Wednesday, February 10, 2021

 Another cool little ebay light I bought. I like this one too and it is WEATHERPROOF according to the ebay ad. Red and blue light colors. 6 modes, red steady, blue steady, red & blue alternating strobe, red strobes, and couple others. Smallest lightest of the 3 I have bought. Nice little rear helmet back light being the smallest. As bright at my Cygolite 50 but not as bright as my 150. Some riders have complained about my 50 being too bright so that says something right there. But for $12, nice little light. 

The rubber strap is thick enough and the light can be removed by way of a little screw. Not sure why anybody would want the light with no mount but hey! The little S clip that mounts the strap looks a little suspicious to me though it is a tight pressed fit on one side of the clip to support the band. The other a bit more open for easy attaching. It would be in my mind though I had no problems on the ride last night. Light was more than stable but you know me, worry wart used a camera wrist strap as a tether as usual. Only $9-$10 these lights but it  is the principle of losing things that bothers me ha ha ha!

Again, another honest review. Don't send money, no links to paypal, no channel support, don't give a rat's butt if  you subscribe, I just call it as it is ha ha ha!





Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Solo Night Ride, On the Road Again

 Solo night ride from Euro Cafe in Claremont to Covina and back. 23 miles at 15.4 average speed according to Garmin. Strava sucks, ripped me off another  .2 again on average. Not too cold, 54 according to Strava but Garmin is down so I can't see the low just yet. Felt cold at the start but as usual, 5 miles later, it's all good.

I did wear my better tights and when I got home, boy the legs sure sweat in those things. Plus 2 base layers and my arms are soaked when I remove the windbreaker. I don't feel it on the ride till I stop and the sweat gets cold I guess.

But a nice sweet ride alone out in the dark.

Did get on PR on Strava. Not sure how that happened having done the ride so many times already. Maybe a tailwind in the right place. I like to mention my PR's but I see one of the group members bitches when I mention them so, FUCK that bitch! Actually a guy, but he's a bitch ha ha ha!


Now if they put a port-o-potty out here, I would not be upset ha ha ha! Short break in La Verne on the return.


I don't think the timer wanted me in the pic ha ha ha!


So I tried hand held and the flash always brings out the weird eyes in me ha ha ha!



Sunday, February 7, 2021

SART w/Gina

 31 miles at 16.8 average.  Gina wore her space suit top but was disappointed seeing it was not as warm as she wanted. But I liked it, kind of cool bling style ha ha ha! I was planning on an easy ride and it was but Gina was doing really well. If I get a 16.0 average out of her, I'm happy seeing she only rides like 3 times per month maybe. Only riding on Sundays since spending time with her son on Saturdays. So not much ride time but she's doing really well right now. She used to do 17.5 speeds on 44 miles so this is actually as close as I can expect with little saddle time. 

Not too windy, a breeze but it was good. Wasn't going to try to beat the headwind so I just relaxed and let it roll.  Gina kept up well and finished strong. I made the video part of Saturday and part Sunday. I did forget to get Tony and his new wheels on video, a little description scene but hey, it can be tough trying to remember everything ha ha ha!

I did learn something new having made many videos. I stripped a little cheap mount I had and it still would have worked had I though to pack a corn nuts in my video bag. I did think when I got home about the things that would help in these cases. So I tossed in a few little a corn nuts, a tiny wrench, and an extra screw just in case. Would have really helped this time as the Sat video might be a little shaky for that reason, stripping the mount. It is a little fixture that I bought a few extra replacements but I think instead of replacing the piece, I'll give it a go next time with an a corn nut just to see how convenient or non convenient it is. Heck, never know, I might like it more and once I attach it to my bike, it stays there throughout the ride anyway.  

So that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Ran into Gian and his friends for a little clip in the video. Louie from Sikad, Tony and Thai for some wise guy remarks, and heck, I can't remember at this moment ha ha ha!




Dinner later that night. Gina looking happy but a little beat still. Kind of a "I'm still tired" smile ha ha!




Little aluminum colored caps on the presta valves. I was thinking gold on my bike with the gold trim                 lettering on the frame. But I'll have to test the colors, see which is faster ha ha ha!



Gina in her space suit ready to go!



The double Gina shot!


A little stretch after a couple of miles and turnaround point at Lincoln to make 31.


