Solo 25 & TBennett (weekend video coming soon)

 Just Another smooth ride for exercise. Ran into Terence at the start of the ride. Knew him from the forums and been about 20 years. 🤣 I saw a blouse last night at Macy's. On sale so we bought it. Hard work shopping but I will say I do have good taste. 😜

So it was cool running into Terence. I hadn't seen him in like almost 20 years? I was doing my pre ride speech when he saw me then shouted out. I was a little puzzled at first not ever expecting to see him here in Pico or even on the bike since it's been years. So it took a few seconds and coming from out of the shadows of the tree before I recognized him. But who can forget his great laugh. Good guy and knows the way the forums used to be back in the day when they were cool, and heavily trafficked unlike today, lucky to get one or two comments a week in the SoCal forum. Ha ha ha they still suck!

But we chatted for a bit. I remember his kids being pulled in buggies but now in college, wow! Also I had suggested he use Deep rims back then after rim issues. He still remembers that I was the one who brought them up and in fact, the rear rim on the Cannondale I'm riding right now, I built that back in 2005 and still going strong.

Of course we talked about life issues as well, getting old, getting fat, then trying to get healthy again. The cycle of life! Good for him. The good thing about cycling, all ages and at any time one can return to the activity. I guess I'm pretty much riding now for that reason, staying healthy. OF course fun as well but keeping healthy is the big plus.

I must mention, more testing of my diabetes and all is very well. The foot exam and all is good. Of course I take really good care of my feet. I remember being a kid playing outdoors all day and night without shoes. Ever once in a while, I would get a split between my toes from being a dirthy little bastard ha ha ha. Too bad I don't have that jersey ha ha ha!

So growing up, I learned to keep my feet very clean. Then working at a steel company for a few years, steel toe boots on my feet all day in 100 degree temps, keeping the feet clean is key. So my FEETS are good ha ha ha! Also the main visit, the diabetic retinal scan is all good as well. I do worry about that. Not for any other reason than just that, being diabetic. Can't say I have any problems or hints that something may be wrong but you never know. And Kaiser is always on my back about testing and of course, knowing is key in that field. Can't fix what you don't know it wrong. SO yeah, all good now and keeping it that way. Can't see myself being the fool who ignores the sheot that is actually going to make your life miserable if it is avoidable. I'd be a fool to let this stuff happen. It's as easy as eating right and exercise, screw the meds!

But, today, Sunday I took my recorder after getting very little on Saturday. Few riders passing here and there. Figured I would mix it with some Sunday footage. I really didn't feel like riding Saturday but did as I had a spaghetti dinner on Friday night. Not wanting to waste my carbs ha ha ha! Plus figuring out what supplements would work for me on the bike seeing I don't load myself with carbs all day long like I did before. I have actually felt a couple days that I was lacking so I want to correct that. Nothing noticeable on short 25 milers but more the 45's with some effort thrown in that I feel it. 

Actually ate some carbs the night before, some Nature's Bakery fig bars (good reviews across the net) and a Honey Stinger along the way. felt good on Saturday.  Of course as usual, the wind was freaking blowing again so the speeds don't look like much but when you see others out there struggling, it actually makes me feel better ha ha ha!

So I'll just keep riding my bike for fun and exercise hoping to stay healthy.

                                                                 

                                                                        The YT video

       

I'm one who doesn't care about the superbowl, have no idea and doesn't care who bad bunny is but a trip to Casa Jiminez in Baldwin Park, I got a glimpse of the halftime show. And I must say, I still don't care about bad bunny. 😄 More entertaining is the purty colors on the blouse I found for my Honey. Now just give me a coffee ☕️ and don't worry about telling me who won because it really doesn't matter. Not like it's riding a bike. 😁

I did find out why my zones have been so high like constant red lining.  My Garmin connect account locked up a few weeks ago so upon repairing the account,  Garmin somehow altered my limits.  Finally figured it out so today's ride looks more like a relaxed ride versus being on the edge of a heart attack. 😄

Is It Never Windy? (Weekend video later)

