SART 9/30/12

A nice warm Sunday ride with Gina. Again a pretty empty trail. We stopped near the Imperial wooden bridge but only saw maybe 5 riders go by. Most times we see 30 within 5 minutes or so. Gina thought it was nice though.

On the way back to the coast we ran into Tammy & Alan. At the coast we met up with Tony for a short visit then we rode back together to his turn off. Before Tony showed up LewisAClark rode up for a good chat. Hadn't spoke with the guy in a while so it was nice to hear from him again. Bad news was that his father had some heart problems. He's OK though. After that we had some pretty good laughs going into some real life details. Pretty good stuff and nice to hear I'm not the only one who thinks there is a little too much madness in this world, on and off the bike ha ha!

Back to Tony. Last week we saw him and his wife riding MTB's on the trail. I didn't recognize him at all. I gave my usual friendly hello thinking he was just another rider out there. After we crossed paths Gina mentioned that the rider was Tony. Naaaaah! I don't think so! She said Yeah, that was him, then I said like no it wasn't then she said like yeah it was, then I said like no it wasn't! Well you get the picture. But turns out it was him. He and his wife did a pretty good ride together. I'm thinking it won't be long before she's out there on a roadie. Oh, and to tell you the truth, she looks a little too young for Tony..... even though they're the same age. ;-)

LewisAClark. Be honest, how many of you didn't notice there was a bike in the background?

                                                      The top view My Space pose

                                            I asked for a smile, this was the best he could do!

                                               Tony with the today's "Shiny Man" award

Uneventful Solo Ride on SART 9/29

Well Gina had bidniss to take care of today so I had a chance to ride alone, so I did. Trail was every empty but nice. I figured there had to be  big organized ride going on somewhere. The Grand Fondo now that I remember. Either way, the trial was empty.

Very uneventful day, I did see Ron & Dixie a couple of times, actually three times. I don't think they saw me at Yorba Park watering up my bottles. I saw Alex2 there. cutting his ride short today. 65 is a short ride for Alex ha ha! I saw Jeff & Angie but other than that, almost a ghost town. After the ride I ran into Mark, Tammy & Alan at the parking area. It was kind of strange riding alone after spending so much time on the bike with Gina. I must bore myself cause I didn't take one pic or get one video clip on this ride ha ha!

I headed out to Green River from the Leaky Fountain, to the coast and back for 61 miles. I have an organized event next weekend so I wanted to do my rid today with limited stop time. 61 miles @ 16.9 average with only 13 minutes of stop time. Not bad but I did forget to pick up an energy bar last night and I didn't feel like stopping at any of the Quick marts around so I just passed on the energy bar. Felt pretty good throughout the ride but the hungry feeling on the last 5 miles told me I should have downed a little sup'm sup'm!

Trying to limit my stops, I only stopped a couple of times for water and to mix some Gatorade via powder. Only once to wee wee but still added up to 13 minutes even though it felt like I didn't stop at all. I guess I'm just a slow tinkler ha ha!

Getting ready for the ride next week I figured I'd clean up my bike and put on the new rear tire for a test ride tomorrow (make sure the tire has no defects). On the last mile I ran over a huge wad of gum. So now I have gum strings all over my bike, what a mess! Brake calipers front and back, both rims, BB area and guide, front tire,  front and rear spokes. To the person who tossed the gum on the trail, I hate you and you have a big mouth ha ha ha!

SART Weekend 9/22 & 23

My Pet Peave

This I am guessing is must be my pet peave. I'm doing our friendly ride with Gina and a couple others, Jose and Aimee. We're doing our usual pace, no racing, no aggressive moves towards any other riders. BUT! We see this one guy way ahead of us. The trail is long and flat and you can see for a mile, maybe 2 ahead if you look hard enough, and we weren't.

But at one point we see this dude coming into view. We get closer and closer and I am pulling. I have been for the first 45 miles of our 60 miler as I like to control the pace for Gina, avoiding sprints and gaps making it easier for her to stay with me (fun that way). So maybe 1/4 mile before we catch the guy I ask Jose to take the front while I catch a breather. No problem but I ask him to keep the same pace so he does.