We don't need no shtinkin' e-bikes!



Saturday, February 6, 2021

46 with Tony

 46 miles at 16.5 average with Tony today. A change of plans for me ha ha ha! I had decided to do a different ride but Tony sent a text this morning asking if I was up for a trail ride. He got some new wheels and wanted to try them out on the trail and since he hasn't done any ride of length lately, asked me to go along. 

So we just rode at a chatty pace side by side most of the way. Saw a few friends, Gian and his buddies who will be on the video Monday. Saw bad Bob roll by, who won't be on the video ha ha ha! Not much happening today other than seeing a few friends and meeting a couple of Gian's friends.

Nice day, breezy but not too much. Easy ride it was. I'm not used to riding side by side most the ride and chatting so it was different ha ha ha!

                                                        Some big new wheels. :-P


About 20 miles in, still alive!



Thursday, February 4, 2021

More Hills Short Ride Tonight

 13.3 miles with 1,516 ft of gain. Feeling great so I thought I would start working on climbs again. I had mentioned some climbing rides to the ride leader of the group but he got pissy, so screw it, I'm doing my own. That is what makes the difference with us BIG guys. Some of us only do the easy stuff but others work on their disadvantages to make themselves stronger. So when we ride, there is a reason why some Big guys can't keep up. Put in the work or get dropped ha ha ha!

Just sad how people avoid the climbs like the plague. So much fun! Tonight some gentle 3-4%, to 5%, to 10%, then the very top was 17% according to the Strava graph. I saw 16% while riding up on my Garmin. And really surprised that this grade didn't hurt me like it did a couple years ago when I used to frequent this area. So hey, great, I'll take it. Can only make me stronger!

Getting ready but doing some short small climbs then aiming for some longer rides with longer grades. Just warming up!

                                           I just came up the 10% looking to the steep one!


Actually feeling great tonight!


On the 5%, looking to the 10.


Yes, the Old Fart survived!



Wednesday, February 3, 2021

When A Ride Leader Wants to be a D!ck

 So  you guys know me, super nice kind guy unless you want to rub me the wrong way or be a d!ck. I was riding with the group and having fun though I find it frustrating as most want to go out to a "friendly" ride to race. I was actually shocked the first few times I went out, if you read my stuff. Still they continue to invite newbs to go out but pound them once the ride starts. We start on Baseline on a slight downward grade and I find myself on the back at 25 trying to warm up ha ha ha! Sure enough, most will fade once we are done with the downward slope.

I myself like to hold a good pace but don't race, drop, or use people on rides. I like riding together as my buds will tell you. But one of the big issues is that, as mentioned by several others, the group follows the lead of the leader. I myself was shocked as my first few times out, actually every ride, the ride leader tries to compete with me. I am not sure why. Maybe because we are both big guys of just about the same size and being a pioneer racer for a college team and organizer, he feels he has to "try", yes I said "try" showing me up. Of course anybody can be strong for 5 minutes but keep it up, different story.

I actually felt bad for the guy spanking his ass on the climbs even though I didn't have much saddle time over the last couple of years with family issues, deaths, illness etc. How could a racer guy "not" keep up with my out of form self?  So I tried riding with the guy and sure enough, being nice, the guy would take it for weakness and try to drop me. I thought it was funny but after so many times, you just got to show the guy he is no match, so I kicked his ass like 20 times in a row to stamp my authority on him. Had he not been and ass on the bike, I would have been more than happy to work with him.

But I think back to the old forum days,  back in 2007, didn't even know the guy and he was already posting that he passed Mr. Beanz! :-O I had no idea who the guy was but apparently, he passed Gina and I on our tandem as we had just started out about a mile earlier and were warming up. This guy passed us having started from Green River and well warmed. I was more than likely still trying to get my balls comfortable on the saddle as Gina and I used to start from Imperial at the time. But he goes on the forum having to mention he passed me. OKAY!

So I was invited to ride with the group. Maybe this would give him a chance to race me, or show me his stuff! What stuff?! Ha ha ha ha! If riders know me, they know I am more than willing to go to the front and take my turn and work with the group. But this guy, he's a cheeseball. First ride I did on the trail with him, he was shouting at a couple of guys to take their turn at the front. But monitoring him, we had quite a laugh, few of us guys who noticed he never took a turn of his own at the front. Not to mention when we approached the little ramp just south of Moon Park, he would race around for a head start so that he would not get dropped on the HILL! Too funny!

