Solo 25 miles with 1100 ft gain from a park in Covina to San Dimas, Glendora, then back to the park in Covina. Beautiful night and I felt great! I was rolling on the bike feeling good and loose like I could ride forever. Hope that feeling rolls over into the weekend ha ha ha!
Wasn't going to start out solo but things happen. TC had baseball watching plans and wasn't sure, depending on a Dodger victory would help his decision. Me knowing how sports fans are, I wasn't counting on him to show up ha ha ha!
But the original plan was with Sandra who wants to ride in the evenings, certain days. Getting schedules mixed up, it gets frustrating so I mentioned on Monday that I would ride on Wed or Thursday even if she wanted to ride along. The Please Let Me Know if you don't want to go as I will ride during the day. But she said she wanted to ride Thursday at 4:30 that was good for her. OK! I only ride so many day s per week avoiding burnout so I didn't ride Tues or Wednesday to accommodate.
So I show up early as usual to set up my recorder, lights, etc. Roll around a bit to stretch the legs then she shows up. Got ready really quick like 2 minutes. Heck, it takes me 20 ha ha ha! She wants to hit up the lady's room before we head off, cool. We do so then as we rolling out she says there must be something wrong with her bike feeling a thump. FLAT! About half way down. Seemed fine when we rolled to the restroom but..... So she starts to change it and I let her as I did it last time for her and was a long event. Plus I wanted to see how she did on the job. She got the wheel off then replaced the tube but not doing so well placing the tire back onto the rim. I was offering vocal support but she didn't do too well. SO she said this is the part where I would have to help as she was not strong enough to get the bead on the rim. There is a technique but she wasn't getting it with my verbal instructions. So I placed the tire on for her then she started to pump with a little hand pump saying it would take her all day but my pump as well is not much bigger.
Started out pretty well but went south. She started pumping getting about half way saying she would ride to the shop for a repair or use of a floor pump. Umm ok, that's about 3 miles and will she make it? Then she told me that the tire was fine on Thrusday (?) last time she pumped it up, after her last ride. She said she puts air in the tire after each ride to make sure it's ok. Ummm, I put air in my tires before each ride to make sure all is ok. She said she preferred to do it after a ride. Our logic is different I guess but I like to make sure everything is good before a ride especially if it might affect others counting on me to have proper functioning equipment, but who knows, maybe I'm crazy?
So she pumps the tire to about half inflation then unscrews the hose but manages to pull out the cored of the stem as well, or broke it, not sure, just know all the air came out within a second or two. So then she says she wants to drive to the shop 3 miles away to let them repair it and asked me to ride there to meet her. Hmmm, Then she says that she knows I like to ride later anyway and enjoy the dark. Yeah I do but I have lights and even bring two to make sure I am covered if anything happens or I still have plenty if one fails running them both at the same time most times once it gets dark.
So then I asked her if she had her lights as I didn't see them on her bike. Nope, she forgot them. OK, now I'm concerned about riding at night with someone who doesn't have lights. SO I told he I would rather her just skip the ride and go to the shop while I went on my ride because I plan my life around the ride times after I offer others the chance to name the ride time. Gina would be expecting me home at a certain time to eat my dinner or whatever our plans are on that day. So I headed off alone as she packed up her bike.
I would have been more than happy to help her, I'm not a jerk. But I did do it for her once in the past on another ride and strange incident. I did offer instructions as well as I did the replacement. Step by step on how to easily place the chain in position before removal, tips to make it a bit easier. That time, she showed up with a flat as Tony and I waited for her at a park she named and time as well. Showed up and somehow, her tire went totally flat from her place to the start of the ride. She filled it with air before the ride this time but went flat on the drive. She had a floor pump as well. So she struggled with it not knowing much so I did it. Started the ride but the tube she had must have had a puncture as well. OR maybe she punctured it attempting the initial repair? So we rolled about 100 yards and it was flat again. I don't remember if she had a 2nd tube or if I gave her one but I made the repair this time and we headed off. But what, an hour late, maybe? Tony complained of a pain in his wrist so he headed back to his car, packed up and left while I did the second repair.
So I was worried that this time, if she, we rolled to the shop 3 miles away on a damaged tire, or weak tube, or any other reason, we would end up having a world of trouble then what would we do? I would probably spend all night helping her get back to her car or the bike shop. Sometimes it's easier to just suggest one retreat and return to fight another day. Heck, I hate it when I flat, puts a damper on the entire ride but I do carry 2 spare tubes and a pump as well so I am self sufficient. If anything happens, I don't mind if the other riders leave me behind. Not a problem as I will not need their help or set them behind schedule or interfere with their ride.
But I am a firm believer in making sure my equipment is in good order before the ride. Her logic is after the ride but hey, a lot can happen within a few days after you rode your bike. I've had slow leaks kill my tire over night in the past. SO if I air it up before the ride, I always know if something is wrong.
So I headed off alone and wow, I felt great. I did go from Covina to San Dimas, up Amelia to Lorraine then towards GMR, heading back down when I realized that I didn't have as many miles as I wanted so I looped around one more time. Beautiful day, nice clouds then a great night feeling the cool air. Started getting dark when I ended the first San Dimas run so kind of glad Sandra didn't go as it definitely required lights the final 1/3 of the ride. Images are from the GoPro that always seems to make it look lighter than it is in reality.
On the way back, I did slow to grab a drink as some dude unexpectedly rode up on my side and shouted something. WHOAH, scared the crap out of me not expecting anyone to be around. I told him that he scared me then he said sorry and rolled on ahead. But still, a wonderful ride. I've forgotten how sweet it is to ride alone at night and take in the beauty of the night
Another note, as most times, wow, drivers are so courteous to me when I'm, out and about. Not sure why as so many cyclists I know complain about the drivers.
BTW, as I have stated before, cooking at home, one realizes how ripped off we are at restaurants. 2 eggs and one small potato, plenty almost too much food for me. But a late breakfast early lunch so I'm prepared for the ride. Got to throw in some chorizo for flavor. Small piece.
Ask for this at a restaurant, it will surely look different. Barely color from the chorizo and the eggs will be a much smaller amount even though they claim two or three eggs.
And 1 small corn tortilla for carbs ha ha ha!
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