Mark & Dave's Bicycle Shop (& shop ride invite)

Mark's personal shop ride invite to all (Sunday 9/2 at 8 am)

Ride on Sunday 9/2 at 8 am. He's looking to serve food for the riders as a post ride appreciation meal. No fees, no sign ups, just show up and ride. He says he has about 20 riders in for the ride at this time but I figure this video and post might attract a few more. as he says in the video, no need to belong to a club.  I believe 2 or 3 groups. Check out the info posted on the Mark and Dave's Bicycle Shop page on Facebook for more details.

I had a chance to Visit Mark and Dave's Bicycle Shop. I had wanting to check it out but hadn't ad a chance till today. Wow I was surprised. Thinking I'd walk in and see a saddle or two hanging on the wall I was shocked at how much merchandise they had in this store. Of course knowing that Mark is a big bicycle lover, doesn't shock me when I know he's ready to service any bike, any type, any style for any level of rider. One thing about Mark is that he loves all bikes so no need to shy away thinking that Huffy isn't worthy of this shop! Mark welcomes and befriends all riders. When I read or think of bike shop owners, I have an image in my head of what they should be and Mark sets the standard.A true bicycle lover, if it has wheels......

Along with Mark comes his partner Dave. A more quiet serious type guy. I had a chance to speak with the guy and yes, he is serious about bikes. A more hardcore type roadie with a big climbing style. Which is good as it makes the pair an all around knowledgeable shop. One guy raced and knows everything from the Big Rider Clyde needs to the racer while the other knows the specific needs of that super light side of riding and racing.

Of course I have known Mark since the time I started riding. Sadly he has set the standard of what I expect form shop mechanics so I must say that I am quite often disappointed when Mark standards are not met by others. Good in one way as this encouraged me to do my own wrenching. But bad because I often ended up having to make an extra trip to Mark for corrections. But over the years he has often offered good advice that has helped me with my own work. Over the years just thinking that I might be too critical of shop mechanics, I am often reminded that this is not so after each Mark encounter. The guy just reminds me every time why I have followed him around for the last 16 years. He's fixed so many sub par repairs performed by other local shops. I could go into detail about several but the word here is that Mark is a great mechanic. I'll save those other matters for mechanical arguments I encounter when I argue about the tools that every good mechanic should have and use as does mark. As a big rider myself, the biggest issue I have had over the last 16 years are wheel issues. Mark was the first builder to build a set of wheels that lasted more than 2000 miles under my big bod. Again I can argue till I am blue in the face but Mark's superior skills override all debates. Check out the pics below, dishing tool and 2, count them spoke 2 tension meters, 'nuff said!

So anyway, I could talk bikes for hours with Mark but making a video was tough. I had to make 2 parts just to fit in a portion of what we talked about. Always great talking to Mark and looking forward to visiting his shop more in the near future.

Part 1 (Mark)

Part 2 (Dave and George)

Flat Tire Sunday!

Gina didn't ride today, she had things to do elsewhere. Being appointed trustee in her father's affairs is a pretty demanding job. Has been for a few months now. It's nice to know people have faith in you and trust you but wow, there is a lot of work and responsibilities that go with it! Lawyer, court date, the realtor, wow!

So anyway she was unable to ride so I started out with Jose and Aimee. After a couple of miles I was doing pretty good, pushing pretty hard and  nice pace. Wind felt stiff heading to Imperial but figured the reward would be worth it. What tail wind?! We turned around only to feel another stiff headwind. I hate when that happens ha ha! Oh well, after a bit I settle in and find a groove. OK now we're rolling!

When we hit the wooden Bridge at Edna Park, I almost wiped out on the turn, a slow turn. Goshdarnit! So I replace the tube with one of my spares while Aimee and Jose mingle. Everything is going fine but for some reason I "ALWAYS" make sure the bead is seated well before inflating with the frame pump to full pressure. for some reason I got side tracked and didn't. I swear, even when I do check, it I rarely ever have anything pinched or seated improperly. So I inflate the tire most of the way, get distracted then end up placing the wheel back on the bike. Without thinking about it, I start inflating to full pressure. Nice! I walk away to roll up the old tube which already has a patch and not looking so well so I'm trashing it. BAM! Was that my tire? GOSHDARNIT!!!

So now I have no spare tube and somewhat worried that I may have seated the bed correctly and worried that just maybe it may be a tire issue (bead blew off rim). I'm not a risk taker and not wanting Gina to have to drive across the country to pick me up if for some reason I run into more bad luck, I told the others to go on without me. I inserted my second spare tube, pumped it up short of full psi then cruised back to the truck which was only a couple miles away.