Then the first time Gina rode with the group, just a few of us. He was at the front for like 2 minutes after the Edna Park bridge heading south. He actually turned off and went up the ramp. I thought we were stopping so I asked one of the other riders, "are we stopping?". His response was no, that the ride leader would do whatever he could to avoid being in the front. Wow, ha ha ha, that one had me and a Gina in shock. 

So after Gina's suggestion, I moved to the front with her on my wheel to set a pace avoiding confusion and wussies with racing credentials who were scared to take the front. So I pulled them all the way to the coast and kept it together. BUT, BUT, BUT who else would come to the front with 200 yards left? Mr. Race Leader himself! I could not for the life of me figure out what he was doing at the time. But like most other insecure riders, he waited till he knew he could not fade out, he took the front trying to impress the women I guess.  Now Gina never says much or complains but at the coast, the guy said, "I saw you fading so I decided I would help you!". OK, how does getting in the front and lifting the pace, breaking apart the group, help? Of course we did not say anything, we couldn't as our jaws were on the floor amazed by his stupid comment. Again, Gina never says much but she was not happy with his comments and stupid move. The group was going to ride along PCH but at the beach, Gina made it clear to me that she didn't want to ride with the group at this point. So after he left, we had another laugh at his stupid move and comments.

So I continue to do his rides just to be around people but mostly frustration. You think inviting non racer women, newbs, that the group would ride together. But nope, they jump on the trail, should I say the leader jumps on the trail and kicks the pace up to 20 even before all have entered the trail, kicks it up for a mile then fades. I spend all my time trying to keep up only to see him fade like a cheap t shirt.

So after he is burned out, I find myself pulling the group at a steady pace. Then when his balls feel big, he races around and drops the group..........for 30 seconds. Then when I reel him back in, he says, "oh there you are!". Wow, like he helped? Or did he impress someone? What a clown! Never ever do I race around someone who had just pulled my ass for the last few miles.

If you've watched my videos, you will notice that I praise a woman named Gloria. She was the only one who would help me on this ride. Just before that scene, you will see one of the cheeseballs waving me by. He sucked wheel then raced around getting a good 100 yards ahead then faded. So he fell back in line. About 3 or 4 times he did this across PCH. Well, they do this because our ride leader does the same thing. They follow his lead and end up cheeseballs too. 

So anyway, on Thursday night rides, the guy is just flat out obnoxious at times. I guess because he is a big guy, he thinks he can talk trash to the other guys and nobody will say much in return. I will say there were a few times that he talked trash to a couple of guys and I really had it at that point. I wanted to say something but didn't want to start an altercation at that point. So I bit my tongue but a couple of times, I almost turned back and said, F this guy, what a lousy ride leader. But imo, and that of others, I think he is trying to impress the women in the group. For reals, after the rides, he hugs on the women, rubs their backs etc. I love women but really, if I did that crap, I'd feel like a big loser and even creepy. Of course I take bikini pics at times but Gina is with me and knows about the many requests I get to post more. I entertain people but actually gets boring so that is why I don't post many now. I will be honest, I still love the boobie shots but never would I rub on a group member. What a loser!

So I don't like when he gets obnoxious with others. One guy told me that he notices that he never gets that way with me. Because I won't stand for it. If he says something to me in person, it's on! Online, it's on too!

But we do a ride to Balboa and not having done that course for years and years, I do well I guess and get 142 PR's. I mention it as others do as well. Happy with my recent progress and surprised I could do better 10 years later. But I guess it hurt his feelings as he made a couple of snarky remarks on the FB group page. Ok no big deal so I go to the group ride and give him a chance to be a smart ass to my face, though I did not feel like going at this point but I won't back down or give him a chance to think he could intimidate me. So I walk up and he is super nice. Maybe surprised I showed. So I just kick his ass on the ride worst  than the previous times.

Then I didn't go to a Monday ride as I never got an invite. I had never been to a ride that I did not get an invite. So I did not know it was on but didn't really miss riding on Mondays anyway, rather ride Tuesday. So I teased the gal who runs it a bit, even made a sad song video about not getting and invite, singing with my guitar as a joke. Nothing against the lady. But I guess the moron feels he needs to take advantage of it. Starts posting obnoxious replies to my posts, everything I post. I can't figure him out at this point just yet as he is not over the top and I don't know how to take it, yet!