 Solo Pico to Seal Beach.  Felt good but those freaking headwinds follow me. 🤣 I might have to get out of bed at 5 am to beat the wind,.....NAH!!!😄 But did feel good at the end eating Nature's Bakery fig bars and a Honey stinger,  not to mention a spaghetti dinner last night . I sure didn't feel like riding this morning but I didn't want to waste my spaghetti dinner carbs. 😁

My Honey is so sweet! Arriving home from my bike ride, she went to Costco and while there, picked up another bag of electrolytes for my bike rides. And some Vita B. Of course, Sizzler then the mall where she found a really pretty blouse on sale. Couldn't refuse the price and I picked it out having caught my eye. She liked it so there it is! 😁 I really enjoy the gals at Sizzler. One gal Elena, though not our server saw that our server was busy at the moment so she saw our food was ready so she brought it out to us. Then brought out refills as well without being our server. Now that is cool! Just about all of them are good but gotta love it when they take things upon themselves to make us happy. 🤩

My usual petite steak meal, keeping it light.

Cool Dude's 😎 Ride

 Well, met some dude and he was cool, and I'm cool 😎....so, the cool dudes ride 😁 Chatted for a bit while after I finished posing on the dam. He was rolling up on one of my repeats so I caught him in the pic too. 😃 Other than that, just testing affordable nutritional on the bike products. Eating much less than before, I think I require more on the bike as far as carbs. 

Been using these, 2 packs so I take in one about every ten miles. Then a Honey stinger at about half way or 2/3 of a 35 mile ride.  Felt great on a ride last week.  

But on my Saturday 46 mile ride, I worked hard and missed my Honey stinger so that could have had something to do with burning out.  I've always had a big before rides but I cut back a lot to control my diabetes without meds. So I guess I'd rather sacrifice a little on the bike rather than have my kidneys fail,  priorities! 😉

So today was a short ride but I wanted to try the fig thing with a Gu to see my reaction.  Felt good but the longer rides are the real test. 

The Honey Stingers worked well for me. Easy to eat and felt strong at the end of my ride, the last 10 mile segment, actually feeling stronger at the end. Hope it was the HS or maybe just feeling good or placebo effect. I'll find out later ha ha ha!

                                     Then a romantic  candlelit dinner with Gina at Sizzler. 😁

Each booth had a little plastic candle light. Valentine's Day decoration set out on Feb 4th. We'll see how long these things last. Kind of sad that the Sizzler people will find out who their thief customers are ha ha ha! 

Just Goings to say it,I'm a Bad Muthuh Fukkuh

 I'm just going to come right out and say it, I'm a Bad Muthuh Fukkuh! 😁 More tests today, blood pressure good, diabetic feet test, retinal scan, all good. Blood work last week, good levels. No medication so I'm thinking all the years of exercise without abusing my body have paid off. 

I did get some cool little roll up sun glasses because my eyes are dilated so if I make any typing errors, has nothing to do with it because I always mess up anyway. 😄​​​

Very happy blood pressure is good because so many people have it and only means my system is still pretty good. 👍

Did stop at Joanne's in Ontario after the visit for breakfast. The bacon 🥓 was really good 👍. Guess I haven't had any in a long time now since I usually eat turkey sausage with my breakfast. Couldn't see it very well but I sure could taste it 😋

Cool little glasses. Thinking about ditching the Oakleys and keeping these little strip things. 😁

Funny, the nurses treating me hadcan e-bike debate.  😄 more later when I can see.😃

Met my Honey at Vince's in Ontario today for dinner. Since I was in the are and Montclair Plaza where they have a cool candy 🍬 shop. Grabbed a few candies, and See's suckered then tossed them in a little dish (planter) I found at Wally World. She liked it. 😊 After she got out of work, we met for spaghetti 🍝 😋

Cool candies, Black Cow, rock candy, wax bottles, avocado 🥑 and eyeball gummies, gold miner gum. 😄

