Short Sweet EZ Ride with a Little ICE

 A nice smooth easy 20 miles from Pico golf course to Bellflower. Kept my HR really low just to relax. I tried to stay down about 120 but later ran into a dude who caught me then started chatting. He picked it up a bit so I just hung with him. If my HR went up at all, that was about the time but even then, wasn't very high.

Strange thing though, a German dude was walking by the golf course. He stopped to chat with me asking about local places to have a good time for entertainment being new not knowing the area.  I asked if he was on vacation and he said somewhat but he would be here for 6 weeks. Hmm, he didn't give too much info about his trip but then started talking about his home Berlin in Germany. So I stuck up a conversation about Jan Ulrich and cycling. When he initially stopped, he said I was the first cyclist he had seen today. Strange as I just saw about 3 or 4 ride by. 

But we chatted for a bit then started talking about living in Cali. I told him it's nice to visit but too expensive to live. We chatted about gas prices, rent and a few other things. I told him how much Gina and I paid when we met. He asked how long ago was that, back in about 1990. He was like, Oh, that's a long time ago. He asked a few other things as well, friendly chat so we spoke about them so I asked in return about Germany.

Strange thing, I saw some dude jogging by before this guy approached and waved but he just looked at me with no expression. Then another guy on a cruiser type bike, same thing. But the German dude struck up a conversation and was friendly. I almost at first thought he was homeless but nope, nice Asics shoes, nice label back pack, clean clothes and a nice sport watch. I started noticing he was far from homeless and talking about his parents' house that he was having gutted and remodeled. 

SO again I asked about his visit here and he didn't say much other than he was on a mission and would only be here a few weeks before heading back. Strange though, once he walked away, after a 10 minute conversation, he walked towards the mountains. Later I mounted my bike as I was ready to head out. I looked north only to see him standing near the driving range of the course chatting with someone behind a fence. Then as I headed south, the jogger guy was not far from where we were. I rode by and once again, he gave me a funny suspicious look. Then guy on the cruiser was not far either and on the same stretch.

As he left the area, I started to hope that they weren't together setting me up to break into my truck or something. But what would they want with my old truck? Then later, I started wondering as Pico Rivera is a heavily Hispanic populated area, I wondered if they might have been I-C-E agents scoping me out with an quick interview to see if I might have appeared to be an illegal. Pretty sure if that was the case, they got the idea and good thing I mentioned things about living in my hometown since the 60's.

Who knows and would I be offended about social profiling stuff? Nope, if I can't convince you that I'm American, take me away.  BUT CAN I BRING GINA TOO??!! Heck, we'll enjoy a little vacation in Mexico before heading back ha ha ha!

Got a chance to use the new Black Bib shorts ( I don't like bibs). Another couple of pair though I don't really need them yet, just keeping a step ahead. The socks were cool, well constructed and comfy for $10. Only bought those because I needed 5 more bucks for free shipping status.

The shorts were comfortable and well constructed for the price, actually better than my more expensive shorts. So I've returned for more. I think 5 pair now, worth it!

But the old chamois was flat red and this new pad is like funky green with a little design. These are the men's version of the $35 shorts so I'm wondering with the funky design. maybe they're trying to cater to the woke crowd ha ha ha! I'm far from that but the shorts are good.