Saturday, February 29, 2020

GMR for 3,000 Please!

OK, so it was 3,133 ft of gain up to Peacock Saddle today. 26 miles roundtrip and most of the climbing in the first 13 miles. So who is the wiseguy who put uphills on the downhill ha ha!?

I started out aiming to make it to the shack nonstop. Then do a few more to get 3,000. But just before the shack, after the steep little, after the downhill, my left hamstring decided to lock up, CRAMP! CRAP!

I didn't want to stop and tried to nurse it but nope, here it comes. A almost stopped then thought, screw it, let's try this! I disengage my left leg and pedaled up the 7% section with one leg. Wow, didn't know I could do it but I did ha ha! I was determined not to stop and luckily it went mostly away after 7 or so pedal strokes. Then I nursed it barely using my left leg and shouting "RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT!".  I usually call out my left leg when I am climbing and feel my left fading. SO I call it out to concentrate on that leg hoping to dig out a little more power keeping up with my right. But today was opposite. It was either that or fall over ha ha! It worked, my leg recovered and actually made it the extra 1/8 (?) mile to the top landing above the shack. Where Monroe Truck Trail comes out.

Well I made my goal. Not sure why I cramped. Maybe  because I rode for the first time during the week? Maybe I'm just getting old ha ha! But I did it!

The weather is strange up there. At one point, maybe 10 miles up, it's 70 degrees and sunny. Then one mile later, it's dark and 61 degrees. Saw a couple of riders pull over and slap on the windbreakers. I know it was only 61 but it felt pretty freaking cold ha ha! Maybe because I kept looking at the snow capped mountain peaks.


But I survived! :-P

                                                 First stop, just above the shack!


Yes smiling because I did not have to stop even with a cramp!




13 miles up overlooking Camp Williams.



Big difference in the temps compared to Summer. I just climbed nearly 3,000 ft and not even a shine on the face. No sweat ha ha!



Fat Bastard ha ha!



First mile up, or so. Nice winding road for the first 8.


I put this one in after reading a thread in the bike forum about some dude wanting to keep his gloves nice and pretty. WTH! Just give me something to cover my palms and I'll ride my bike ha ha! Don't need to be pretty and soft to ride a bike ha ha!


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Late Night Ride, I Dunno, is 9:00 PM Late?

17.5 miles at 16.8 average speed. Really wanted to ride my bike and finding that late night will probably work best for me with a 24/7 schedule taking care of my Mom. Not that she needs me to do much. More like not wanting to be alone as she can get sick anytime. So keeping an eye on her and doing the things she wants to do, is a busy schedule ha ha! But, I figure if she enjoys what is left of her life, then she should go out happy. Yeah, watch me go first ha ha!

So anyway, wanting to get on my horse, I figured later at night should work. What a beautiful evening. Where I was riding was where we used to live. Doing loops around Creekside. Really funny, people always talk about bad trail riders but believe me, there are just as many stupid people on the streets. One time, some dude on an ebike was doing like 20 MPH on the wrong side of the road going against traffic. With a big huge headlight that was so blinding, I could not tell if he was taking the inside or outside of the bike lane I was in, heading the proper direction.

This time, a woman on a pretty nice roadie, with a light heading straight at me. Because I am doing loops, I had to figure out what she was going to do every time we passed. Glad it was only 3 times. I can't believe the stupid people.

Like my buddy Hillbasher would say, "I am not anti-cyclist, I am anti-STUPID!".

But I wanted to ride for at least an hour so I did. Really nice, not much out there as far as vehicular traffic. Like I have said many times, my biggest threats are other cyclists, streets, trails, mountains, flats, you name it. So sad!

I did see an industrial center on Cedar and Archibald where the crits are sometimes held. I actually though about riding there as I did years ago. But only a couple of little offices with lights on so I wasn't sure about using the parking lot. My luck I'd get a security guard have my truck towed ha ha! But I think I will give it a try next time. Get me away from the stupid cyclists.

There may be a few big rigs out there loading in a couple companies but at leas I can tell what they are going to do. Like drive on the correct side of the road! ;-)

                                                  Happy to be out in the nice fresh air!


Trying to get my little rock back.


The cockpit


The lights. One ahead and one down on the road.


Wore the spiders hoping to keep people away from me ha ha!


The following posing session was done after the ride ha ha!



Sunday, February 16, 2020

SHE'S BACK!

