Woke Up Feeling Icky Tour (more images video later)

 Solo 46 miles at 16.2 average speed. Woke up feeling a little dizzy, headache, anda little nauseated but I rode anyway figuring I could ride it off. Felt OK on the bike but still a little icky after the ride. Think I slept too much. 🤣 But got to chat with Alyce as well as Ron and Dixie. 👍 A bit breezy so I thought my HR would be higher but I'm OK with that. 😁

E-bike dude cracking me up. I felt like I was alone heading south to the coast most of the way. At one point I looked back, around the double dips, Warner I think. I saw someone on a bike behind me thinking it was someone on a road bike catching up to me. A little windy so I figured it would take some time before he passed me. A while later, I heard him coming up behind me, oh it's an e-bike.

He stayed a little behind as we rolled across the section south of Moon Park. Then we hit the steep little uphill and he flew by me like nothing. He pulled ahead pretty quickly but then started looking back at me like he was expecting me to race him. C'mon man, you got a motor. But for the next 3 miles he kept looking back at me like we were racing. Nah, I ride consistently trying to keep my pace as I do most times. But I noticed he slowed somewhat on the last underpass about a mile (?) before the coast and he was no longer looking back for me as at one time I was about 100 yards behind. I guess I was no longer A THREAT  to him ha ha ha! 

I wonder why these e-bike people fly by looking back like it's a race then later slow down. Do their batteries run weak? I dunno, never have and never will ride one because I'm all about the pedal myself. I know some friends that were passed by arrogant e-bikers just to have their batteries wear down causing them to slow and be passed after being a smart azz ha ha ha! SO I wonder if that is the cases that I have experienced a few times. Makes me wonder if the dude was running low, killed it on the steep hill then burned a little more on the last underpass where it can be a little steep and usually a headwind.

So I noticed I was catching back up holding my usual pace and he was no longer looking back  probably not having any idea I was somewhere close. I started wondering if his battery was low. But continuing to catch up, I figured if I could, I would pass him so I switched gears and cranked it up some. Heck, if he passes me on the hill wanting to look cool, I'll be just as happy to pass him while he's not expecting it ha ha ha!

I hit 19.4 according to strava on that section. Not bad considering I had been fighting the wind the entire way to the coast. So I rolled by him, as seen in the video. I was expecting him to twist the throttle and pass me back but he didn't. Kind of unusual so that's why I'm thinking his battery was weak. Not the same explosive rider without a motor ha ha ha!

The YT video

The really fast climber guy on an e-bike 😏

Alyce's new bike

The Chubby Girls Like Me Tour & Gina's Nightmare

 Tried to go easy on the heart rate but once I hit the upper side of the trail,  even looking down at the monitor raised it 6 beats. 🤣 But surprisingly felt really good and knowing what your body can do even in extreme conditions.  🔥  So this morning,  too hot and lazy to cook. Burger King breakfast knowing the sodium levels but have read they can be OK if you plan to burn off the sodium.  Yeah with this forecast! She gave me a lot of potatoes so I said thanks,  you're generous then she said,  I don't like to be stingy.  🙂 Then after my ride,  a gal came out of the golf course club house.  She said she used to ride but stopped gaining a lot of weight.  I told her that was my reason for riding now, trying to stay healthy into my old age. She asked so I said,  almost 63 then she shouted,  DAMN YOU LOOK GOOD!  I didn't want to argue or hurt her feelings so I just said thank you then listened to a couple more of her bike stories before she left. 😄

Not sure accurate the heat reading are. Average 95 on Strava and high of 111 on Bryton.  Forecast said it would be 98 degrees. 

Just about to reach the top of the trail right at the Azusa mountains.

Just started about 1/4 mile on top of one of the small dams next to Pico golf course. Just looking to the mountains, it already looks hot.

What a kick in the Balls! 🤣 I really need to stop using my GoPro recorder, I guess. Maybe I've made too many videos. But Gina had a nightmare last week where she screamed out in her sleep. I woke her up and she gave me the story. Then last night, she started to whimper in her sleep again so I woke her up before she could scream out. Kind of scary in the middle of the quiet of the night. 