So we roll up on this dude and politely try to pass with a friendly "on yer left". The looks back then sprints away. OK, you're bad! So we continue our pace and this dude fades about 1/4 mile later. OK, no problem, we catch him and begin our pass a second time. You can see in the video we weren't pushing the pace. A second "onyerleft" and we begin the pass. We pass, so I thought only to find that he had latched onto Gina's side. OK, WTF! Fall back but don't freaking bump my wife. I really didn't know what was going on back there assuming we just passed the guy. Next thing I know he calls "onyerRIGHT" and squeezes through, WTF!!

So he does this weak sprint then pulls away like the hero that he is! I feel Jose lift the pace in response so I say "let him go, he'll fade anyway". So Jose backs of the pace and resumes the usual. I'm sort of tickled knowing that he would do something like this as it happens all the time. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a big dude and these hot shots feel threatened when someone of size passes them. Or could it be that they don't like the idea of getting chicked by two gals. Or maybe that Jose looks like a total fred with his compression socks (for vericose veins).

So anyway the dude falls back again but this time he hangs on the back till he recovers. THEN he sprints around again. At least the guy used the left side this time. So he rides off and again I tell Jose just let him go as he's really getting on my freaking nerves by now! We backed off the pace and just let the clown vanish into thin air. Heck, it was way better than having some asshat taking down one of the gals for a trip to the hospital.

I for the life of me can't understand why these asshats insist on interfering with our smooth rides. Heck, if you're fast, then do us a favor and go! If not, then GTF outta the way! Something tells me catching him from far behind means he wasn't fast so he should have just got GTF outta the way so that he didn't hurt any of our riders. Umm, we did a 60 mile ride at a 15.9 average so I guess he felt really special trying to stay ahead of our blistering pace ha ha!

And for those who say it's the trail riders, don't be fooled. When we did our century a couple weeks back, I saw plenty of the foolish and dangerous cyclist behavior on PCH. Like I say, I'm not anti cycling, I'm anti stupid!  ;-)

Mark & Dave's Bicycle Shop (& shop ride invite)

Mark's personal shop ride invite to all (Sunday 9/2 at 8 am)

Ride on Sunday 9/2 at 8 am. He's looking to serve food for the riders as a post ride appreciation meal. No fees, no sign ups, just show up and ride. He says he has about 20 riders in for the ride at this time but I figure this video and post might attract a few more. as he says in the video, no need to belong to a club.  I believe 2 or 3 groups. Check out the info posted on the Mark and Dave's Bicycle Shop page on Facebook for more details.

I had a chance to Visit Mark and Dave's Bicycle Shop. I had wanting to check it out but hadn't ad a chance till today. Wow I was surprised. Thinking I'd walk in and see a saddle or two hanging on the wall I was shocked at how much merchandise they had in this store. Of course knowing that Mark is a big bicycle lover, doesn't shock me when I know he's ready to service any bike, any type, any style for any level of rider. One thing about Mark is that he loves all bikes so no need to shy away thinking that Huffy isn't worthy of this shop! Mark welcomes and befriends all riders. When I read or think of bike shop owners, I have an image in my head of what they should be and Mark sets the standard.A true bicycle lover, if it has wheels......

Along with Mark comes his partner Dave. A more quiet serious type guy. I had a chance to speak with the guy and yes, he is serious about bikes. A more hardcore type roadie with a big climbing style. Which is good as it makes the pair an all around knowledgeable shop. One guy raced and knows everything from the Big Rider Clyde needs to the racer while the other knows the specific needs of that super light side of riding and racing.

Of course I have known Mark since the time I started riding. Sadly he has set the standard of what I expect form shop mechanics so I must say that I am quite often disappointed when Mark standards are not met by others. Good in one way as this encouraged me to do my own wrenching. But bad because I often ended up having to make an extra trip to Mark for corrections. But over the years he has often offered good advice that has helped me with my own work. Over the years just thinking that I might be too critical of shop mechanics, I am often reminded that this is not so after each Mark encounter. The guy just reminds me every time why I have followed him around for the last 16 years. He's fixed so many sub par repairs performed by other local shops. I could go into detail about several but the word here is that Mark is a great mechanic. I'll save those other matters for mechanical arguments I encounter when I argue about the tools that every good mechanic should have and use as does mark. As a big rider myself, the biggest issue I have had over the last 16 years are wheel issues. Mark was the first builder to build a set of wheels that lasted more than 2000 miles under my big bod. Again I can argue till I am blue in the face but Mark's superior skills override all debates. Check out the pics below, dishing tool and 2, count them spoke 2 tension meters, 'nuff said!

