s  New!! VEVOR Large Dog Trailer For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! This isn’t burnout, is it? Some days I simply don’t seem to have the energy for a ride; but that’s not necessarily burnout. This morning I felt tired; and after having totaled some 50 miles over three days, I guess that’s natural. So I did only a very short ride. We need to let ourselves recover, after all. Tomorrow I want to ride to the salvage store, which will give me just short of 11 miles. Then on Sunday, I can push for 20 miles again. I hope I”ll feel fresher then. Turn off the Heater! ♨️ But please, somebody turn off the heater! Before noon today, a heat advisory had been posted; and another one is predicted for tomorrow. No rain is expected before next Tuesday afternoon; so we won’t cool off much. I’m so glad I have a cool rag! After I first got one, I wondered how I had gotten along without it. And I’m glad to have a large hydration pack. I ride with it regularly, so my body stays accustomed to carrying the load; and on a hot day, I need several liters of water with me. So far, my rides aren’t long enough for me to go through three liters of water; but I’d rather have the water and not need it; than need it and be unable to get it! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Difficult Planning

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

Difficult Planning ✍🏻  Today’s Featured Product! 👏🏻 BALEAF Men’s Sleeveless Jersey New!! Bike Basket Front For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I’ve got some difficult planning to do; not for the first time. How do I plan a week’s rides when the forecast is stormy? It’s helpful to be able to decide I’ll do X on a certain day; and Y the next day. Bad weather can easily derail such a schedule. And if the threat of T-storms means difficult planning when you’re at home, it’s harder if you’re on a bicycle tour.   Day by Day 🌅 Here I go again, planning day by day. At least this week, I don’t have to worry about getting in a ride around both rain and doctor’s appointments. That’s a help; but it’s getting so hot now that afternoon rides are not a good idea. If I were preparing to do RAGBRAI, however, I’d need to start doing afternoon rides. Just a few miles at first; and gradually longer distances. The mere thought makes me feel hot — the heat index at the moment is 99 degrees! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Early Dog Days

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Early Dog Days 🐕 Today’s Featured Product! 🤩 CafePress Beautiful Ride Tote   New!! KOOTU Carbon Road Bike For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! It looks like we’ve got early dog days. The heat index this afternoon briefly reached 100 degrees! I’m glad I don’t have a thermal pool next door; and I for sure don’t need heated gloves out there! Early dog days means starting my rides earlier; although today I skipped it. I think my allergies are still acting up 🤧 But I hope I can ride to the salvage store tomorrow. Lazy? 💤 So I feel lazy for not having gone for a ride; but I did go for a walk. Not that I undertook a five-mile hike; but one mile is better than no miles. I did some intensive work on the website; and cooked up a garbage soup. Unfortunately cooking means dishwashing! I’ve been too lazy about intensive work on the bike. From what I’ve always read, you’ve got to push yourself to 15 mph sometimes, if you want to cruise at 13-14 mph! And it’s important to step up the intensity if you’ve got weight control on your mind. 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Sunshine at Last

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Sunshine at Last 🌞 Today’s Featured Product! ☄️ Rosarita Low-Fat Black Beans New!! Probar PB Chocolate Chip For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We had sunshine at last this morning! But it’s time to pull out the cool rag: I got quite hot riding back home from the salvage store. It was worth it, though. I’m always on the lookout for new foods and drinks to try during my rides; and today I found a new flavor  of Propel.  I hope our “sunshine at last” persists for a while. But the forecast says, partly cloudy tomorrow morning. I hope I’ll be able to see the moonlight on the river; if I can get myself up early enough! May Gone Already? 🌻 Gosh, May gone already? Time has become as fast as Beep-Beep; if it hasn’t already left that fleet-footed bird far behind. That means that, if I want to aim for RAGBRAI 2027,  I need to do more work to improve my pace right now. I think I’ll aim for steady distance tomorrow; and maybe even do a few extra miles. After all, I had to miss a day because of the weather. Tomorrow is the final day of the May Bike Challenge; and after that, I can go back to taking Mondays off from riding. So I can get some rest; and on Tuesday I can work at pushing a hard gear. 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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When Will It End?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

When Will It End? ☔️ Today’s Featured Product! 💥 COOLSTEELANDBEYOND  Bike Chain Bracelet New!! Cycling for Health and Pleasure For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! When will it end? We’re getting day after day of rainy forecasts; and it’s getting too warm to be buried under a rain suit. Last night, the forecast predicted cloudy skies this morning; but no rain until at least late morning. Then, at about 6:30 am, I took a look outside; and the appearance of the sky sent me straight to the online weather site. Long story short, I decided to skip the salvage store; and for a fact I began to hear thunder at the time when I’d usually be riding to the salvage store. I probably would have been pedaling right into a T-storm! How About Tomorrow? ☀️   And how about tomorrow? I hope I can get out there and 1) put in some miles; and 2) work on my pace. Unfortunately the forecast looks bad for the next few days! Yesterday I tried pushing hard for one minute; and easing up for a minute. I did five efforts per set; and managed two sets. I attempted a third set; but kept forgetting to watch the time. So after that I just rode. I sure won’t meet any 100-mile goal this week! Maybe not this coming week, either. Rain is one thing; T-storms are another. I think I need a lightning detector! 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 Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ

