Beat the Rain on San Gabriel Trail

 Solo 30 beating the rain. Too many weekends I've sat out having faith in the weatherman. This time I saw a 5 to 6 hour window of dry weather on a couple of sites so I went for it.

Ran into some joggers along the way and a few other riders. Using royalty free music so I don't have to worry about youtube. I guess it works ok!

Did the ride, first time I've gotten up early in a looooong time seeing we get up at 4 am for work. Usually get up about 8:30 to ride but today, if I want to ride, better get my butt out of bed ha ha ha!

Temp was 56 at the start and ended at 67. Nice day and I did beat the rain!

Then to dinner with Gina. And a little photo editing for Gina's Mom. Her  brother in the Navy back in 1946. A little newspaper obituary.  She wanted to print it out so I tried.

After having had to place my home computer in storage, I did just get a new laptop couple months ago. Nice Asus with enough memory and stuff to create videos once again. Not having my Powerdirector program, I tried a few free downloads. Worked OK but ended up trying Capcut last week. I like it!

Internet based though so it works off the net vs my PowerD that was a stand alone program. PD now is a subscription thing and I hate that. I don't want to have to pay every month. My PD version was about $70 and I didn't have to hassle with anything.

But now, with the Asus, it has a graphics card. I don't know much about that stuff but I have a CPU and a GPU. Looked into how to use them and I guess I got it. Read on the net where some people with big computers have trouble creating video clips. Some claim spending an hour to load a 2 minute video. 

I'm creating an 8 minute video in about 2 minutes so I'm happy with this setup ha ha ha! And Capcut is really fast compared to the others and does not stick or fail when I use it. The free version, really cool once you figure it out. 

So this is my first full video with Capcut since getting it last week. Got it figured out but still have to find a transition that I like having so many PRO offerings mixed in with the free transitions so it kind of blinds you when you look for the transition one started with. I'll have to memorize or write down names so I can search for them. Gets a little confusing trying to remember names while creating a video.

Solo Saturday Relive video

Fat Bastard Flat Tire Tour

 Solo 20, set out for a nice easy recovery relaxing ride. Doing ok but always windy. SO head out from Pico golf course to a park ten miles south. A quick stop for a pic then headed back with plans to hit up Mongolian BBQ for the lunch special. Just go there with 15 minutes to spare thanks to a flat tire on the bike. Way ahead of schedule then boom! SO took me a few minutes to replace the tube then rolled back.  

Thinking about my tire, I was paying close attention to the feel just in case it happened to go bad for some reason. Felt good so I was rolling back pretty good when I saw a rider exiting Wilderness Park. Looked somewhat like Eyemage but I've been mistaken several times. I see like 5 guys, not the burger place, but 5 guys that look similar to one another and often think it's Eyemage but I'm wrong. This time the guy looked like Eyemage but I figured it wasn't. I was paying some attention to his actions as he somewhat exited the park in front of me. I was actually worried about running into this guy and I figured being a seasoned rider, Eyemage wouldn't do a thing like that so I just rolled by.

Turns out it was Eyemage this time.  A few minutes after I got back, I received a text asking if that was me that had passed him on the trail heading the opposite way. Yup, that was me! He said he called out but I just passed like he didn't exist ha ha ha!  I told him about mistaking other people so I just assumed the person I had seen wasn't him. I also mention in my reply that he looked a bit smaller and thinner claiming I didn't recognize him seeming he had lost some muscle. Then I asked if he had stopped working out ha ha ha! I can't let him go without busting his chops one way or another, that's what makes me Mr. Beanz ha ha ha! I do wear my earbuds on solo trail rides as well so that would be the reason I didn't hear him call out.

He did say I was rolling pretty good and he thought about chasing me down except that he saw I was flying and figured he wouldn't catch me. I didn't realize I was pushing hard, just that I was thinking about getting back in time for the lunch special and paying attention to my tire pressure.

Funny thing, I rarely draft anyone getting in my workout into the wind. But a couple of guys rolled by as I started heading back. They opened a little gap then I thought, why not? So I closed the gap and sat on a wheel (2 guys) for a bit. Then I thought to myself, this is too easy like I'm cheating. So I dropped off letting them pull away returning to my pace. Just then, the back guy dropped off and I was catching him. Just as I caught him, we hit an ugly underpass, probably where I hit something. 

