Squeezed 25 Between the Rain 🌧

 Solo 25, squeezing one in between the rain. 'Posed to rain 🌧 again tonight and tomorrow so with a low chance today, figured I'd go for it. Turned out to be pretty nice and wore my Bonez jersey because it always makes me look skinny little. 😆😄😆 Hoping to go easy after a few days off with rain but felt pretty good. Of course, little bit of Sizzler last night. Usual petite steak and Gina had the salad 🥗 bar. Strange but had a hard time eating last night. Felt nauseous, maybe something I ate earlier. Didn't get sick but hard time eating so happy feeling good today. 😛

Ain't it funny how things work out. Laid off then I applied for my SSI retirement which is great but was wondering about medical. Open enrollment came up at Gina's work so she looked into it and wow, only like $10 more than I was paying at my job which is unusual nowadays. Heck, I remember back in 2005, some people were paying $275 every two weeks for their family benefits. So Gina's employer small company was taken over by a larger company, a bit scary but better benefits so Hey! So I have the same exact benefits I had before getting laid off without the hassle of working for a bullshit bunch of lousy managers ha ha ha! Only difference is that my life insurance is much lower but hey, Gina can burn me then have a party after ha ha ha! But, my retirement check from the employer I worked for as a youngster kicked in when I was 55 so been collecting on that and that is more than enough to pay for my medical. I'm happy! Oh, and Gina's better benefits means she gets a few day off with pay for Christmas which is a first for that company.

People are too funny. As soon as I got on the trail, I hit the four corners area, about 1/4 mile into the ride. I see some dude approaching from the left wing of the trail. He rolls by and sees me then starts to hammer it seemed to me. OK, I just got on the trail warming up when I usually see other riders thinking it's going to be a race. This was one of those guys. 

I'm just warming up doing my thing when I see some faster riders approaching and I'm rolling up on some fella riding an mtb (just looked again, not an mtb but I'll keep it that way for identification) , as seen in the video. I slow so the fast guys can pass in the opposite direction safely, then pass the mtb guy with a wave, as seen in the video. I am in no rush and racing nobody......at this point. 😁

The guy gets ahead like 200 yards, I'm thinking he looks strong, good for him. Had no intentions of trying to catch him. Just getting in some exercise between rainy days. But 3 miles down the road, I notice he's fading back and I'm warming up. I think to myself either he is fading overextending himself or my legs are warming up and I'm increasing my speed without really trying. So another 1/4 mile then he pulls over. I see him and wonder if he flatted or something, But nope, he just pulled over, smiled at me as I rolled by so I said YO! He waits till I roll by then he starts again. No phone call, no flat, no real reason other than to hesitate for a minute or so to let me roll by. This tells me that he's going to let me go ahead then try to pass me to do a little showing off. OK, we'll see ha ha ha! See him at 4:58 into the video behind me. Then again at 5:08 way behind me as the trails starts to go up, applying pressure ha ha ha!  Then opened it up even more after the last mile to the top.

I'm feeling good by this point being warmed up some, feeling pretty loose figuring it had been raining and much cooler than we are used to here in So Cal. So I just roll along doing my pace waiting for him to pass but he never does. This is the flatter section of the trail, after 7 miles, it starts stair stepping up and pretty frequent steps. It can wear a rider out feeling like a sustained climb with very little relief in between the up steps. 

So I try not to look back for the longest time not wanting him to know I have been monitoring him or expecting him to pass. But he closes the gap which was about 100 yards restarting to about 30 yards, He's close and I'm thinking he's thinking because I'm a big guy, he'll overtake me when we hit the stair stepping climbing section. OK! Just as we hit the first real step, I picked up the pace knowing so many riders fade here ha ha ha! I looked back after the first step and sure enough, he fell back about another 10 yards. So I just started pushing hard on the way up. I got to the top of the trail and looked back before the big dam climb. He was pretty far back, 100 yards at least ha ha ha! I started up the dam and it looked as if he was trying to lift the pace, maybe catch me on the dam, the 9 to 100% climb of 1/3 mile. Uh no way, I just kept a good pace up then pushed at the top to finish it off. 

That was my plan to stop and take video as usual. So I set up my claw clamp set up on a pole so I could attach the gopro. He finally reached the top and I said hi as he rolled by with a smile. I think he might have been surprised that I could open the gap like that so I like to think of that smile he gave me having a little bit of shame in it ha ha ha! I try not to think about things this way just doing my ride most times but sometimes, they ask for it ha ha ha!

                                                          

                                                  Here he comes trying to close the gap

2 (?) miles later, falling behind. After I put the camera away, I doubled the gap within the next mile leaving him further behind ha ha ha!

