A Day in the Life of Beanz

 A Day in the Life of Beanz........Cut my hair this morning since it was raining and couldn't ride my bike. So I made a video of the day. Just driving around, visiting the stores, mall, and restaurants, and some chatting with friends.

Angelina, our waitress asked why I was vlogging. I told her that I recorded mostly cycling videos. Showed her a bit of Gina video on the bike and a few pics of us riding. She said that we looked like we had a really fun active life. Umm ok! I guess it has been fun, more fun than had I had a different wife. Gina has been great and yeah, we've had fun ha ha ha!

Did take a friend out to eat. Jay (Jae ?). Very nice lady who happens to be a JW. Met at the mall, started chatting and ended up being a very nice person, good chatting. Invited her out to eat about a month ago so we treated her to Sizzler of all places ha ha ha! 

She does her mission type stuff at the mall curbside with a few others at a little stand. She's never asked us about religion but I did make it clear once I found out why she was at the mall so often, that I was born and raised Catholic and would never consider converting to anything else. No other reason than I was born into whatever was given to me. Not to mention I believe each religion has its qualities so respect mine and I respect yours. 

So we have gotten along very well just being people and friends. At times we have been sitting at the mall enjoying coffee or something when some of her partners come up and chat a bit. Nothing about religion, just friendly chat. Maybe once or twice, one of her buds would ask if we were members. Right away, Jay would speak up and say, "no, they're my friends, we don't talk about that stuff."

So pretty cool, we get along very well just being friends talking about real people stuff. Funny though, she says Gina and I have something special, good people and plenty of fun and great to see we have such a good relationship.

Then Angelina told us that she thought we had a great time and lots of fun. She said she wished she could do these things. Of course I had shown her Gina cycling video and pics. 

Hear nice things from our friends so it's great to know they think that we're OK ha ha ha!

Dinner tonight with Jay introducing us to one of her favorite places, Las Palmas in San Dimas.

MIL Can Tell What My Ebay Packages Are Tour

 Yeah, 20 miles today trying to beat the rain.   I did and actually a nice day till the end.  I would have finished about 30 minutes earlier but I dropped my little remote clicker while posing for pics. Took me a few minutes to piece it back together after it exploded sending electronics, switches, and pieces everywhere.  Who knew it would take so much to figure out how to piece it back together,  those Itty bitty little parts. 

But anyway,  yeah my MIL likes to feel up my packages trying to figure out the contents.  She's gotten pretty good at figuring out the hb mounts, screws, gloves,  and other things. 

I thought this one would throw her for a loop but who would have known she was wise to chain rings? Totally wrapped in plain wrapping,  she got it and it was in a box so she couldn't feel the teeth.  She's gotten pretty knowledgeable after asking plenty of questions as I've prepped my bike while she was around.  I think she might even be able to air up my tires if I asked her ha ha ha!😆😄😆

A little Lucille's dinner last night.  Ok but not impressed.  Nothing nutritious but I took a chance not knowing if I'd ride today or not with some rain in the forecast. 🌧 I didn't get any so I'm good with that. 

BTW, Friday commute was niiiiice! As well as a bunch of other stuff,  put some new shocks on the truck.  Ride was about unrecognizable ha ha ha.  About $2500 into the truck over last couple of months and it shows. Sweet!

Solo Old Fart Sunday

 Solo 20.

Of course, a little dinner at Sizzluh with Gina. I got the petite steak and potatoes and she the salad bar. Hmm, I do all the riding but I'm the one who has to watch what I eat. 😏

Solo Saturday (video later)

 Solo 35 on the San Gabriel trail. Didn't see any fire in these mountains. My weekly celebratory cookie 🍪 last night. After fueling up with lasagna and a salad at Avolio's with Gina. Today a nice ride. Breezy both ways but made for an even ride.

Felt good but it's crazy when you're just riding and some people want to pretend they're racing you after you pass.  Uhh ok.  Passed one guy and gal on the dam climb. Then they tried hard to catch up on the flat dam section.  I took off for a laugh leaving them behind.  The gal pooped out then the guy dropped her trying to catch me.  Just because he left his gal, I played his game.  

I let him pass watching as he hummed and pumped struggling side to side passing me. Gave him about 10 yards then HAMMERED HIS ASS!!!  😆😄😆 He tried to pick it up but he was toast. So I kept it up for about 2 minutes then looked back,  about 50 yards back to see where he was but he gave up like a little girl.  He should have just stayed back with his gal. 😁

But I did get to chat with Omar for a bit at the Chalan rest stop.  Always a good guy. 

                                                                          The video

Then dinner with Gina.  Something different,  Black Angus filet mignon and lobster 🦞.  Meh, I'd say save your money then go to Northwoods Inn for lobster.  BA was OK,  but nothing special,  just different for the day.