So we do the 72 mile ride. Still the clown tries to make a competition out of it. I end up with 197 PR's and kicked the shit out of him again. I see that every time I help him, he is going to try to race around instead of helping. SO fuck it, I'm dropping his ass every time I get a chance, which is often ha ha ha! If I open a gap, he will try to close it knowing he can ride my wheel for some time since I'm not a puss like he is ha ha ha! So the last couple of rides, once I got a gap, caused by other riders splitting the group, I gave it my all to keep him off me. Takes a good 5 minutes of effort then he's toast while I continue on at my rate. So I think he finally realized he can not keep up unless I let him. A huge blow to his huge ego that is pretty noticeable to all. I've heard plenty of comments about his huge ego.

So the last 72 miles, 179 PR's and he has 100. He has ridden this course for years and 100 PR's this time? The Balboa ride, his average improved by 1.5 MPH per hour, what does that tell you? He is trying to keep up with me and putting in a good effort. But still I smoked his ass on both rides big time.

So he finally realized his race breed doesn't do shit for him ha ha ha! I say he has improved some since I joined the group so he should be thanking me for the motivation and not be a big freaking cry baby!

So the next Monday night ride was coming around. I got an invite from the lady but not sure if I want to go. But then I see him start making comments about being a baby, some image with a Cry Baby hill on it. So made my decision right there, don't need the Monday ride. Supposed to be an easy beginner ride so I take my MTB with knobbies and the others turn it into a race. I can still beat all but maybe 4 or 5 out of the group on my MTB ha ha ha! The losers are the ones getting upset.  The ride leader is one of them. 

Funny thing is, I notice everything I do, he does. I ride my MTB, he shows up the next week on his MTB, I still kick his ass anyway. I wear my light on my helmet, he shows up the next week with a light on his helmet. Obviously, this guy has something about me outdoing him on everything.

But he goes on teasing and I'm done. I leave his group and the Monday ride group pages. Let the wuss have his fun. A couple of others laugh posting images but guess what, it was the same ass hats I have on video fading like mother fuckers after sprinting around having sucked my wheel for miles. Too funny, seems the idiots all stick together. They suck wheel, try to sprint around, open a gap of 100 yards then I reel them back in after they fade. I think they all stick together ha ha ha!

So I post on my personal page and the ride leader attacks me there. Thinking he's funny, I don't know, or just an obnoxious prick, I am guessing!

So it is like, OK, you can pick on some people but you ain't picking on me. I already see he is somewhat intimidated the day I showed up him thinking I wouldn't . He was the nicest guy as if we had just me. So I see intimidation in his actions, not going to say anything face to face.

So this time, he is hurt because I kicked his ass bigtime on 72, he starts in. So I posted this on FB knowing he has like 2,000 friends and many of them see his name and will read it.



I tagged him so all his friends, our friends could see it ha ha ha! I almost thought he might respond but my bet was that he would remove the tag. He did so I posted a comment and tagged him again ha ha ha! I received a few messages from others that have expressed their displeasure in his actions as well. So I'm not the only one who notices, but probably the only one that will confront him on it. No fucking way will I sit back and let this idiot think he is going to intimidate me like the others.  Anytime, on the net, face to face, he better watch his back ha ha ha!

I've already got invites from others who seem to be splitting off the group because of this idiot.

As far as the Cry Baby Hill image he posted, as you can see in my image. I mentioned that on the 72 mile ride, he was crying on the final 10 miles of a non stop bloody nose. Obviously he outdid himself trying to keep up and paid the price. The real Cry Baby, I just rode my bike and even held back some to let others keep up after a couple of regroups. At the end, seemed he took off and tried to make a run for it. So I took off wanting to catch him. But by the time I caught him, I was feeling good and he faded like a MOFO so I just kept going and left him minutes behind on the last 3 or 4 miles.

So who was the Cry Baby, bitch?! ha ha ha! You can get away with picking on others, but you don't pick on me! I
I'll fucking fight back and take your friends too ha ha ha!



Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Old Stomping Ground

 15 with 1,509 ft tonight. Feeling good so time to start adding in some climbing. Start slowly ha ha ha!