Nice 26 miler with Gina on SART. Breezy but she managed to crack out a 15.6 average speed. Actually better than I expected after that much time off. She has been off the bike since mid November. A few rides before that and a year off before that. Been a rough couple of years with the death of her son, my Dad, and a few others in the family. Not to mention her younger son who is still having issues with strokes from his condition, still on dialysis and going into a minor surgery this coming Friday. For Gina's sake, I hope all goes well.

But so many obstacles and happy to have her out there again. Ran into Herb and Alyce at Edna. A few other friends but lucky enough to ride alone so we didn't have to suffer much ha ha!

My Garmin failed yesterday so I took a battery pack thingy. Get home and my Garmin still reads 92%, hmmm! I had charged it the night before the ride so not sure why the battery died. Oh well!

So anyway, a beautiful day out there and surprisingly, didn't see too many cyclist this weekend.








Last 2 rides, Strava has ripped me off a tenth of a mile on the average speed. I like Strava but c'mon! :-P

Saturday, February 15, 2020

50 or 51 Solo

One of those, 50 or 51. Stupid Garmin failed me at mile 41 with a 16.2 average. Of course it happens to be on the last 10 mile stretch where I got the tailwind so never had a chance to lift the average. Though it may not have gone up much, maybe a point or two. It was pretty breezy today but I was happy to just get in the 50 seeing I haven't done many long rides this last year. So hopefully I can get in some miles this year.

Ran into Joaquin, Eduardo, and Danny heading the opposite way. Right by the coast so I got in a couple good shots. Saw Mike out there but caught me by surprise so no pic.

I have to say that I did wimp out today. I planned to do GMR but when the alarm went off at 6 am, I had a change of heart. My pillow was too comfy and then I thought, I need to really start dropping some weight so I can get the feeling back ha ha!

Since I rode alone, I didn't have anybody to take pics of so I took a couple of myself. One from the back just in case you pass me from behind, you know what I look like ha ha!

                                      Been a while since I rode my Madone, so today it was!


Joaquin, his cousin-inlaw Eduardo, and Ed's son in law Danny. :-O






Saturday, February 8, 2020

SART Cranky Old Bastard

46 miles at 18.2 average speed. Jose and I were setting out to ride when Mike rolled up deciding to join us. Mike has been riding with the Canyon Velo club and he's looking pretty strong so that is the reason we had a better average today. Either way, about a month ago, I would not have been able to keep this pace so I think it's getting better again. Last week was the first time I rode both Sat and Sun but this week, rain tomorrow so I had to get in some decent mileage. Did even better, finished at a good rate.

The 3 of us took turns pulling but I'd say Mike did more than the 2 of us. That is OK with me ha ha! Seemed like a slight headwind but not much. Kind of scary thinking it might be windier on the return but it wasn't thankfully.

Once at the coast, Joaquin rolled up. He usually does a 20 miler tops so I knew he'd go fast on the return seeing there were a few of us now. Tony and Thai rolled up but Tony having some issues (gout) says he's slow so they left before us.

As we were rolling away from the coast, Ron (of Ron and Dixie) rolled by on his single heading the opposite direction. We were a short distance from the coast but I know I didn't want to head back. But to my surprise, Ron did a turnaround ha ha! I heard somebody roll up but wasn't sure who it was at first. Didn't want to look back at 21 MPH being on Mike's wheel. Yup, it was Ron.

Once we hit the first wooden bridge, I told Ron to go ahead of me figuring I'd be the one to drop being out of form to long. He did and glad he went ha ha! Freaking Joaquin was rolling pretty good. I was tired but OK at 21 but once we hit the downhill near Moon Park, OMG! OMG! Joaquin went across at 26 once it leveled out. I dropped back for a second but just as I did, he slowed down. He must have felt something too but that was good with me cause I could catch back on. Going up the little hill, I pushed hard and managed to stay on. Usually Joaquin sprints up that hill but he must have been tired at that moment cause I hung on even after having suffered across the flat section. That is ok with me, those guys can suffer all they want ha ha!

Getting close to the soccer fields, I was really tired. I don't remember who or what, of Ron went to the front, my sight was too blurry to see or care ha ha, but the pace lifted again. OK that is it! I'm closing in on 40 miles and I'm tired. I dropped back and had to hold 18 for a bit before I could even start to push again. I told Jose to go with them but he must have thought I was crazy. He was more than happy to hold back with me. He actually got in front of me and I was not able to do 19, 20, then 21. I had to slow and actually hold a steady 18 for a bit while he rolled away unaware.

