Short Ride with Gina

 26 miles at 16.4 average speed according to Garmin. Nice day, not too hot but windy. Well we did start late so I think that has something to do with the wind being a bit stronger. Couple of times heading toward the coast I found the wind slowing me down to about 14 ha ha. Wow, better kick this up but it was tough holding 15.5 in most sections. Once we hit the return thought there would be a big tailwind but nope! Seemed to be somewhat of a headwind as well. Easily holding 17-18 but that was as much as I wanted to do not wanting to push Gina too much since she didn't ride last week.  So it was a nice pace and in the afternoon, not many riders at all.

Ran into Bad Bob at the coast, as well as George who I have had a chance to chat with for a pretty long time! Of course, we have the rich friends who sport Colnagos and we still ride Trek ha ha! Had a pretty good chat with George, mostly cycling so how could it go wrong. I remember meeting George years ago pulling little kids in a baby buggy. Then a few years ago ran into him again and he said the little kids were 16 or so. Wow, that was a few years ago so now, heck, they're probably 21 at least.  Time flies when we're riding bikes! :-P

So after the others left, we headed back and a steady pace just wanting to get in a ride!

                           Smiling not knowing about the headwinds to come ha ha!

Here comes Bad Bob!

Mr. Photogenic

George and his Colnago, and Bad Bob's!

I hate beer but they were representin' today!

Downhill and a no headwind section, time for a pic!

Done!

A little tired and hot after the ride.

My good sport Gina, at least let me see something after pulling you to the beach ha ha!

SOLO Fitty at 17.1, I'm Happy!

 Set out with a goal today. Wanted 50 miles and hoping for a 17.0 average speed. My legs were much fresher than last week so I felt good. Got to Yorba and knew I could do Wier Cyn no problem. It would be getting the final 4 that would worry me. Do I go down the coast? Nah, not liking the roads much lately unless I have to go. Took me a bit to figure out what to do. I'd back track on the final section to the coast as much as I didn't want to do that either. I just wanted a magical 50 to appear ha ha!

So I left the beach, went to the wooden bridge then backtracked back to the coast. Not too bad as I was expecting a big headwind. Almost seemed the same in both directions. As I was turning around, Tim rode up on his recumbent. We chatted a bit then I got ready to ride off telling him I was doing a solo effort today and wanting to ride alone. He didn't seem to care, he said he was headed that way too. Mmm, okay! He said about 30 times that he was out of shape and couldn't help me out. I didn't want help so I just shoved off. He likes to chat and I don't while riding. He had a conversation back there and I have no idea about what as I just focused on my ride aiming for my goal. He likes to ask questions and make comments but I just kept my head down ha ha! I get disturbed too many times while riding when I really just like to ride while on the bike. Once we stop, I don't mind chatting forever, but the bike, nope!

I heard his say about 30 times he couldn't help. I did hear him say at one time that I was the perfect draft for him at the height. The thought did enter my mind at one time thinking he is pretty low and his face level is like right at my butt level ha ha! Good thing I didn't drink the milk from my cereal this morning ha ha ha! But he stayed back there and I heard him after 5 or 6 miles start coughing and hacking. OK, I can't let this guy get in front of me even if I wanted help ha ha! I had my mask but didn't really want to put it on aiming for my goal. I did feel spit fly from my mouth a couple of times and wondered where it might land seeing he didn't have a mask on.  My cousin just died of Covid a week or two ago so I really didn't want anybody in front of me. Haven't seen  my cousin in a year so no worries there!

But Tim stuck on my wheel for about 9 miles then finally fell back. He was a bit back when we got to the Edna Park bridge. I was exiting as he was about 1/4 of the way across. As I slowed to drink some water, he started shouting something. I don't know what it was so I just waved and continued on alone.

Other riders do crack me up though! Wishing this guy was on Strava. I caught some dude from a mile behind, just about a mile before the coast. I saw him way back at Warner way ahead of me. So just as I am about to catch him, he looks back and picks up the pace. OK ha ha ha! Then he stands to sprint up the last underpass but I remain seated and pass him. Just a matter of time though I really wasn't playing his game,....at that point ha ha! Heck, if I catch someone from a mile behind, then he sprints and crossed the finish line, what finish line? Then I would never consider him the winner of his little game. But this dude cracked me up. Once I passed him, I don't know where he was, maybe on my wheel. But about 50 yards before the the coast, he races around me to get in front. I kind of laughed and usually I don't but I waited about 10 seconds for him to fade, and he did really quickly, then I stepped on it and blew around him like the last 20 yard ha ha ha! Just gets too tiring and funny watching these idiots make a race out of something that isn't there!

