Solo 34 miles after vacation. Vacation from what, I don't know ha ha ha. Gina did have 5 days off so I got lazy. But back on today going as easy as I could considering the heat and wind. 107 I saw on my device, 102 average on Strava. Banged up my knee on the weekend. Small scrape and a little stiff.
Ahhh yes, before I forget, just ordered another pair of Premier long distance shorts on Aerotech dot com. Code LABORDAY to save $15 on orders over $100. Just in time so I ordered another pair. At this point, I am feeling much better in the Aerotech shorts vs the Black Bibs. Nicer smoother pad for comfort. $119 plus delivery, with the code, $112 delivered. Not bad for comfy shorts.
The video on YT
So Saturday, just another ride to rack up some miles. Staying healthy through exercise. Figuring I better ride from the Pico Rivera golf course before they destroy it. So heading south to the coast which I really don't like but doing it anyway figuring it might be harder to get there after the gc parking lot is gone and the surrounding trail destroyed.
So just another ride but headed to the pier to see what was there knowing there is never really much at the river's end section. Headed to the pier only to see a chick that I think was the same one I caught about a year ago, maybe 2. Nice big butt, yes, I'm an ass man ha ha ha! Nice big butt but maybe a little too big and bigger this time than last time but hey, it'll get me views on YT.
I did get a message from a fellow on YT saying something like it ain't fair because he doesn't get the sights like I do to use as thumbnails on YT, click bait ha ha ha!
But I did feel really good on the ride. The day after a blood test so that's good figuring I got stabbed and the huge loss of blood ha ha ha! Always nice to feel good on the bike. It was strange the previous ride but I'll chalk it up to being a little tired. My heart rate seemed low through the entire ride. I would push to raise it but my heart wouldn't stress though the legs would fry. So I figure my heart was strong and it was the legs that were tired refusing to push hard enough to raise my HR. A good sign I guess knowing the heart is strong. Yeah, strong heart is better than weak legs and a weak heart. But this ride, I started with a low HR for about 10 miles then went up once I the wind. Felt back to normal.
One thing on the ride, wow what a bunch of scary a-holes on those e-bikes. Yeah, many of the young kids are idiots but even the adults are idiots. Idiots with very little skill and consideration. First incident, I was passing and e-bike, actually 2. A couple riding together, the lady in front. The guy behind riding right in the center of the path on the white line. I came up from behind and shouted kindly the Onyerleft. Sure enough the idiot didn't pay attention so I hung in his rear view mirror for a few seconds so he could see I was there hoping to pass safely. But the idiot just sat on the line with no idea. So I waited till he seemed a little steady then passed giving him the stink eye and a shake of my head. Idiot number one!
Idiot number two! Wish I had my recorder on at the time. Heading north about 2 miles from the coast. Father and child heading north as well. Kid about 20 yards in front of his father. I see him, small kid about 8 on a smaller bike looking a little unsteady but in his lane, the center of the lane.
Looking ahead, I see small family walking south, 2 abreast and pretty much hugging the edge with 2 kids. I am doing about 17 but see the traffic so I slow big time to about 5 as the kid looks unsteady on the bike. Better to slow than hurt the kid or myself. OK, so the kid is 8 years old and I surely don't want to mess up a kid so I slow for a careful pass for all.
Just as the two sets of kids meet, I wait a couple seconds for enough room to pass safely. But the idiot on the e-bike, about 45 years old just races through between the traffic without slowing. I say about 20 mph, are you kidding?! He shouted something to the kids as he flew through. I didn't hear him clearly but don't need to know what he said because I already know he's an a-hole. Freaking people always trying to blame just the young e-bike riders but I've seen plenty of older riders that are total a-holes.
As I roll by the parents walking south, I gently start to increase my speed but say to the father, :bunch of idiots on e-bikes are too stupid to slow down for kids!". He just shook his head with a few words of agreement. Too many idiots!
Later on, I cross paths with a father and a little kid on an e-bike, I think. Then a couple of little girls on an e-scooter riding safely. The little girl on the scooter waves as she sees my recorder. Ha ha ha, always cute to see little kids wave to the camera. Sometimes is shocks me that they are so friendly thinking that most kids would be a little shy or intimidated by the camera. Caught them on video, the friendly smile and wave.