Sunday Zone 2/3 Recovery

 Just another solo ride from Pico to the SF Nature Center and back. 25 miles aiming for the recovery zones after yesterday's way up there's ha ha ha. But the wind hasn been making it very easy lately. 🤣 Just ran into George in the parking lot after my ride. He enjoyed lunch with one of his friends so it was cool of him to do the drive by 😄 to say 👋 hello. Just looked in the mirror this morning, I'm thinking another 3 or 4 days, I'll have boxes in my stomach. 😁 OH yeah, that hole in my elbow is compliments of Sandra 🤣 Big difference between yesterday's and today's HR. ❤️ 

What was cool was that I had a little chat with a dude I see in the lot fairly often. Cool dude named Ted. He wasn't there to ride this time, meeting someone on bidness. But we got to talking about others we haven't seen in a while. Then I mentioned that I officially retired in October. He said he was only 55 and couldn't wait for 62 so he can retire as well. Spoke about keeping healthy and active and a little of my family history, he said it was a good thing that I made it this far and still healthy. He said, "look at you, what else could anyone want?". So true! Healthy, and as I tell anybody and everybody, I'm good as long as I have Gina and a bike ha ha ha!

Big difference between yesterday's and today's HR.  Though the wind wouldn't make either one easy. 🤣

                                                        Winner Winner Chicken Dinner !!!

After the ride, I was hungry. Pizza place was packed with a rotten little kids' sports trophy celebration so the only seat available was outside and I don't eat dinner outside. So we ran across the parking lot to Millie's again. Gina likes the chicken, not for me. So I tried the patty melt for the first time. The potatoes felt good going down like I needed them. Gina's baked potato was REALL good! The food here is ok but the potato dishes are really good. I'm not a homestyle potato eater but this place. gimme gimme!

46 Rough Miles /10 with Fazi and Dariush

 Ran into Fazi and Dariush at the start so they invited me to ride along. Usually I do 14 for 7 miles or so to warm up but they were on pedal assist bikes doing 17 and 18 right off the line, level 1 they said. I stayed behind them to Weir for about 8 miles (?). I turned back heading to the coast solo. I did set some PR"s heading to the coast as well. Windy if you ask me, I saw several groups struggling. Ran into Ron and Dixie at the coast as well as Alyce. Rolling back with Alyce trailing behind me somewhere. About 10 miles later, my legs came to a standstill. Felt like I hit a wall of wind. Had to sit down for a bit and thankfully Alyce offered a Gu. I was almost done but in the end, OK I'll take it. 😄 That's when R&D rolled up on their tandem and Ron's new bionic leg. They stopped then we rolled back somewhat together as I struggled to keep up. But when we finished the ride, I needed another half mile so I headed back for a bit. I did see Poli in a big group on a bridge so I missed the video shot. OK, now pack up, clean up then dinner with my Honey.

                                                                            youtube video

Pretty sure the heart rate graph would explain why I was so tired near the end

Ron reminding me just how tired I was ha ha ha!

Friday Breakfast at Millie's. The $6.99 special that they thankfully offer. If I hadn't handed over my money to my wife, I would have been able to afford somewhere a little more respectable. But $600+ to have Gina's Money Pit car repaired to pass smog. Needed 2 of these O2 sensors, $100 each and $100 to install. That sucks, things are like a $100 spark plug with a wire.

The things we do for love, eating budget breakfasts.

Crazy thing though eating with a bunch of old people. Pitvstop before leaving then seeing someone didn't flush the toilet and I was thinking why can't this lazy fool just lift his foot to flush the toilet. Then I realized where I was, people probably happy they're upright.

Funny though, I hardly talk anymore now that I retired and hardly talk to anyone anymore. It's like I talk so little now that I'm forgot how.

Crazy, many of the mall stores are struggling now. One told us that they will close on Sunday, the last day. And our candy friend Suzie, I asked her just Thursday how they were doing as we have heard the other shops are struggling. She said they were doing ok but not as busy as usual. Then I walked in on Friday expecting to say hi but the entire candy booth was gone. Ok wow, no more Suzie. Crazy! I thought I was in the Twilight Zone there for a minute. Just vanished over night no warning.