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Unofficial Summer

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Unofficial Summer 🥵 Today’s Featured Product! 🎊 Crankbros Unisex Adult Mallet New!! KaZAM Co-Pilot Bike Trailer For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! It’s unofficial Summer! I rode in shirt sleeves this morning! Indeed, by noon it was 82 degrees. Now I can think seriously of packing away the cold-weather gear. I’m getting hankerings after corn on the cob, too; but it’s not in season yet. I must eat some in honor of RAGBRAI come July. Maybe some watermelon, too. Today I pushed for 22 miles; 20 miles is starting to feel a bit too easy. There was little wind, which helped; and I spent some time riding on the big ring. That sure gets my heart rate up! Even though it’s only unofficial Summer, I’m thinking about the upcoming hurricane season. I hope we won’t have to be bracing for storms this year. Bracing for Storms 🌀 It doesn’t hurt to consider hurricane plans now; including the wild notion of riding with a Cat-1 hurricane wind behind me. If, that is, I can be sure said wind won’t blow me head over heels! Bracing for storms means stocking up on bottled water; seeing to it that the pantry is full; and being sure I’ve got enough of my prescriptions. To be honest, it’s a major nuisance; and I hope those hurricanes stay away! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Round Five?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training, Uncategorized /

Round Five? 🥊 Today’s Featured Product! 🌠 Ibera Bicycle Wall Hanger New!! Copper Cow Coffee For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store!  It seems like the weather is delivering Round Five. Here comes yet more rain! Luckily I beat it this morning; and it looks like rain is unlikely for the next few days. But tonight we might get a good downpour. Round Five isn’t over yet. With a respite from rain, I can go out there and turn up the steam — and I don’t only mean heat and high humidity. Turn up the Steam ♨️ I’ve been too lazy about hard efforts for a while; and I need to turn up the steam again. I can begin with efforts 2-3 minutes long; and go from there. Or, I could also try riding 1 mph faster than usual; and keeping it up for my entire ride. That sounds like very little; but I’m riding the hybrid, after all. It’s considerably heavier than my road bike was; and I often have to work against a headwind. I’ll be glad when I have a road bike again. I hope my body hasn’t forgotten how to ride one! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Pushing Gears

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Pushing Gears 🫸 Today’s Featured Product! 👏🏻 Booyah Medium Dog Stroller New!! MYOYAY 20″ Unicycle   For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! Lately I’ve been pushing gears more; although I try not to grind them! I need more work at riding on the big ring; and I seem to be strong enough for it now. Pushing gears can mean riding on the big ring; but I’ve got to ask the bike shop whether the derailer needs a bit of adjustment. It’s hard to shift onto that big ring! There’s also the tactic of pushing the pace against the wind; and I get plenty of opportunities for that! I gripe about headwinds all the time; but all the same, a headwind has it’s uses! Memory Lane With RAGBRAI 2026 only about ten weeks away, I’m traveling down memory lane. I watched many a video about the event,  beginning about 2019; and I’m glad that I did. Now I’m watching them again! Those videos gave me some good ideas, such as a sleep mask. I wouldn’t have thought of taking along an anti-diarrheal (just in case) if not for one certain YouTube. A rider mentioned having eaten “questionable potato salad”; and they hoped the Immodium® would take effect in time. But I need a lot of building up if I’m to consider next year’s RAGBRAI. That means a lot of pushing gears! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Priorities

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Priorities ✳️ Today’s Featured Product! Cyclocross Bible New!! UnTapped Maple Syrup Packets For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! We hear about setting priorities all the time; and that’s true of cycling, too. Getting ready for an event? How much do  you need to train; and how much time do you need to allow yourself for event prep? From all I’ve read, there are multiple factors involved; and your priorities can depend on your event. Is it a long-distance casual event (read: RAGBRAI)? Or is it a serious race? And Priority 🚲 There are priorities; and Priority bicycles! I’ve watched a number of YouTubes that mention them; and I admit they sound amazing. Priority bicycles are low-maintenance — no chain! Considering that I’m not very good at keeping my bicycles’ chains cleaned and lubed, that would be great for me! I’ve peeked at the website for Priority Bicycles; and the prices look quite reasonable. Maybe I should consider getting one! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Faking It

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Faking It 🥸 Today’s Featured Product! XJD 2 in 1 New!! Alec’s Pistachio Crunch  For our full list of products, visit the SpokEasy Store! I guess you could say that today was faking it. Not that I was made up like a clown; but pushing the big ring is faking it as far as headwinds (or hills!) go.  I expected the wind to rise; so I went to do laps around the park. I practiced riding the big ring for 2-minute intervals; for a total of 9 or 10 efforts. But no ice cream awaited me at home! Maybe I should go sneaking around and find some? Sneaking Around 👟 I had to go sneaking around in another respect: namely, I needed a new pair of Hokas. The ones I already had must be three years old; I got those shoes several months before my foot surgery. Parts of the soles are coming loose; and they drag the ground as I walk. That’s a potential trip hazard; so it was time for a new pair. By the time I got back home from Hoka-hunting, about 2:00  pm, the wind had risen to 20 mph; with gusts of 29 mph. I’m glad I rode early! Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as CAL. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Δ 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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