Good Friday Paid Holiday Ride (video later)

 Solo Good Friday Ride. I got paid to ride I guess ha ha ha! 40 miles from Pico Rivera to Seal Beach and back. Pretty windy on the way, holding 13 into the wind pushing hard. Easy 19 on the return with the tailwind. 18 days off the bike, Laughlin and rain so I was worried about doing 40 but felt good. Had a good couple of weeks so body was good other then some tricep arm fatigue but legs are good!😁

Though I haven't been on the bike in 19 days, I felt pretty good. One weekend in Laughlin, the other supposed to rain. Did on Saturday then the forecast for Sunday said rain all day. So I sat it out and sure enough, didn't rain. Not till 8 pm and the entire day was really nice, freakin, weather man! So today,, 1, 2, 3 percent chance of rain, I'm going. I was expecting to get rained on though but didn't happen so that's nice! Little chilly at times but as long as my bike doesn't get mucked up, I'm good!

At one point, I did see a lady heading to the coast buy the big bridge. I stopped to record as she rolled by. Doing well but after I mounted, I passed her. This time she looked to be really struggling. I rolled but the wind really got stiff and it seemed as if she tried to catch me on one of the underpasses. So I figured I'd back off a step or two letting her take my wheel but she wasn't catching up. So I really slowed so she could catch up. BUT !!!

Too many times riding with a group, I have tried to help someone. Backing off to let them take a wheel. But the competitive spirit gets to them and they think I'm fading. So instead of taking my wheel, they pass, race around me as if they think I'm done. Rolling by with a smile on their face as if they've conquered me. OK, trying to help but once they do that, you're on your own ha ha ha! Too many times it happened in the group. Mostly the women. I guess some try to prove they're stronger than the men. Oh well, that's what I get for trying to help. OK, for those forum people who think I'm a monster, I kicked her ass ha ha ha!

https://www.relive.cc/view/veqz15kPzB6

Great surprise,  Easter Bunny showed up at work on Thursday.  Actually the CEO,  a great guy dressed up passing out candy to all employees.  😄

I know people in other states will laugh but we just drove by an electronic billboard that said Caution,  dangerous Weather conditions. 😁

Monday Commute

 

Commute with Gina. Got up a bit earlier but saving $100 a week sounds good. Just having fun with the gopro.

Rain Weekend, E-A-T !!!

 Bad thing about the rain weekends, just eating ha ha ha! Of course I for once got up on Sunday morning at 5:45 to ride and checked the weather, 40% chance of rain all day.  3 weather sites different so not knowing which to believe. So I sit it out and it turns out to be a beautiful day. 

Finally around 5 pm, the radio broadcasts a emergency weather broadcast beeping out the radio saying golf ball size hail on the way, flood warnings, hard rain blah blah blah. We head to the mall for a mocha latta sitting where we can see the exit. Finally the rain starts so we're happy that we parked under the parking structure to avoid the golf ball size hail. It rains for 5 minutes then stops, WTH ha ha ha!

Anyway, Saturday eve, Casa Jimenez. Enchiladas and a chile relleno for me. Chicken salad for Gina. Ranch dressing with salsa mixed to turn it a bit red. Casa Jimenez, best one in Claremont. Good people and service. All you can eat, 25 different items though most similar but all you can eat with a salad or soup. Get 3 items then more after you finish that. $17 all you can eat. Other places are $17 for 2 enchiladas rice and beans. Every time I go somewhere else, I'm disappointed with only 2 for $17. Just feel cheated so Casa J is always good!

Sunday morning, La Choza. 2 Enchiladas $17, yeah, felt cheated. Decent but expensive. About $60 for BREAKFAST ?!?!

Later, Sizzler for Sunday dinner. Small steak and potato. Salad but barely ate it. Oh well, getting old, can't pack it away the way I used to ha ha ha!

One good thing about not riding was being able to find some good boots. I've been looking for months. Just something comfortable being on my feet. I finally did a search online finding a brand called Thorogood (sp?) Supposed to be comfy so I went to a store in Ontario listed as a dealer, boot store. Most boots were $225, popular brands. $225 ???!!!

Not for me. I want good boots but that's just too darn much. So someone suggested Shoeteria known for work boots. Went there and found the Thorogood for $134. Not steel toe but hiking boot style. Someone told me back in about 2005 to give hiking boots a try. He said once I tried them, I wouldn't go back to sneakers. I had been having a hard time finding sneakers that were comfy on concrete and on my feet all day. 

I've always thought hiking boots were butt ugly but once I tried them on, yeah buddy! Ugly but didn't seem to mind feeling like I was floating. So since then, I've been using hiking boots at work.  So though no riding, glad I found some boots. The Sketchers I've been using are not bad looking, actually like them but they just don't float. Of course materials nowadays suck after Covid. So the Thorogood boots are a breath of fresh air! Yes, spelled Thorogood, just looked it up!

Will have a 3 day weekend coming up for Good Friday and Easter so hopefully I can get in some good mileage, if it doesn't rain. The rain this season has made my mileage count suck ha ha ha! Don't mind getting wet but I sure hate having to clean a muddy bike. I have ridden my MTB on the bike trail for 40 miles during pouring rain stopping half way to ring out the clothes but I don't have access to my MTB right now being in storage. But has nothing to do with ME getting wet but a wet muddy bike sucks and I keep them indoors.

