Keeping The Beanz Man Down MTB RIde

12.8 miles a bit over 2,000 ft gain on the MTB

I think my buddies were trying to keep the Beanz Man down! 
I've mentioned to them many times that I was somewhat confused as to why I could downhill on a roadie like a demon but really sucked on the MTB. Very frustrating but I had mentioned it to them many times. I wonder if competition had gotten the best of them. Me? I'd never not tell anybody anything hoping they wouldn't take away the one advantage I had on them.
But going downhill just didn't make sense to me. I was doing everything I do on the roadie but the balance was just not there. I'd drift off my line no matter how hard I tried to carve a turn. Once I was on the MTB a while (more seasonal than the roadie) my DH would improve but not drastically. I didn't understand it! About 3 weeks ago I looked into it and yes, mentioned it to my partners again. Yes I had told them of my current settings which were set to MFG'er suggested numbers. Never once did they say "that is too high!"
So I found a video by a dude who actually weighs more than I do, by 40 pounds and he has his shock set to 110 psi. Mine is set to 180 psi per MFG'er. The dude says it made a big difference so I gave it a try. I mentioned it on a forum and even ChrisL said that seemed very high.  As well as my tire pressure. I went down from 60 psi to 30 in the front. 35 in the rear feels good to me.
SO it made a big difference over the last couple of weeks. But today I figured I would slow the rebound. Took a chance and went all the way slow! It had been set to high and to medium the last couple weeks. Today I went to slowest and HO HO HO CRAP!!!!! Man I rolled right over the ruts and bumps like a Cadillac!

I read that even the climbing may be better as the bike is not bucking you off. So maybe it was the better traction today but on Strava the times on the initial climb of my second loop today was 10 seconds faster than those set in past years and months! Short section about 100 yards but dang that is a lot.
Then each on of my descents were and average of 2.5 MPH faster than ever!  That's a 2 mile descent!
Plus my 2 lap time is like 6 minutes better than ever!

Whoah this made a huge difference! Thank goodness some people are willing to make videos and put them out there as guides for others to benefit! Watching that one guys's video just changed my life! 
Freaking friends! Now I'm going to spank them on the downhills too!

Same ride today and faster than ever! 

Adding a short video!

Lady put up two fingers asking if I was doing 2 loops. I put this in as I was razzing some forum members saying that women are excited by my legs. They take it so seriously that I figure I'd rub it in with this scene when the lady said I was awesome. Though you can't really hear her in the video.

Weekend Ride Video (Dale and Raul)

I made a video because we ran into a couple of guys and had a little chat. Told them I would put them on video as they seemed interested with their tourist like attitude ha ha! Not many riders out so I made the ride section mainly on Gina and Aimee.
I was happy with Gina's ride. 16.6 on the tandem over 44 miles on Saturday. But on this Sunday she did a 16.7 over a 47 mile ride. Not bad as I was expecting he to be a bit slower. Heck maybe she has been carrying me on the tandem. :D

Also Dr. Sarah telling us about her Iron Maiden wins back in the 80's, back to back years!

Easter Sunday SART

46 miles with Gina, Aimee and Mike on the single bikes. I am impressed! Gina did 16.6 on the tandem yesterday over 44 miles but today on her single she did a 16.7 ha ha! Must be them Power Bar shot thingies ha ha! Nice day, a bit breezy but still a great ride. Not many riders so traffic was light, a good thing. After Gina and I headed to the Chicken and Ribs place in Azusa for an Easter meal ha ha! Our celebration, a ride and some ribs.

Ran into Ron at Edna Park when he rode up with his friends Jose and Terry. Had to get a pick of Ron's bent. One of 7 he says and 13 bikes, wow!

SART Saturday Tandem

I will have a video on Monday sometime during the day.

