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!

Solo Pico Azusa Mtns 2 PRs (Lifesavers Gummies) Bonus Material - Optometrist Doctor Homes 😆

 Solo 36 miles today. Started at 80 degrees but I was freezing 🥶 So much that I was shivering when I took the pic so it came out blurry. 😄 Just getting in some miles but felt REALLY good today. Got a couple PRs, not sure how that happened. 😄 Digging my Nature's Bakery fig bars. Raspberry, Blueberry, and Apple Cinnamon. Trying to get some carbs on my ride, taste purty good and packed in 2s. 👍

                 Trips me out that I can hit 35 mph on the trail.  It's that Dam Climb descent. 🤣

I don't like getting out of bed. Even 9 am is too  early. 😄

Thought I would try something new after reading about gummies on the net, various forums. Many say that regular gummies are just as good and others say not because they lack potassium and electrolytes.  But heck, I use Liquid IV after the first hour of my ride. First water for an hour then electrolytes for the remainder. That's what I have found on the net as far as using them efficiently.

So cutting back on so much eating over the last year, I have found I feel lacking on some rides like I am missing something. Usual 45 mile ride at the most so nothing too drastic but I did feel empty on a couple of rides using harder effort. I tried the Clif Shotbloks but bejeepers, they get expensive. Even on EBay, about $52 per box of 18. I'd use one on each ride. Some rides I wouldn't feel anything different using the Bloks, maybe not needed on those rides being a little less effort. Some harder efforts I would say I felt good. Maybe a couple other rides with hard efforts, I felt not so good. Maybe I didn't have the Bloks, I don't remember.  But after going through 2 boxes, I'm thinking that it's getting expensive so I looked for an alternative. I am not a serious rider so I don't worry about keeping up with Lance on the climbs ha ha ha!

So seeing others speak of gummie bears, I gave it some thought but not a big fan of gummie bears. The other night at Wally World, I spotted these Lifesavers gummies, always like Lifesavers taste. So I bought a family bag for $4. Pretty good considering the net says $7 for the same item at Wally World. Cheaper to walk in I guess ha ha ha!

Today I tried the gummies and actually felt really good. One of my better averages on this ride heading up towards the mountains and plenty of wind on the dh always makes it a good workout. 

I ate one gummie at the start of the ride and one every 5 miles to take in some carbs and sugars. And the Liquid IV to cover the absence of the potassium and electrolytes which I would be drinking anyway. Just realized it covers the absence as I thought and mentioned. I packed 7 gummies, one for each 5 mile section of the ride, planning a 35 miler.

Ate my Nature's Bakery fig bars at break after about 23 miles (?). Continuing with my LS intake. Worked out really well and I felt great! Hoping I found a good combination, makes sense to me so I'll try it again since I found that I need carbs on rides not packing away the pasta dinners like I used to back in the day. Sucks getting old and having to watch what you eat ha ha ha!

But hey, $5 vs $52 ??? A little less sugar but the LS has 26 servings/26 rides vs the 18 servings/18 rides of the Clif Shot Bloks for a whole lot less money.

26 rides $5 vs 18 rides for $52 ???? It's a no brainer!!!

So I'm happy thinking I've got the right combo now. And for cheap!

This is really interesting. I was at the mall and saw this poster/billboard thing advertising Emenati Medical. I looked at the doctors on the lower section and recognized a guy there but his name was different and in a different field. I was shocked that he made the switch to medical and changed his name a bit. I recognized him right away even though he changed his name to C-Lo Homes. 😆😁😆

Solo 40 for February 300

 Another solo 40 from Pico Rivera to Seal Beach and back. Just getting in some miles to break 300 for the month. Not bad considering I didn't ride the last 5 days. Didn't feel like riding today either but last day of the month. 😄 Nice day but breezy.

I think it's a Bianchi 😄

Friday morning at Millie's for the $6.99 special. 😋I wanted so badly but didn't to use the joke on these 3 Asian ladies speaking their language at their table. I think it was Paul Rodriguez that said years ago, he was in an airport when some Chinese people were speaking Chinese. He walked up to them and said, "hey, you're in America now, speak Spanish!". 😁😄😁 Well, I did have to take care of some DMV stuff too so updated my voter registration information. I got confirmation that it went through so I guess I don't have to worry about ICE after all. 😄

🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

Sunday Funday !!!😁Lazy Sunday with Gina. First a little breakfast at Tepeyac. Some good food. Eggs and enchiladas, good chips and salsas. Then some Wally World shopping then to the mall. I took Gina to the little shop where I bought her Charlie stuff a few weeks back to show her the stuff. Saw this little walking key wind up Charlie Brown character. I think it was a must for Gina so I bought it there on the spot, cash! 😄

I had the green chile cheese enchiladas with scrambled egg and Gina had the red with fried eggs. Then to Sizzler, busy but we got a reserved table thanks to the gals. Just a fun relaxing day. I can always ride tomorrow, Monday.