As I was waiting for a runner to pass my gorpo POV, some rider rolled by and said hi, Then he asked me if I needed him to record me riding. No thanks, I explained that I had my claw clamp thingy. He seemed cool and rolled by with a smile in a different direction. Seemed like a good guy but I worry about people, can't always trust them. I have thoughts that once I descended the dam, he might try to take off with the gopro ha ha ha! I mean it is possible no matter how nice one seems. I am very vigilant with the recorder/s. Either someone is going to drop it causing damage or going to take off with it so when I set it up, I usually wait for others to evacuate the area before I ride off leaving it alone. Especially on the dam climb. I mean if I go down and an ebike rolls up snatching the camera, no way can I climb the 11% grade fast enough to catch anybody on an ebike. Of course I see plenty of good citizen types on ebikes but way too many loco looking kids riding ebikes and motorized mini bikes. SO I do worry about it and always make sure it's clear. Just the way I think ha ha ha!

Eek! Sonic always looks so good on the commercials. The Smash 🍔 Burger.  Some reason I thought it was supposed to be inexpensive as well,  NOT! 

Major suck nasty! Usually I have no idea getting down a burger but I really had to try with this one. 😝 I might have tossed it but $35 for two combination meals? Tator tots were decent but every thing else sucked including the drink. OK, jalapeño poppers OK but 4? Freaking over priced. Seven more bucks we could have had the full steak dinners at Sizzler including soup or salad and drinks included. Big reason we frequent some places.  Too many others are a gamble like Suck It, I mean Sonic. 🤣

Silly Gina! She says she gets the cling free sheets out of the laundry but I have to keep my eyes 👀 open. Too many times I've found sheets creeping out of my pant legs. The other night,  walking into the mall,  I felt something strange on my chest/shoulder area. I felt it but didn't feel much, just a little strange like I had lost a little sensation.  We sat down then I felt again,  something strange 🤔  So I really felt my neck area realizing I had something,  a cling free sheet sticking out of my neckline. 

Silly Gina thought it was so 😁 funny! But it's always fun at the mall.  We've gotten to know the store people there so we're always getting free goodies.  🍪 

Ain't it amazing the stuff they come up with? Had an pld power bank,  then a bike light that's a power bank.  But saw this one at Best Buy for $16. Much more powerful than the others.  Figured I'd get it because every time we get to the mall, Gina's phone is just about dead. Pfft, if I don't remember to remind her  it's over. 

OK, yeah you're funny Gina 😁.  She says this is a strange picture because the gum almost flew out of her mouth while laughing. 😆😄😆

Top A Da Trail with TC

 Good 35 miles with TC up to the base of the Azusa mountains. The San Gabriel Trail northern section.  A little more challenging than the Santa Ana River Trail that Gina and I used to ride till we moved. This one stair steps its way up to the mountains. Not to mention The Damn Dam. Short 1/3 of a mile climb topping out at 11%. Never easy ha ha ha! My legs still a little burning from a couple days ago riding with Sandra, sissy ha ha ha! So today we planned an easier conversation pace. I had mentioned 25 but TC suggested a bit further last night as we texted one another planning the ride. He figured it was going to rain the next few days so we could do a little more today.

Ok, so we chatted a bit trying to figure out where to ride, the Pico Rivera golf course start trail ride or the foothills from Glendora. I was good with either but he finally decided on the San Gabe trail. OK, no problem. He said he was up late last night thinking about the ride, which way would we go to get in what hills on what roads. So today I show up with a 10:30 meet up time, little late figuring it might warm up a bit later in the morning. 

So I arrived at 10 am for the 10:30 meet. The time arrived and no TC. Hmmm, no sweat, sometimes 5 or 10 minutes is usual with cyclists trying to mee, traffic happens!  But one minute later I get a text, damn, he went to the park in Glendora that was one of the options but he had finally decided on the trail where I was and he wasn't ha ha ha! Hey, I let him get in the final decision and he went to the wrong place ha ha ha! I guess he was up too late thinking about  the details of the ride but in the wrong location ha ha ha! I've done that before, thinking of a ride then second guessing myself, wait, where are we riding again? I'd have to look back on my text messages to clear the confusion. Part of getting old I guess. Sheot happens ha ha ha! He did look back and find that it was his text that named the spot so I'm clear of all blame ha ha ha!

But a good ride and decent conversation pace. It is strange riding one trail with a higher average then riding this uphill course with a lower average then heading down only to fight the wind slowing one down even more. Today we were doing a good effort on the way down and holding 16-17. In my experience on this trail, that is a good clip as many times I am pushing hard doing 14 or 15. Doesn't seem fair it's the usual thing for me on this trail. It's a little tougher but it is much cleaner and a good workout so I do it. 

Even though we were doing pretty good holding 16-17, TC said it is strange that we were doing a pretty good effort and only doing 17. He says to hold 17 on the other trail is pretty easy but this one is a little different, I agree!

Once we descended the dam, we headed towards that trail, stopped for the crossing light when some dude on a mountain bike pulled up behind us. We headed off then he hopped on our wheels. We were riding side by side so the MTB'er sat just behind us in the draft staying in the middle, like a triangle. After a bit he asked if it was ok that he was there. I usually ride alone and like to keep it that way but since I was with TC, I let him answer and he's more friendly than I ha ha ha! But the guy was cool and rolling pretty well. He told us that he had never had it that easy and that fast before. Cool!

