Cycling Foodie

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Start your holidays with a super healthy green smoothie!

Baby Kale, Kiwi, Banana, Mango, Oats, Whey Protein

This year’s menu is going to be a little different – a little heart-healthier and lighter – but it will still be festive and delicious!

Pork Tenderloin with a Port-Cherry Sauce
Roasted Yams
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Baby Greens Salad with Organic Apples, Spicy Candied Pecans,  & Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Dessert may be a low-sugar & low-fat orange curd with blackberries. That is, IF my curd sets. I used half sugar & half Monk Fruit. I used one whole egg and replaced the other with egg whites (the ready-to-use kind you get in a carton). The juice of 1 1/2 Cara Cara oranges and one lemon, plus the zest … it tastes OK, we’ll see how it sets when it cools. I’m not 100% sure about the taste of the Monk Fruit yet. I need to play with this a bit more. I tried using 100% Monk Fruit in the last batch of curd I made and it was dreadful. We’ll see how it is with 1/2 sugar & 1/2 Monk Fruit.

If the curd does not set, I’ll have to figure out a way to use it as a sauce for something.

Here’s wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I’ll have limited Internet access, but will do my best to get a few posts in here and there.

Please be SAFE – remember – NO drinking and driving!

P.S. Santa brought me a very cool new helmet! A Rudy Project Technically Cool and super comfy green/blue helmet – it’s like the one that one of the cycling teams wears that every time I see it I say, “I have to find one of those!” And, it will go great with the Ireland jersey Santa brought me last year!

Thanks, Santa! You’re the BEST! I’m looking forward to riding with you again soon!!

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Winters, in front of Steady Eddy's

I got a nice ride in this morning with a friend. She’s got a brand new bike and we had a nice, pretty leisurely ride to Winters, out and around Lake Solano, and back. It was a little breezy, not quite cool, not quite warm, and it got really cloudy.

We got about 40 miles of riding and lots of good chatting in.

When I got home, I made a green smoothie with organic baby kale, kiwi, pineapple, banana,  nonfat Greek yogurt, and vanilla whey protein powder. It was interesting … not too sweet, a little tart, and really refreshing and satisfying. I accidentally made a huge batch, so I froze some. I’ve found that these smoothies actually keep pretty well in the freezer. If you get the mixture just right, it freezes like a sorbet and could make a light, healthy dessert. That works best with berry or peach-based smoothies.

This weather makes me want to bake bread, so I did! I made a multi-grain bread, based on this recipe, but just changed up a few ingredients based on what I had on hand. In place of the oat bran, I used steel cut oats. I increased the pumpernickel by a cup, used 1 cup of high protein unbleached white flour, and reduced the whole wheat flour by 2 cups. Otherwise, the recipe is pretty much the same.

Whole Wheat, Oat, and Pumpernickel Bread

I have a pretty good idea that breakfast tomorrow will involve toast. This batch made 4 rustic loaves. It would make 2 large loaves using loaf pans. I just prefer the rustic style. I love that crust.

Is the weekend really almost over? It feels like it just started! Before we know it, the holidays will be here, and then the 2014 Tour de Cure! Join me for the ride! Sign up here. Can’t ride, but still want to help? Donate here!

So, I guess I’m still feeling chatty after my ride today … thanks for spending a few minutes with me to read this!

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Klein Q-Carbon Pro

Heading out soon on my new ride …

Aaah … the bike collection grows.

Different rides do need different bikes, you know.

Have a wonderful day! Here’s hoping you have the chance to get a nice ride in today. It’s going to be a great training day – warm, but not hot, and just enough of a breeze to feel it.

Cheers!

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This morning’s ride was just shy of 65 miles – a nice loop from Davis to Winters and back. It was a comfortable pace, just a little push here and there (for me, anyway), but comfortable enough for some conversation. The conversation turned to a few Davis Bike Club organized rides, such as the DBC Double Century. When the panic and fear was evident in my “Double Century … umm …” I was assured that it’s in May, so we’ll have lots of time to train for it. And, I was assured, we can always practice with a 200K Brevet. So, I’ve done a regular century … what’s another about 25 or so miles, right? And, the brevet will help me to train for the 2014 Napa Valley Tour de Cure in May, right?

For now, I think I’ll do a little online reading about these rides and enjoy a recovery snack.

Pineapple Banana Protein Smoothie

Pineapple Banana Protein Smoothie

1 cup non fat milk
2 scoops whey protein powder
1 ripe banana
1/2 to 3/4 cup frozen pineapple
6-8 ice cubes

Pour the milk into your blender, then add the protein powder, ripe banana, and frozen pineapple. Blend briefly to combine. Add the ice cubes, 2-3 at a time and blend until you reach your desired consistency. For a thinner smoothie, either omit the ice or use less.

Makes enough for two about 12-ounce smoothies.

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Sunrise on a Davis Greenbelt

I have been so busy lately, that I’ve been neglecting CyclingFoodie. I’ve been riding almost every day:  every morning before work and weekends.

Just lots of stuff going on, some fun, lots of work, and some just stuff.

There is only time for a quick post this morning, because I’ve got to get going for work, but I wanted to share a couple of photos from this morning’s ride.

Morning scene from a Davis country road.

It’s not supposed to get too hot today, and there will be a “gentle Delta Breeze,” so for those of you who don’t like the heat for cycling, today is for you! I hope you have the chance to get out and ride today!

Here’s wishing you a beautiful day!

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Gearing up for the 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

I am gearing up for the 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure! This was the last weekend to train before the ride, which has me planning and thinking about just a few of my favorite cycling things …

My Colnago Ace.

Assos tights and shorts.

For those of you teasing me about my super white arms and legs …
Voler’s Sol Skin Arm UV Protectors.

... and my Klein Pinnacle, circa 1990!

Fragrance-free for face 100+ spf sunscreen  (which is getting hard to find!)

Hoo Ha Ride Glide.

Honey Stinger Ginsting Energy Gel.

Napa Valley Tour de Cure.

Bicycle helmets!

For more information about any of the above, click on what you want to know more about. For example, if you want to  make a donation to my Tour de Cure ride, click here.

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I always wear my bicycle helmet to protect my head. Here is some great advice from the Mayo Clinic about how to choose and wear a bike helmet. Remember … “A bicycle helmet only works if you wear it correctly. Here’s the lowdown on bicycle helmets, from choosing a bicycle helmet to avoiding common helmet mistakes.” For the full article, please click here.

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My poor little Colnago has a frayed cable.

I started out Day 3 with a minor bike malfunction …

My ride today ...

But, it’s March Madness and I have another bike I can use, so no excuses except for work!

I logged 51.8 miles, Davis to Winters via Road 29, then back Putah Creek Road to Road 95 to Road 27, to Road 103, to Mace and home. Probably a few other roads in there, too, but the names escape me for now.

It’s a little cool out and there was a slight chance of rain (depending on which weather site you refer to), but I saw lots of folks out there looking like they’re dressed for summer! OK, so I was overdressed a bit today. My friends tell me I usually am. That and the glowing sunscreen have sort of become my trademark look.

I didn’t take my camera today, so these are just with my camera phone, but I got a few nice photos of some springtime blossoms.

Just off Putah Creek Road.

Busy as a bee ...

So sweet and fragrant!

It was a pleasant ride. Not too hot, not too cool. Not too sunny, not too cloudy. Just enough breeze to make me feel like I had to work a bit to get home. Some good training miles for my Tour de Cure. Next weekend … hills!

I'm pretty sure these are almond blossoms.

Have a beautiful day!

I think this is a good day to make some vegetable barley soup, but that will have to be another post.