Cycling Foodie

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I started the day with an awesome cup of coffee, made with Insight Coffee Roaster beans (http://insightcoffee.com/). Wow! I just discovered that roasting company yesterday on an impromptu trip to Sacramento.

I grabbed some toast with almond butter and honey, and headed out on a ride, hoping to beat the heat and wind. I rode from Davis to Winters, then up over Cantelow Road, back to Winters, then Davis – just over 55 miles. I had planned to ride up Cardiac Hill, also, but it just got too darn hot. I know; I wimped out. But, I rode pretty strong and each time I take on Cantelow it seems to be a little less challenging. Next thing you know, I’ll be riding my second Tour de Cure Century – just 2 weeks from TODAY!

Tonight I cooked dinner for my friend. We had a salad with heirloom cherry tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, and extra virgin olive oil, served with grilled bread.  It was simultaneously rich and delicious, light and refreshing.

Brown rice and vegetables ... Steamed brussel sprouts, asparagus, broccolette, tomato, and short grain brown rice

Grilled Bread

To make the grilled bread, I sliced a Trader Joe’s mini Pain Pascal, spread a small amount of extra virgin olive oil on each side, and placed on my George Foreman grill. I started the grill on high, then turned it down to medium-low. You really only need a small amount of olive oil to give it a little flavor, so be careful to not soak the bread too much (although it can taste good that way, too, if that’s what you want!)

The chicken … we used the Rocky chicken breasts again (http://www.petalumapoultry.com/). I went very simple tonight, just a little salt and pepper and then onto the George Foreman grill. Remember – cook chicken to 165 degrees.

Chicken Breasts, ready to grill!

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Oh my goodness, what month is this?

On my ride this morning I looked down at my bike computer and it was registering 99 degrees for a while.

It finally cooled to 95.

 … more later …

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Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 400 degrees farenheit
Prepare pans (I used mini loaf pans & sprayed with a bit of non-stick vegetable oil spray)

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 ripe bananas (about 2 cups of pulp)
1 tablespoon instant espresso
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Measure flour, soda, and salt in to a bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.

With an electric mixer, combine oil, sugar, eggs, banana pulp, and espresso.

Gradually add flour mixture to banana mixture. Do not overmix or the bread will be tough. Fold in the nuts and chocolate.

Scoop batter into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. For mini loaves like this, it took about 20 minutes.

This recipe is adapted from The Tassajara Bread Book, revised edition 1986. I love this banana bread recipe because it’s not overly sweet and gooey (for lack of better word at the moment!), like so many banana bread recipes.

If this bread is too whole grain and dense for your liking, then you can substitute some unbleached white flour for the whole wheat. That will lighten it up a bit.

After consulting with some vegan friends, this recipe could easily be made vegan (no eggs & make sure the chocolate you use is vegan). Some ideas posed were to substitute unsweetened applesauce for the eggs, use agave nectar, molasses, or other more liquid sweetener. Flax seed (I’m thinking ground) would be a great addition, too. Another possible vegan substitution for the egg is 3 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil. (Thanks Shanna & Meeta!)

I was thinking honey, but then remembered that honey is not vegan! But, it would still be yummy to substitute for the sugar and would add some sweetness and moisture.

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Three weeks until the Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

My training partner says I’m ready, so today I’m riding this: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/355543

More later!!!

Later  … Wow oh wow oh WOW! That was AWESOME!! 

No time for pictures, just riding … there was a little bit of butt kicking today (mine, LOL) but I held my own pretty well on the hills. Where I started to struggle was right about half way through the ride on Wooden Valley Road. The group took off, and even though I was riding as fast and hard as I could (19-23 mph which is fast for me), I found myself dropping behind the group. Dang it! I was with the “slow” group. I’ve got some work to do this summer!!! I need to build my stamina back up.

One of the ride leaders waited for me and took me on a shortcut so we could make up some time and catch back up with the group. I was quite thankful, especially because I was getting pretty fatigued and I wasn’t very familiar with this area anymore, and it would not have been fun to get lost.

The group stopped for lunch in Fairfield. After having a little lunch (whole grain bagel, banana, and coconut water for me … no way my belly would have handled much more than that!) I rode pretty strong most of the way back, but there was a couple mile stretch of Pleasants Valley Road where I lost momentum. I regained momentum when I rolled past the bottom of Cantelow, and eventually caught back up with the portion of the group I was riding with when they stopped for a regroup at Putah Creek & Pleasants Valley Road. I kept pace pretty well most of the way from there.