But after the downhill section was over, now it was mostly flat and windy to remaining 6 miles. The dude on the MTB was doing well and I could feel my legs starting to work harder at this point but he held on. Heck, TC had the same thought I had, actually waiting for the guy to go around us maybe having a motor or something because he was rolling pretty good. Just when I started thinking he had to have a motor, he shouted thank you then dropped back. Whew, not that it was a problem but he got me thinking that I sucked or he had a motor ha ha ha!

At Encanto Park, we stopped for a break. Ran into some friendly mentally challenged kid, or guy, not sure of his age but pretty well grown. He walked by with his group and caretakers shouting Hi Guys!!!!!

He and one of the caretakers came over and started talking bike, yes bikes! The guy started asking what kind of bikes we had. Then he pointed at mine and said it was old, ok kid! Then he started complimenting TC's bike. Next thing we know, he starts chatting about disc brakes, gravel bikes, tire sizes and all kinds of stuff we were shocked that he knew. Then he said, I have bibs. I was like what? Not to be mean, but a challenged kid knows about bibs? So we chatted about bike stuff for a good while ha ha ha! Then he said, I won a claim against a drug manufacturer, he named it but I won't. He tried to explain but we were unclear and not wanting to dwell. But he was happy telling us how much money he won but thinking about it, we wondered if he had been normal before the incident or was he already a bit challenged? It was strange that he knew so much about bikes already but how unless he had experience previously. Either way, the dude knew bikes, good for him! Good guy and actually a blast chatting with the kid, guy, man, whatever he is, not sure ha ha ha! Couldn't pick up on his age, looked like a kid, spoke like a teen but a mustache like a man. Heck, more than I have ha ha ha!

TC blasting off on the 11%

My face trying to climb 11% with one hand taking pics ha ha ha!

Aww, my Honey tonight after dinner at Sizzler and a visit to the mall for coffee. So sweet and wonderful, the most beautiful person on this earth. How can someone not love this girl?

Sandra Strong as Hell Tour (video )

 Sandra did 76+ from Encanto Park area to Seal Beach and back. I joined just above Pico but lost about 2 miles forgetting to restart after a rest. But who's counting?😄 Sandra is strong as hell but needs a little education on ride tactics.  I  explained a lot to her today about drafting position, when and where to recover that she didn't know.  I  let her make some mistakes today so she'd get toasty then I'd tell her,  now let's do this and she would.  By the end of the ride she was like, whoah I see what you mean.  I think she understands a lot after today's ride. Like I told her, she's strong as hell but if she learns when and how to unleash the beast, she's going to be that much stronger.  Determined and with a little Mr. Beanz discipline,  she's going to shock the cycling world. 😄 Did stop in Seal Beach for a sandwich 🥪 and another Starbucks frappe compliments of Sandra. Cruised around town a bit looking for a rest place. Did I mention, Sandra is strong as hell? Next time I'll do the entire 70+ so we can work on strategies some more.  Good job Grasshopper! 👏 

                     Sandra and her Starbucks.  I  offered to pay but she insisted.  Who am I to argue? 😁

Gina's brother Sam. I heard he was looking for another set of headphones 🎧 so I gave him a set I had laying around.  Only used 3 or 4 times. Hooked him up as well as the JBL app for the equalizer.  JBL-NC670. He was one happy MOFO. 😄

Sunday was just a day off the bike to enjoy Gina. Breakfast at Joanne's Ontario then Sizzler in West Covina.  No wonder I decided to do 45 instead of the entire 75 with Sandra 

😁

                                                           Post ride meal with Gina 😆

I wish WE , COULD stop TRYING stuff!😳😵‍💫😳 Last few times and quite a few times over the last few months Gina says "I wanna try this!". I get the usual, stuff I know I like and can eat. Again tonight Gina orders some weird dish. Sweet ham sandwich with some weird sugar syrup as a bread spread. 🤮 And again she says she can't eat it. So I offer some of mine and try to eat that nasty stuff. She eats part of mine and I try to force down the nasty junk SHE HAD TO TRY. I wish "WE" could stop TRYING this stuff. 🤣

Solo Drunk Bastard Tour

Solo 40 miles at 16.4 average speed. Just looking for a good steady old man ride. TC mentioned before our GMR that us old guys 60+ shouldn't ride to hard for our own well being. So today was just a ride to get out there, keep it going. Just wish he had said that before we planned the GMR ride. 😄 Did feel good going this direction with cool air seeing the last few times I did it, the temps were HOT. 🤣 Set some PRs as well, I'll take it. 🤗

Dinner this eve, tried a different dish at Millie's. Gina picked something off the holiday menu, Turkey Stack. Some weird thing, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy stacked on a sour dough bread slice. It was ok but she said she should have chose something different. I went for fish and shrimp since not riding tomorrow. Don't usually eat fish if I'm going to ride as it has upset my stomach in the past but today, thought I'd give it a try. Like Gina, I should have tried something else or stuck with my usual. The potatoes there are really good though. Home style potatoes that usually go with breakfast but I did the substitute since their fried actually suck ha ha ha! I earned the cheesecake today! 😁