Anyway, a good weekend considering and btw, did get some new socks too so hopefully, my feets will be happy tomorrow at work ha ha ha!

Gave me time to do light inventory ha ha ha! Never can have too many lights. I have 2 more Cygolites in a box and 3 more rear lights as well. Just ordered another rear light for the seat stay.  $20 Keywell.  Nothing high end, just another little gadget for fun time and experimentation.

Australia ?!?

 Well, guess this is my little Quality Control office now! Plant manager says he's really happy with my performance and has heard nothing but good things about me. OK, thanks! I'll take the positive any day of the week. 

Then the Floor/Production manager told me today that he would like to get a rep from each department to go to Australia for training. He said he isn't sure of my travel availability but if he can get it together, he would like for me to come along to see how they do things over there. Get a little Australian training I guess! So I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Chance are if you are reading this, it's because it's raining this weekend and I can't ride my bike ha ha ha!

Spur of the Moment Laughlin

 Good things happen to good people! So I'm celebrating this weekend with a spontaneous trip to Laughlin, again! Taking the MIL to Laughlin again to have a little fun. Miss my bike but hey, got to live it up while we can ha ha ha! So a late start Friday about 7 pm arriving in Laughlin about midnight. 

Not much to eat around here at this time so a visit to the overpriced Mc D's at the Aquarius. Usually staying at the Edgewater but they were booked solid  so we ended up at the Aquarius. First and only time Gina and I stayed here it was the Flamingo way back in the late 80's. Now the Aquarius. So we're back after thirty something years ha ha ha!

First night here, Friday into Saturday. Made and posted my video, now 3:30 in the morning . I'm in hotel room and they're still in the casino. 

Oh well, the things we go through not being a gambler ha ha ha!

Second day, part 2

  

Ahh you know me,  here for the food 😋. 

It's Still Christmas Around Here

 The old "Mr. Beanz Fat Bastard Cycling Team" top cap bolt trick. Second time I've fallen for it this year! 😆😄😆 Ha ha ha, actually a cool gift from buddy Tony. Christmas gift on Saturday's ride. Always thoughtful Tony. Based on my Fat Bastard cycling jersey. 😁😆😁 Thanks TC !!!

Tired AH Sunday

 Solo 20 after  Saturday in the foothills.  Trying to go easy but the wind made sure I didn't. 🤣 But got in a ride which is always a good 👍 thing. 

Time change too.  So the hassle of changing clocks and my Bryton doesn't automatically adjust so looking up the instructions on yt is always fun. 

But I did run into PinoyBentRide (Ron). Still banging away the miles at 70.  Hope I can still do it at 70. I have a couple of buds that are still doing it.

But!!! Both are named RON so being a FRED, not sure what my chances are not being named RON. 😆😄😆

But another day on the bike, a good day. 👍

 

Really tired today so took a trip to Avolio's.  Salad and an Avolio's special.  Salad is always good, pizza always fresh and quality.  But today,  the pizza 🍕 was extra tasty.  I guess I earned it this weekend. 

And of course, a trip to the mall after dinner. Gina found this dress at Macy's for $19. Pic doesn't do it justice but it has some shiny blingy little glittery things that sparkle in the light.

Grinding the Foothills with Tony

 37 miles 2100+ ft gain with Tony. Tony just recovered from a knee procedure and wanted to try some hills. He was tearing it up today. Good recovery and he says an improvement as far as pain and comfort, good thing!

We did ride from Covina to Claremont and back. Up Wheeler along the way. Across to Old Foothill (?), then up Barranca and back. Eyemage did warn me that Barranca was a gnarly climb at the top. Gina and I drove up there the other day just cruising. I thought it would be a good road but he was right, I was surprised. Not sure if it looks different in a car or I just didn't see it right ha ha ha! But it was tough and then turning east on Sierra Madre, the climb continues. But, it builds character ha ha ha!

Paintball Gun Barrel Mounts

Man, I'm going to make a video and post it on youtubie! 😀 

Cracks me up how some people/stores take advantage of a sitchee-ashun. 

I use these mounts on my handlebars to hold my lights. I have other mounts that are out front to hold my go pros so I don't use these though they are rock solid, especially with the aluminum screws.

But I get them at Rainbow Imaging on ebay.....2, TWO, TOO, anyway you want to use the number 2, TWO for less than $9. I have black and blue. Blue doesn't seem to be available right now from RI but black is good.

I also have some from PILUZ (?) on ebay, same mount but slightly smaller diameter but same thing. I think I paid about $9 for each of those.

What kills me is when, like I said, some of the other stores sell the exact same thing for much more. 

Take a look at these little mounts. Same thing for $34 !!!!! Are you kidding   ????!!!!! 

Just eats me up so I like to post my opinion and thoughts on the matter hoping to save some poor soul a few bucks! 

No difference, only in price!

Solo Spiders Pico to Mountains

 Taking advantage of a nice day. Solo 40 miles. Cool and breezy most of the day but felt really good 👍 And a pic of the extra gadgets I take along to make videos. 😄

Hmm, heartrate never felt hard today but numbers are all over the place,  who knows!😄

https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8GRK8dPq

Speaking of gadgets, picked up a couple more hb 

mounts and aluminum screws on ebay. Good stuff !