What a nice day! I am looking forward to many more rides with DBC.

Now I’ve got to get ready to cook dinner. My training partner, who did a different ride today, is coming for dinner tonight. It will be a light, healthy, high protein dinner of chicken breasts, brown rice, veggies, and salad.

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After a rainy week … here’s to a GLORIOUS, sunny Saturday!

Heading out soon for a ride … just need to decide where to go.

Not quite ready for this ride, but bet this would be fun … http://www.davisbikeclub.org/rides-and-events/upcoming_events/davis-400k-brevet

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A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.

~ Irish proverb

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Wednesday, April 11th

I had lots and lots of company ...

This one was wise and stayed off the beaten path.

I didn’t make it to the gym this morning because it was just too beautiful outside to be working out inside. So, I went for a brisk walk. It had rained, so it was wet, but it was lovely for a walk.

This one was bold, venturing right in the middle of the path.

This one encountered a bit of a challenge.

Along one of the Davis Greenbelts

Trying to capture falling drips, but need a better camera.

So, then I rushed off to work.

At lunch, I got to stroll the Arboretum.  

Starting to cloud up again

A bright spot on my day!

 

 

 

 

 

The rain stopped long enough for the honey bees to venture out …

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My coach planned a great training ride today. We started out riding on Hwy 128 a few miles past Moskowite Corner. We parked alongside the road and started right into a hill. I have to be honest, there was a bit of “oh no … what did I get myself into today?” fear as we set out. I’m not used to jumping straight into any kind of hills; I’ve gotten used to starting out on the flats and taking some time to warm up. My knee was feeling it a little, so I just granny geared it and stuck it out. It sure felt GREAT to get to the top of that first little climb. We rode along Lower Chiles Valley Road together for a while and then I turned on Pope Valley Road and my coach set off on his far more ambitious ride heading out the other way on Pope Valley Road and on towards Angwin.

My direction turned out to be a great downhill.  I only saw one other cyclist on Pope Valley Road and he was riding up. I thought, “Oh, I’m going to have to ride up this on the way back!” Only a handful of cars passed. It was delightful!

I continued on until I connected with Hwy 128 again, and headed towards Lake Hennessey.

Lake Hennessey, Napa, California

Lake Hennessey, Napa, California

I stopped just for a few moments, and headed back up the road towards the Napa Valley. Our goal was to meet back up in St. Helena at the park off Pope Street by 1:30. It wasn’t even 1:00 and I was this close already?!

Hwy 128 & The Silverado Trail

Woo hoo!! Got there first! Haha! Not sure I can really brag much about that in light of the ride that he did compared to mine, but ... at least I know that there was one part of the ride where I didn't keep my coach waiting or having to turn around to check if I was still there and still OK.

I rested a couple of minutes and took a few photos.

Interesting bee-like insect ...

Itty bitty daisy-like flower

... in pink

I headed back towards the Silverado Trail and my coach was rolling over the Pope Street bridge. We rode together to downtown St. Helena, in hopes of having lunch at the Model Bakery.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Lesson learned … Google first to make sure your destination will actually be open on a holiday and at the time you expect to arrive.

We ended up getting some food at the Safeway and then having a latte at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company.

Napa Valley Coffee Roasters' (surprisingly average) latte

A busy bee tending to the lemon trees at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company

We rode back on the Silverado Trail and on to Hwy 128. We stayed on 128 all the way to the car. Most of it was pretty manageable for me, but a few parts were quite challenging, especially with a little wind. I got some great encouragement from my coach and that kept me motivated and going. He said that my pedal stroke is getting better (I’ve been working on it). I really do need to get some new pedals and shoes. Real cycling shoes with the clip-in things … yeh, I’m a bit behind the times … ’nuff said about that.

One hill just kept going, and going, and going … I fell quite a bit behind and had to literally talk myself up part of the hill. “You got it … Almost there!” That happened through a few false peaks, and at one point I found myself really wanting to get off my bike and walk, but I kept on going and made it to the top.

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Happy Easter!

Heading out soon to ride to St. Helena with my “coach” … just hoping that our idea of “rolling hills” is the same … LOL!

I hope to get some nice photos to post later.