Happy Face Fat Bastard Solo Tour

 Solo Fat Bastard Happy Face Breakfast Tour. 20 miles. Nice breezy happy ride. How could it be any different when your wife makes you breakfast with a smile? 🙂

Another nice breezy ride,  16.0 average speed.  Felt really good on the Mr.Beanz Mobile. 

My clamp/claw with a ball joint swivel and red aluminum cell phone holder. Pretty cool stuff on ebay. Each part about $10 to $15. Just some toys I play with on my rides and not needing a photographer ha ha ha!

Team Fat Bastard 

Forgotten of how much I love to ride this CAD3 Cannondale. Plenty of memories on it. Couple good ones, kicking the crap out of a big mouth on the cycling forums named Big Kahonies or something stupid like that. Thought he had big cajones till I spanked his ass on a few rides. 

Standard double 53/39 12-26 rear cassette. Did Ride around the Bear 4 times and Breathless Agony on this bike and set up.

Back to Big Cajonies.  Dude was on the forums saying I did nothing but sissy rides on the Santa Ana trail. Said he had bigger climbs, more wind, tougher conditions where he lived in Camarillo. Invited me and a couple friends to do a century with him on his home turf. Thought he was going to show us up, I guess. Double century rider blah blah blah, back to back centuries 12 hours flat. OK great!

Wen to ride with him and after 10 miles, the dude was toast. Trying to show off, blew his wad. Hit the first tough climb he boasted of, waited for about 15 minutes at the top ha ha ha! Me, Larry, and Anna had to wait for him. OK, where is the awesome dude we heard so much about? The dude that was going to spank me and my sissy training habits?

Spanked his ass pretty good and waited all day for him to catch up riding him off our wheels time after time. Wow, OKAY!

So he whined about having a bad day inviting us back to do it again. Only I went as the others thought it was a waste of time. So I went and he did a little better but sucked wheel for about 80 miles. I called him to the front but he wussed. So finally at one point, as Gina was filling my water bottles, he took off as I was still off my bike at the support vehicle. Wow, OKAY! So I took off slowly catching back up without too much trouble but not wanting to pull ahead after his cheeseball move.

So Gina saw me a bit behind and asked if I was ok as I rolled by with him about 50 yards ahead. Yeah, watch what I do to this cheeseball ha ha ha! I let him hang out there till about mile 90. He had been out there ahead for about 7 miles. Then I caught up just as we were about to get to a little, very little hill. Then he stood up and shouted,? C'MON BEANZ, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT!!!!".

OK, remaining seated, I started to pound the pedals and immediately he fell behind. I kept on hammering and dropped him clean out of sight within a mile or two. I got to the end of the ride, cleaned up, sat and chatted with Gina for about 20 minutes before he showed up ha ha ha! 

Still didn't learn so he challenged me on GMR, WHAT ?!?!?

The 20 mile climb, 5,000 ft of gain on the ride, mostly  on the way out to Baldy Village. I got the the village and waited a while but he never showed. So I headed back and met up with him about half way up the climb ha ha ha! OK what about all that tough climbing you did in Camarillo? I guess they don't have a GMR over there ha ha ha! So he quit the ride wanting to head back. 

Then later, he said he wanted to do a flat century with us on, get this, my sissy ride, the Santa Ana River trail. We did, about 5 guys and after 20 miles, Big Cajonies couldn't keep up. Seriously, he was almost in tears after the first 20. The stupid thing was, he started criticizing the set up of some of the riders. Claiming we should get bike fits like he did to increase power. OK, what? You can't keep up! He pissed off my buddies so they all left him. I did as well riding with my buddies but then felt sorry for the fool, dropping back to tow his ass back knowing he was going to suffer alone. I shouldn't have but being a soft hearted guy, I figured I'd help him out. And yeah, the guys that went ahead, I've dropped them on centuries before. Not sure what Big Cajonies was thinnking but no, he couldn't compete with me.

Funny thing is, some stupid big mouth chick on the forums claimed that Big Cajonies was a super strong fast rider but said she would love the chance to race me. Uhh OK, you think Big Cajonies is fast? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Baby, you would have had another thing coming had we raced.

The other favorite memory. Some SUPER rider, once again on the forums. A double century rider, brevet rider, long distance rider that competes in other countries and even did Race Across America like 5 times. 5 time finisher. Back in 2005, an $8,000 Colnago with special climbing gears, wheels, descending gears claiming races can be won on the downhill. Big time rider followed by many.

He saw that I had once again signed up for Ride Around the Bear (before they sissified the ride into Tour de Big Bear) 100 miles with 10,000 ft gain. He said on the forums that if he had a bad day and I had a good day, I MIGHT  keep up with him. Funny thing, he started an hour before me with the time window and I passed him 45 miles up ha ha ha! On my $1,000 bike, the Cannondale, Mr. Beans Mobile!!!!!

We stopped at the lunch stop in Big Bear. Then I gave him a head start before heading out knowing I was going to pass him again. I did even before reaching the 7 mile Onyx Summit climb. SO right at the bottom, I pulled over and stopped to hug and kiss on Gina as he rolled by. Gave him ANOTHER  head start going up the 7% climb.

