Joy of Medina County Magazine | December 2021
23
HEALTH: HEALTHY TRAILS
Road Munchies by Robert Soroky On occasion, some riders, like myself, love to spend an entire afternoon on the bike, whether it is tackling city roads for longdistance training rides or leisurely cruising the Cuyahoga Valley and Cleveland Metroparks bike trails. The challenge, though, on these day-long adventures is the ability to stay fed and hydrated. Of course, stopping at a quaint little town deli is always fun, but if those stops are too far off the route or you just do not want to take that long of a break, then packing some snacks for the afternoon is a wise call. As a fitness rider, I prefer to pack as little as possible on my bike, bringing just enough “stuff” to fit in a small bag under the seat. With storage at a premium, food selections need to be small packages that deliver a lot of kick. Starting with hydration, I like to bring at least two insulated water bottles carried in brackets mounted to the bike frame. To ensure I am getting enough vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, I fill the bottles with water, then pop in natural-flavored supplement tablets. These tablets typically have fewer calories and less sugar than traditional sport drinks, making them a healthier hydration alternative. Plus, a tube of these tablets fits
easily in a small under-seat bag, so any time I need to refill my water bottles on the go, I have a solid supply! On the food side, I pack a few high-protein bars and sport gummies and gels, all of which are loaded with everything needed to keep me going. What is cool about the gels and gummies is that they are available in a cornucopia of flavors, and they provide various levels of ingredients based on what kind of effort being exerted. For example, some may have a higher sodium content for those who sweat excessively or are prone to getting muscle cramps on high-exertion, high-heat days. Bottom line, you do not have to pack a refrigerator’s worth of food when heading out for a day on a bike. Robert Soroky is a lifelong cyclist who regularly participates in long-distance charity rides and is the manager of the Century Cycles Medina location. Contact Soroky at robert@centurycycles.com to suggest column topics, for further information or to chat about bikes.
N
COMMUNITY
Giving kudos to those who are providing great service at area businesses
Emily Bly was thrilled recently with the above-and-beyond customer service she received from Brandon at Walgreens. Here is what she had to say, “I sent him a card with some gift
I literally had a sense of calmness come over me because I knew he was the one taking care of me. I knew everything would be correct. He remembered my name and remembered me, when I
cards in it and also spoke to his manager, Gus. I also contacted
have not even been there in over a year. His customer service
corporate. I used to go to Walgreens a lot (about a year ago) for
and the way he treats and speaks to customers is on a whole
the pharmacy, and sometimes I would get him taking care of me other level than anyone else in that store. Long story short, he is and he was always the most polite and super friendly. Well, they amazing. These days good help is very hard to find, and this kid had a recent turnover of employees and honestly, I have missed is a gem!” seeing familiar faces. The service hasn’t been the same. Then when I went the other day, Brandon answered the phone in the
Has an employee at a local store made your day? Gone that extra
pharmacy drive-through and he literally made my day by what
mile to help? Send your name, the employee’s name, place of
an exceptional employee he is. I knew with him, everything
employment, date of occurrence, and what made your experience
would be correct and no issues would happen. (Sometimes
special to Joy@BlakeHousePublishing.com Recognition limited to
getting scripts filled can be frustrating due to doctor orders,
those employed within Medina County.
pharmacy not having, or scripts not being called in by doctors).