So last night, after waking her up, I asked if she was ok, she said yes, just another bad dream. I asked what happened in her dream. She said, "some guy was trying to take my GoPro recorder, then two other guys showed up trying to help him so, I KICKED HIM IN THE BALLS!!!". 😲

I asked her the next day about her dream and she says she doesn't remember saying that but once I reminder her, she started laughing crazy. 😆😄😆 Always something to entertain me, that Gina! 😁

Oh yeah, she doesn't even have a Go Pro. 🤪

Tuesday Breakfast & More Gina Car Repairs

And here I feel guilty about the $6.99 breakfast special. 🤣 Yesterday Gina called me as she was on her way to work, 4:30 AM saying she had a flat. Had to get off the freeway and thrashed her tire so she got another one with her warranty, nice! But figured she'd replace the other 2 that were looking a little worn, $600. Then they put her window down and it wouldn't go back up, today another $140. Had them both done, driver and passenger sides about 2 years ago and again! 😫 Oh yeah, and her key fobs are acting strange so new batteries for both, another few bucks. Just a few bucks but her money pit it always, just a few bucks here and there, a few hundred.

So today, looked at the forecast and a high of 98 at 2 PM, I'll pass. So I went to breakfast instead then to the mall with a few CDs that I had. Downloading them into MP3 files then into the card on my cell phone which is my main source of music on the bike, in the car, and anywhere else I listen to music which is all the time. Pretty cool little CD from ebay with extra ports and stuff, about $25. Technology has come along way. So, nearly $800 in 2 days vs my $6.99 breakfast, heck I'm ordering some bike socks too! 😁

Ain't technology something else? I have about 300 CDs but nowadays, convert them to MP3 files on the computer and place them on the cell like a music player. I have about 500 songs on mine using an extra storage card that I listen to regularly, all for free other than the extra card in the cell, when I'm not using Pandora. And the card is only about 25% full. 

I give it another month and Gina's car will need another window motor. That's cool, I might get another pair of socks out of it. 😁

Oh yeah, screw it, I ordered 3 pair, that'll show her. Well OK, actually Gina suggested I order 3. 😁 But I spent money myself on breakfast. 😄

Cool little set up at one of the high top benches at the mall. So cool the little CD player thingy. About $15 on ebay with little usb ports to connect other devices as well. Good find.

$6.99, 55 plus senior breakfast served all day along with about 3 or 4 other dishes, sandwiches soup and other stuff. But breakfast, 2 eggs, potatoes of choice and toast. Not bad for $6.99 as other cafes charge about $14 for a similar dish. Drink not included. 

Best homestyle potatoes. I'm not a potato lover but these are good. And the baked potato Gina has had with dinners is really good. Very smooth, cooked nicely. I don't know how they do it but they do it, okay! 😄 John Leguizamo line from back in the day.

Just Burning Calories Tour

 Solo 41 miles from Pico to Seal Beach and back. 16.1 average speed. Some headwinds but I felt pretty good most of the way. A little tough getting close to the coast but a nice tailwind back, if that. Felt a little rough but not like the heading South. A little cruise to the pier but not much happening, a bit foggy so the bikinis were not yet out ha ha ha!

So I rolled on over to the end of the trail taking a break texting with TC about some bike stuff. Think I rested about an hour all together though it went quick feeling like 20 minutes. Did chat with some dude there riding a 1996 Cannondale with the tight triangle. He really liked my bike as well and we exchanged some stories. Then I ate my fig bar then headed back.

Nice ride back into the sunshine. Really nice day though. Saw a small group of guys I recognized resting at the steel bridge but I think I was going to fast because they didn't see me slip by. Maybe they pretended not to see me ha ha ha!

Felt good though and really just riding to burn up some calories as I enter old age. Just keeping active. I do see people at the mall gym a couple days a week hanging out. I see the dudes walking out thinking I ought to get back into lifting to show these young punks what it's all about ha ha ha! Joking but somewhat serious as I see these guys and think maybe 2 or 3 out of every 50 I see walk out look like they might have some strength. The rest don't impress me and pretty sure I could outwork them in the gym after a couple of weeks ha ha ha! Probably not benching the 330 pounds I used to lift but I don't think it would take much for my muscle to come back. Heck, eating well and riding has really toned me up in the right places so I think with a little lifting, I might be ok ha ha ha! I just know that I couldn't and wouldn't want to work out in a gym like that. Way too many hot chicks wearing those tight yoga pants with the seam in the back that gets eaten up showing pretty much everything. Not that I don't admire the hot bodies but really, never been one to "workout" in the fashion show environment.  Riding the bike to the beach and checking out the bikinis is one thing but to actually workout looking for muscle progress, I'd skip and always have skipped that scene. 

