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Training

What Hills?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

What Hills? ?? What hills are there around here to practice on? I’ve about decided to register for RAGBRAI 2025; and although this will be one of the flattest RAGBRAI routes ever, there will be a total of 10,400+ feet of climbing. I don’t want to get to Iowa and find myself in deep water, so to speak; so I must practice climbing now. But how? They say, if you want to get better at climbing, you’ve got to ride hills. But what hills? It’s flat as can be around here! Burn My Quads ? “Hill” practice means burn my quads time; and today I began working at it. Harder than actually doing it, is getting myself to start! I did it by shifting into a very hard gear; then working to ride in that gear for two minutes. Then, after two minutes of easy riding, I’d do another hard effort. In all, I did 7-8 such efforts; and by the third one, my quads were really feeling the work!  Next week I can extend the efforts by 30 seconds, and so on. I just hope I can be sufficiently conditioned by mid-July. After that, it’s too late for anything but fitness maintenance. As to getting my bicycle to and from RAGBRAI, I might use BikeFlights. The catch is, I’d be at a loss as to how to disassemble my bike. Ditto for putting it back together. But I plan to use Pork Belly Ventures; and I believe they provide this service. Or, at the Expo the day before RAGBRAI actually starts, I can get it taken care of. I’m still looking up info about the event; and during the ride, I’ll probably wish I could say, What hills? I just hope the work I’m doing now will mean I don’t burn my quads to a crisp. 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 ✍? What Hills? February 4, 2025 Rikki Tikki Tavi February 3, 2025 He Saw! February 2, 2025 Predict the Groundhog February 1, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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He Saw!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

He Saw! ? Well, he saw! Our local groundhog says we’ll have six more weeks of Winter. It was a bright, sunny day; a good time for Ray-Ban Sunglasses. The temperature before I began my ride was 43 degrees; and I wore two layers on my legs. I forgot how fast it’s been warming up these days; and I was almost too hot before I got back home. Our high temperatures will continue to rise into the 70s for the rest of the week. Time to bring out the warm-weather gear! That groundhog — he saw his shadow; but it looks like the shadow was wrong. Extension ?? Extension sounds like stretching — like you can do with Fit Simplify bands. Set of five bands of varying resistance levels lets you start easy, and work your way up. I decided it’s time for some ride extension; namely, more miles. Today I put in 26 miles; and I think I’ll leave the Sunday long ride at that for about two more weeks. Weekday rides can go up to 21 miles. I’ve got RAGBRAI in mind; and it doesn’t hurt to take a good look at the training plan. My weekly total is often 100+ miles; so the biggie for me is developing my climbing ability. This year’s RAGBRAI is relatively short. I can’t remember exactly what the daily distances are; but I think one day is close to 80 miles; and another day is under 40 miles. The upcoming Spring-like weather will be good for riding. Maybe it’s just as well that what he saw (i.e. the groundhog’s shadow) was wrong. 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 ✍? He Saw! February 2, 2025 Predict the Groundhog February 1, 2025 Deep End January 30, 2025 Out of Shape January 29, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Deep End

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Deep End ? Starting to work up to any event often feels like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end. That’s true even if you aren’t aiming to do a triathlon. I’m certainly not — I haven’t been in a swimming pool in decades; and running probably isn’t wise for me. I’ve got osteoarthritis in both knees; and they don’t need the pounding that running would cause. But yesterday I felt sort of like I was in at the deep end. I hadn’t done “force” work for some months; so beginning it again was hard. I need it, though! Even if I’m unable to make it to RAGBRAI and those Iowa hills, such intense efforts can increase my calorie burn a little! Spring Training? ? Riding is starting to feel like Spring training; never mind what the calendar says. It’s hard to believe that, one week ago, we were freezing. Today it got well into the 70s; and that’s getting close to feeling like Summer! Of course I must be considering RAGBRAI training. It isn’t race preparation; the focus, I’d say, is on endurance. After all, we’re talking about almost 50 miles per day, for seven days straight. Of course, if you want to ride fast, that’s fine; but I’m aware that getting faster won’t necessarily make me better at climbing. That’s what the “force” work is for! So I’m into Spring training. Time flies; and if I do the big ride in Iowa, July will be here in no time. I can’t procrastinate; because if I do, RAGBRAI will have me landing in the deep end! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍? Deep End January 30, 2025 Out of Shape January 29, 2025 It’s a Start January 28, 2025 Iowa Here I Come? January 27, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Out of Shape