But Mike had dropped back from the little lead group. He says he didn't realize I was gone, but uhh, he says he was holding 25 MPH?? Yeah, I wasn't there ha ha!

But he took the front and pulled us at a steady 20. I had somewhat recovered so I was good at that speed. 25? Nah! NO bueno!

So Joaquin pulled off at Edna Park as usual, with a wave we rolled by and the 3 of us continued on. Not sure where Ron went, but he must have taken off ahead cause we never saw even a glimpse of him after the park.

Heck man, I suffered but I was good! Seems my speed is coming back up little by little. Just got to start riding more. But that is tough when you are on Mom duty 24/7 but I still have some time to get back with it!


                                        Heading to the coast, ran across Ron heading in the opposite                                                                          direction. Hard to recognize off a tandem ha ha!             




For like the first time ever, an electric bike actually passed us and took the front helping us for about a half mile or so. Usually, the e-bike people just roll by and hope your're dumb enough not to realize they have a motor ha ha!


This dude riding an e-bike trike says he broke his neck some time back. But the way he spotted this chick in the bikini, I think his neck is fine ha ha!


Thai


Tony and his gout foot


The guys



Joaquin, Mike, and Ron. Couple minutes later, we would be doing 26 and I would be dying ha ha!


My Mr. Beans logo


Pre internet, had to go with the Z once I signed onto the net.




My old 1998 Cannondale, still love this bike.



Cranky Old Bastard ha ha !


Hey, that's me on the back. Ron's till image from his recorder I believe.



Sunday, February 2, 2020

Sunday SART

Another 31 miles with Jose today. Co founding member of Team Fat Bastard ha ha! 16.5 average speed. Much windier day than Saturday and still suffering from the sore throat and some chest congestion. Not much in the chest, just enough to make you feel nauseated and wanna throw up when coughing ha ha!

We did a short warm up from Orangewood to Lincoln then stopped for a short little stretch before heading back to the coast. Of course we had to pose for a pic or two of the jerseys. Just as we were ready to roll, Herb and Alyce roll up. That's cool with me. I like riding my bike but sometimes it's hard getting started so I was up for some laughs. Had some good conversatin' (yeah, I know that is incorrect, but just trying to sound street hip ha ha!). So we chatted and of course, .........had to take a few pics. Herb's new bike is pretty sweet! Allied brand. I've only seen one other one and that was on GMR so not like my Trek and Cannondale. Not everybody and their baby mamma got one! :-P

So we rolled up, Herb & Alyce heading the opposite direction. As we roll out, I felt the wind pretty stiff and Jose says we should just hold it at 17. OK, I'm pushing and doing 15 ha ha! Sure felt like I'm getting old but the day before was a good effort and being sick, I deserve a little suck time on the bike. But, this is the first time I have ridden both Saturday and Sunday in a loooong time. I really have to start putting all the sick people behind me and start doing my thing again. It's true what they say, taking care of sick people, usually the caretakers end up losing on their own health being so involved in taking care of others. But, can't let Mom sit home alone but this year, I am putting cycling back on my priority list.

Twenty three consecutive years on the bike. 7300 miles a record high in 2005, many 4,000-6,000 mile years then bam, into Suckville when family members start getting sick. But this year, I vowed to find a way to get back on my bike. I'd be happy if I could get back up to 4,000 per year seeing the last 3 have been about 2,000, that really sucks!

But anyway, Jose and I roll to Edna Park and take another break. We planned an easy ride being my second day, all the floor scrubbing, sore knees and the sore throat, so another quick break at Edna was good for me!

As we were there, a couple of young dudes roll up and we exchange greetings. I think I saw them a few weeks ago but it was much busier so they were mingling with another crowd. BTW, throw in some wind and the Superbowl and the cycling population goes WAAAY down ha ha! I'm good with that, the trail was nice and quiet. I think the hoodlums must have been superbowling with the other cyclist cause they weren't around either ha ha! Probably one big cyclist/hoodlum nacho superbowl party. Me? I don't care nutting about the SuperBore. Loved playing sports but never cared to sit down and watch from the recliner. Give me a bike, you can have the SuperBore. Heck, I haven't even watched 10 seconds of the highlights.

