25 SART with Gina

25 miles 15.4 speed. Topped out the month with about 490 miles for the month. Best in a long long time! So feeling great. But this day did take something out of me. I think it was windy but didn't feel all that windy. I thought maybe I was just tired but Gina and a FB cycling friend told me that the wind was pretty good today. So that made me feel better ha ha!

So Gina and I just did out thing out there. Did stop at the train station for the first time. Hey, pretty nice! Ron and Dixie had told us about it but some reason, I thought it was a busy office type, check into the reception desk type set up. I dunno, maybe I watch too many movies ha ha! But heck, I have been fretting the closure of the Edna Park restrooms. Pfft! I can do all kinds of stuff here ha ha!

 I think Gina even said there was a yogurt shop or something in there, hmm! But a good ride. Not too many people at all on the trail. I mean yes, good share of cyclists but not the big mess so many people have been worried about. Even at the coast, only a couple of times a bigger gang of 15 there using the facilities. But for the most part, pretty clear, just steady.

Overall a good ride and a little hanging out at the patio after the ride having some photo fun! :-P

                    First time in the train station. Heck, forget Edna Park for restrooms ha ha!

Corona to San Clemente 62 miler

San Clemente then a train ride back. Ride with Erik P and his gang. pics for now. 62 miles with nearly 2k climbing. Seemed most of it closer to SC along the coast. I had never done this ride before so not sure what to expect or if I'd like it. I was pleasantly surprised.

Started out a little fast. I usually take 5 miles to warm up but when you're with a group, you got to jump on it so you don't fall too far behind. But knowing where the first regroup point, I actually backed off the pace so I could warm up. I was probably the last one to the first point but that was cool, still have 55 more and I know I'd warm up sooner or later ha ha!

So we headed out from the Green River trail head, the first point. I caught onto a wheel, Tom's. He seems kind of fast so I wanted to get a few good shots of the faster riders before they vanished. So the next point was Yorba Park. Started feeling good so I noticed the faster guys taking off, I thought I better catch up before they got too far. Luckily got a little help from another guy trying to catch up. I'm not used to riding with the fast guys on a crowded trail so I somewhat backed off  not wanting to get hurt looking for a video scene. But I managed to stick with them for a while. At one point I was on Ricky's wheel heading toward Taft. Feeling pretty good till he hit 23, then it was tough hanging on his wheel. I knew I still had quite a ways so I backed off not wanting to cramp or something. I know there are a few hills on the coast.

Another regroup at the train station. Then the group heads out and I hop on it rather quickly to get some footage. All is going well till the rider I am following slips back and leaves a gap between me and the fast guys. Oh well, no big deal. I slow down to let the chasing group catch up, I'll get some footage there. But pretty soon I find myself out in no man's land. Ha ha, funny, group of 30 or so and I'm alone. So I just slow and let a chasing group roll by. I jumped on the back. I don't draft much usually but when the group is rolling, it takes extra energy to record. Also pulling out to the side and getting the group shot while hanging out in the wind. But it all worked out for fun!

Later we stopped at A Market for a bite to eat. Big mistake as I am like a really slow eater. I had waited at a regroup with Erik, waiting for the last few to arrive. He tells the faster guys to go on ahead. So by the time we get to the market, most are eating and I still have to stand in a social distance line trying to get a sandwich. Well, good sandwich but had to throw away a little less than half as the group was getting ready to roll. $9 sandwich, heartbreaking ha ha! So next time I'll take a P&J instead. Far more convenient on the road and I hate lines to start with.

Then we head along the coastline. Hit a few hills but I felt great! Well, did have my best month in a long long time.

I had about 490 miles. 478 on strava but a couple of times I forgot to start my Garmin being distracted with the video on group rides. Once missing about 10 miles and 5 on another. So hey, best month I have had and pretty happy about that getting in a little more cycling time.

So along the coast I was able to open up a little. Push myself up the hills with a good effort. Wow, felt really good like I haven't for years. I had never been to San Clemente and don't much about the train so it was cool. Only $10? Heck, I thought it was like $40 or so. So not a big deal to go along on the next few SC rides. We did start in Corona at the train station if I forgot to mention that. The entire ride was much less of a hassle than I expected. I thought maybe a overcrowded train ride, boy was I wrong. Plenty of room and our bikes in the car with us.

Had to hang out at the beach for a bit. We were hoping to get the early train at 3:15 but arrived 2 hours early, great! Some people sat at a little joint there and ate. I hate lines so I just stood around at the base of the pier and watched people while talking to a few new friends. Could have had a burger, or soft serve ice cream but strangely enough, I didn't feel like eating. Next time I'll get the soft serve if anything for a novelty treat ha ha!

So it was a cool ride and purty views. Nice people, new friends, and a good ride. About 30 people, no crashes, incidents or flats.

25 miles, Ladies and Gents Ride. Nice cool fresh evening on my 1998 oldie bike. :-P Pics for now, story and a video later.


The video

Erik's camera. I love this bike, my 1997/1998 CAD3. Story is I bought a bike new in 1998 that was a 1997. The Incycle mechanic placed my new bike in the stand to make an adjustment but crunched my seat tube as he had the holder set too small. Good thing I was there because he denied it but I heard the crunch. Luckily the manager was there too. He walked over with a brochure and said pic a new frame. I like the other color better, a bunrt maroon color. Didn't like this color but had no choice as the other colors were not appealing at all to me. But the bike has been a great bike over the years and still going strong.

Late Night Cruise

16 miles at 13 something average. A nice late night spin around the industrial center to relax my legs. Boy, I did some shovel work around the house reorganizing some bricks that were looking pretty dangerous after having moved so much from the gopher damage over the years. Figured I'd dig a few up, level the ground a bit then put them back in order. Just trying to make it safe for Ma to go out in the backyard being legally blind and all that!

