Solo Chorizo Ride

Headed out for a 32 miler today alone. Wore my spider jersey to make sure no other riders would ride with me ha ha! It worked. Actually I wanted to see if my legs were coming back after the 3 months off. Sure enough, felt much better, no cramps, no signs of cramps, able to push a little when I had to without wanting to cry he he he! Ended up with a decent 17.1 average speed alone on my third ride back which is much better than the 15.2 I did on the first ride.

I did see Alex, Herb and Alyce and Ron and Dixie flying by in the opposite direction pulling a gang of guys. Later I would meet up with them at the coast to find out it was the infamous Ray Clone riding with them. Had a chat then I headed off alone trying to get home early to entertain Gina.

On the way to the coast riding into a headwind, in the residential area right before Edna Park, somebody was cooking chroizo. Oh my, SMELT really good. I love chorizo and the smell almost melted my tires ha ha! Continued on the the coast only to have that smell haunt me for like 10 miles ha ha! Now talk about a tough ride! :-P

Nice tailwind back so it was a nice return! Nice day, sunshine but not hot. :-)

Some pics:

My spiders!

Got 101 Excuses But I Rode My Bike!

Yes, saddle sore is way down and after a week of leakage, I figured it may help more if I rode. Maybe the pressure on the side would force out more of the bad stuff though it seemed to have stopped the drip. I must have been right because I got home and saw the blood and guts on my chamois. Of course right into the shower for a good washing so hopefully it stays under control. Not much discomfort on the bike seeing it is more in the crease of my leg and not directly on my nutty buddies he he!

On the way to the coast I was doing a decent pace for myself seeing it was only the second time on the bike in 3 1/2 months now, oh how the weeks go by. I was working but going OK when Ron and Dixie caught me from behind. We ended up slowing down and chatting most of the way to the coast.  Mingled at the coast for a while then they headed off. Was I going with them? HEEEEEELL NO! I know they fly back with the tailwind and no way could I keep up at this point.  So I headed back alone after they took off.

On the way another dude caught me from behind. He slowed and asked me if I rode with (Enter female like name here, used as a sir name). He asked if I rode with this person, I asked "Alyce and Herb?" He said no then mentioned the name again. Nope! Then he said Bob and my mind was so set on Alyce and Herb that I forgot that second about Bad Bob. Hmmm! Few seconds later he was so far ahead no way could I ask him if he meant Bad Bob seeing I have no idea of his sir name.

But anyway, I managed a 25 miler at 16.1 with some of it cruising at relating pace ha ha! Better than last week and I only got 2 half cramps. I was able to back off a bit and let them pass, much better than last week but I did only do 25 figuring 30 last week was an end of the ride sufferfest ha ha!

As far as the new jersey, no more than 2 minutes on the bike, first guy I encounter asks if I was a orthopedic surgeon ha ha ha!

                                                                New jersey!

New jersey, new helmet, new glasses, new gloves, new under layer ha ha!

Managed to catch Jose R. and his buds. 

Ron and Dixie

I took the pic from the front so it looked like I towed them into the wind ha ha ha ha!

For those of you guys wondering, yes, Socal still has boobs at the beach this time of year! :-P

Freakin' Saddle Sores are Expensive!

OK, I ain't gonna lie! As much as I have been wanting to ride my bike lately, I got a freakin' saddle sore. I guess that is what it is cause I never had anything like this before. 3 months of the bike then I did a comeback ride of 30 miles. I actually felt fine on the bike, comfy on the saddle and all. But maybe it was too much for my baby tender groin skin. I did return home and hesitate taking a shower as I was excited to load my info into Strava and blog. big mistake, I should have taken a shower right away after a comeback ride. My goodies weren't conditioned like they were last time I rode. :-(

I rode Saturday but on Wednesday I felt something wrong down there. F#@K!!! It's a pimple and some sore swollen tissue right next to my huevitos! I made the mistake of putting some Neosporin on I then went to work all day. Didn't think the grease would affect me the way it did. By the time I got home, I was hurting. Something was wrong and it hurt. I knew then my weekend ride was out as much as I wanted to ride having a new helmet and all.

So the weekend came and it still hurt. So dang it, the ride is out but I decided to take Gina to Laughlin for the weekend instead since I couldn't ride. Mistake! I should have stayed home on the couch watching TV with my nutty buddies in the air healing.