Passed him again. This time, he said he was going to pass me on the downhill. OK, serious???

It's practically a 40 mile downhill. I'm a pretty good descender. I have good weight but most of all,, good balance and technique on the descents as far as roadies. Different story offroad but still decent. But on a paved road, I can more than hold my own. Not to mention there are two short 1 mile climbs on the downhill. This would cancel any kind of advantage he would have on me ha ha ha!  And of course, he never showed up on my descent. 

Got back to the finish line where he later showed up. I beat him by more than an hour. Ha ha ha, the day I realized those high end over priced bikes would not make a difference for a recreational rider like me. Maybe a big time Race Across America rider like him, but not me ha ha ha!

Then after realizing he got spanked, we ended up on another ride together, Cool Breeze. He chose the flat century and I the double metric with 7,000 ft gain. There he invited me to join him on the flat century saying he would pull me along the course. Uh yeah OK ha ha ha!

He boasted several 5 hour centuries.  Umm, I've done several flat centuries solo in 5:45. I guess he thought riding in groups of 50 plus riders made him stronger than a solo ride. I guess he learned his lesson.  But I had planned on the double metric with climbing and invited him to join us. He declined but this ride was once again, Big Cajonies decision to try riding withe me and a friend again.

Again, a disaster. Ended up waiting at the top of every climb along the ride. A few canyons, Casitas Pass, I think it's called. Nothing like GMR climbs but they were all a disaster for Big Cajonies, as little as they were. The entire day dragged on waiting for his ass along the ride. Pretty shameful display of strength and riding on his part, so this was the last invite and ride I agreed to do with him. His fancy expensive bike, wheels, bike fit, couldn't make big Cajonies any better of a rider and I didn't have the time to be waiting around ha ha ha!

So those are my favorite memories riding this bike, my CAD3 Mr. Beans Mobile. I wonder if those guys even ride anymore.

Some budget stuff I use. The Cetaphil or Equate cream from Wally World. About $6 for a 16 oz tub is just about identical to an 8 oz tube of Paceline Chamois Butter but far less in price. FTR, the Cetaphil at Walgreen's was grossly overpriced, $21 for a 16 oz container. I got it at Costco, 2 containers, 1 at 16 oz and the other at 20 oz bonus size for $14, coming out to $7 each.

The Mennen Speedstick is about $2 at Wally World and works just like the sports roll on stick that cost about $10 to $20 for 1.5 oz. This is 3 oz for far less, much less.

I roll on the speedstick onto the chamois before getting dressed. Then before the ride, some cream on my cheeks and on the chamois. Why be uncomfy?  For this price, I can use it cheaply on every ride, from 20 to 50 or more. I can also carry a little extra cream in a small tuck away container like one of those old film containers. The little black things, or for the diabetics, the little containers that hold the test strips.

The HR chest strap. I bought one on ebay for about $7 and it worked better than the Garmin strap that was given to me when my bud Tony gave me the Garmin HR monitor. He said it didn't work well then bought another. I cleaned it up, read on how to use the strap effectively, wet the rubber section and part of the strap around the sensor area, worked fine. But was a bit damaged so I bought one of the ebay models to see if it made a difference. Yes, so I bought like 4 more. Gave one to Tony but one of the straps had a snag on it. So I contacted the seller about it so he said keep it and he would send another free of charge. So I made out and keep it in my equipment bag as a back up spare in case I forget my usual strap. Which I did today so I pulled the spare out of the bag and used it. I did forget my usual strap as I always take it in the shower with me after a ride. Supposed to rinse them out or wash them every so often, which I do. So I hung mine up to dry then forgot it today having rode yesterday. 

So the extra spare strap in the bag worked. Not the first time I've forgotten it after having placed on a rack to dry. But I do have about 4 straps so I guess I'm set for several years ha ha ha! My usual did separate a little on the rubber section so a dab of superglue did the trick and still going strong not having come apart again. Heck, 2 years use out of a $7 strap, I can't complain even if it exploded today ha ha ha!

Test strip container

Aww, how cute, Gina made me a smiley face on my tortilla this morning. She didn't plan it, just worked out that way. :-) 

Ah, a little midweek relaxation strolling the mall with Gina after a little din din at Sizzluh! 

Putting new shocks on my Silverado, front. One of the mechanics at work said that if I got the shocks, he'd put them on for $20. Pfft, said I'd give him $100.  So I loaded these so that I could go to O'Reilley's and know which shocks I had found that were a match for my truck when I went into the store.  Friday night and the mechanic Robert is going to put them on as he gets off work and I at 2:30. Said he should be done by the time I get off work.  I looked it up om yt and seems fairly easy but I just don't have my tools as they are in storage in another city. Worth it to just pay Robert to do it. He's got the good tools at work. I did go with the $97 dollar model as it was closer to where we live. Pay another $14 for not wanting to drive across town. Seems worth it ha ha ha!