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Out of Shape ? I sure feel out of shape today! Not quite as bad as a melting ice cream cone; but still pretty weak.  To be more precise, this morning I began doing “force” work again; less to develop better speed than to get stronger for climbing. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll be able to make it to RAGBRAI; but if I do, I want to be ready for the hills. Since I hadn’t done any such work for some months, I felt very out of shape. I sure felt my legs when I walked over to a FedEx store later in the morning. The distance is probably about 0.75 miles, which is really not very far. But my legs were complaining. No Aero Bars! ⇢   Sure, maybe I can get faster, if I work at it; but no aero bars! I read somewhere that they were banned from some event or other, because aero bars are too hazardous when used in a large group of riders. They put the rider’s hands too far from the brakes; and when you’ve got a huge number of riders on all sides, that can be a major problem. Especially in a recreational event, when there are apt to be cyclists of many different skill levels! Some riders, like me, might be far from beginners; but have minimal experience in group riding. So far I haven’t had any luck in finding a local group that might help me get group riding experience. Even if I can find a group, riding with a small number of  riders won’t be much prep for RAGBRAI, where the number of participants is in the thousands. So it won’t matter much whether I’m out of shape; or in tip-top condition. No aero bars; keep clear of riders on each side; and look through the rider in front of me. As for riders behind me, don’t worry. I figured out long ago that they have to watch out for me! 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 ✍? Out of Shape January 29, 2025 It’s a Start January 28, 2025 Iowa Here I Come? January 27, 2025 Sprung? January 26, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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It’s a Start

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

It’s a Start ? It’s a start to do a ride of almost 20 miles; and to include six 5-minute efforts at riding faster than I normally do. I’m glad I’m not starting from rock bottom, though. If I had just begun riding today, I probably couldn’t be ready for RAGBRAI by July — no matter how attractive the big ride in Iowa seems. This year’s route is 406 miles long; or an average of 58 miles a day. It’s the second-shortest RAGBRAI route ever, they say. I think I could probably ride 58 miles in one day now, if I took my time and kept fueled and hydrated. Maybe I’ll try it in a month; it’s a start on RAGBRAI! The actual event in Iowa, however, means 58 miles every day for seven consecutive days. That’s very different from a single 50-60 mile day. Far to Go ⇢ But I think I’ve got far to go if I really want to participate in RAGBRAI this year. It’s not so much the mileage; I’m sure I can work up to that. But how about the climbing? I decided to let force work wait until tomorrow. Wednesdays are usually no-off-bike-work days; and I like to have the evening free of other exercises when I’ve done a hard ride in the morning. It’s been a while since I did any force work; so my first efforts need to be short. Even if they’re only 10 seconds long, it’s a start. And since there’s far to go, it’s wise to begin now, while I have five months to work at it. After June — maybe the first week of July — it’s going to be too late. By that point, my main focus will probably need to be fitness maintenance, rather than fitness building. We’ll see how things work out. I might have far to go; but that doesn’t mean it’s 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 ✍? It’s a Start January 28, 2025 Iowa Here I Come? January 27, 2025 Sprung? January 26, 2025 Let Loose January 25, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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How to Time It?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

How to Time It? ⌚️ How to time it over the next few days? We’ve got cold temperatures and stiff winds in the forecast for much of this week; and it looks like tomorrow will be especially blustery. I don’t want to skip too many days of riding; so how to time it to minimize my time spent struggling against the wind? Pedaling round and round the park means less headwind trouble than riding on top of the levee; but the tedium of doing laps makes it hard to get in the desired mileage.  I’m not a big fan of afternoon riding; probably because I spent years riding early in the day. Before I retired, that was the best way to be sure I did get to ride; but now I’m not as pressed for time as I was then. And for the time being, I sure don’t need to worry about excessive heat! Slow Start ? Actually, 2025 is getting off to a slow start. Today I rode fewer than 10 miles; and my legs felt tired besides. Do they need a lube job? I need to decide how to time it for my rides during the week. During the final months of 2024, I was working to bring my long-term mileage total to 70K; and rarely skipped a day. But now that I’ve met that goal, I can work out a schedule that lets me take off one day per week. I don’t want to take off too many days, though; and the weather in the coming week will make that hard. In addition, it’s time I started reintroducing intensity; especially if I have any idea of doing RAGBRAI. That will mean climbing! I suppose last year’s suggested training schedule will do for this  year; but before I decide whether to register for the event, I need to know where the start/finish towns will be. I might be able to manage if I go by Amtrak. How’s that for training? ? 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 ✍? How to Time It? January 5, 2025 The Wolf Returns January 4, 2025 Have a Blast! January 3, 2025 Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tabula Rasa

