Solo 20 San Gabriel Trail

 Solo ride today at 16.0 average speed. 94 degrees max I saw on my Garmin.  99 on strava. I  deal with this heat at work as I work outside.  So riding in it, ain't all that bad ha ha ha. 

Met a nice couple at the start of my ride, Don and Diane.  They were doing a nice 55 miler from  Claremont and through the Emerald Necklace course. Had a pretty good little chat about cycling before we all headed out on our way. I was a bit behind them as the made a left at 4 corners. Got a couple shots of them up ahead. 

I worked into my pace as usual but then a couple miles near near the top, I really kicked it up working hard. OK, so when I started   a guy passed me and seemed friendly enough.  Another big guy like me.  I was thinking as he left me behind   this guy's doing pretty good. Maybe 100 yards ahead but 6 molester  the constant up ramps start.  

I was catching back up so I poured it on. As I rolled by he shouted I NEED SOMEONE TO PULL ME NOW, BROTHER.  I  guess we're brothers now ha ha ha. 

So he hopped my wheel and held on for a short bit. Very next little steep ramp, he fell back.  Heck, I poured it on more.  Another quarter mile and he was out of sight.

That's usually my plan.  Go easy on the easy and once it gets hard, wind or hills,  that's when you work.  The rest is all about conservation. 

Don and Diane, sounds like a Mellencamp song.

Sweat legs and wore my skeleton jersey today. Makes me look and feel lighter ha ha ha. 

41 with Tony

 41 at 15.7 with Tony. He needed an easy ride today testing out his health after some doc visits. 

Pics for now, story later. 

Ok, so the story goes.  I was actually planning to ride the San Gabriel Trail solo since Jose is living in AZ for now. Not sure if his employer is closing for good and won't know till the end of July. That blloows being kept in suspense like that. 

But Tony sends a text yesterday that he wants to do an easy flat ride after being cleared by the doc. Doctor?

Apparently he's been off the bike for a month after taking a stress test for his heart. He says hs not sure what's going on but has felt some fluttering even while sitting still not exercising.  But the doctor cleared him to exercise but expecting to take more tests. 

So today we rode an easy pace and he tried to keep his HR low. So we did. 

Later in the ride   he started to fade some with fatigue. H says it's mos likely the inactivity vs any kind of heart issue. Well that's good but seeing my Strava temp says it was 93  heck that could have been a contributing factor.

We did stop for tacos near the end so it's all good. 

Old Fart Luxury Couch Relaxing Ride

 Well it was a nice big luxury couch when I rode up here last week. 😄 Wearing my new baselayer, $3 at Fallas. For that price I picked up 3 and going back today to see if there are more. Told you I'm a budget rider. 😄

20 solo miles at 15.4 average speed. Relaxing the legs for work tomorrow after a good effort yesterday. 

Couple images from Ron's go pro. This is what it looks like when Mr. Beanz drafts your tandem. 😄

 

45 miles at 17.4 average speed today.  Ran into Alyce after a few miles. 

Alyce rode strong today, did most of the front work   that's ok with me. 😄 Ran into Ron & Dixie on their tandem at the beach.  I took their wheel for a bit then Alyce went by. Went up a little hill and knowing tandems, I held back a bit so they could take my wheel getting back up to speed.  I figured we would catch back up to Alyce but she got a little smaller.  So I figured a little more  we'll catch back up but then she got even smaller.  Then smaller,  and smaller,  and smaller ha ha ha.  Strong ride by Alyce today and at that point,  figured I'd work with the tandem.

The people in the second pic are a nice couple I've chatted with several times.  They have some sweet  steel road bikes with racks and stuff. Nice set ups. 👌 

Nice EZ Ride

 Nice 21 miles today on the San Gabriel Trail. 

Relaxing the legs before going back to work tomorrow. Nice ride other than a couple of morons buzzing me for no reason  I  did get in a few choice words though 😀 

A ride for the birds.

Solo 40 Fat Bastard

 Solo 40 miler at 17.0 average speed.  Jose got laid off last week and supposedly moving back to Arizona with his family so I went at it alone. And no tacos 😢. 

Warm 90 degrees according to strava. Felt warm when I arrived at the start  cool on the bike,  overcast at the beach then hot on the return. 

Felt a little tired and fatigue on the first part then finished strong so that was good. 

Didn't see anyone I knew other than Sandra's old friend Mark. The guy supposedly verbally attacked her after a Thursday night ride. I don't know the details but either way, tired of the drama between these two and not even sure who does what. A lot of missing details that Sandra won't tell me so it's hard to side with either though I really don't care to. Sometimes it's hard to have friends. Easier just to avoid their drama. 

So in short, I saw Mark. I waved even though I had heard he said a few things about me.  But he doesn't pose any kind of a threat to me so what do I care. 

So overall, an uneventful good ride. 

Solo Spiderz and Me

 Solo 20 today. Set out for an easy ride but ended up pushing hard on the way back.  

But had a good time looking over my stuff thinking about what a budget rider I am. 

GPS 40 bucks. Baselayer 4 bucks and has a zipper pocket along the hip. 

Another new pair gloves 24 bucks. 

Honey stinger, free from a friend ha ha ha. 

The reason I pushed hard back. I saw a couple riders just ahead of me and thought I'd keep pace but 50 yards back. 

Lead rider going faster and faster. I end catching and passing the f

second rider , a dude. Same uniform as lea rider who is still up ahead 50 yards.  Heck, maybe I'll catch HER later. I have 10 miles to do so.

So she passes a paceline of 5. I catch the paceline but sit on the back for a minute to catch my breath.  Then I go around in pursuit. 

Few miles down the road I need a drink. Then I see the paceline chasing hard as a group including a couple other riders I've passed. 

I see the effort but F that. I'm not going to let them catch me now. So I went to the drops and hammered. YES,  put a big gap on them, no way to catch me now. 

But still can't catch the gal. Wow,  gave it my all but still she gained another 50 yards. 

Finally made it to 4 corners right before the dsm at the Pico golf course. She stopped at 4 corners. I saw her as I rode by.

Little Asian chick bu she sure had a big motor. 😃

Oh yeah,  Bad Bob says I'm a serious cyclist now because I use 2 GPS units ha ha ha. 

40 Taco 🌮 Miles Beanz is King Forum

 40 at 17.2 average speed with Jose.  I'm feeling great on the bike. I think Jose was sorry he gave me a honey stinger he he he. 

But I kept it together both finishing well after he claimed to be tired half way through. 

I did try these new gloves. Giro 3XL  from ebay. Delivered for less than 10 bucks.  I don't know why but I've been on a glove buying binge lately. Good stuff for under 15 bucks. 

Funny thing I found a pair on ebay for $15. Then realized it was the group leader Erik P selling all kinds of used clothes and stuff on ebay. He claimed the gloves were new but not sure as the pic looked kind of shabby.

But I sent a message saying to take them to the Thursday night ride and I'd give him cash, just look for Mr Beanz ha ha ha. 

I looked several times and that morning,  still available. But once I told him it was me, he removed them and sent a message on ebay saying they were no longer available.  

Ha ha ha dumb ass would rather lose out on a few bucks than sell me the gloves. 

Oh well, he just doesn't like me cause I think he's gay. 😃

But these are brand new and less expensive so I win. 

Not the most graceful of skaters but I gave her an A for effort.  😄

BTW, this forum I play on likes me so much that they named the forum after me.

Ok not really. In order to support the site, one can donate $5 then name the forum for a day.  Cute idea and I did mine today.