Cycling Foodie

Follow

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.

Follow

Yesterday I rode from Napa almost to Healdsburg and back for a total of 87.6 miles. Originally I had planned a century ride, but got a bit of a late start because my alarm didn’t go off in the morning. That’s OK; 87.6 miles turned out to be just enough yesterday. I rode a modified Napa Valley Tour de Cure route: starting from Luna Vineyards up the Silverado Trail to Calistoga, then up Hwy 128 to the Jimtown Store for lunch, then back.

The ride from Napa up the Valley on the Silverado Trail was, as always, beautiful. The day started a little chilly, and the breeze was a little more than expected, but for the most part not too bad on the way to Calistoga. I discovered a great place to stop in Calistoga for a quick break – the Sharpsteen Museum. There was a spot of shade to have a snack, a water fountain, and a clean restroom.

I haven’t been riding hills much recently, and haven’t really done any since the Napa Valley Tour de Cure, so the hills on Hwy 128 between Calistoga and Healdsburg were just right. These are confidence building hills and I think I rode pretty steadily on them yesterday. I’m not going to win any races, but that’s not why I ride.

Lunch at the Jimtown Store …

Icy cold and refreshing!

Upscale PB&J …

Perfect!

This fueled me almost all the way back to Napa. I did stop once and grab a quick gel at about 77 miles. The menu at the Jimtown Store looks beautiful, but that foodie adventure will have to wait for a day when I’m not cycling. I eat pretty light when I ride: carbs, a little protein and very little fat.

By the time I got back to the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, the winds had kicked up a bit and I fought a headwind pretty much the entire way down Valley back to the car. I was hoping to get back to the car in time to stop in and pick up a bottle of wine at Luna Vineyards, but the ride back took longer than expected. I got there moments after the last guests were leaving and they had already closed out the register for the day. Oh, well. This is an excuse to head back another day!

Follow

In less than 10 hours I will be starting my fifth Napa Valley Tour de Cure. Each year I ride to honor the memory of my brother Bill.

As I encounter challenges of my ride, my mantra will be …

Pedal.
Smile.
Breathe.
Repeat.

As of now, I am at 57.5% of my fundraising goal. If you would like to donate to my ride, please click here. Even though the ride is tomorrow, it’s not too late to donate! Your tax deductible donation supports a great cause – the search for a cure to diabetes! Please support my ride.

Best of luck to all of the riders tomorrow! You are heroes!

Follow

I’m volunteering to help get riders per-registered for tomorrow’s 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure.

Less than 24 hours to go and I have only $430 to raise to meet my goal. If you would like to donate to my ride, please click here.

Here’s wishing the Roseville Tour de Cure riders today a very safe and enjoyable ride! The winds are a bit gnarly this morning in Davis – the Weather Channel says 10 mph, but I’m pretty sure they’re more than that. It looks like the Roseville riders will get about the same. We’re expecting 15 mph tomorrow in Napa. Just think of all those extra calories we’ll burn and all the great food we’ll be able to enjoy as a result!

Follow

Oh, my! This is going to be one adventurous Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

Just 48 hours to go and $501 to raise to meet my goal. If you would like to donate to my ride, please click here.

Follow

According to Greek mythology, there are Gods of the Winds . Boreas is the north wind, Zephyrus the west wind, and Eurus the east (or southeast) wind. Boreas is the coldest and most powerful. As far as I can tell, they’re brothers.

I’m trying to figure out which direction the winds are blowing today so I can figure out which Greek god to plead to. According to the Weather Channel’s hourly forecast for the Davis area this morning, 6am North (18 mph), 6:15am West (17 mph), 6:30 South (16 mph), 6:45am East (15 mph). Oh, dear. The Gods of the Winds appear to be at battle; perhaps what we have going on here right now is a sibling rivalry of epic proportions.

The evil North Wind is expected to blow ~15 mph (gusts up to 50 mph!) pretty much the rest of the day today.

Kaikias, the Northeast Wind, will bully his way in there now and then today. He’s a bad boy in Greek mythology, bringing with him cold and blizzards.  Apparently he always carries hail. Oh, yay.

Sunday’s Napa forecast is for 16 mph SSW winds. Notus is the South Wind, who was considered to be dangerous. Lips, or Livos, was the Southwest Wind. He was known to be lukewarm.

Oh, my. I am so confused now. I never was good at this Greek mythology thing.

Dear Gods of the Winds, can you please play nicely together on Sunday for our 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure ride? We humans would sure appreciate it!

Follow

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.

Follow

I got a few great training rides in this weekend, about 80 miles each on Saturday and Sunday. Rolling hills … no big hills … just rollers. I saw a few other riders with Tour de Cure jerseys on out there! No pictures to post – I just focused on riding. We got a nice break from the wind this weekend. That was much, much appreciated!

Follow

Yolo County Airport, off Road 95

This morning the wind wasn’t quite as bad as it was yesterday, and I really am out of time for excuses. I simply HAD to ride. The 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure is just two weeks from TODAY!

I headed out around 9:00 am and rode about 42 miles from Davis to Winters and back, and then another 30+ in a loop out towards Woodland and around Davis on back roads. The wind was pretty strong today, but I actually rode pretty well (for me) in spite of it. I didn’t take a lot of pictures, but stopped to capture this on near the airport.

Since I might as well accept the winds here (apparently constant complaining about it has not made it stop), I am going to now approach them as training for hills.

The wind is an excellent training tool.
The wind is an excellent training tool.
The wind is an excellent training tool.

Berry & Peach Buttermilk Smoothie with Whey Protein

A Berry-Peach-Buttermilk Smoothie is motivation to get home!

Tonight’s dinner will be grilled chicken breasts marinated in lemon, honey, coarse grain mustard, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh thyme and rosemary. A salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, roasted artichoke hearts and walnuts, drizzled with a little balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil, with a grind or two of salt and pepper. We’ve also got this avocado that just won’t get ripe, so on the grill it goes.

Chicken

Salad

Avocado

Follow

It wasn’t supposed to be so breezy in Davis today, but it is. I really should be out there riding, getting ready for my Tour de Cure ride that is now just 2 weeks away, but I’m hoping the winds will calm down later. Perhaps a morning trip to the Davis Farmers’ Market? In the meantime, laundry and experimenting with my new favorite banana bread recipe are keeping me plenty busy.

Whole Wheat Banana Oat Bread with Walnuts

* My idea of ripe & ready for bread bananas.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup pure cane sugar, unrefined
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon instant espresso
3/4 cup whole rolled oats
2 ripe* bananas, mashed
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
A handful of oats and some additional sugar for sprinkling on top of the loaf before baking

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the loaf pan – spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mash the bananas in another bowl, stir in the beaten eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the walnuts. Don’t over-mix or the bread will be tough.
5. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the top with a handful of oats and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of sugar.
6. Bake in the center of the preheated oven for about 50-55 minutes. The loaf is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes, then remove from the pan. Let the loaf cool before slicing into it.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ...

Fold in the walnuts ...

Fresh from the oven.

Let the loaf cool 10-15 minutes before removing from the pan.

You can slice it while it's still warm, but do try to be patient.

This bread is a bit more dense than the last version, due to the 100% whole wheat flour and walnuts, but it’s hearty, not heavy. The espresso and cinnamon add a nice complexity and depth of flavor, without being overpowering. Using coconut sugar, as well as bananas at this stage of ripeness, gives the bread a nice banana flavor without making it cloyingly sweet.

Enjoy with a freshly brewed cup of coffee, espresso, or cappuccino!