Solo 23 Night Miles

So, wonderful 23 miler last night at 15.8 average speed. I skipped Tuesday when I probably should have  not. Had a tender hamstring from the weekend. Guessing I need to stop slacking on my riding since I have been feeling good lately. But getting lazy, last night I lay on the bed watching TV with Gina for about an hour and started feeling lazy again. But I managed to get up and get ready for the ride. Of course everything is going wrong. Where is my light, where is my case for my cell, where is my head ha ha ha! 

I finally load my bike and get in the truck. Where is the chord to my charger/ Where is my freaking seat belt? Seriously, nothing is going right but I make my way to the lot. It is still somewhat bright but I get ready to roll but stall some. I don't like to leave when I can see the sun still in the drivers' eyes knowing I will be heading west into the sun. Just not safe if you ask me so I stall till the sun is nearly down and I can see west knowing my lights will be visible to drivers. Hey, I'm not stupid!

So the time comes to shove off and I'm worried my legs won't want to go having felt so lazy heading out. But WOW! I get on the bike and head out, no tender hammy, no resistance. I'm thinking I must have a huge tailwind because even going up one of the first little climbs, I was feeling good.

Made my way across town, hit the far point easily and thought maybe I would have a headwind on the way back. Nope, felt great still. Very unusual that there is not a wind one way or the other. But I'll take it. I was rolling pretty good and felt effortless. Not saying I set land speed records but this was easy and I was enjoying it. Hit a couple of little climbs like nothing so I was happy and feeling good.

I hit the little park where I water up, only couple of miles from the end but I hate being without water. Watered up, hit the road again rolling up Mountain Ave in Claremont. Felt really good and again not so much effort. Something was just right tonight!

I finished my ride about 9:20, took my time packing up. But first spent about 20 minutes just farting around and taking pics. Made a fun relaxing night out of it. Next thing I know, I'm there thinking, do I really want to go home? Ha ha ha! I think I could have rode another hour or so and enjoyed it. But I had to get home because I know Gina really missed me ha ha ha! Yeah, she was probably hoping I'd stay out another hour! :-P

                                 Wasting time taking pics waiting for the sun to set a bit more.

This is about what it looks like when I like to roll. Some light left to see pot holes on the bad part. West of Live Oak, fast dh section with potholes. If I time it right, I can make it through there with enough sun light to still see the hazards. But yet not enough light to blind the drivers to what's happening in the bike lane, me!

Now it's getting dark

Now it is dark! So sweet the night air!

The little park about 2 miles from the end. I wanted to keep going but my bike needed a break ha ha ha!

After the ride photoshoot. Must have taken about 20 shots trying to get in front of the cell. Was dark in the other direction so I could not see the direction of the phone. 

31 with Gina & Jose (video posted)

 Nice easy ride, as can be with the wind. 31 miles at 16.3 average speed. I could feel my legs today and Jose helped out so that was much better than being at the front the entire time ha ha ha! I actually got some rest.

More riders today but very few people at the beach. Kind of nice but kind of boring too ha ha ha! Not much going on so just a few shots of Gina and Jose on the bike. About time to make a video so I had to shoot something.

I was a bit surprised on the way back. Ran into a couple that was doing pretty well. We passed them then a bit later, looked back to see the dude had left his female partner, guessing his wife. For what, to prove he could keep up with Gina? Wow, left his wife like 7 miles back right in the middle of Stabba Ana? :-O

I never leave Gina alone, never enough ego to just leave her behind to prove I can keep up with someone. Not to mention, all he did was suck wheel. Not like he passed or took the front ha ha ha! He did say thanks for the ride after we pulled off. I will give him that!

                                                                    The video  on youtube

                                                                             Pre ride pic

The dude, back there.

Mostly Solo then Ran into Fazi Garmin Bat Died :-(

 45 mostly solo miles today. I ran into a friend, Fazi at the coast so we did the 13 return together. Not sure what happened, think I didn't charge my Garmin before the ride but once we started heading back, the battery died. Well dang it! We had a pretty good pace rolling back at about 19 average. I had a 16.3 when my Garmin went off so with the tailwind, I'm guessing about a 17.0 average. But you know it, the battery dies on the fast section and not the windy section ha ha ha!

Fazi likes to start fast so when we left the coast, I sat in back warming up for a mile or two. Once warm, I took the front trying to keep it even. I could see the mileage markers so I would count from one to the next. I figured I could count to 300 then switch places. I tried to keep it one and one mile each on the way back. I had no way of knowing since my Garmin died so I counted. Heck, I could have used the white markers on the trail, but I miss half of them ha ha ha!

But Fazi and I did a pretty good team thing on the way back, worked out well!

                                                                                  Fazi

Fazi shot me!

Shot me twice!

This was a post ride photoshoot poser shoot ha ha ha! With the little remote thing from Wally world, $5 for the cell phone camera.

Solo Night Ride BLSB

 Solo 23 miles at 14 point something. 1k gain from Claremont to Glendora and back. Headed up Lorraine which takes you to Sierra Madre, the base of GMR. Very quiet night, almost scary. Very few cars. 