Back at Moon, park, I had like 3 guys pass me. Kind of strange looking characters. They blew around me like they were in the TDF. I let them go, young guys and I really don't care as I'm trying to hold my pace and stick to my plan. Then a mile later, all 3 guys fade and drop like hot potatoes ha ha! I just can't figure these guys out. You see somebody ahead and HAVE to pass them? Ha ha! I saw these guys on Strava and they did a 13 mile ride at 14 mph! Ha ha ha, pretty impressive! I just don't get it myself but it was a laugh rolling back around them. No, I didn't win a race, merely getting a chuckle out of the idiots!

                                            Plenty of people at the beach today.

Still got my mask though!

My oldie but goody! 1998

Tim, very concerned that I get the brand name in the pic ha ha!

Happy I beat my goal!

Spiders worked, 2 PM and nobody around ha ha.

Charge Spoon saddle again, my 3rd in a couple of months. Great saddle for $24-$28. Glad I read about them in cycling forums.

The Spiderz!

Nice Easy 10 Mile Stretch

 Nice easy 10 mile stretch tonight at 13.7 average speed. Just relaxing working the bugs out of the legs and fighting the old age ha ha! Hoping for a solo 50 miler this weekend then a shorter ride with Gina on Sunday. I like this program. Ride a little harder on Tuesday, then easier on Thursday getting the legs ready for a longer weekend ride. I was doing harder rides on Thursdays but it was wearing my legs out for weekend rides. So it felt like I was really having a hard time on longer rides. I think this will work better. Plus, riding alone during the week is so much safer than riding with a group. A little tired of people getting close to taking out my front wheel and those who risk their lives blowing red light intersections just to stay ahead of the group. Thanks but I'll return to my own safe little ride now. Feel so much better doing my own thing and less frustrating.

I did dig out some jerseys I had at the back of the closet. I think I wore them once or twice about 4 years ago. I bought them for night rides but don't really care for the fit as it is the big man fit from Aerotech. Really weird design. I guess they work well if you're built like a pear. I'm big but I guess I don't quite have the shape to fill these out so it's like riding with a jersey that fits good around the shoulders but like a tent around my waist. 3 XL feel good around the shoulders but feels kind of yucky on me. I should have returned them way back when but hey, I got orange for night rides ha ha! Plus solo night rides, who cares what you look like? Not to mention I wear the shorts that still have a good chamois but wear thin in the back. Not many cars go by so I'm guessing not many people see my butt crack at night ha ha!

                                                     Nice and easy relaxing ride!

Got my Halloween colors on!

All you monsters, turn your lights on! Recognize that line? ;-)

What a poser ha ha!

Solo Night Ride Around the Industrial Center and some Beanz Segment Efforts

 15 miles at 15.2 mph around the industrial center tonight. I created a little segment on the backside of the crit sprint. Everybody is fast downhill so I created my segment on the back side heading north. It doesn't seem like a climb on Strava but it sure feels like it. It is only 1% but hey, it's tougher than the crit sprint where I can hit 30+. On my segment, in an all out effort, I only hit 21 so I'm good with it. Hard enough to do 21 for 40 seconds. I did it a few times to see what I could do. Yeah, I got a side ache ha ha ha! I figure I'll do some work in an effort to get stronger. The little side ache means I must have done something ha ha! 

But a nice evening! Not as cool as I thought it would be but hey, it wasn't 100 degrees!

                                                  Before the hard efforts

Look Ma, no hands!

OK, the face a few seconds after a hard effort!

The new red blinkie doing its job!

I had to be doing at least 55 here ha ha ha!

My First Out of Body Experience

 So I never believed in it, but I do now! :-P

Hot Ride Wheel Sucking ha ha!

 Hot Ride today, 40 miles at 16.6 average speed. Yes, that is a banana in Joaquin pocket but I was the one happy to see him today ha ha! 😆😄😆 I started out solo and wanted to do 50 but man it was hot! After the 7 mile warm up to Imperial, it was already 98 degrees and my legs were feeling stiff. Maybe the heat, maybe the plumbing job ha ha, but I was feeling it. So I made my way toward the coast then ran into Joaquin at Edna Park. I was already beat and it didn't seem he was leaving so we ended up heading out together. He said he would hold it down and he did. So that was cool and helped me a lot! But then at the coast, ran into another friend named Rheo. I knew I was in trouble cause now I have to ride with Rheo and Joaquin, both guys are speed demons. We headed back and I think they held it down somewhat as I held on average 21 miles per hour on the last 10 miles of my ride. One section was just about 23 MPH for the 7 1/2 miles bridge to bridge. We were moving pretty good but I didn't offer any help knowing today was not my day. Joaquin pulled ahead about 2 miles before his stop. He lifted the pace so I dropped back a bit having to hold my pace which was about 21 and Joaquin doing about 23 at that point. Strange thing was that Rheo fell back a bit. I know he was on a 60 miler. I saw him so I picked it up a bit figuring he was waiting for me. I actually was able to recover some as we approached Edna Park. Rheo is really fast and had to stop at Edna park to get water. I was good so I kept on. I figured he might stop get water then try to catch me as we were parked at the same place. So I gave it my all to keep the pace up. My segments were anywhere from 18 to 21 on the last 2+ miles and he didn't catch me ha ha! I'm not sure if he tried or not but the norm is, he's going to catch you ha ha!