The lead guy dropped back for the second guy and I had just caught up as well. I sat on the back for about 5 seconds then thought I'd take the front. Then I thought, not. So I backed off and good thing I did as that is when I felt the squishy feeling in my back tire. Looked down and could tell it was soft. Dang it!

So I made the tube swap easily seeing the damaged tube section. Still has some wear indicator on the tire but it's a 700 x 25 that I had been trying after reading all the comments about much more comfort on rides. Honestly, I see very little difference and as far as wider tires being faster, I feel more sluggish and less responsive. Guess I'll find out once I switch back to 23's. I'll look at the tire and decide how much damage or life is left then make my decision.

 But anyway, I made it back and we hit up Mongolian BBQ. Gina in her new bling platform sneakers ha ha ha! She really seems to enjoy them and the food was really good today. Sometimes we enjoy it more than others but today seemed really good!

Now, back to the grind tomorrow ha ha ha!

Solo Pico to Azusa Mtns (Danny and Eddy)

 Solo 40 running into Danny and Eduardo at the end of the ride. They did 60 with a 20 mph average. Oh to be young again ha ha ha!

I felt good! Legs feeling good, maybe from new boots and socks for work. New boots really comfy and feeling like I'm walking on air so the legs felt good today. Thorogood boots, nice! Let me just say Sketchers suck ha ha ha! Didn't matter how many times I inserted new insoles, just wasn't happening. Thorogood boots and new gold toe sock, yeah!

Breezy on the ride as always. But had a good time picking up a few others in the video. Did use some royalty free music for the ride section so let me know if it really sucks that bad ha ha ha! 

BTW, first time using the Capcut video editor. Pretty nice and fast but a bit choppy at the fade in and out trying to figure it out as I go along. After 5 or 6 free editors, this one is cool and fast!

Did go to dinner after the ride with Gina. Then to the mall. Found some cool bling shoes with a big platform. Gina liked them but thought she was too old to wear such a style. Nom BS Gina, they look cool on you! So she put them on in Macy's and wore them through the mall. She said they felt good and I don't doubt it as she danced across the mall and I had a hard time keeping up ha ha ha!

Good Friday Paid Holiday Ride (video later)

 Solo Good Friday Ride. I got paid to ride I guess ha ha ha! 40 miles from Pico Rivera to Seal Beach and back. Pretty windy on the way, holding 13 into the wind pushing hard. Easy 19 on the return with the tailwind. 18 days off the bike, Laughlin and rain so I was worried about doing 40 but felt good. Had a good couple of weeks so body was good other then some tricep arm fatigue but legs are good!😁

Though I haven't been on the bike in 19 days, I felt pretty good. One weekend in Laughlin, the other supposed to rain. Did on Saturday then the forecast for Sunday said rain all day. So I sat it out and sure enough, didn't rain. Not till 8 pm and the entire day was really nice, freakin, weather man! So today,, 1, 2, 3 percent chance of rain, I'm going. I was expecting to get rained on though but didn't happen so that's nice! Little chilly at times but as long as my bike doesn't get mucked up, I'm good!

At one point, I did see a lady heading to the coast buy the big bridge. I stopped to record as she rolled by. Doing well but after I mounted, I passed her. This time she looked to be really struggling. I rolled but the wind really got stiff and it seemed as if she tried to catch me on one of the underpasses. So I figured I'd back off a step or two letting her take my wheel but she wasn't catching up. So I really slowed so she could catch up. BUT !!!

Too many times riding with a group, I have tried to help someone. Backing off to let them take a wheel. But the competitive spirit gets to them and they think I'm fading. So instead of taking my wheel, they pass, race around me as if they think I'm done. Rolling by with a smile on their face as if they've conquered me. OK, trying to help but once they do that, you're on your own ha ha ha! Too many times it happened in the group. Mostly the women. I guess some try to prove they're stronger than the men. Oh well, that's what I get for trying to help. OK, for those forum people who think I'm a monster, I kicked her ass ha ha ha!

https://www.relive.cc/view/veqz15kPzB6

Great surprise,  Easter Bunny showed up at work on Thursday.  Actually the CEO,  a great guy dressed up passing out candy to all employees.  😄

I know people in other states will laugh but we just drove by an electronic billboard that said Caution,  dangerous Weather conditions. 😁

Monday Commute

 

Commute with Gina. Got up a bit earlier but saving $100 a week sounds good. Just having fun with the gopro.

