Hills with Sandra (video)

 23 miles 1230 ft gain with Sandra. Dang she is strong! Working hard to keep up with her on the hills, and flats. But going uphill, WORKING to keep up then she would fade a little bit so I would keep the pace thinking she fell back so I'd get a little happy. THEN I'd hear a little Huffy puffy coming back up. Darn, no time to rest. She's gotten much stronger since we last rode together, about a year ago. She had my heart rate up pretty good trying to keep up. 🤣

Youtube video

Tuesday Pico SF Dam Rec Area

 Good ride today, 23 miles at 15.2 average speed. Doesn't seem fast but this trail is different from SART. This section I ride is all uphill from the Pico Rivera Golf course to the Santa Fe Dam Rec area. And that Dam Climb, ouch! But felt good today even though it was windy.

I was planning to go easy but at the start of my ride, I ran into 3 riders, Filipino I think. They started from the Pico dam right as I was getting up there. So they headed down as I was warming up and had a good 50 yards on me. I wasn't racing, heck 3 of them and 1 of me, figuring I couldn't keep up with a small line by my lonesome. So I started somewhat easy watching them pull away. Later, about 2 miles down the road, I noticed I started gaining. So I changed my ride plan a bit exerting a little more effort than expected.

Soon I caught them then passed with a friendly hello! I ended up ahead about 30 yards ahead and noticed that they kept coming close. I was slowing down going around maintenance trucks, about 3 of then on the trail at different points so I was aware of my surroundings. At one point, they were about 15 yards behind but we hit the stair section of the trail about 3miles form the top of the trail. At this point, I figured me at 240 pounds, and them at about 150, they were probably expecting me to fade on the short climbs. So I told myself, no fading today! So I actually kicked it up. My HR was at about 130 near the start. At that point I was not expecting them to come back but they were so I kicked it up. At 140, I'm usually catching people on the flatter trail in Santa Ana. Here I was at 130 but they were coming back so I kicked it up to 140's. Dropped them behind but then they were coming back again so I gave a good effort, high 150's, around 158 to the top of the trail on a section of about 2 miles according to my graph.

At that point, they were well behind so I kept going and climbed the Dam Climb, ouch! When I got to the top of the climb, I saw them down on the trail arriving at the Chelan rest area.  They did a quick regroup then headed up in my direction. Along the top of the dam is flat and though I did not work too hard, I looked back just to see where they were and nowhere in sight. Cool!

I went down into the SF rec area for a break, a few pics, and a short break.  NOBODY AROUND which was cool. I might have been the only Mexican around the area today that does not fear ICE deportation ha ha ha! But the park was totally empty and I liked it. Reminds me of back in the day when the country was not so overcrowded.  I love it!

Then I cruised back somewhat trying to keep a good pace though it had gotten windy. I made it and happy with the ride feeling great!

Then a little dinner with Gina at Millie's. Not sure why but I've been craving chorizo. I made some eggs with chorizo the other day and boy it was good. So today, flatbread breakfast tacos with chorizo and Gina had a chicken pot pie. Oh, and then we shared an individual cherry pie for dessert. Gina hasn't ridden in quite some time but I still loves my time with my Honey, sweetest person ever and only getting sweeter in our old age. Can't say the same for myself but she keeps me balanced.

Oh yeah, mail call today. 2 new GP5000's having just installed the last of my stash last week. Now I'm back up and with 2 free tubes included. I hate having to worry about paying too much at the bike shops when I can get them much cheaper with a little plan ahead effort.

Riding in California, the jersey that is! 

My sweet Honey

 

Half way through the graph is the top. My HR started easier at 130 then noticing the guys catching up, kicked it up to 140's then 158 along the top section of the grade for about 2 miles. Good workout and fun. Heck, if they weren't trying to catch me, so what! I was having my own fun and workout.

Then the return, trying to keep it going but not too hard.

I know I shouldn't be eating this pie but hey, salads  cucumbers,  fruit, and good portions most the time,  I deserve a little cherry pie.  And, I only ate half sharing this individual size with Gina. 

