Old Man Tour

 Solo 40 miles. Set out for an easy ride today but had a hard time getting started.  Took it as easy as possible even thought about cutting it short but, NAAAAAH! 😄 Warm but a little rain at the top. 😳 Just another ride exercising fighting off the old age. 🤣 Didn't care for the PB $ Strawberry Honey Stinger. Tastes like an old stale skinny P&J  sandwich. 

Average 91 degrees today.  Ran into a few friends actually. Rare on a weekday ride.  I did chat with David, cool dude that rode with me once before. Always a good chat about how so many cyclists lack a real sense of etiquette and safety as far as cycling. Cool dude knows what he is talking about and observes the same lacking skills behavior I see in so many cyclists. Glad to hear this stuff as it reinforces my thoughts about things cyclists shouldn't do in order to keep themselves and others safe on rides.

Ran into Armando. I ran into him a couple weeks back heading to Seal Beach. I think maybe it was at the beach where we chatted. Heck, old age must be getting me as I don't exactly remember now ha ha ha! All I remember was that he was flying down the trail when I saw him. He was rolling pretty fast but somehow I managed to run into him on the way back though he left well before me. Today he was on the side of the road about a mile before the end of my ride. He recognized me then we chatted for a bit on the side of the road. He rides from the SF dam to Seal Beach and back which is about 60 miles. Pretty good ride in the heat. But when I saw him, he was on the side of the road after having to get off the trail picking up something to drink from a convenience store. 

Saw Jason, completing his ride up GMR. He mentioned the rain and yup, I got a few drops but guessing he got more being higher in the mountains. I mentioned that he looked far more vascular than I remember him from several years ago. He said he had made some changes in his diet causing him to lose 15 pounds. Wow, didn't realize he had 15 to lose. But a great climber. I remember him being like number 5 on GMR to the shack on Strava years ago. Of course that bunch of dumb pros came to down racing up GMR swiping all our KOMs. Oh wait, no way did I ever have a KOM on GNR but it would have been nice ha ha ha!

Ah the stale skinny P&J sandwich Honey Stinger ha ha ha! I will say it was not as bad late into my ride, I musta gotten hungry. But they feel much smaller than the Stroopwafels I get from Wally World. Lots cheaper, bigger, and more filling, I would recommend the Stroopwafels  way before the more expensive Honey Stingers. Salted caramel in the HS is much better as well, imo.

Oatmeal an nectarines for breakfast 

Tried Tilapia for dinner last night.  Been trying to eat healthy stuff, chicken and fish. Guess it's better than red meat 🍖 but I ain't giving it up, just mixing in some stuff that is supposed to be healthier choices. 

Used this tire now for a couple of rides testing it out. Seems to be fine, can't tell a difference between it and the Conti 5000 I had on the front. But again, that is the front so wondering about what it would feel like on the back of the bike seeing most of a cyclist's weight is on the rear tire. I did use Vittoria years ago back in about 98. Not sure why I didn't use it more. Maybe the model I used was hard to find? But this model is so far less than a Conti and close to the same scores in reviews. Maybe a little less favor but the price is huge now. So I have another one on the way, should be here in a few days. I have the new Contis already so decisions decisions! Do I installl both Vittorias, or both Contis, or wear out the Conti on the rear then install the Vitorria knowing the current one on the front will outlive the older Conti I have on the rear? Wow, the things us cyclists have to live with trying to decide ha ha ha!

Dinner tonight, after a hot ride. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. I don't know why Gina always says that. 😄 But both a senior Italian Herb chicken dinner tonight. Gina got the salad bar and I got a soup. Though my little buddies always toss in an extra plate or bowl so that I get a salad as well. I just eat a smaller salad figuring it might be good for me to top of my dinner.

The Who Needs Hot Yoga When You Got Hot Cycling Tour 🚲 Hot 🔥 (video on YT)

 Another 40 warm ones today.  Average 97 degrees and 92 when I finished.  Stopped to chat with Omar at the Chalan rest stop.  First time I actually chatted with him.  Funny good guy, some good laughs.  Plus much appreciated the rest stop there with the cold water.  Made a big difference on the way back. 👍

A really great ride today! Met a new friend, think I had seen him out there a few times but he wears a rag around his head most times. Name is Estevan, cool friendly dude turning 62 today. We had a good chat then he asked me to use his cell phone to record his little speech. I did then I asked him to redo it for my video. His son has a channel and they seem to be pretty active so this should be cool. Had a good time chatting with him then saw him as I was heading down for a clip to include him in the music video section.

Being so hot, today I decided to stop at the Chalan rest stop. Got a cold water from Omar then headed on. On the return, I stopped for a couple more cold bottles of water to down with my stroop wafel. Made a big difference on the last 10 miles.  I ride on the days that he is not there, during the week actually. But I rarely stop there seeing I can easily get water from the SF Nature Center area. But today being so hot, I was happy to stop there. He didn't want to accept money for the water but I insisted on making a donation. Heck, everybody appreciates that he goes out there every Sat and Sun providing support for the cyclists. Everything from food to mechanics. I know I used his pump once before after flatting earlier, nice to top it off after making the repair on the roadside.