But drivers are so considerate to me. I had about 5 cars tonight slow and let me go first to the intersections as they were preparing to make a right turn. One gal who I had a traffic encounter with, actually pulled over at the corner, smiled and waved at me. Not bad considering most riders I know have so many complaints about drivers. I dunno, maybe they think I'm too big and will leave a pretty good dent on their hoods so the back off  ha ha ha!

My $18 windbreaker from China ebay. Has side zip pockets, rear zip pocket, lots of reflectors vs the PI I bought back in 2005 for $60 that has absolutely nothing. I think they want $80 now for the PI. Heck, I'll go Chinese for that much! Strange thing though is that it zips up on the opposite side. Got to get used to that. I guess they zip like they drive ha ha ha!

Coming back, east on Baseline, I drop down to Old Baseline. Not as bumpy, smooth and safer with far less traffic.

Water stop at the park, no lights.

Same shot with lights.

Mr. Beans Mobile

Used and S when I got the name on. But back in 1998, I hadn't signed onto forums yet. So when I tried to sign on, there were too many with and S so I used a Z.

 

Fitty Two at 17.0 Solo Fat Bastard

52 miles at 17.0 average speed. I do pay attention to my average speed as it is an indicator that if I can still average 17 solo, maybe I am not too old yet ha ha ha! Bit breezy today so I was thinking I wouldn't get it but luckily, I did, yay!

Nice ride today. Not many riders at all and not many people at the beach. I rode down to the pier to get in a few extra miles to make sure I got 50. Sat at the pier for a bit but nobody there, bunch of old tanned guys and a couple of chubby women wrapped in sweats. Hmm, wrong time of the year I guess. Don't get me wrong, I love chubby women, just nothing for the camera or my blog today ha ha ha!

Heading south on PCH, I rolled by a tandem and we both got stopped by a light. Guy asked who was I calling a fat bastard. I told him anybody over 145 pounds and doesn't ride the Tour De France ha ha ha! He asked how far I was riding so I asked in return. 376 mile, what!!!! I guess he's doing a rando thing, wow. Said he only slept 2 hours then got back on the bike. Nice couple, good luck with that.

Then heading back, just before Warner, some guy rolls up and says, "Man, you are strong!". What?! He says he saw me back at the wooden bridge 2 miles from the coast. He said he was trying to catch me the whole time. Oh ok ha ha ha! I didn't know. He surprised me not even knowing he was coming up, just doing my own thing. But I'll take the compliment.

Then ran into 3 guys at the end of my ride. They were on a century so taking a break, we had a chance for a little chat. One guy said he was 57 so I said I was too and will be 58 next month. One dude said, you are 58 but look 38. Wow, everybody was being nice to me today ha ha ha! 

Bit breezy but I felt good today. Always nice being able to do a solo ride here and there!

                                                                          Ready to roll!

No parking on the dance floor, baby!

Not much traffic today

Heading to the pier

Hmm, not much going on. 

23 Solo Night Ride

 Pics for now, felt really cold tonight. 

Sunday 31 W/Gina (Video Monday)

 Nice ride, nice day, 31 with Gina, 16.3 average. I took the op to get in an easy ride after yesterday's solo. Good thing, my hammy was tender today. Man, I am getting old ha ha ha! Nice day but I think it was windier than yesterday. I did get some help from Jose, for about a mile! :-P

Saw Bad Bob go by with a shout. Ran into Herb and Alyce at the start of the ride. We headed inland for a bit as they went straight to the coast. We all headed back together but the 3 of us were ahead of Herb & Alyce. Herb is still trying to get the hang of the thing and still some pain from his injuries. Jose turned off a couple miles before our stop. Gina and I rode to the train station where we started taking a break inside at the restrooms ha ha ha! Then we headed back down the trail to see if Herb was near. We stopped by the 22 and waited for them to roll up. Then we hopped on as they went by so that I could snap a few pics and get some video footage.

All in all a nice day and as lazy as I have been, glad I went out today again! :-P

The video

 Solo ride today at 17.4 MPH average speed. Was it a bit windy or just me? Started to get a cramp around mile 44 so I had to slow down for a bit so it would go away., didn't want to stop though. 🤣 After the bike ride, I stop in the train station to take a pic. I was using the time and placing the camera on the floor. A group of 4 gals came in and saw me and asked if I wanted them to take my pic. Not thanks! Then they asked, do you want to take a pic with us? Not thanks! They probably thought I was gay ha ha ha! Cute women but women are nothing but trouble ha ha ha! 😆😁😆 I saw 2 Joaquins! 😳 I saw a guy dressed like Joaquin but had a mask on, same size so I waved and shouted at him. Then later, I saw the real Joaquin go by ha ha ha! The other guy probably just thought I was a nut ha ha ha!😄

Had a little chat with Gian at the start of the ride Getting ready for a ride with his friends.

Solo Fat Bastard

After the ride, don't need no stinkin' pictures with the womens ha ha ha!

Hmm, good body but porn star bikini and platform sandals ha ha ha! But almost that time of the year! 

Nice coconuts! :-P