Hot Sunday

 Wish it were a hot sundae ha ha ha! No ice cream but a hot ride. Forecast said 88 but topped out at 95 according to my device loaded on the bike sites. Easy 20 miles, seeing if I could hold it down to 120 bpm with the heart rate. Pretty hard actually, trying to go that easy. Heck, if I even started to apply some force, the hr would go up to 130. Oh well, got in my easy ride like I wanted, in the heat which I figured might raise my hr anyway.

A very easy ride from the Pico golf course to the SF Dam and back. Just a little beyond the dam crossing up and to the west through the tunnel and to the 605 fwy. Overlooking the other side of the little hill, I see the water holes were filled. Seems Trump's ass whippin's on Gavin must have done some good because there is some water, even in Summer. The 3 years I have been riding this area, I have never seen water in those holes.

I ran into Luis and his wife Sandra before my ride. He was finishing up as I was getting ready to leave. He said it was windy coming back and one would really feel it. He was right, pretty windy coming back. Just not fair, riding up hill then the reward of coming down is null because of the wind.

Probably somebody's father, husband, son, driving up to the homeless camp to do drugs with the local scumbags.

High of 95 according to Bryton and Strava

Then to Mongolian BBQ in Claremont for an early dinner with Gina and Cecee. They make their own hot mustard and boy, the stuff is good! Stuff that clears your sinuses, makes your eyes water and your nose run, but just so darn good! 

Big difference in today's and yesterday's heart rates on the rides.

2 AM Leaky Toilet Tour

Solo 47 at 16.1 average speed. Yorba & Huntington Beach. Nice day but a bit of a suck for me. Woke up to pee pee at about 2 AM, flushed to toilet and it started running and wouldn't stop. Bummer, didn't know what was wrong so I looked it up on the net and it said it could be the float tower. So as directed, I took off the top, removed a rubber seal, scrubbed it clean then reinstalled. Sounded a bit better but not just right but hey, 2 AM, I'm going back to bed but couldn't sleep thinking about it. So finally about 4 am, fell asleep but up again about 6 AM. Couldn't go back to sleep so I looked up some more stuff on the net. Found that I would have to remove the fixture then check the seal at the bottom.  Looks like a bit condom ha ha ha! But it did have a pretty good blister on it so I figured that was it. 

Well dang it, couldn't just leave and go for a ride so I disassembled everything to get the seal then took a few pics so Gina would know what part to get for the repair, and hope that was it. I went riding while she got the part then reassembled it. Pretty easy so I took pics and left her instructions but told her that if she couldn't, I'd do it when I got home. Two toilets so no biggie other than a  strain on my mind. But she actually did very well and got it easily. Of course my hands were all cut up having to fit them in tiny spaces. So the bandage on one cut fell off as soon as I started sweating on the bike and the other under my glove, no sense in putting a band aid on that one.

So I did my ride and hoped to get home somewhat early. Pffft, starting my ride at 10:30, hardly early. Did run across Ron & Dixie on the trail, I can never get them on video always being surprised. Ron needs to wear a bright orange jersey with RON on it so I can see them coming in time to get my recorder out ha ha ha!

I called Gina on my way home asking if she had got it ok, yup! But something sounded funny in her voice. When I got home, it was hot. Unloaded my bike off my truck, bagged everything then headed in only to find that Cecee had gotten a new valve for the shower that had been dripping a bit as well. Well damn, didn't even get to shower or relax, figured I'd install it before taking a shower then getting sweaty again. Oh well, got the job done then took a shower and headed to dinner with Gina.

Good day, nice weather but I'm feeling a little sleepy already. I should sleep like a baby tonight after all that and fighting the wind.

Didn't get much for a video so I just extracted a few images. Couple of Ron & Dixie and  a few of me just messing around posing for the video ha ha ha!

Ron's lens

Got in a pretty good workout.

 

But a better thought, replaced the rear tire on my bike ride before the Donut Ride. So I ordered a couple more that should be here sometime this week. Got to have spare tires laying around for sure. 2 tires with 2 tubes. Might as well get the 2 tubes for like 10 bucks more.