It was 104, hot and we were walking and walking. Nice and fun till my pimple or whatever the heck it was decided to get irritated. It started to grow and soon the skin around it felt like a pregnant lady's belly getting ready to rupture. Ouch, that stretched skin feeling is never fun!

So I hobbled around the casinos as Gina played the slots. I don't gamble at all so I just sat in the lobby, watched her at times, went all out and ate 2 pieces of pizza. BTW, the eating habits have been great over the last month and I'm feeling great, down 2 belt notches!

But we were in Laughlin and I was splurging! Well I thought I was till Gina told me she had lost nearly $300. Holy crap! I love a certain purse I see at Macy's all the time, $280. But great leather and really nice, not like those plastic Coach crap purses. I saw it on Friday before Laughlin and told Gina we ought to buy it for her since she loves leather purses. She said no, she didn't want to "waste" $300 on a purse. So I said then maybe I'd buy it for her. She said no that she would not let me spend that kind of money on a purse.

Umm OK! So we go to Laughlin, she plays the slots and gives away $280 to the casino.  Here I thought I was splurging money on 2 pieces of pizza! Holy crap Gina, and that is fun for you? She says yes with a smile! :-O

$280 down the drain and right into the slot machine. I'll never understand the thrill but she had fun!

So now my pimple/sore is really hurting, probably even more after she told me how much she had lost in the slot machine. :-P

The drive home was a bit rough feeling like it was stretching out every time I adjusted my butt in the seat. But later at night, it really started hurting and even came to a head rupturing. It was actually a relief for me, the loss of pressure. But it was nasty, I was actually straddling the bowl with one leg up on the seat draining into the bowl. It started bleeding and I was applying pressure near to see if that would help drain it. Nasty, it's like now I know what it's like to have a period ha ha!

Great, 10 pm Sunday night it decides to rupture. So I'm up till 2 am trying to nurse it. Yeah, nasty but what a relief. Wondering if I need to go to the doc or just stick it out hoping it was nothing serious like my liver failing and forcing puss out through my nuts ha ha!

Ah so much better now and what a relief. Very little discomfort now and I can walk with a straight leg again without having to take every step like I was trying to step around a toy left on the floor.

Well I really missed riding and it cost a few hundred bucks to find alternate entertainment. Hmm! Next time I get a saddle sore, I'm staying home and saving the money. :-P

  A couple pics I took of Gina in the casino. How she can smile after losing nearly $300 puzzles me!

Breakfast!  A good reflection of my marriage. She has 3 forks, 2 knives, and about 5 napkins while I have one fork! :-/

Just kidding, Gina is an amazing giving wife!

Of course she gambles for fun but I manage to get my thrills one way or another! :-P

Ready to Hit the Road

I had to have this one! Matched the new helmet so I got it. Cracked me up because a few years ago a poster in a cycling forum said he saw me in my yellow jersey pulling Gina and some friends. He said I looked like Big Bird pulling a line of Muppets ha ha!

So looking for a jersey to match the new helmet, I ran across this one. Sesame Elmo jersey ha ha! Somebody ought to get a kick out of this one. If not them, then me ha ha!

Well heck! I just ordered another jersey. Had to take advantage of that $5 gift card that came with the new jersey. Plus a free pair of socks with each order.  Not bad, $45 or so and free socks.

Sad News About The Legend Greg, Goodbye My Friend!

Totally amazing! Ran into Bad Bob who told me that The Legend Greg lost his long battle with cancer. Trying to recall the facts, I believe Bob said it was about 8 years that he dealt with cancer. Started at his toe, treated, recovered but then it returned. Spread to other parts of his body. I don't remember exactly what parts but at one time I was told all over. I do know he had surgery to remove cancer from his brain at one time, not long ago.

Really surprises me because he was one of the strongest riders I've ever met. I was told they called him The Legend because of his achievements back in racing days. Heard he also grew up around bicycles. Really sad deal.

I do remember when we first met. Our little gang would sit at the beach chit chatting when Greg and Bad Bob would ride by. Greg would shout Mr. Beanz but they always rode off ha ha! I could never figure out who they were till one day he shouted my name as we rode across each other in opposite directions. I turned around to see who it was trying to catch up to the little group he was riding with.

