Gina's 1st Ride Long Time

Been almost a month since Gina was on the bike, January 29th to be exact! Today was 41 miles at a 15.5 MPH average. I tried to keep the pace down so that she would have some energy near the end of the ride. Considering it was a pretty stiff headwind, I think she did very well! Heading to the coast, after Warner, the wind was really stiff. I was trying to hold back the effort bu had to ride or fall down ha ha! She did well on the return, better than I expected and better than her last ride so I can't complain!

We headed out with Jose and Aimee but a few miles down the road ran into Mark and Gail. I stayed at the front the entire time so that I could hold a steady pace for everybody. I'm not sure how much Gail has been riding but Gina hasn't! Aimee also back from a 3 week vacation and a little mishap while there. Broken toe! :-O But she did well today. I think I heard her say at one point that her toe was aching but Gina was like, "shut up and ride!" so we never heard her complain again! OK, not really, Gina would never say that to Aimee but I got to throw in some kind of excitement into the story! But really, after that, we never heard Aimee mention her toe again.

Heading to the coast, maybe a couple miles before we got there, we ran across Bad Bob. He was alone so he turned around and rode with us for a bit to say hello to everyone. He then turned around and headed north.

We were not at the coast long today. Too chilly! We headed back after a short stay but while we were there, Don rolled up on his bike. Had a brief visit with us, and a picture of course, then he headed off alone. Few minutes after he left, I was like, "it's chilly, let's go!". So we all headed out even though Mark wanted to wait for Alex. Well, it was roll with the Missus or stay behind ha ha! Gail was chilly too and had no argument with my suggestion, as didn't Gina and Aimee ha ha! Though it was a mostly sunny day, it was still chilly!

On the way back we crossed paths with The Legend Greg. He turned around then ran us down to chat for a bit. After a mile or two, he rolled off and left us far behind. I guess that's why they call him The Legend!

                                                    Just about to Imperial heading north.

Heading south, Mark and Gail joined us.

Mark (green) and Don (red)

The Legend chatting with Jose. Ah yes, the guy at the very back later went around us. I don't know who he is but when he rolled around, he pulled up on my side and said, " I was in the draft for a while so if you like, I will take the front and do the work for a while!".  That was cool! I refused the offer trying to keep a steady pace for Gina but that was unusual.  Most times guys do that then they race around you and stick their tongues at you ha ha!

The Legend way up there! I guess that's why he's The Legend!

I know Gina was glad to be done with it!

E-Nuther Local Ride

15.6 more miles with 1,329 ft of gain. I call it my 3 X 24. That is 3 times up to 24th street. Got an earlier start today so got some daylight then finished in the almost dark ha ha! BUT happy there was no rain, a bit cool though.

On my second time going I saw some chick in a car checking me out, looking at me like a piece of man meat. Car pulled over and yeah, it Gina  ha ha! :-P

Anyway, got in a decent little ride this Thurs eve. :-)

                                                                     Some daylight!

Hi Gina!

Look at the way she is looking at me! :-P

If  you're really bored, check out my Magic Show and my Rock Show! :-P

Yeah I'm Wet!

15 1/2 miles with just short of 1300 ft gain.

Yeah, I think I need a new weather man!  Rain surprised me.
Gina called about half an hour before I left. I asked if she wanted me to wait for her, NOPE! She said it looked cold and like it might rain. I started out and about 2 miles into my ride, I hear somebody honk. I look over and it's Gina in her car at a stop sign heading home. I started thinking maybe she had the right idea, being nice and warm in her car listening to the radio. Oh well I headed on and later it started raining on me. Oh well, wet now so might as well finish the final 3rd loop. Go heavy for a bit at the base of the mountain but hey, once you're wet, you're wet!