The Donut Ride A'la Sandra

 27 miles, 1220 ft gain with Sandra and Tony (TC) today. Few pics for now then a youtube video. Story later. And yes, I only ate half a donut.

Ah yes, Sandra had said that she wanted to take me on a couple of rides so I said, let's do it! This one was the Donut Ride I had seen on her Strava. So we did it and of course, invited TC as well. Of course the night before the ride, I take a quick glance at my bike and realize I have a bald spot, baaaahhh! Usually have and easy time replacing the tire but this time, it sucked! I could not for the life of me get the tire on. Ended up damaging the tube so had to put in another. Bummer but worst part is the big azz blister on my thumb. Lifted skin for about half an inch on my right thumb, my main go to finger boo hoo!

But we all met at Encanto Park then headed East on Sierra Madre. Nice rolling hills course with plenty of short climbs. I see on the device graphs that there are 6,7, and even an 8 percent short grades. I felt it but Sandra seemed to keep pushing the pace. Heck, usually takes me 10 miles to warm up but no chance this time. She rode from home so I think she got her warm up in but TC and I were both suffering for a bit having to jump on the bike and lift the pace right away. Sandra is pretty strong so it takes some effort to keep up.

Few times she would fade on a hill so I would push up a bit just to get ahead thinking I could relax a bit before she arrived. I did but as soon as she went by, she was pushing again so there we were, pushing to catch back up ha ha ha! She's like the Energizer Bunny, you think she's done but then she comes back even harder. But it was cool, we both had to put some effort into the ride. Especially not knowing the course, where and when we had time to recover. 

TC did have some knee issues. Pain in a knee and almost called it quits after the first 8 but he stuck it out and seemed to do well even though. Stopped at The Donut Man. Crazy fun strawberry filled donut. Hadn't had one in about 10 years but somehow, I managed to ear only about half. Sandra had some of the donut and some strawberries so that helped out. Sadly throwing away about half the bread part but better for my health. Tony got a Tiger Tail that he shared with Sandra. A donut he described as looking like a serrote, which in English would be a turd ha ha ha! They had a little fun playing with it. Though I was a little disappointed seeing the donut dude wouldn't cut the donut in half for us. OK, he said we could just tear it with our hands, ok, whatever, no good review for you on Yelp ha ha ha!

But a good ride and I think we all finished pretty strong. We'll do it again sometime  but Sandra said she would be happy if we continued to ride once a week in the early evening. I have a couple of rides, couple variations of my ride that they have enjoyed so seems in the next few weeks, we'll mix it up!  

The Youtube Video

Little elevation and with Sandra's surges, I got my heartrate up there a bit here and there. Sandra jumped on it right away having started from her home and having a little warm up. Seems I got about 49 seconds of warmup time. Much different from my usual 10 minutes ha ha ha! I think she was trying to kill us off the line.

Of course the pay off, being able to eat some of Cecee's homemade beans, HM chile verde over pork chops, yum! 

Cool things continue with eating well and avoiding junk foods. No special diet, just good stuff and when I do eat fancy, I don't eat as much. Just enough to get full and that is not always. Mostly cucumbers, salads with vinegar instead of dressing and RARELY ice cream, my second love ha ha ha! But again, knowing I'll die a rough death, I choose not to do so, avoid all the suffering that I have seen so many times already with family members. 

So it is cool when Sandra says she can tell that I have lost some weight, though again, I have not weighed myself in a couple years, I think.

Then I got this message from a friend on FB. Guy I met when I was 13 years old and pretty much grew up together. He's always known me as a really active person. So it's cool that he knows I'm still no couch  potato slug ha ha ha!

Good to know my direction is showing and rewarding.

Some edits on Alyce's pic. She sent this pic in a text message. I felt like fiddling with the editor so I posted them, she liked them. then asked if she could copy and use them for her stuff. Sure! Always fun playing with pics. 

I think her hubby Herb took the pic form his low trike so a know appeared by her shoe. I cloned it out and tried to rebuild the toe section. Came out pretty good I think.