Home Repair $3 vs $600 ????

I'm posting this because some people talk sheot about me doing Google searches. Little history, at times people have questioned simple comments I have made. For instance, if I look up into the sky and say something about beautiful BLUE skies, they might tell me that the sky isn't blue, that it is yellow. WTF!!! Sometimes they insist so stupidly that it make me question myself so I might look it up to educate myself. Heck, did I wake up in the Twilight Zone in the wrong dimension? Am I color blind like it has been claimed many times about men and color blindness? Some people argue or comment with stupid statements that it can make one question himself as the other person is so insistent. So I look it up to verify what I thought was correct, actually are facts. Maybe not the sky but other things that are just as simple. I prefer to look up the facts and correct my thoughts rather than roam the earth the rest of my life believing something some stupid person told me, I'd be a fool. But most times when I search facts, people will get upset and make comments like, "OMG, he's going to look it up cause he doesn't believe me!". Of course I'd have to be stupid to take someone's word on something I have always thought was correct. I will say, 99% of the things I have searched after stupid comments, I've been correct, the sky is BLUE!

So, the following took place after years of a problem with leaking shower faucet. Goes to show that internet searches aren't stupid like some stupid people might thing. Goes along with the idea of , don't argue with a stupid person because they never will see that they are wrong unable to accept or believe the fact that they are because they lack the intelligence to accept real facts after they are presented to them. Heck, I had a disagreement with one person after they posted something on FB about Trump. OK, not saying I love or hate Trump, but if a person posts something that says "Trump Said this" but you see in the post and the comments, "THIS IS A PARODY, A JOKE, AND EXAGGERATION OF TRUMP CRITICISM, one should be smart enough to know it ISN'T TRUE!!! But even with the posted words, people still believe the sheot. Just like people think internet searches are BS even after proving they can be educational. But again, trying to get stupid people to think is tough.

Through internet searches, I made this repair for $3 rather than having someone pay $600 but yet, I'm sure they will still criticize me over internet searches. You hear lots of sheot when you do searches but not a word when you save them $600.

 Hear that? No, you don't! 😄One of those ongoing problems nobody seems to fix so you have to do a search on the net hoping to find a solution that actually works. Searching the net, finally found the real problem, a damaged valve seat. The original has been pretty badly damaged and I was told that I would need special tools to remove it and might have to soak it with lube to get it loose. Simple Allen wrench, a firm twist and it was loose. I'm guessing someone tried to force special tools into the part with no luck and not realizing that it didn't require a special tool, deformed the part as well as damaged the edges. You can't force a square peg into a round hole. Luckily I had looked inside the pipe last time and realized that the seat was deformed and even mentioned to Gina that if this new valve didn't last, well I would have to find out how to replace that part knowing suspecting something did not look right. How could perfectly manufactured rubber seals on the valves not last long unless something was wrong?

So rather easy to remove, I got it out but cleaned it as well. The internet search suggested I clean the involved threads and contact parts really well, so I did with vinegar and a wire brush. Got plenty of crud out and all the threads in the pipes look clean.

I also used plumber's tape on all the threads to seal the connections really well. Also suggested in the internet searches so everything was more than nice compared to what it was before I tore it apart.

I spent about an hour searching and watching videos as well as reading articles on how to actually solve the problem. Luckily I had already suspected the seating part was thrashed.

Of course it's a hard to find part! Gina looked at Ace hardware but nope, as well as at Home Depot. The gal there did do a search and found the part on their website. But only a picture, it did look like the part I needed so I ordered it but not arriving till Friday. Long time to wait having a fast dripping leaking shower, not to mention, annoying! Sunday and nothing else open so I just ordered the part.

Gina thought they might have it at a local plumbing shop but not open till Monday. So I reassembled the shower parts once again. I must have disassembled it 4 times in all checking parts and cleaning the assembly preparing to make the final repair.