Ya know, I was riding in the dark and I usually use my strobe heading down to "MAKE SURE" cars see me. I read a comment somebody made against strobes so I figured I would try the steady beam on the way  down. Two cars at an intersection waiting to cross. I approached the intersection and one started to take off. I'm very defensive so I see the car take off and swerve right till I see he sees me. I wouldn't have gotten hit, I'm prepared but it let me know the steady beam is not as effective as the strobe when you want to be seen. So pretty much, yeah, I don't care what others think of my strobe, if it keeps me alive, I'm keeping it on the 25-30 MPH descents! ;-)

SART On The Mountain Bike Solo

I figured it might rain today so I took my MTB on SART to the beach. 36 miles with a 14.1 average. Wowzer, felt tough today. Felt like a headwind both ways. Hardly anybody out there though so that was cool. Ran into Dr. Sarah at the beachstop so we had a little chat.

A bit wet at the start but no rain at all. But there was plenty of debris, sticks and stuff on the trail so the MTB served its purpose ha ha!

Made a short little video.



                                                              Dr. Sarah

Her's a little bonus! People never see Gina when she is dressed up. Her usual blouse, 2 sweaters and a jacket (all at he same time) always covers up her attractiveness. I'm always trying to get her to dress up a little bit and seeing that we found this dress at Macy's, it gave me a reason to talk her into dressing up for a picture. Probably about the third time I have sen her with lipstick since we met 29 years ago ha ha!

Thurs Local Hills

So I got in a short ride today, 15 miles but threw in 2,008 ft of climbing up the local streets at the foothills. Some of the roads had 18% grades, some 12. I figured on trying to get in 2k of climbing since it was not a long ride. Oh well, I tried!

As promised!  The video! :-P

                                             

                                                     Happy the climbing is over ha ha!

Red blinkie, salt and grody helmet straps ha ha!

The graph

Saturday SART, Forgot My Camera!

Well I forgot it in the truck and did the first half of the ride without it. But I felt naked so I had to stop by and pick it up once we doubled back. Glad I did as I got some nice pics I think.

44 Miles at 17.3 average speed. Gina did not plan to ride, can't seem to shake her cough. But Alyce sent me an email last night asking if I had planned to ride. Sure, me and Jose had plans so she joined us. I wasn't expecting it but Mark and Gail also showed up at the start. I thought it was coincidence but then Alyce told me she informed them before the ride. The more the merrier!

So we all headed inland then double back at Yorba Park. We made my camera stop our rest stop so we planned to ride through and skip the our usual Edna Park stop. Last second decision I am guessing but Mark and Gail turned off at the park without us noticing. By the time we noticed, we were down the road so we just continued on, Alyce, Jose and I.

Alyce started training some time back and man does it show! She helped us with turns at the front and did very well. Once we headed back from the coast, I took the first pull to the wooden bridge heading North. After that, I moved over and let Alyce take a turn, and did she take a turn ha ha! I looked at our bridge to bridge north on Strava and the average speed for that 7 miles was 20.7, or 6. She was kicking butt!

So Alyce was up front, then Jose and I was at the back up the 3 person line. Right before the soccer fields I saw Jose shake his head a couple times. Nice and steady pace so I was not sure what was going on, Alyce was steady at the front. But then a minute later Jose shouts, "go ahead, go around!". Alyce was kicking butt so I had to go around Jose to get back on her wheel. Then Jose said he was done! :-O I thought Alyce was kicking butt but then it seemed she picked it up a bit more. I wasn't expecting that ha ha! So at this point, I just held on and let her pull me ha ha! Heck, I didn't want to get in her way so I just stayed out of the kitchen ha ha! Right after we passed Edna then I got back in front for a bit but by that time, the ride was pretty much over. Thanks for the pull Alyce. Oh, and don't tell Jose I said this, but I think Alyce killed him on the bike today ha ha!

When we arrived at Yorba Park, Mark ran into buddy he had met previously. He introduced us then when we got to the coast, we ran into each other again. His name Mohamed. He is in the background of the "Don" pics with his knee up on the planter/ Don is in the long sleeve red jerseys. I had seen Don out there for quite sometime and we have crossed paths many times but never had a chance to speak with him till last week. Friendly guy! I saw him on Strava a few times in the Fly By feature, that's how I knew his name so that's how we started talking last week.

Don (left with long sleeves) Mohamed background short red sleeves.

Hmm, I;m guessing Gail doesn't do the thumbs up thing! :-P

I chopped Jose out of the pic for an Alyce only shot!

Minutes before Jose said, "Uncle!".