But this time, I actually sat down with Omar seeing there was hardly anybody there on my return. Got to chat about all kinds of stuff and having some good laughs. I didn't know Omar had a good sense of humor like he does ha ha ha! Talking bikes and other stuff, we had some good chuckles ha ha ha!

Got to chat with a couple of others as well but just for a minute. Good time today and really appreciated Omar and the rest stop. I have mentioned it in the past but back in 2005ish, Gina and I did a forum ride with about 20 riders from Encanto Park to Seal Beach and back, 72 miles roundtrip. It was hot on the way back approaching the SF dam and no services in sight. I think it was before they built the many convenience stores at the many gas stations now. But our group of 5 or so were getting really hot and nothing around to drink other than the hot water in our bottles. But some dude was riding a mountain type bike pulling a buggy trailer. In it was an ice chest with bottles of Gatorade, coldest Gatorade I'd ever had. One dollar! Wow, life saver stuff and Omar was the dude on the bike ha ha ha! Since then, he has really grown, mechanics, cycling duds, food, coffee, ice water, everything for all occasions and seasons. So it's pretty cool to have it there and a gang of about 30 cyclists at times.

                                                                     The Youtube video

Average of 97 today

At the end of my ride, the net said 92

A little salty but on the last two rides, I've had 3 extra large bottles of water to prevent dehydration. I think I downed 7 large bottles of water and electrolytes alternating drinks between bottles. Plus 3 cold bottles of water at Omar's rest stop.

Omar in pink

Some people I saw out there today

I tested a new tire today on the front, Vittoria Rubino Pro. tire running about $45 delivered off ebay. Good reviews but some compare it to the Conti GP5000 saying it isn't quite as smooth. Nut using it today on the front, I didn't see any difference other than being $30 cheaper than the Conti. 

I did order 2 new Conti 5000s from ebay and geeze, $160. Really gone up so I've been looking at alternatives. Though my Honey Gina suggested I order the 2 Contis so that I have a matching set. Then suggested that I order another Vittoria just so that I can have both matching sets. What a woman ha ha ha!

Plus she says that if I have both tires the same on the bike, front and back, I'd get the full effect of the tires and a better comparison between the two brands. Again, who am I to argue ha ha ha!

No ride Sunday, lunch with my Honey.  

I swear,  I must be dying or something.  Gina is the sweetest kindest silliest woman in the world.  After lunch,  Wally World looking at 💿 CDs. I see a 3 Disc set of Queen's greatest hits. Would go nicely on my bike music list. She says buy it but I see Def Leperd too so she says get it too. 

Then to the Stroopwafels aisle. Pick up a box but she says get 2. Then a walk through the sport area.  She sees the Honey Stingers in a different flavor,  buy it too just so you can taste them. Then Costco,  you need more Cetaphil, get the 2 pack, OK!

Then the electronics department seeing the little camera packages, get one if you like.  No thanks,  I carry my cell camera now though it was interesting and tempting.  

No camera,  so she sees the GoPro 13, you need one or want one? 🤣😂🤣

Yes, I want one but I don't NEED one. Sounds good but it would just be more stuff for me forcing me to care for and be responsible. 😄

Plus,  you know me,  I don't mind riding a bike that's 29 years old ha ha ha,  as long as it works and my GoPro 10 is only about a year and a half so the way I see it, we got another 20 years together. 😆

But I keep wondering,  how did I get so lucky to end up with such a lovely woman?

So cool, I ordered the senior Italian herb chicken dish so how did I end up with so many salad and soup bowls? 😁😄😁

The 3 F-Words Tour 34 Miles

 F word Puncture, Hot AF 🔥, & Windy AF. Average 97 degrees according to Strava.  Someone tossed stuff into the road and trying to avoid it but got me about mile 3. Thought about turning back but, Naaaah! Hate having to repair on the road but some dude came by recognizing me saying he watches my videos.  Described some video stuff so I know he actually watches.  Cool dude and low key so no names but turned out having a good time. 😀 Started out good with my Oatmeal but the way back was windy and rough. 

Nice ride up but really felt the heat near the top so I kept the effort down hoping to survive. Saw 105 on my device but Strava says average 97 degrees. Of course heading down I figured I could make it even easier but nope, stupid wind! I was doing like 14 mph at times with a heart rate of 140. Usually at 140 HR, I'm catching people. But today, nobody to catch anyway ha ha ha!

I saw one other rider heading up and one above the SF Nature Center. Other than that, I didn't see any other riders above Encanto Park. A jogger and a walker but that was it. I usually have a few flybys on Strava but when I looked earlier, there was only one other rider. 

Sadly, my tire seems like it has a little life left in it though it has a small split. Figuring it might be old so when your wife is bugging you to buy a new set of Conti's, one does not argue. Just ordered a new set but dayum they are so expensive now.  I did install the Vitorria I bought a couple or weeks ago just to see how it feels and handles. About half the price of a Conti so it would be nice it it worked just as well. Probably won't tell much being the front tire and taking little pressure on the bike but it should be good enough to get me through a few days till the Conti's arrive. Then I'll keep it as a back up so that I have a matching set on the bike.