Why was I so sore? I replaced the faucet in the kitchen. Mom wanted to pay a cousin $150 to replace it. Good cousin in law, good work, not like the other one. But he was busy this week so she looked up a plumber.

Up to $190 to install, if removing old faucet and installing new on, could run up to $275. Holy crap! So I looked up some youtube videos, some direction on the net, and did it myself. Mom was willing to pay but hey man, that is a lot of cash. So she offered to pay me the money.

Nah, I did it and was paid with an enchilada dinner ha ha! I can't soak my own mother ha ha! So I got it done and it looks good! But imagine a 260 pound dude trying to fit under the sink to reach those really tight spots where the hose/faucet connections hide. Luckily my Dad had that little extension hose tool hiding in the storage shed. Really helped. But laying on the wood, trying to squeeze into one cupboard size door is a job for a contortionist, which I am not! Then disconnecting the hoses, of course I had jars, towels for the water but as one would guess, it goes straight into my face and all I can do is turn my head so the hose empties directly into my ear ha ha! But I finally figured out how to get the nuts and hardware loose. It worked, $275 saved! And now I have the experience of swapping out the faucet. :-)

But it really tore me up. Lots of scrapes on the hands, couple of sensitive annoying small cuts that you know are going to burn on the bike ha ha! The bad part is my hip is sore, two areas on my back are sore. Later that night after a shower, I lay on the bed and oh my, felt like I was laying on baseballs. Pretty tender but surprised no black and blue on my back. So that is my excuse for today, sore legs, battered and bruised but I survived ha ha!

Well Sunday came and went without a ride. So hot on Saturday I figured Gina didn't need the heat on Sunday. So we stayed in bed and cuddled ha ha! We did manage to get out for lunch and dinner. With a little visit to Macy's Been so long since we've been there, or the mall. I heard the mall may open around Sept 20th. So far away but it would be nice to go for a stroll again. So we did some window shopping at Macy's today for a stretch. Hopefully it cools down so, but maybe not! :-P

But it looks good and I got a couple enchiladas out of it! And saved $275

Joaquin. Ran into him at Edna Park and he wasn't leaving alone so I knew it. But he did keep it down helping me a lot!

That is a banana in his pocket but today, I was happy to see him ha ha!   

After the first 7 miles, already 99 in Yorba

                                        The first 7 mile warm up, I was warm ha ha!

102 after the first 17 miles

Ran into Rheo at the coast too. I'm in trouble, both these guys are speed demons.

Rheo did 60 so a mile before Edna, Joaquin pulled away. Rheo I think waited for me or was tired being on a 60 miler. But we did the last mile together. He stopped at Edna to get water and figured he'd try to catch me on the last 2 miles to ARTIC as we parked in the same place. So I kept going and tried to keep the speed high so he wouldn't catch me ha ha! He didn't but I don't even really know if he tried. I was just trying to make sure he didn't as a fun little game ha ha! And he wasn't on his aero bike, that thing is fast!

Helmet hair, but hey, at 57, happy to have hair!

Some gals know how to show their best assets.

I'm not a fan of e-bikes but some of them don't look too bad!

So is that little hat supposed to provide shade?

Hot Hot Hot Ride w/Gina

 26 miles at 15.7 average speed. Temp maxed out at 100 but the average was 94. Hot for Gina but she actually handled it well. But, I did start out with a steady effort that wasn't too hard knowing the wind was going to be a factor, again. But after 3 or 4 miles, I felt the heat so I figured I'd back off and just cruise to the coast in easy effort mode. Good choice, I think it saved Gina too. Sunny day and I felt it. I think maybe still tired from Thursday and Saturday. Getting old I guess ha ha!

So we cruised to the beach but my arms were fatigued. Old age again ha ha! Nah, just tired I think. Don't see too many riders when it is this hot and especially at this time of day. Gina isn't good about getting out of bed early for rides so many times we suffer in the heat because of it. I'd rather start at 8:30 on hot days though it can be hot already by this time. But like today, almost starting at 11 am, I knew it was going to be hot, but her choice.

