The thing that I miss most about not being Vegetarian and even not being Vegan is, I think, that gross euphoric sense of accomplishment of consuming something that took time off of your (my) life. I believe I’ve been trying to recreate that sense with Veganism, but any way I go about it, Veganism is super healthy without that sick feeling. Even Vegetarianism provides that sense that ultimately contributes to obesity and copes with horrible days.
I’ve been Vegan for over two months and this Monday (Labor Day) brought myself urging for that disgusting sense that would make a bad day, good? I had the worst ride of my life.
I lost a screw to one of my cleats to one of my cycling shoes right off the bat and I also was stranded with a flat tire and a failed patch kit in BFE. I chose to be dropped off 60 minutes from home and ride home in round-about fashion. I had a gravel climb that made me stop and change my auto-pause speed to 2 km/h instead of 12 on my Garmin Edge 1000.
That climb also made me want to quit cycling forever. And that was part of an oncoming gravel ride later this month. Being labor day, most assholes didn’t have to work and were all driving around like assholes. I had to cross a bridge over a bigger sized river with no freaking shoulder. I took the wrong way on a highway without a shoulder where it was super busy. I had to backtrack and I saved my life by walking back on the nonexistent shoulder.
I found a really cool area of rolling gravel roads and obtained that flat. I believe it was a pinch flat… And made sure to bring tools, but when i was ready to use my patch kit, the glue was all dried up. I had to walk (of shame) with a bicycle on my shoulder for 90 minutes before I could even get service where I could call to be picked up in the closest town.
The entire time I was pissed that I used my only spare tube in order to replace a slow leak in an old tube putting different tires on and keeping tubes in my (now off) road tires and dreamed of justifying the day by crushing a cheese pizza.
I brought just enough water and two Smart bars and was eventually picked up.
It’s set in stone that I’ll be Vegetarian for the rest of my life. Not so much with Veganism (yet). I did not crush a cheese pizza, but made a big batch of chinese-style noodles and a Vegan Mayhem sandwich. I found squeezable ginger that had me super excited until I saw the bullshit preservatives added. I still had to buy it.
I was so hungry and exhausted that I had energy to make a huge batch of Vegan Ramen. Noodles are Vegan, seasoning is not.
Ⓥegan Ramen ingredients:
- Ramen Noodles, seasoning discarded
- Potatoes, diced and boiled (or roasted)
- Broccoli, fresh or frozen florets-blanched
- Garlic, minced
- Ginger, minced
- Soy Sauce, Vegan
- SeaSalt/Pepper
- BalsamicVinegar/Sriracha
- Vegetable Broth
- Peanut Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Sunflower Seeds, shelled
Chopsticks to mouth:
- Cook Ramen slightly undercooking, draining and leave separate seasoned with Soy Sauce and Sriracha.
- Cook Potatoes and blanch Broccoli and leave aside.
- Add Oil/Garlic/Ginger and sauté for a couple of minutes before adding everything else and mixing.
Vegenaise Upgraded ingredients:
- Vegenaise, mmm
- Mustard, organic
- Cucumber, diced without seeds
- Onion, diced
- Tomato, diced and strained
MIX
Ⓥegan Mayhem:
I then panfried two Vegan Boca patties and a Ciabatta bun (insides down). I put the two patties on the bottom bun and added noodles without any Broccoli and put a scoop of Vegenaise Upgraded on top and broiled for three minutes.
It was tasty and still healthier than anything animal based. Perhaps I didn’t achieve that early death feeling, but I honestly didn’t need it. My ride was horrible, but I took a few good pictures, rode in the rain and wasn’t hurt in any way. #RideOn
VeggHead BeerCyclist 