But anyway, a little Skizzler with Gina then a visit to the mall. Cou0ple of the jewelry store chickies came out and greeted us with cookies and some St. Patrick bead necklaces.  They offered several cookies but I had the willpower to refuse. Now Mr. Beanz refusing extra cookies, that's almost a miracle ha ha ha! But trying to be good. Though it was a pretty good cookie absorbing the coffee, I'm a dipper! And I did try to talk Gina into flashing for my string of beads but she was having none of it ha ha ha!

Oh yeah, I keep wanting to post about my Madone. Last time I chatted with  Paul, he asked about the Madone. I didn't think about it then but I did tell him that I had the part I needed, a 39 ring. Bought it on ebay about a year ago. I had the rear cassette, a new chain as well but haven't fixed it yet. I think about it once in a while then remember a big reason I have no fixed it or even worried about it is that one of the hoods ripped. I had previously repaired it with some pretty good rubber stuff but ended up splitting again after about a year. The hoods are hard to find and I haven't wanted to pay $100 for a used shifter only to get the hood. Years back, a buddy found one for me as it had split before. Replaced it but a few years later, split! I guess that's why I haven't rushed to fix it and really, I am still enjoying the old Cannondale. I guess it's almost like being on a bike is being on a bike as long as it is set up comfortably.

I had someone recommend that I just upgrade the drive system but I really can't justify spending $600+ because of the hood. I think once I do fix it, I'll just use the rubber stuff again. I still have a block of the stuff in the fridge. 😆

Did get in a pretty good workout today. Nothing very strenuous but I think enough to say that I earned that cookie. Maybe not but I like to think so ha ha ha!

Solo 35 & A 3-peat

 Solo 35 miles, 2,100 ft of elevation gain. Just a solo nice steady smooth easy safe cool beautiful ride along the foothills When I got yo SD Park area, I did the first stretch of Sycamore Cyn 3 times in order to get my 2k climbing. I saw 10.2 % max on that road. After 2 times I thought I'd have enough but after a stop at the park, figured I would do it one more time to be sure. Thought it would be safer than Glendora HS area while school is in session so playing it safe 👍 

Now that I think about it, I did the steep section 5 times.  3 for the ride and 2 more times posing for the pictures. 😄 Just the short steep part though,  off the radar.  I should have left it on for the stats. 

I forgot that I use a rear helmet light as well. After the ride in the restroom, I turned off both bike lights but as I was standing there, I could see a faint red flashing light on the wall. I had to stand there a bit trying to figure it out but never did. Till I got back to the truck and removed my helmet 😆😄😆

When I posted this pic, I noticed the line through the pavement like a crack but it continues through the grass as well. Then I noticed along the hood of my truck. Took me a couple to figure it out ha ha ha!

Time change and I think it's about time to say goodbye 👋 to the Winter tan. 🥶.....😆😄😆

Of course,  Sizzler with my Honey.  I think we're Platinum Members. 😁

Uphill Into the Wind with No Shoes On Tour (windy video)

 Uphill Into the Wind pushing 9 mph but felt good.  Going for an easy ride but you know how the wind is. 🤣 Not many riders out here and only making a video to hear the wind and my whining. 😁 To make it easy,  I only did the nature center rather than the entire trail. Did Scramble myself a couple eggs 🥚 this morning,  couple turkey sausage links, and 1 corn tortilla.  Boy , I'm a good cook. I almost called off the ride to eat more eggs. 😄

On my way down,  I saw a gal looking pretty beat by the wind.  After I was back at the truck for a bit, she rode up into the parking lot.  I asked her if it was windy enough for her.  She said she felt like giving up heading into the wind.  I  know she couldn't have gone to the top of the trail that fast,  another 5 miles. But she did say she came from Long Beach.  That would be pretty rough in this wind 😬 

                                                                       Windy Youtube video

Of course,  Sizzler with my Honey after the ride.  🚲 

Solo 25 PR Medals for my Emerald Necklace 😁

 Solo 25 PR Medals for my Emerald Necklace (course name on Strava). 31 miles 15.6 average speed. Started out looking for an easy ride but feeling good, so I pushed it a little bit. Maybe the Lifesavers gummies are more aerodynamic than Clif Shot Bloks. I know they're a lot cheaper. 💰 🤑 💸 💲 Couple little munks admiring my old 1997 bike. 😁

