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RAGBRAI Practice?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

RAGBRAI Practice? ? Think of a strong headwind as RAGBRAI practice! This morning I rode the hybrid to the salvage store; and by the time I headed back home, the wind was 18 mph; gusts were as strong as 25 mph. For the last mile or so in particular, I had a headwind! I was in my granny gear; and my speed had dropped to 6 mph. And believe me, that was slow! I was passed by three joggers who quickly left me far behind! When I had a half-mile or so to go before I could get down from the levee, I was tempted to stop riding and push the bike. I had to remind myself that this was good RAGBRAI practice. Oh, and don’t ride tonight. Don’t even think of it! Don’t Ride Tonight! ⚡️ I say, don’t ride tonight; because the forecast is for severe T-storms. RAGBRAI practice doesn’t have to include deliberately riding out into a storm; and I hope RAGBRAI 2025 doesn’t run into any! As of 3:00 pm, it still isn’t completely overcast; but a wind advisory went into effect at 11:00 am. I’m glad I was home before that happened. Don’t ride tonight, unless perhaps it’s early evening. Storms are expected to start moving in around 10:00 pm. Tomorrow the wind will still be pretty strong, although the rain should be over. To ride; or not to ride? It will be good RAGBRAI practice if I do. 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 ✍? RAGBRAI Practice? February 15, 2025 Time Warp? February 14, 2025 Check Your Pockets February 13, 2025 Under-Trained February 12, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Under-Trained

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

UNDER-trained? ?? Who wants to arrive at an event under-trained? For your best performance, of course you’ll want to be adequately prepared. Even for a recreational event such as RAGBRAI, training is essential. Not that you’ll need a power meter, unless your aim is to race. But RAGBRAI isn’t a race; and as for being under-trained, I read somewhere that being slightly under-trained is better than being over-trained and exhausted. I’m not about to wait until RAGBRAI is two months away to start pushing it, though. I don’t seem to be one of those lucky people who can build up strength very rapidly. I’ve begun to do short intervals of riding hard against a hard gear. In between these efforts, I ride easily for several minutes. Pushing It ? Fortunately I’m not time-crunched; so pushing it doesn’t have to mean pushing it to the max for just a few rides a week. As a matter of fact, I prefer moderate distance and effort most days of the week, with one day of hard riding; and one long day. I enjoy riding, too; so I want to ride most days of the week! I’ll be shipping my road bike to RAGBRAI; and I have to allow about two weeks for that. It’s good that I have the hybrid to ride during that time; or I’ll get too out of condition. Then I’ll really be undertrained! 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 ✍? Under-Trained February 12, 2025 Muscle Forgetfulness February 11, 2025 Fog Away! February 10, 2025 Pedals Wear Out! February 9, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Muscle Forgetfulness

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

Muscle Forgetfulness ? I think I may be suffering from muscle forgetfulness. If muscles can remember, they also can forget, I suppose. I wish my muscles had a better memory of Bike MS 2013. This was two back-to-back, 75-mile days of riding; and yes, there were hills. I managed reasonably well; and I wonder how the terrain of that Bike MS route compares with RAGBRAI 2025’s route. If only I could head for the hills for some climbing practice! From viewing multiple YouTubes about RAGBRAI (some of them multiple times!), I know that the climbs can get tough; especially if the weather turn very hot. By all accounts, RAGBRAI 2023 coincided with a heat wave!  And all kinds of bikes are out there: road bikes, tandems, MTBs — even penny farthings! If muscle forgetfulness is bad enough on a regular bicycle, it must be far worse if you ride one of those high-wheelers! Head for the Hills? ?️ They do say, the best way to train for hills is to, well, head for the hills. Unfortunately there aren’t any close by; so I need another way to learn climbing. This means tactics such as pedaling hard in a hard gear; and riding hard into a headwind. But how do I know how much of this work I need to do? I’m trying to find out what the course profile for this year’s RAGBRAI is, so at least I’ll know what to expect; then I have a better chance at getting properly prepared. Another training tactic I’ve got in mind is to start making efforts that get my heart rate into its maximum range. I’ll probably need that if the climbs are long and/or steep! I know this, I’ve got to keep riding, lest muscle forgetfulness take over. 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 ✍? Muscle Forgetfulness February 11, 2025 Fog Away! February 10, 2025 Pedals Wear Out! February 9, 2025 RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Pedals Wear Out!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Pedals Wear Out! ?? Pedals wear out, as I’ve learned. Recently I began to have problems with my left foot coming unclipped as I rode. Worn cleats, I thought; and had the cleats on my shoes replaced. My foot still kept coming unclipped. So I took a good look at my SPDs; and sure enough, the left one was worn. I guess that shouldn’t have been a surprise. I’d had those pedals since Fall of 2012; and as I typically put my left foot down when I stop, that cleat-and-pedal setup gets a lot more use than the one on the right. Pedals wear out; chains wear out; everything wears out! Do I Wear Out? ?‍? Okay, pedals wear out; but do I wear out? That depends on what you mean by “wear out”. I usually finish my rides before I’m that tired; and it makes me wonder whether I’m ready to push for longer and/or harder rides, more often. After all, I’m training for RAGBRAI; and that will be quite a challenge. Mindful of the possibility of very hot days during the event, I’ve made a note on my calendar to start riding in the heat by mid-April. If I start by doing, say, 10-mile hot rides, I can work up to fairly long distances by the end of June. I have a Cool Rag to wear; and those things do make quite a difference. As my rides lengthen, and the days get hotter (up to 77 degrees today!), I’ll increase the amount of water in my Camel-Bak; and take along additional electrolyte drink mix. How many miles can I ride in one day? Do I wear out before I reach my goal? I might, if there’s a strong headwind! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL ✍? RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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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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