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Tabula Rasa ?  A new year is tabula rasa, a chance to start anew; and of course that includes riding plans! Not that anyone has to coax me to give riding a try. I’ve been cycling for 15+ years now! But it’s still a good time to work up a new training plan; and to consider some new cycling adventures. When the route for RAGBRAI 2025 is finally announced, I’ll be able to figure out whether travel to Iowa by train for the event will be feasible. It’s also tabula rasa as far as my eating habits go. I pretty much let things slide for the week between Christmas and New Year’s; but now I’ve got to get back to work on it. Sometimes it’s a bit of a problem, though, such as when I’m not sure of the nutritional info of a home-made soup. New Ride Food ? ? I’m considering new ride foods, too; and I’m especially looking for things that aren’t too high in saturated fat. It might be more cost-effective to make my own on-bike food; and I was once again looking at some of the recipes in Feed Zone Portables.  I’ve tried rice cakes, and am not at all sure I made them correctly. Mine tend to come out too soft; and that sushi rice gums up my teeth in a most annoying way. And then the rice tends to stick in my throat; something I don’t need while cycling. If I want to try other recipes in Feed Zone Portables, I’ll have to make an expedition to a supermarket for flour; and possibly other ingredients. New ride food can take careful planning; but after all, wasn’t I just talking about tabula rasa? 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 ✍? Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash December 31, 2024 Something Is Rotten December 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Rev It Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Rev It Up ?️ Tomorrow I must rev it up again. I skipped the ride today; but in my case, rev it up doesn’t mean hopping aboard any kind of e-bike. In fact, I want to continue relying on muscle power for as long as I can. Now that I’ve met the 70K-mile goal, I think I need to cut the mileage a little; and start doing some intensity work. This should help me to increase my strength; and they say it’s a good way to burn more calories. When you ride at the same old pace all the time, your body’s calorie-burning furnace adapts; and you need to push the pace to increase the calorie burn. That’s especially true if you want to shed a few extra pounds. Two Days Left 2️⃣ Only two days left of 2024! Fast away the old year passes!  And it seems like 2024 just began. Between my two bicycles, I’ve pedaled almost 5000 miles this year. To make it to 5000 miles, I’d need to ride something like 64 miles over the next two days. That’s a little bit much for me at this point; but I can aim for riding 5000 miles in 2025. RAGBRAI is still up in the air for me. Can I get there by train? Would I need a bicycle travel case? I’d better get more diligent about scouting social media for info. There’s got to be something there that’s helpful. As to training, it’s time to rev it up, and work on simulated hills. I’d need climbing legs for RAGBRAI! 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 ✍? Rev It Up December 29, 2024 Rein in the Rain December 28, 2024 70K! December 27, 2024 Sparring? December 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sparring?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Sparring? ? Boxing Day sounds like sparring — oh, there I go again, thinking outside of the box. Sorry, bad pun. But if the weather is really foul where you live, you might want to think outside of the box and ride inside. As for this being Boxing Day, I’ve got a number of boxes that I need to get rid of. That’s the problem with online shopping. Now that Christmas is past, I’m working to get my palate back under control. I’m forever sparring with my sweet tooth! And, of course, I’m working at putting in the miles on the bike. I may as well finish the December Winter Wheelers with a strong showing. The Winter Wheelers Challenge actually lasts through January 2025; but soon I think I’ll take a day off from riding. We all need one now and then; and I haven’t taken one for a long time. After all, I’ve been working towards hitting 70K miles by the end of this year. Within Sight! ? That goal is now well within sight. For a couple of days I didn’t ride all that much; but today I knocked out 22 miles. I’ve got only 18 miles and a bit to go! I hope the weather cooperates tomorrow. If only CTRL Protein Meal Bars would let me “ctrl” (aka control) the weather! But they’ll help you to keep the bonk under control. These bars are made of wholesome ingredients; and each one supplies 15 grams of protein. Three flavors available: Peanut Butter S’mores (shown at left); Magic Charms; and Choc Chip Cookie Dough. A good addition to your “repertoire” of bars for on-bike eating! 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 ✍? Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Momentum

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Momentum ?? Whether on a swing or a bicycle, you’ve got to get the momentum going. Maybe these Whole Mayocoba Beans will give you the energy you need for it! I’m working to keep the momentum going for my bicycle rides. Winter Wheelers is still in progress; and my end-of-year mileage goal is within sight. Just under 78 miles to go; or slightly less than nine miles per day. And Christmas won’t be Christmas without a ride! 2025 ? It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost here; and I hope I can keep the cycling momentum going into the New Year. The Cyclist’s Training Diary is one way to track your ride data; but I use a plain old spiral notebook. Whichever course you take, it’s good to have it all written down in one place.  I need to get busy looking for a way to get to Iowa if I hope to do RAGBRAI 2025. And I need to start switching my rides from merely piling up the miles to doing some real intensity work once or twice a week. I think you can say that I’ve done my base mileage; and that’s what you need as the foundation for working to develop better force and speed. I’ll ride the hybrid tomorrow. I want to hit the supermarket; and besides, my left shoe keeps coming unclipped by itself as I ride the road bike. Worn cleat, I guess. Always something! 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 ✍? Momentum December 22, 2024 I Prefer Overcast December 21, 2024 This Is Friday? December 20, 2024 Head Start December 19, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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