Bad Bob told me that day when he saw me turn around, Greg said he's coming, come on let's go! Bad Bob told him that he had called out to us so many times that they should just stop and meet. We did and as Bad Bob reminded me, that was what, almost 10 years ago?

Wow! Such a strong rider, such a good guy, positive guy, always had a reason why people were the way they were, very accepting person. Bob did say that he was strong up until the end. I know some time back, he had already dealt with cancer for years, but he still smoked us on the trail ha ha!

Anyway, sad to think that cancer has taken such a fine person and friend from us all! Bad Bob got to spend time with him right up until the end. Said he looked good but one day called to take him to lunch when he got the sad news.

Sad but  have to say, it's nice that The Legend got to go out looking strong! No weak little man stuff, a real bad ass on the bike!

Ride on Friend!

Hope It Matches!

Well, I've been real excited to get back on the bike again.  Of course today was do this do that, tomorrow a birthday party wit my family for my father who just passed a few weeks ago. But yesterday I bought a new helmet, Giro Aeon. I think it's orange but it looks red in the pics. I don't have an orange jersey anymore so I ordered one online. Love2Pedal dot com, lots of stuff for us big guys.

I did order a Sesame Street jersey ha ha! Should be fun on the bike! that's why we ride, right? Hopefully I get a could of short rides in this week even if it's a flat loop around the hood just to get the legs back. But again, working OT this week doesn't help any! :-/ But it pays for the cycling stuff he he he! :-P

BTW, I made a video of a party I put together for my parents about 9 years ago. This is a short clip of the video I saved. We knew my Dad was sick so I thought it was nice to throw them a party and record everybody there saying a few words. But this is a short clip of his words. 9 years later he would pass a couple weeks before his 80th b day.

First Ride in 3 Months (31 Miles)

   Yes, death in family, job, sick kid, move so I've been busy. Finally got in a ride that almost kilt me ha ha! Not really but I am not used to cramps and today I got about 15 at different times, different muscles. Both calves, both quads.

   I started solo then a brief stop at Edna Park. Only ten miles and my legs felt like noodles already ha ha! Honestly my legs felt like noodles before the ride. I'm used to feeling some hard Man Meat thighs when I touch myself but lately, my legs have felt like deflated balloons. Time to start taking care of myself. Been so many medicals in the family over the last year (s). Poor Gina has spent half her days with her sick son, half her days with my Dad hooking him up on dialysis. Few days here and there running around survivors doing favors. Sad my father passed away but after all the suffering over the last few years, especially last few months, it's really not a negative thing to say that we are glad he is not suffering any longer. But Gina has been off the bike taking care of people over the last 8 months, not even one ride. My plan is to get her on the tandem and start with 5 or 10 milers again around the hood. It's a sweet community with a one mile loop around the hood that seems it was designed for the recreational active people.

   But not having taken care of myself the way I should, it's time or I'll be next on the list as Rick put it today. I will say I have been eating better the last 3 weeks or so and have dropped 10 pounds but that ain't good enough, I need to drop another 30 or 40 to reassure myself I will not end up in the same boat. I plan to enjoy my old age! So yeah, back on the bike!

   Well once I ran into Rick, it seemed we hit the wind. Rode side by side and I could feel the legs whining! About 2 miles from the beach, my calf cramped and trying to keep up with Rick into the wind, I clipped out one leg and started pedaling with one leg ha ha. Didn't keep up but the cramp went away. Later I tried to stand up one of those little baby hills and both quads screamed at me ha ha! No more of that. Anyway we rode to the coast together then had a good chat. Jose was there so he rode back with us. Heading back we ran into Bad Bob who rode a few miles with us. Yeah, I'm dying trying to keep the cruising pace, trying to keep my legs from exploding but yet carrying on a conversation with Bad Bob. Yeah it hurt but I lived!

   But it's nice to get the ole noodles pumped again. I may not be able to walk the rest of the evening but it was nice! :-P

 

                           So much in life. Also celebrated our anniversary with some steak and lobster

The house

Got to stop letting Gina talk me into eating out. :-P

My Honey by our wedding champagne bottles

Of course a few weeks after Gina pays off her car, she gets hit from behind. Damn idiots with out of state licences and no insurance. Of course we pay the deductible of $1000. But it's all fixed up and shiny again. Second time in 2 years, paying out $2000 for idiots who can't drive!