I think the paleta lady thought I might buy something if she photo-bombed my shot. I waited for her to move but seemed she wasn't and I had to go!
He he he the little wave and a smile.
Friday was our wedding anniversary so we went to Northwoods Inn. Same place I took Gina on our first date 40+ years ago. Lobster that won her heart I guess because it was game on after that night ha ha ha!
Steak and lobster for me. Steak is OK so I just get it cause I don't think I can live on lobster alone. I was worried being so rich that I might suffer on the bike the following day but I felt really good. Maybe I should eat lobster more often ha ha ha!
Mixing the purple marinated cabbage with the green lettuce and bleu cheese dressing.
Toast was a little under cooked and not so crispy so I asked the waiter to have it toasted. He brought us new stuff and a bag of new bread for the road, cool!
Before the mix!
Half way through our meal, a friend walked in alone, Jae. She happened to get seated right behind us. Didn't notice for a few seconds but what a surprise. I did offer her a dessert and had the waiter put it on our bill. She was happy and we will get together again for a dinner later on.
I had the steak and lobster, Gina just the lobster dish
Saw dust on the floor so once you eat the complimentary peanuts, you just toss the shells on the floor. Kinda neat, I guess!
The 30 mile test ha ha ha! The peanut and butter sandwich flavor Honey Stingers get pretty soft in the heat being carried in my jersey pocket. I do place them under my cell in the pockets hoping to somewhat shield them from the sun. But th P&J flavor really gets soft and flimsy. The salted caramel stays pretty firm. I guess I'll be sticking with those from now on not to mention, the P&J version tastes like a stale P&J sandwich ha ha ha!
Sunday. Changed it up a little bit today. But our friends still tossed in a salad ðĨ for me. ð Ribs, steak, and shrimp ðĪ. Gina had the shrimp dish and a salad bar. Tired today. I think it's from the blood loss on Friday. ðĪĢ Got a little bruise on my arm from getting stabbed ðŠ at the lab. ðĪŠ
And a nice thing, with the holiday weekend, Gina took off a couple of vacay days for our anniversary. So 5 days off for my Honey. She deserves it after working 11 hour days. She's such a hard worker. Patience is a virtue they say and she's got it!
Just a relaxing ride up to Azusa Cyn and around Fish Cyn for extra miles to get 40. Looked at the temp near Azusa Cyn, read 86 but I was feeling a little cold ðĨķ after the last few weeks' temps. ð Last night late night snack, cucumbers pretending they're Strawberry Shortcake. ð
I use and like Black Bib shorts most of the time and they work but lately I've been wondering if there is something a bit more comfy. BB are cheap, $35 per pair and I have 4 new pair and 2 a bit older.
Work well but pulled out a pair of Aerotech that I purchase about a year ago and don't use much. I like them but they have that cargo net thing on the thigh and I really don't care fore it. Maybe that's why I don't use them much. The BB's being good enough, I use them 95% on my rides. Then the other day, I decided to use the Aerotech shorts again and to my surprise, the chamois was more comfortable and it made me think. I had paid $109 delivered.
So I looked at the Aerotech site again and found a pair that was a little more expensive but the chamois is rated for 6+ hour rides. The cargo net set is 4+ I believe.
Ordered the new pair and had a chance to test them today. I was really happy! Comfy all the way. Not bad, $116 plus delivery but a discount code signing onto the site so I had them delivered coming out to the same price as the last pair but a better rating on the padding. After the discount, $109 delivered.
I really like the fact that the pad runs to the front in the center of the shorts. The BB run to the front but split in the center where I feel like I actually really need the padding. Just like the older pair of Aerotech as well. Guess that's why I found them more comfy.
Not to mention, the texture of the padding seems to be a little less abrasive. A more slippery surface, id that makes sense.
Anyway, being a heavy rider, 230 pounds, it's nice to have a comfy pair after revisiting the first pair.
The reflectors on the legs are towards the back while being seated on the bike which makes good sense. I do ride at night at times so I'm happy with the position of this feature.
Not to mention, comfortable and fashionable. Not every ride do I get to look like a fashion model. ððð
3 loops around a street named Fish Cyn to make sure I got in my 40
I really like the pad in the center going towards the front where I need it.