I don't think I saw one cyclist come up while we were at the rest spot other than a few beach cruiser types. So we headed back and thankfully we had a decent tailwind. Still hot but nice with the tailwind, always! I saw our average going up nicely so I was happy. We could have pushed but that would have defeated the whole purpose of taking it easy hoping to avoid heatstroke. So I just held a consistent steady pace, not too fast and not too much effort, just trying to make it back in one piece.

Once at ARTIC (train station), I told Gina that we ought to go inside for a bit and cool off with the AC, and the homeless people. We were in there chilling for a couple of minutes toward the back when something caught my eye. Hey, the yogurt place is open! I remembered I had some change in my bike bag so I pulled it out and hey, good enough for a yogurt. I ordered the first one for Gina to check out the price seeing the dude, foreigner dude operating the counter didn't seem to know much, hmm, strange guy.

So I bought Gina's then realized I still had enough for another, mine! Gina didn't know I had bough them so when I returned, she was pretty thrilled ha ha! Nice little treat to cool down. We both had chocolate and hers with Captain Crunch for a topping.

Now the foreigner part. I told the dude chocolate with Captain Crunch topping. He's like, WHAAAT?! Dude, c'mon, Captain Crunch ?!? I didn't say anything to him but, C'mon!

So then I ordered mine. Behind the thick glass it is hard to see the topping clearly. I see something that looks like chocolate cookies. So I ask the dude, "are those cookies?". Yeah, cookies! So I order a chocolate yogurt with chocolate cookies, I thought they were broken up Oreo cookies or similar. So I pay, get napkins, walk back to Gina and enjoy the sparkle in her hot tired face ha ha! She's happy because I chose the Captain Crunch for her. So then I take a bit of mine and c'mon dude, these are brownies! What da hell dude?!

Oh well, still cold and still chocolate. Just got a laugh out of the dude. He's pretty lost in this country I guess.  BTW, they did have a smoothie and a pretzel place hooked up with the yogurt stand. The pretzels actually sounded good with the salt but it was too freaking hot so I got the yogurt. :-P

Pretty nice though. We were nice and cooled off by the time we left and only having to roll 100 yards to the truck. Felt kind of funny though. I think there was one other person in there that was waiting for a train or bus. The others were all homeless sitting around chilling out at the tables. Oh well, at least it was cool inside and the homeless people shouting at themselves didn't actually bug us. :-O

Oh, and this new blog format, why do they do this? Extra steps to post topics and pics. Good thing it is free or I'd be mad ha ha ha!

Start of the ride. Hot but no sweat, too hot to sit around on my face. I knew here we better take it easy.

Ahh, little shade

Way back. So that is why I enjoy riding with Gina, riding together. I've had enough of those people who say they want to ride "with you", then after you pull them through the wind, they turn around with the tailwind and try to drop you. Not sure why they do this. Had some lady ask me not long ago for a ride. No thanks, done it too many times already. Ride with her then after you do the work, she tries to drop you. I think she's trying to impress her friends on strava or something. If I pull her into the wind, she's till got the energy to push it. But rather than offer a wheel, she's going to try to kill me. I know too many riders like that already. So hey, riding with Gina is almost always enjoyable to me.

After arriving at ARTIC. She said she looks hot and beat but I say these are the best pics sometimes.

OK, getting a smile going with the Captain!

Me and my chocolate cookies! Ok, whatever!

The more the happier ha ha!

In the AC but still feeling the heat and sweat.

Gina already wiped her chest but  said her chest was still sweating. Can I take a pic? OK! So I took the pic. Hey, getting my yogurt's worth ha ha!

Her back and hair are still a little wet after several minutes in the AC.

BTW, as mentioned, my cousin passed away yesterday. His two sons in the hospital still do not know. One of his sons should be getting out tomorrow but the doc told his wife he won't be the same as he has heart and lung damage from the virus.

My cousins and 2 sons did chemical type spill clean ups. Not exactly sure what they did but they were working in Catalina, a hot spot for the virus and all 3 contracted the virus. I did not know, but my cousin Joey started feeling really sick the day after his brother's services. So much that he could not talk. Now he's dead. But my thoughts are that if he was that sick the day after the services, he more than likely knew the day of that he was feeling somewhat ill. Either way, his sister is worried because she said many people at the services did not wear masks. Wowzer! It was a small ceremony and only immediate family were invited, 50 adults max were allowed. Though Mom donated money for the services, we were not invited and even had they, I myself would not have gone.

So now, Joey died, his 2 sons still sick and 2.5 weeks later, I bet the people who went without masks are shitting in their pants.