But it sure was hot! Only about an hour but by the time I was done, I felt like I had rode 60 miles ha ha! Then I vacuumed the house, went around the outside with spider spray to kill those little bastards. Probably go to home depot tomorrow and look for something that will keep them dead for a while. But my legs were so tired today, tight so I had to relax them and I wanted to ride my bike. So I headed out late, about 9:30 finishing about 11 PM to get in a few miles. Not much happening around the dark industrial center but I always find a way to entertain myself. Whether it be testing new mounts for the go pro, or a new tire like today, a new GP 5000. First time I have ridden the new series. Seemed OK, didn't fall off so I'm good!

Of course if I were to go on the forums and read about the 5000 tire, there would be a bunch of ass hats talking about how they gained 2 MPH by using the new tires ha ha! Speaking of the forum, have you seen that weak attempt at a SART thread. Everything SART. Not one pic, video,  and asshats that post news that is like 3 weeks old ha ha! Bunch of dumb ass moderators consider me evil but who is still out having fun riding with friends and buddies while the asshats on the forums ride alone in their rooms on a trainer. Bunch of wimps to cold or too hot to go outside ha ha ha!

They started a SART thread back in April with 1100 views having thousands of members. I started a ride thread in a little forum back in Arpil as well and have over 1400 views with only like 5 members ha ha ha!   https://www.cyclingforums.com/threads/did-you-ride-today-new-and-improved-thread.469623/

Anyway, they make me laugh! Here I am 25 years into consistent cycling, still riding with friends, having fun and the forum people are, well, do they even still ride? Do they actually ride outdoors anymore? Got to laugh at these people but I will admit, there are maybe 3 or 4 that ride. That's a good thing, I give them credit. ;-)  The rest of them are posers and bitches ha ha!

So anyway a nice cool ride out in the dark of night. It was hot today while I was working so it was nice to cool off in the fresh night air!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day! When times were still somewhat normal. Maybe 3 months after Gina donated the kidney to her son Chris. This is back in 2000 when Chris got married. Kidney lasted a year then failed so back on dialysis he went. Chris passed away last year after 18 years of dialysis, his heart gave out. But looking back, this was a good time. Gina planned on the operation so I had her training on the bike for a better recovery. We did a 100 mile ride on the tandem just 2 weeks before the operation so she was ready! How things change! :-/ Of course with her second son on dialysis and having had a major stroke and heart attack, things haven't gotten any easier over the last few years. This was a happy time to remember.

25 with Gina Beauty Day

Nice beautiful day, 25 with Gina at 16.2 average speed. She did great today.

Man, I get fed up with cycling ass hats! Rolling to the coast when we pass some dude. WE FREAKING HAVE MASKS ON!!!!  This moron doesn't which I don't really give a darn about his health but I have to protect my family. OK, I want to protect my family, which is my only concern. This dude takes our wheel, no mask, freaking annoying. OK, first off, get 6 feet back moron and second, I told the guy, if he wants to go around then go, if not, get off as we want to ride alone. He starts to argue in a friendly way why he should not have to respect our wishes and feels he should be able to ride with us even after I asked him not to do so. So I slowed way down and tell him to go. He continues to give reasons why it is ok for him to tag along. No it's not if I say it isn't. I don't freaking know you, don't want to know you and you're going to piss me off. So he finally goes around and says, " oh you're going to make me go around?". No, I don't fucking want you next to me! So he goes around then pulls off at the next ramp. OK, so why can't you just fucking do your own ride and leave us the fuck alone? People wonder why I get pissed. Maybe because I want to ride alone with my wife at times and don't fucking want any uninvited riders riding our fucking wheels.

Otherwise, a great day! Nice beautiful weather, sunny but not hot. Gina did really well and looked to be somewhat strong today. She says because it was not that hot so she didn't suffer. She kept up every inch of the ride and looked good. That is a good sign! Saw Bad Bob going the other way.

Really does surprise me how many ass hat cyclists block the trail. In my video, you see a few ass hats blocking the lane at Edna Park while there is a freaking 100 yards of clear pavement a few feet away, and a fucking park! Dumb shits!

This is something those ass hats on the cycling forums should play so that the asshats who argued when I mentioned the fact, argued saying I was making it up. OK, forum ass hats cry and whine how people on the streets park and block bike lanes. I mentioned that I have seen plenty of cyclists block the trail and bike lanes. Ass hats argue saying I am anti cyclist and that I make these things up. I said next time I saw a cyclist blocking the trail, I would get it on video as they can't seem to comprehend the fact that it happens without proof on video.

But of course talk about forum ass hats, there is one guy there who cried and complained a few years ago about how he has blacked out windows on his car. A time when cops were citing drivers for having windows too dark. First, drivers with dark windows are anti cyclist and killers. But this ass hat has blacked out windows. Some debated on the subject but the ass hat has blacked out windows and a doctor's note to be excused from the law because he has a skin disorder that requires protection from the sun by way of blacked out windows.

So what does this righteous ass hat do? He rides his bike almost everyday in the sun wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey. Even his avatar on strava has him standing "in the sun" with his bike. 40,50 ,60 miles in the sun every other day but he needs a doctor's note for blacked out windows due to a medical condition. What is this guy's name? Booger-Stupid or something like that.

I peek in the forums every now and then, and these are the righteous ass hats who act holy and always seem to have a reason to criticize others even though they are two face scum themselves. Every time I ride the trail running into ass hats, I think of how the morons out there just may be forum posters ha ha!


 The video. WARNING: Ricky is not wearing any underwear ha ha ha!