So anyway, as we are there, like all 4 of us, big cycling crowd ha ha, one of the dudes looks at my 1998 Cannondale CAD3 and asks which one of us owns the bike. Uh, that would be me! I thought he was going to mention something about the year of the bike or being an older bike. But he sees my Mr. Beans name on my bike ( I use a Z at the end now for online reasons, the S was taken already by too many) and says he has seen my stuff, videos and pics if I recall correctly. He says I have some pretty good material. So we chat about it and yeah, I explain some of the sexier stuff being requests by many, many, and many, several bike forum members from across the country to be specific. And how the forum mods thought I should be locked up for stocking women blah blah blah but yet, their husbands, sons, are probably my biggest viewers ha ha! I didn't tell them about the viewers part but I'm adding that now because it's probably true. I have had men that one would never expect, as me to post sexy bikini pics of women. Of course I love sexy women but many I see at the coast are not for me, I take them because others would enjoy the pics as I have mentioned many times. Skinny bean pole chicks in bikinis for me? No way, give me a curvy woman with a big booty and some meat, that's my thang! But again, I take pics of women I think others will enjoy. Something for everybody ha ha!

So we introduce ourselves. One guy is Steven and the other is Ramy. Brother of another ride we have met out there. His brother had been doing tris adn plenty of trainging but backed off now studying to be a doctor. How cool is that? Maybe I can get some free advice since our doctor friends won't give me any. Well one doctor we know out there will and often does but she keeps offering free prostrate exams in the public restrooms there at the coast so one must pass on the deal ha ha! Crazy lady and lots of fun and laughs if you know who I am talking about. OK, so it isn't Aimee. I want to point that out because if she reads this, she might think, OH CRAP, now everybody is going to think it is me, so, no , it is not Aimee to be clear! ;-)

So we chat for a bit at Edna Park, exchange a few stories and had some laughs then they headed off in the other direction. I'm glad about that because after looking at their Stravas, they did a Donut Ride that would have killed me with the shape I'm in right now. However, I need to find out what kind of donuts they're eating because they did a pretty sweet 77 mile ride at a really good pace. Pretty cool guys I could tell and now buds on Strava. Ramy even looked at my blog so he must be cool ha ha!

So Jose and I make our way to the coast taking turns with one mile pulls at the front. For some reason, Jose can not keep track of a one mile stretch so I have to tell him when to move aside and take the front. Usually I shout out but with a sore throat, my voice is barely coming out while riding. I can't even hear myself. So I implemented the "secret code" bell ring. Pretty sophisticated but once practiced for a while, becomes much easier to understand. The secret code you ask? Three ring dings of the bell. Pretty difficult to pick up on but it comes to you sooner or later ha ha!

We get to the coast and there rides up Joaquin. He rides a much shorter ride, 18 miles but at a good pace most times. So when we run into him, we've usually got about 35 miles on our legs at that point. So he lifts the pace on the return and it's tough to keep up at times, unless we're in shape. But even then, he'll pic it up to 24-25 for a stretch that really burns the legs. Saturday I was suffering on the return with Joaquin. Seemed he slowed on the down sections of the underpass, then held back the first half of the short incline, then sprinted up the upper section. It was like a sprint after sprint. Having about 38 miles in my legs at one point, I had to say uncle and dropped back. Yeah, they slowed and let me get back on but I was suffering. But Sunday, Jose and I did a much shorter ride. Again Joaquin said he would pull us back, cool! Very steady and at a better rate, I had no problem keeping up, actually felt comfortable and was even thinking we could go a bit faster ( 9/10 of a mph faster than yesterday today). But hey, I didn't say anything ha ha! Give me another week or two to get back into it!

Then Joaquin dropped off leaving Jose and I with only another 2 miles or so to the end of our ride. Jose gets in front and says he can do 20 the rest of the way. Umm OK, if I don't pass out. I swear, you tell these guys you're sick and they try to kill you ha ha! So I catch my breath and our average is not all that good so let's go for it. Pretty soon he's doing 21 but hey, I'm comfy so we roll back at a good clip. I was happy with it. I think the shorter ride this day made it a little more tolerable.

Over all, a beautiful day, good people and a good ride. I don't mind the headwinds but today, it was tough but hey, when the throat is good, I'll be back to normal enjoying the wind.