So the ride was going well but then turned to "suck"! Oh well, it was not what I wanted but I'm not injured and didn't have to wait for rescue so it's all good!

SART 8/25/12

Saturday was a nice ride. Since we had done the 100 the weekend before I told Gina my plan was to go out for a nice slower pace ride just to relax the legs. Not that we felt bad or tired from the century but I know how nice a good slow relaxing ride can feel after a bigger effort.

So Herb and Alyce decided to join us for the ride, along with Jose. Jose had asked several times if he should take the front. Nope, I'm fine I told him. He continued to suggest I call him to the front if I need help. I told him the plan was to keep the pace a little lower for a reason. After the ride he said, "wow I feel so good like I could ride forever!". Well I could have and Gina could surely have gone faster and harder but see, that's why I was sticking to the ride plan. Sometimes discipline means a little more than speed when it comes to feeling good about a ride or after a ride. ;-)

After the ride we stuck around to get a few fish lip kisses for the camera, it was that girls' idea. They talked Herb into a couple of pics and tried to talk me into it but uh no, Mr. Beanz don't pose like that ha ha!

Alyce did have a flat toward the beginning of the ride. I was actually sort of happy she did. We had just seen Jose and a couple of River Velo riders at the Honda Center park. I told them they probably wouldn't see us because we'd be doing 26+ on the way to Imperial. Uh yeah, we were and uh yeah, that's when Alyce got the flat so uh yeah we were ha ha!

Also Saw Ron and Dixie on their tandem playing keep away from a group of riders chasing. I didn't think any of the riders would catch them but later Ron said one rider did. Wow, I'm surprised cause Ron and Dixie are freakin' fast on their tandem. We also saw Mark, Pete, and Alex2 on the road heading the opposite direction. Saw them at the coast too before the headed out for a taco. We didn't hang around as long as usual at the coast. Had things to do so we skedaddled!

In the video, Herb tossed the tube into the bushes. That was all show, he did pick it up then took it home for patching. None of our ride partners are litter bugs!  ;-)

Gina's First Century

1. Well on her single that is, she has 4 on the tandem but wanted a single century. 101 miles with Eyemage, El Monarcha and Me. 15.8 average 6:24 ride time according to Garmin Connect, 6:25 15.7 according to Strava. Nice flat ride including SART to Green river, PCH to Seal Beach and SGRT to Liberty park.

                      This is a video created from clips provided by forum member "Eyemage".


I did get some video of GregK but I'll hold it for the next SART video (keeping this one on Gina's century)

Another HOT ride

41.5 more miles with Gina today. Aimee joined in for the ride. Average temp says 96.1. Warmer than yesterday's temps but we were out there longer so that explain the drop in temp on Saturday. 111 max reading according to Garmin Connect. That was at a water stop with the bike sitting in direct sunlight at about 12:30. Pretty surprised Gina could hold on to a 16.0 average on the second day after a long ride. Pretty tough day for me, the heat and the headwind.  Ran into LewisAClark for a bit, other than that, just a hot ride.

Oh, I did bump into Mark at the start of the ride. Few words about his new bike shop (Mark & Dave's). Located on the Southwest corner of Carnelian and Baseline (Sunrise Center next to Smart & Final). Glad it is going well. Mark is the one mechanic I have trusted since I met the guy back in 1996. I don't deal much with bike shops anymore since doing my own but if I ever need something, Mark does it right....the first time, no games! He has since we met. No I do not get paid to say this, it's the truth! ;-)





                                                            Heading back into the heat

                                        Mark and his cool jersey representin' his new bike shop

                                                                      LewisAClark

                                                                            Hot Aimee

OK, when I need a break but don't want anybody to know I'm tired, I drop my water bottle. Gina drops the lens from her sunglasses ha ha!

SART 70 Miles 8/11/12

Gina and I did 70 miles on SART. HOT!!! 101 in the shade when we hit Green River, max of 106 degrees, 4:39 ride time, 15.1 average but we stopped a lot.






                                                     101 in the shade at Green River

                                             Her feelings thinking about the trip to the coast

                             Showing off her Tommy Two Tones ha ha! Needs more time in shorts.

                                                              JeepSeaHawk at the coast

                                                                         Serious Pete

                                                      Alex2, nothing to smile about??

                                                                 Man of many faces!

                                             Pete showing some Mustang Love after the ride