After the ride, I ran into George C in the parking lot who was getting ready to go for a ride. He hadn't seen my Trek before but when he saw it, he walked up to it and said, "wow, that is a nice bike and frame!". Yeah, now that I have it back out, I'm realizing how smooth it actually rides. I looked up the specs last night and the original bike was $2200 back in 2011. OF course I got the frame and fork on a warranty claim. So not a bad deal figuring the original Lemond I bought from Trek was only $1050.

Reading some reviews, I saw that people nowadays are saying that it was a smooth ride and one does not need much more in a bike with this one. I always thought that if I win the lotto, I'd buy a newer bike but knowing me, even if I won 10 million, I don't think I would be happy paying more than 5 thousand for a bike. And if I did, I'd spend more time worrying about damaging it rather than riding it ha ha ha!

                                                                              

                                                                      THE F WORD !!!!

A little too many homeless scumbags out here. Yeah, I know, some people say they're just looking for a better life but imo, worthless idiots. They hang out at the underpasses throwing rocks in the road, glass, boulders under the dark ones, and whatever else they can place on the trail to make it dangerous for cyclists. In this case, some moron broke some kind of an item that looked like a broken Christmas ornament or something similar and harder. I saw it a little early and went to the left to avoid the larges mess in my  lane but somehow happened to hit a piece that sliced my tire.

Flags blowing a direct headwind at me, boo hoo!

Breakfast oatmeal

                             Keeping a low heart rate and effort knowing it was going to be hot. 🔥 🥵 

First Place in My Age Category (Target SGRT Classic) 😄

 Won 1st place in my age category today. 41 miles.  Target "SGRT Classic". 63 years, 2 months & 8 Days Category  😆😄😆Ok not really, I bought this plastic medal at Target for a dollar.  😄 Tough getting out of bed knowing it's hot but once I did,  felt great! 👍 Poser ride. Once at the top, some lady pulled over saying something about doing great.  Then said something about me being really handsome Then insisted I take a bottle of water.  Very nice of her! OK, so the handsome part isn't exactly true. 😄 13.3 average at the top so not bad and I did get a little sweat on my legs today.

It is funny how so many complain about drivers but I have nothing but great experiences with them. Heck, only 3 places to cross traffic on this ride and every time, drivers stop and wave me on. Sometimes 3 or 4 of them stop to let me go. I do make sure we are ALL on the same level to be safe and it amazes me how many are willing to stop for a cyclist to get by safely. Now they're even stopping on the side of the road to give me water ha ha ha!

The lady was very cool to stop by and drop off the water bottle along with a fist bump. I didn't really need it but with the language barrier, I was not sure how to refuse while she was being insistent. So I took it but I left it in the shadows in case somebody else needed it, though there was not any others around. Just not me to take things from others that I don't know. Maybe too many Forensic Files episodes but I just worry about that kind of stuff. Just as if we go out and Gina has a margarita. I don't drink and never accept something from anybody unless it's a family function. Otherwise, just give me a sealed bottle of water. Nowadays, just hard to trust anyone and I'm sure the lady meant well. Great gesture!

Just playing around with the camera. I meant to strike a pose but then heard the car coming so I tried to exit the strike a pose so it wasn't what I planned but actually, probably the better of the set I took ha ha ha!

Just taking a break in the sun

Warm but didn't feel hot though my legs did sweat on the way up, at the top

My Madone riding beautifully! I've often though as I get older, I'd get a smooth riding bike next time but having this back on the road, I'm thinking I'd save money just keeping it going!

Handlebars so much cleaner with the cables under the bar tape. I should have done this sooner for gopro reasons.

Didn't have a chance to make my oatmeal this morn so had to settle for BK. Not really excited about it but it works. Don't think I have ever once felt lacking on a ride after the BK special. Maybe it's the high sodium, I dunno but it works. Did cut up a nectarine though. Pretty sure oatmeal is better for sure and the grapes I usually eat, they suck lately ha ha ha. Soft and mushy but I love them when Gina can find the nice crispy grapes. So switched to nectarines for now.

Post ride meal, a little Sizzler. Our buddy Ashley hooked us up for sure. The girls know I'm a good tipper so we enjoy the side benefits ha ha ha! Like extra plates and salad bowls though we didn't get an all you can eat dinner. Ashley is cool! Cute little gal about 20 that started at the registers. Moved on to a server and a real hustler! Gal knows how to make the customers happy and kind of fun watching her run around the dining area taking care of people. Sweet little gal and a good worker so I gave her the tip and she sort of acted like she wanted to refuse it but nope, I told her she deserved it being just as good or maybe even better than the others who have been serving for a good while. Always nice to see a fresh face and I think she is the first one to try to refuse the big tip. But she deserves it!

My complimentary salad ha ha ha!

My Honey

Don't even have to ask anymore, the lemons just show up with the sweetener and extra bowls and plates.

My winner winner chicken dinner

Gina with a little steak today and a trip to the salad bar