Heck, I rarely push from the dam south because it's mostly downhill but today,  no headwind and feeling good so I pushed it. End of the ride segments about 8 miles. Averaged 22 mph . Heck, better than 20 years ago riding with a forum group. 👍

Some good old fashioned California scenery. 🤪

A big reason I pushed hard today was that a couple weeks back, when I latched on the back of a group ride, my intent was to get ride footage for video. I mean, some of the times I'm all I get ha ha ha! SO seeing the group taking off as I was approaching, I thought they might get a kick out of it. I did see a couple of things that scared me so I stayed back and to the side if you notice in the video but they were rolling!!! I didn't want to get in the way and not wanting to get hurt myself.

One gal latched on to the back and she looked very skilled and composed. I had let her go ahead of me after being behind me figuring I didn't want to get in her way or keep her from enjoying the tow as well. I figured I'd roll with the group for a while then drop off if it got too fast or hectic, remember I'm an old man now.

They didn't seem to mind the gal riding along and even let her move up in the line. I had thought about going around to get the riders' faces but every time I thought I had a chance, the group would lift the pace or they would gather on the left side or even the other lane. No way would I go then, too risky and too many to pass without them expecting me. So I just stayed back not having the right chance but that was cool.

But one dude dropped to the back and I let him in not wanting to interfere. But it seemed that his intentions were to drop me, ok. He started pulling the old "drop back on the descent and lift the pace on the uphill" sections of the trail. He would slow then accelerate in an attempt to drop me I was thinking. OK, whatever, I was just trying to get footage as I said. 

I was ok but then as seen in the video, he started swaying side to side and crossing the lane dangerously, drifting from the left to outside the white line and shoulder of the lane. At this point, I was F that! It ain't worth getting hurt over. I figure either the guy was struggling to keep up, hence the gaps, or he had lousy handling skills. Strong rider for sure but safety is number one. I figure he was trying to drop me, so whatever. At this point, I fell back having only about 1/2 a mile to the end of my ride and I had kept up for about 8 miles.

So today, feeling pretty good, I gave it a push to see what I could do. I rarely push on the downhill sections (-.2 descent type grade) not ever thinking much of downhill speeds to impress. But today, feeling good I figured I'd push to see how I could do solo on that section knowing that I could keep up with the group that day no problem if that dude hadn't started being wishy washy.

So I gave it a good effort and was surprised. Yes and no, figuring I know I could keep up no problem but happy with my results. I averaged 22.2 on that segment of miles while the group had averaged on the same segment. Just having a good time admiring the fact that even though some weenies feel the need to be elitists, it's cool to know I could better that segment riding solo vs their time 20.3 riding in a group of about 12 (?).  Heck, I was about 2 mph faster on my own ha ha ha!

I just might get one of those jerseys that says, "Don't underestimate an old man on a bike!". 😁

Another cool stat on Strava. I'm #94 out of 877 riders as far as my weight class. 

#457 out of 3102 riders in my age group. I guess I'm not that much of a slug yet ha ha ha!

This year, I have Tinker Juarez beat by 61 places ha ha ha! That would surprise me of course he was probably reading a book while riding.

 

Cool little bonuses. Still at age 62, 63 in May, I set PR's but still place pretty well for an old guy in my weight class. #36 out of 957 riders. Plenty of competition around here ha ha ha!

Funny thing about pushing hard, at the end of the ride, I found a few little chunks of gummies that ended up on my Bryton GPS screen ha ha ha! I guess trying to chew gummies and trying to go fast can be a little tricky.

BTW, it is good to be remembered. I look in on cycling forums from time to time to see who is talking sheot about me. Some good people still mention me in a not so bad way and others in a total back stabbing POS way. You know, the guy who pretends to be your buddy on Fb then talks trash about you on a forum. Surprised the dude wouldn't suspect that I might check in to identify the backstabbers. They know who they are.

But I did see a comment about me claiming I could outwork people half my age. Yeah, that is true, been doing it for years and years. Even in the hot sun manufacturing business, I can outwork most people of any age. Heck, I think I was 59 here and still kicking ass on the young guys who were scared to sweat a little and get dirty. My boss didn't give me $100 more than once for working my ass off when others were busy crying about the summer heat. Oh yeah, she would buy me boxes of Liquid IV as well for work and boxes to take home for riding my bike. Yeah, all while the young guys were inside crying it was to hot outside. So there!