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? 

Solo Fun Spin

 Having a fun easy ride just to get in some exercise on a Sunday.  An opportunity to do some posing. 😄 I didn't do the Damn Dam today.  I set up my clamp on a fence then took pics with the remote.  But the couple in orange were doing repeats. Must have done it 3 times while I was there.  I asked the lady but she said I don't know,  just following my husband. 🤣 And my bike by some good old fashioned California scenery.  😁

One of the little homeless camps, some reason all burned up. So they move their junk to the other side of the trail. This is along the 605 fwy. A secluded section of the trail. Along this shoulder next to the freeway, there are usually about 3 or 4 small camps hidden in the bushes within a section of about 100 yards. Another section a bit north that was very populated and littered with tons of junk. Makes you wonder where they get this stuff and why? 

They did clean up that big mess but plenty of junk and trash left behind. Over the last couple of months, most of the junk has disappeared. I myself, if I were the man, I'd make these low lives clean up their own sheot. I'd bring a dump truck and some handcuffs. If they don't work, lock them up on the fence for the day. If they do clean, shake their hands, give them a good meal, then a quick swift kick in the ass and tell them, never come back!

But they don't so crap like this camp exist. Plenty of steel structures. a bath tub, and lots of other odd things. Where do they get this sheot?

I have always had a low tolerance for these low life scumbags. I guess when you grow up next to a house full of 6 brothers that are all druggies and thieves, one tends to develop a dislike for low life bully punks. Of course, 3 of them have been dead for years, seems it all catches up sooner or later.

And not to be heartless, I will point out, these people aren't down on their luck Vietnam vets, they are low life scumbag trashy people that will steal your bike if you turn your back for a second.

The couple doing repeats on the Damn Dam Climb. 

That is about as far as I went up the first section, just for the picture ha ha ha!

Love me some cloudy skies !

                                     Easy HR ❤️ 

Went to Pizza Chalet for maybe the 3rd time since we discovered it. The first couple times it was very good. Gina said maybe the best pizza so far. But today, hmmmm! The cheese at the pizza bar seemed different, the pizza was not as tasty, and the jalapeno poppers were very plain trying them for the first time at this joint. I thought it was my taste buds, too many fig bars on the ride? I dunno!

But Gina confirmed my assessment, everything tasted a bit off today. She says maybe the cook. All I know is something was different today.

As Ralph Kramden would say, ONE DEMERIT !!!! 3 and you're out ha ha ha!

Valentine's Day Ride

 Happy Valentines to my Honey. All joking aside, I'm lucky to have the sweetest most beautiful person in the history of the world as the love of my life. My only regret is not meeting her sooner like when we were 12 years old. 😄 Love these pictures of her, now of course because she's beautiful. At 12 because you can see she's already beautiful in and out. Then the baby, so sweet but looking like with am I doing here? 😁 Got her a little Charlie cup and doll. She took another picture of it with her candy 🍬 dish from couple weeks back, she loved it. 🙂

The YT video. Did run into a group on the way back, last 8 miles before my stop. Strong group and I held on the back so I wouldn't interfere. Just getting some footage. I was approaching Chalan Rest stop when they hopped on the trail and took off so I figured why not?

Just Another ride from Pico to the base of the Azusa mnts and back fighting the old age.   But first,  gave my Honey a little gift on the way out the door.  I am lucky to have the most beautiful person in the world for my girlfriend over 40 years. 🥰

Gina loves CB so I pretended to forget my water heading out asking her to bring it over to my truck. Surprised her with a little mug and doll. She loved it.

As I headed out to the golf course lot preparing for my ride, she sent a text with a pic of the candy dish I gave her a couple weeks back and the new CB mug. I guess she must have really liked it.

21 year old people ask, what are you doing for Valentines? Same thing I been doing with my Honey for the past 40 years. Yup, dinner. 😁 Millie's has my vote for best potatoes 🥔. I don't care for home style but I go there just for them. Gina had a baked 🥔 last time, so good I went back for one myself. Potato inside is smooth almost creamy, not sure how they do it. And Gina's gift to me was letting me slide on the dessert new year resolution. One slice of cheesecake won't kill me. 😄 Then saw a missile flying through the air, one of those Gina works on. 🫡 40 years, Valentines day isn't any different. 😛