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.

No Ride Sunday - Cemeteries (video)

 Woke up feeling like a lazy head so I decided to lay in bed a bit longer and do nothing ha ha ha! But in order to not waste the day, thought I would take Gina to deliver some flowers to her Dad, and mine. So we did, her Dad in Rose Hills and mine at the Riverside Veteran's Cemetery.

Then to an early dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Rancho Cucamonga. Surprisingly, the lasagna was actually really good today. I usually think it's kind of plain but today, was really good. Maybe because I haven't had it in like a couple years. 

But I sure can't eat like I did a couple years ago. Probably from cutting back, especially the last 9 months or so. But feel great though I miss all the good eats. I get a little, my share but not like I did before but hey, I'm still alive and healthy.

But a wonderful day with Gina.

The youtube video

Solo Drunk Bastard to Seal Beach

 Drunk Bastard Beanz Tour. Solo from Pico to Seal Beach and back. 16.0 aversge speed. Tried to go easy but the wind rarely allows that. 🤣 I was thinking a 120 bpm ride but I see a 167 in there.🤣 Average heart ❤️ rate 144 bpm.

One thing I don't understand and never will, is why dudes want to be competitive and act like you're racing then once you pass them FROM A MILE BEHIND, they want to suck your wheel. Happened again today, some dope I saw a mile ahead was riding and I was gaining. I ride trying to maintain an average speed or heart rate, 140 is a decent effort for me so I try to keep it there and usually will meet my goals.

So I'm holding 140 and catching this guy. I did hit a bit higher then backed off not wanting to go too hard as I was approaching the half way point of my ride. But it was getting freaking windy so I had to keep a good effort to meet my average speed goal. My goal, my plan, my effort, my satisfaction.

I roll up on this guy on a short little incline when he is fading from the incline and the wind, both at the same time can be killer ha ha ha! Forgot to mention, he saw me coming when I was about 30 yards back looking at me like he didn't want to be caught. OK! So when I rolled by him, he was immediately like 15 yards behind. I kept on my way but 1/8 of a mile later, I notice he's on my wheel. I don't ride to tow anybody's ass around, I ride for my health and fitness. My thoughts are that I will get strong and maintain by doing my thing, do your own!

So this dude hops on so I move to the side and wave him by like Vanna White would present a prize on The Price is Right. Probably didn't spell her name correctly or probably didn't get the right game show either ha ha ha! Never watched those silly shows and not even sure how I know how I know of Vanna. But you get the picture of the arm wave. So he goes by and lifts the pace and I can see his head turning part of the way trying to see where I'm at, probably thinking I faded ha ha ha!

But no, I did not fade. I'm just letting him hang out front till he fades then I'll pass him again but put some pressure on so he can't keep up knowing he'll take my wheel again. I actually recorded it on my go pro but didn't have enough footage to make a video. I even aimed it backward after dropping him with a few words to describe the sit-chee-ation ha ha ha! I find it so funny, those guys buying speed with the expensive bikes nowadays. Tubless, lighter wheels, fancy material and still on my CAD3 1997, I can leave 'em behind in the wind ha ha ha!

Of course, after the ride I am a diner. 😁 With my Honey, Sizzluh 6 oz steak and rice. Then a smoothie 😋 I earned it. I probably should not have had the smoothie because of the sugar content but hey, better than an ice cream.

Pretty usual meal for me. Small steak, 6 oz and some rice or potatoes to keep some carbs in my daily diet.

No Ride, Laughi-land

 Pics for now but I did find Hulk Hogan.  He's an old bored card dealer at the Aquarius casino in Laughlin. 😆😄😆

Last breakfast,  a little slot time then heading home. 

Along the way, stopping in Barstow for a quick bite, had a good time relating with the waitress there. I was teasing Cecee about some things then the waitress got involved saying how her mother had a hate/love relationship with her husband. I was joking about how bad my MIL treated me but the waitress chimed in sayin how her mother ended up adoring her SIL. Really witty lady so we got along ha ha ha! Then she gave me a little paper with a scan code on it asking if we would rate her and do a review. SURE! I really enjoy praising people for their service etc and enjoy bashing people as well if they really suck ha ha ha! 

This was the review on Google and the response from the owner.

Another bidness I would like to mention, is this one on Instagram. As you may know, we frequent Sizzler in West Covina, by the mall. Gotten to know the staff really well and one of the gals we somewhat know is Eliya (sp?). Really sweet gal and an EXCELLENT  server. Rather quiet but friendly and very righteous about her duties and responsibilities. A very naturally beautiful girl. I mean, you look at this gal and you know she gets marriage proposals daily ha ha ha! But we've been told she is really into her beliefs and doing well in her studies to become a pro in the medical field. Doing great things and heading in all the right directions. So when Angelina gave us some goodies made by Eliya's mother's business, I was more than happy to pass along the link to the business. I myself would feel that if I wanted to get something done the good honest way, knowing the daughter and her great qualities. I'd put my faith in doing business withe her.

So here is the link to her Instagram and images of product. Checked it out myself and some good stuff! The  little samples Angelina gave us were good. Good cupcake, smooth, not too sweet and creamy top with a little cream or custard filling. Not too much, just a dab to keep it moist, worked well imo.

cakesbynati

This is the little sample give to us at Sizzler. Angelina had a baby shower for her SIL that she made a big spread of desserts and treats. Saw pics and very impressive but Eliya also had a baby shower for a relative where her mother made the goodies. So this is the little sample we got. Pretty cute, the bag is/was for a gender reveal type thing. M&M's in the bag labeled Nuts or No Nuts ha ha ha! Cute idea. This is when Angelina told us about the instagram page. I forgot to ask but I'm guessing she services the local areas, West Covina and beyond.