Post ride meal with my Honey. Steak today. Been eating a lot of chicken and fish but man does not live on chicken and fish alone. Yes, I cheated and ate a couple of Gina's chicken wings but she made me! ð
No ride planned but finally broke down and cut my hair so....why not? Just an easy 25 to the SF Nature Center. ð I sweat more when I cut my hair compared to riding my bike. ð
It was a trip today, I saw some dude out there drafting a big guy, good for them. I went up to my turn around point then headed back. Only 25 miles wanting to save time in order to get back for some quality time with Gina. No ride plan but I just rode to get in a few more miles for the month.
Actually did pretty good for being the hottest month so far, maybe ever. Darn it's been hot! 472 miles in the month of August, so I'm good.
So on the return, I see the two guys off a ramp. Seems the big guy is leaving the trail. A double underpass so I can see them from several yards away. Just as I'm approaching that ramp, the tiny guy hops on the trail. I'd say he's 5'3 and maybe 130 pound, pretty small but looks like a pro ha ha ha!
Just as I'm about to arrive, he hops back on the trail and heads my direction. He didn't see me coming, probably a bad thing, another clueless unsafe rider but oh well, plenty of those in the world. I see him start pedaling so I just hang back giving him a chance to pull away figuring he looks like a pro, I don't want to interfere. But he's slow in getting organized but I just hold back not wanting to get in his way.
But a mile down the road, he seems to be struggling with the wind. He's about 40 yards ahead and by his appearance, I can see he's fading in the wind. Well heck, I'm just doing my thing and at this point, if I continue to hold back, he's actually in my way. So I go around him and stay far to the left so he gets the idea that I ride alone and don't care to carry anybody on a ride. Heck, I don't need anyone or expect anyone to carry me on my ride.
So I stay really far left for about 50 yards then to be safe, I look to my right before moving back over into the lane to be safe. I look back and out of my peripheral vision, I don't see anything, WTF did he go? So I look to my left and there he is wedged between me and a fence. I'm like 5 feet from the fence so WTF is he there?
I look back at him in the eye and give him the look. In my case, it's the "here we go again" look. So I sit up and swing far to the right so he can pass and I'll let him go. But he tries to stay behind so I really slow down. I have ear buds in listening to rock music so when he rolled by muttering something, I had no idea what he said so I gave him the other look. The "I don't need a little tiny mofo sucking my wheel! ð
SO he rolls by muttering and I just look at him and don't really GAF what he said. I just gave him another look, the GTF outta here look!
So he did. He took off lifting the pace, good for him and good for me, I'm doing my own thing now. SO he gets about 75 yards ahead rather quickly but then all of a sudden, I see his motions screaming, "I'm struggling!".
Yup, he sure is and about a mile and half before the end of my ride. A couple more minutes, he's really struggling. About a mile left and I'm closing rather quickly without too much effort. Then I'm about 15 yards back, if I go by, he's going to take my wheel so I dropped the hammer. HR went from 130 to 165, probably my max but I blew by him. Didn't give him any stupid looks or mutter anything, I just hammered him. I didn't look back but I knew there was no way he was going to be able to hop on my wheel, I made sure of that ha h ha!
Heck, what do I need some tiny guy sucking my wheel? I've had too many experiences with the type. Benefitting off my draft then when it's time to go to the front, the sprint around or they cry claiming that they can't fight the wind so they stay behind me, then sprint around.
Reminds me of a forum member I met years ago. Green River to Huntington Beach and back. 60 miles round trip. He sucked my wheel for the first 20 with a ride plan to ride together. Getting frustrated, I asked him to go to the front and he said he couldn't hold my pace. So what? I need to recover even if you do 12 mph. But he wouldn't so I just kept going and asked a few more times but nothing but whining.
Round trip 60 miles, no help enjoying the benefits then the last 1/2 mile, he sprinted around. WTF!!! I asked him at the end why he did that . His response was that he felt good having some extra energy so he wanted to burn it off.
Then he asked when we were going to ride again. Uhh, I'll call you, don't call me! Do I really need little guys sucking my wheel when you know they aren't going to want to help? Nope!
Post ride meal with my Honey. Fish, lil rice, and a potato at Mille's. Gina always get excited and carried away with the salt but today it was the pepper. I mentioned the mess she made using the pepper then I put some on my food. It was all over the place too. Oh, it was that we were sitting under a fan. Took us a minute to figure it out. We're not usually this messy! ððð
(1).jpg)
(2).jpg)
(3).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