Rain Weekend, E-A-T !!!

 Bad thing about the rain weekends, just eating ha ha ha! Of course I for once got up on Sunday morning at 5:45 to ride and checked the weather, 40% chance of rain all day.  3 weather sites different so not knowing which to believe. So I sit it out and it turns out to be a beautiful day. 

Finally around 5 pm, the radio broadcasts a emergency weather broadcast beeping out the radio saying golf ball size hail on the way, flood warnings, hard rain blah blah blah. We head to the mall for a mocha latta sitting where we can see the exit. Finally the rain starts so we're happy that we parked under the parking structure to avoid the golf ball size hail. It rains for 5 minutes then stops, WTH ha ha ha!

Anyway, Saturday eve, Casa Jimenez. Enchiladas and a chile relleno for me. Chicken salad for Gina. Ranch dressing with salsa mixed to turn it a bit red. Casa Jimenez, best one in Claremont. Good people and service. All you can eat, 25 different items though most similar but all you can eat with a salad or soup. Get 3 items then more after you finish that. $17 all you can eat. Other places are $17 for 2 enchiladas rice and beans. Every time I go somewhere else, I'm disappointed with only 2 for $17. Just feel cheated so Casa J is always good!

Sunday morning, La Choza. 2 Enchiladas $17, yeah, felt cheated. Decent but expensive. About $60 for BREAKFAST ?!?!

Later, Sizzler for Sunday dinner. Small steak and potato. Salad but barely ate it. Oh well, getting old, can't pack it away the way I used to ha ha ha!

One good thing about not riding was being able to find some good boots. I've been looking for months. Just something comfortable being on my feet. I finally did a search online finding a brand called Thorogood (sp?) Supposed to be comfy so I went to a store in Ontario listed as a dealer, boot store. Most boots were $225, popular brands. $225 ???!!!

Not for me. I want good boots but that's just too darn much. So someone suggested Shoeteria known for work boots. Went there and found the Thorogood for $134. Not steel toe but hiking boot style. Someone told me back in about 2005 to give hiking boots a try. He said once I tried them, I wouldn't go back to sneakers. I had been having a hard time finding sneakers that were comfy on concrete and on my feet all day. 

I've always thought hiking boots were butt ugly but once I tried them on, yeah buddy! Ugly but didn't seem to mind feeling like I was floating. So since then, I've been using hiking boots at work.  So though no riding, glad I found some boots. The Sketchers I've been using are not bad looking, actually like them but they just don't float. Of course materials nowadays suck after Covid. So the Thorogood boots are a breath of fresh air! Yes, spelled Thorogood, just looked it up!

Will have a 3 day weekend coming up for Good Friday and Easter so hopefully I can get in some good mileage, if it doesn't rain. The rain this season has made my mileage count suck ha ha ha! Don't mind getting wet but I sure hate having to clean a muddy bike. I have ridden my MTB on the bike trail for 40 miles during pouring rain stopping half way to ring out the clothes but I don't have access to my MTB right now being in storage. But has nothing to do with ME getting wet but a wet muddy bike sucks and I keep them indoors.

Anyway, a good weekend considering and btw, did get some new socks too so hopefully, my feets will be happy tomorrow at work ha ha ha!

Gave me time to do light inventory ha ha ha! Never can have too many lights. I have 2 more Cygolites in a box and 3 more rear lights as well. Just ordered another rear light for the seat stay.  $20 Keywell.  Nothing high end, just another little gadget for fun time and experimentation.

Australia ?!?

 Well, guess this is my little Quality Control office now! Plant manager says he's really happy with my performance and has heard nothing but good things about me. OK, thanks! I'll take the positive any day of the week. 

Then the Floor/Production manager told me today that he would like to get a rep from each department to go to Australia for training. He said he isn't sure of my travel availability but if he can get it together, he would like for me to come along to see how they do things over there. Get a little Australian training I guess! So I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Chance are if you are reading this, it's because it's raining this weekend and I can't ride my bike ha ha ha!