So anyway, I could talk bikes for hours with Mark but making a video was tough. I had to make 2 parts just to fit in a portion of what we talked about. Always great talking to Mark and looking forward to visiting his shop more in the near future.

Part 1 (Mark)

Part 2 (Dave and George)

Flat Tire Sunday!

Gina didn't ride today, she had things to do elsewhere. Being appointed trustee in her father's affairs is a pretty demanding job. Has been for a few months now. It's nice to know people have faith in you and trust you but wow, there is a lot of work and responsibilities that go with it! Lawyer, court date, the realtor, wow!

So anyway she was unable to ride so I started out with Jose and Aimee. After a couple of miles I was doing pretty good, pushing pretty hard and  nice pace. Wind felt stiff heading to Imperial but figured the reward would be worth it. What tail wind?! We turned around only to feel another stiff headwind. I hate when that happens ha ha! Oh well, after a bit I settle in and find a groove. OK now we're rolling!

When we hit the wooden Bridge at Edna Park, I almost wiped out on the turn, a slow turn. Goshdarnit! So I replace the tube with one of my spares while Aimee and Jose mingle. Everything is going fine but for some reason I "ALWAYS" make sure the bead is seated well before inflating with the frame pump to full pressure. for some reason I got side tracked and didn't. I swear, even when I do check, it I rarely ever have anything pinched or seated improperly. So I inflate the tire most of the way, get distracted then end up placing the wheel back on the bike. Without thinking about it, I start inflating to full pressure. Nice! I walk away to roll up the old tube which already has a patch and not looking so well so I'm trashing it. BAM! Was that my tire? GOSHDARNIT!!!

So now I have no spare tube and somewhat worried that I may have seated the bed correctly and worried that just maybe it may be a tire issue (bead blew off rim). I'm not a risk taker and not wanting Gina to have to drive across the country to pick me up if for some reason I run into more bad luck, I told the others to go on without me. I inserted my second spare tube, pumped it up short of full psi then cruised back to the truck which was only a couple miles away.

So the ride was going well but then turned to "suck"! Oh well, it was not what I wanted but I'm not injured and didn't have to wait for rescue so it's all good!

SART 8/25/12

Saturday was a nice ride. Since we had done the 100 the weekend before I told Gina my plan was to go out for a nice slower pace ride just to relax the legs. Not that we felt bad or tired from the century but I know how nice a good slow relaxing ride can feel after a bigger effort.

So Herb and Alyce decided to join us for the ride, along with Jose. Jose had asked several times if he should take the front. Nope, I'm fine I told him. He continued to suggest I call him to the front if I need help. I told him the plan was to keep the pace a little lower for a reason. After the ride he said, "wow I feel so good like I could ride forever!". Well I could have and Gina could surely have gone faster and harder but see, that's why I was sticking to the ride plan. Sometimes discipline means a little more than speed when it comes to feeling good about a ride or after a ride. ;-)

After the ride we stuck around to get a few fish lip kisses for the camera, it was that girls' idea. They talked Herb into a couple of pics and tried to talk me into it but uh no, Mr. Beanz don't pose like that ha ha!

Alyce did have a flat toward the beginning of the ride. I was actually sort of happy she did. We had just seen Jose and a couple of River Velo riders at the Honda Center park. I told them they probably wouldn't see us because we'd be doing 26+ on the way to Imperial. Uh yeah, we were and uh yeah, that's when Alyce got the flat so uh yeah we were ha ha!

Also Saw Ron and Dixie on their tandem playing keep away from a group of riders chasing. I didn't think any of the riders would catch them but later Ron said one rider did. Wow, I'm surprised cause Ron and Dixie are freakin' fast on their tandem. We also saw Mark, Pete, and Alex2 on the road heading the opposite direction. Saw them at the coast too before the headed out for a taco. We didn't hang around as long as usual at the coast. Had things to do so we skedaddled!

In the video, Herb tossed the tube into the bushes. That was all show, he did pick it up then took it home for patching. None of our ride partners are litter bugs!  ;-)