44 miles at 16.6 average. Nice ride and no real hard efforts. Just a nice pleasant cruise with Gina. Figured we would try out the new tire on the tandem. Conti GatorHardshell. A bit tougher than a Gatorskin from what I have read. Some say it feels slower. Meh! I think it's in their heads. Just like many heavier riders (as I am) swear Deep V rims are too heavy and slow them down. Uhh yeah, the fact that you only ride 200 miles per year may have something to do with it ha ha! Anyway I thought the tire was fine!

Gina and I actually had a chance to ride all alone today, shocker! We did run in to Mark and Gail at the coast but they held back when we left. Bummer cause I didn't get any ride video ha ha! I guess there is always Sunday.

But I did get some video of various people. At the coast we ran into Dale and Raul. Dudes seemed pretty enthused about being out on the bike. We exchanged a few bike tales then they headed off. But not before taking a few pics and telling them about my blog ha ha! They will be in the video with a few words.

Also ran into Alex and had a brief chat as the gang hung out at the beach stop for a bit. Super nice day for a ride! Only bummer was I had all my video recorders along with remotes etc but no subjects ha ha!

Dale and Raul

One thing I was good at was "roller" skating! Rollerblades are OK but roller skates is where it's at!

I was tempted to go tuck her tag in for her ha ha!

Mark

Alex

Gina's meat head look ha ha!

Picture taken by Mark sent to me via text. Said he felt this picture was appropriate for this blog ha ha!

MTB Mario

Well I planned to do 2 loops at the MTB park. Ended  up running into Mario on the mountain bike. We got to talking on the way up and he asked if I would record him descending this giant wall. Sadly the video does not capture the true grade of the wall but it is steep! So we took a few shots then I went on my way. Ended up with 2 1/4 loops hoping to get a bit over 2,000 gain today.

Felt pretty good considering I had a migraine a couple days ago and wasn't sure how I would feel. First migraine in a couple years but any migraine sucks ha ha! But I got in 15 miles and 2300 ft of gain so I am happy!

I made a Mountain Bike Mario video first. Then I hope to make a Mr. Beanz version of my ride as well so hopefully I have a second video soon.

I had to make one that is safe for Mario to show his wife ha ha!

The Mr. Beanz version.



The Mario version

Sunday SART

No Gina so I had a free pass to ride at my own pace. managed an 18 mph average over the 44 miles. My legs were feeling pretty tired. I managed 160 miles with 8,796 ft of climbing. half of that MTB miles so my legs have got the right ha ha!

Managed pretty steady 18-19 into the wind most of the time. Caught up to this guy who then hopped on the back. Wow what a sweet bike. Some super deep carbon rims and a super nice bike. After a few miles he offered to take the front. He held 18 for about half a mile but was looking pretty beat so I had to go around cause he was messing up my average ha ha. But he was kind enough to say thanks after the ride.

Darn cold weather!

SART Saturday 60 MIler

 Set out for a 60 miler with Gina, Aimee, Mike and Jose. Green River turnaround point. Nice day, cool but not cold (16.2 average). Kind of sucked just before Gypsum with the detour. Very narrow lane next to concrete barriers. Not bad but cyclist are supposed to use the southbound lane on the opposite side of the road which they don't. So trying to squeeze 2 bikes heading in opposite directions sucks! If only people could follow direction, it would be a lot safer for those of us who do!

Anyway I told the guys today that they would be taking turns at the front. I did  some pretty good climbing this week so it's about time I got some relaxation as well. Felt really good letting the guys do some of the work ha ha! Heck I almost got spoiled and just wanted to stay back in line. Got some good turns out of Mike and Jose. Then later we ran into Joaquin who was doing his usual 20 miler so we let him help us for a bit. 50 miles into the ride Gina faded and couldn't hold the pace Joaquin was setting on the return. So I waved him on and figured we would be better off doing Gina's pace. I wasn't trying to kill her and 60 was a darn good ride anyway!

                           Don't know the green guy at the end but he was happy to hang on
                                             the end for about 5 miles then turned around.

Aimee's "I just made a wise crack at Mr. Beanz" look! :-O

Ran across these anonymous people along the way! :-P