Monday came and I drove down to the shop only to find they didn't have it either, boo hoo! BUT, the dude said he thinks he would know who has it, RED Plumbing in Pasadena. The online messaging thing didn't work fast enough after requesting text message help so by the time they started to work on my request, I was there in Pasadena. A 20 minute drive but I was there.

One dude tried to find the part but couldn't so I left thinking I would have to wait for Friday to receive the Home Depot parts. So I started heading back when I got a call right before getting back on the freeway. Dude said he found the part so I turned around. The experienced dude apologized being busy with another customer while I was there. No problem, better to get the part than not.

Later, installed the part in about 5 minutes being a pro now at tearing the thing apart. All together and feels better than ever and I will bet there will be no dripping at all, there isn't!

Took some internet searching and some educating myself on the issue as I have with several others many times. Some people talk trash about internet search education but when it comes to saving $300 to $600 for a pro to come out to do the job, well you don't hear them say much about that.

Same thing with the headlight receptacle a few months ago on Gina's car. Dealer wanted $300 to repair but I found the part on ebay for $15 doing it myself after some internet searches. She didn't complain!

I'm no pro but I got it done with some internet searching and driving to Pasadena for a $3 part. THREE DOLLARS !!!!! Big difference from $600. I'll take the internet search any day.

Big difference in the parts, right?

Old Man Base Miles

 25 solo miles. Just some exercise to the nature center. 2 coyotes hanging around approaching people. One about 10 feet from me and another guy. Kept approaching a family by the NC at the picnic tables eating lunch. 4 little kids, they looked kind of nervous. Hmm, clean up my bike then 1/4 mile later, have to ride through a river. Only 3 inches deep but hey, just cleaned my bike 5 minutes earlier. 🤣

Easy heart rate base miles. 

One in the shade, one at a table.

Easy HR today

                                                            Much different from yesterday

Solo 46 SART

 Solo 46 on SART, 16 average speed,  another windy day.🤣 8 PRs on Strava today and a good HR effort. 

TC was on the trail, I waited at Edna Park as he was at the Big A but a text almost seemed as if he wasn't riding after all? So I headed on alone. But a chance to chat bikes with Paul before the ride, always fun with Paul. Then a chance to check out Alyce's new bike, yeah I'm jealous. 🤣 Then saw Bionic Ron roll by. Pic from today and one from yesterday's no bike riding day. 😄 Image courtesy of OG Ron. 👍

So what happened with TC? Well I was near Yorba Park when he sent a text saying he had just parked next to my truck at the train station. I told him I was around YP but he never responded. I rode by the train station and thought I saw him but figured that had to have been a while that he waited. So I headed to Edna Park for a break figuring he would roll by. Not yet so I rolled out onto the trail waiting as he had sent a text saying I am at the B A C so I thought he meant the Big A thinking he would be by momentarily. Took a while and no TC but another text saying he was pressed for time so he'd see me out on the road. Never did but turns out, his text was supposed to say, I'm at the beach. Typos threw me off . So I headed to the coast but never saw him. Maybe his new helmet threw me off.  I did see a rider wearing a pink helmet on the wooden bridge approaching thinking it might be him but then I noticed the rider was a little too feminine ha ha ha! It was a lady so I was confused wondering why I hadn't seen TC. Oh well, he was already back by the time I started heading back.

Crazy wind, TC said on his Strava that he had a nice tailwind back. Heck, I had a headwind to the coast after a nice tailwind at Yorba. Heading inland, big headwind doing 13 or 14 with a 151 HR. Nice tailwind halfway back to the coast then a headwind. A short break at the coast then heading back, I swear I had another headwind. I was pushing pretty good and couldn't do much more than 15 or 16 to maintain my average of 16. TC says he had a nice tailwind back, not me!

Hey, how come every time my friends take a pic of a Mexican, there is graffiti on the walls? 😁

Cleaned up !

Solo 46 miles then worked on a plumbing repair so got to Sizzler late. Line around the restaurant but the servers snuck us in through the back door. Very busy and Gina was worried about going up to the salad bar thinking people in line were going to maddog her. 😠 I told her too bad, they're just jealous because they don't got connections. 😄

                                  My Friday Tshirt no bike riding today picture ha ha ha!

Electronics are so trippy. I bought this power bank for $15 at Best Buy. But the little black think is a memory bank thing for almost 10 times the price of the power bank. What, is this black plastic made of gold?