Cycling Foodie

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Summer weather calls for cool, refreshing beverages. These fresh fruit ices are perfect after a ride, or just to sip in the shade on a hot day to cool off.

Watermelon Ice

1/4 cup frozen watermelon chunks
1 cup cool water
1/2 to 1 teaspoon agave syrup (optional, depending on the sweetness of your watermelon)

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

I think a squeeze of fresh lime would be wonderful in this.

Diced watermelon has only about 45 calories per cup and agave syrup 15 calories. So, as prepared, this beverage has only about 25 to 30 calories. Enjoy guilt-free!

Pineapple Ice

Pineapple Ice

1 1/2 cups cool water
1/4 cup frozen diced pineapple chunks
1/2 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Pineapple chunks have about 85 calories per cup, so this ice has only about 22 calories per serving. Pineapple is sweet enough on its own that you don’t need to add any sweetener.

You can do this with any fruit you like. I’ll certainly be trying fresh peaches, nectarines, cherries, and so on …

Enjoy!

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Guess who I got to ride alongside of today on the American River Trail?

Oh, just about all of the teams for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California. They’re out spinning their legs today, gearing up for Stage 1 of the men’s race, which is tomorrow in Sacramento.

Yep. I got to ride with each team for about 2-3 seconds as they zipped past me. Some of the teams were very polite and called out, “On your left.” I really appreciated that.

Like I said, not to brag, or anything, but now  I can say that I’ve ridden with most of the 2015 Amgen guys. Although, I am sad that I didn’t get to ride with Team Sky. They were already headed back the other way, so we passed right pretty close to Discovery Park.

Happy cycling! Here’s wishing all the guys on all the teams an exciting and safe Tour of California!

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The 2015 Napa Valley Tour de Cure is just TWO days away! I am now just $181 shy of Champion status! Please help  me to reach this goal by making a donation to support my ride. Simply click here to go to my personal Tour de Cure page.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take today off work and get a good training ride in. According to my brand new Garmin Edge 510, my maximum speed was 124.8 mph, but it also says that my average mph is lower than I think it should be (12.4 mph!). I’m not convinced that these numbers are entirely accurate. I rode about 70 miles on the American River Trail, from Sacramento to Folsom and back. According to my Garmin, I also burned 3,000+ calories.

All that excitement plus the sun and heat left me very hungry, thirsty, and in the mood for a cool, refreshing smoothie.

Cherry Berry Protein Blast

Cherry Berry Protein Blast

1/2 cup non-fat vanilla Kefir
(or Greek yogurt)
1/2 cup cool water
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen cherries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 small fresh nectarine
1 scoop whey protein
1 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a large blender, such as a Vitamix. Blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

This makes about 2 pints.

OK, not lots and lots to do to get ready for the weekend! I’ll be in Napa all day tomorrow volunteering for early registration check-in, and then volunteering for the Champions Dinner check-in. I’m really hoping to make Champion status again this year, so … you can help, if you want.

Click here to go to my personal Tour de Cure page.

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Just $210 more to reach Champion Status. If you haven’t had the chance to make a donation, please help me to reach this goal. If just 8 people donate just $29, I’ll make it!

To make a tax deductible donation, please click here.

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Years ago I discovered this method of cooking shrimp and I have never boiled it since. Ina Garten, on an episode of Barefoot Contessa, made her Roasted Shrimp Cocktail. To make is spicy, just add some red chili flakes before roasting.

Spicy Roasted Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail & Tartar Sauces

The sauces shown are very simple, rustic versions of tartar and cocktail sauces.

For the tartar sauce, simply combine to taste mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, lime (or lemon) juice, and a dash of Worcerstershire sauce and blend well.

For the cocktail sauce, simply combine to taste some ketchup, horseradish (I like lots), lime (or lemon) juice, and a bit of chili garlic paste.

One week from today, right at this very moment, I will be riding in my 7th Napa Valley Tour de Cure! If you would like to help me reach Champion status, please click here to make a donation. You’ll be supporting the American Diabetes Association and helping meet their mission: To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

I’ll be headed out shortly for a training ride on the American River Trail. It’s a beautiful morning for a ride! Hope you get one in, too.

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2015 Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

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I’m looking ahead to the Napa Valley weather forecast for the next 10 days and it’s looking like we are going to have some breezy conditions leading up to our 2015 Napa Valley Tour de Cure. Fingers crossed that it won’t be too breezy!

So, I guess I’ll just be thankful for recent breezy conditions from Sacramento to Folsom, and Davis to Winters, that will help me to prepare for my Tour de Cure! If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, please help me to reach my goal of being a Champion to Stop Diabetes again this year!

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Trek Bicycles is recalling about 1 million bikes for a safety issue.  For detailed information, click here.

Check out this video – it will help you to determine if you  need to take your Trek bike in to your local Trek shop.

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The 2015 Napa Valley Tour de Cure is now officially less than 2 weeks away!

Today marks my first official Napa Tour de Cure Team Red training ride. What a great group! I loved the camaraderie, support, a little playful competition. I’m looking forward to more Team Red rides!

Go Red Riders!

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2015 Napa Valley Tour de Cure!