Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Off with the Training Wheels, Adam Rides a bike
Today we took off Adam's training wheels. On the first try he figured it out!
Monday, August 23, 2010
8 Years and Counting
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Jamie and I celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary via tandem ride to the beach. Meme let us borrow his tandem and after a few tweaks (Raising Seats, Adjusting Handle Bars and Brakes), we headed to Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim Hills.
Riding to the beach was a blast. It took a while before, Jamie and I got in "tandem" regarding shifts, cadence and balance. I have a higher cadence than Jamie so trying to find a happy medium was a bit of a challenge. On tandem you really need to be aware of your partner. Even taking your hand off the handlebars can throw your balance.
This is us right before our long trek to Newport Beach, 22 miles away. Yipee!
Heading onto SART, I spotted a guy in an Incycle Jersey. It turned out to be Christian and his daughter, Katie. They too were riding tandem. They had just finished up their ride as we were heading out. We chatted awhile and Christian offered up some tips on successful tandem riding.
We ate at the Crab Cooker. They have the best Manhattan Clam Chowder. I thought I didn't like Manhattan Clam Chowder but the soup at the Crab Cooker is sooooooo good. After my bowl, I asked Jamie what was the reason for me NOT liking red clam chowder?
This is Jamie posing at the Newport Beach Sign.
We made great time heading back. Heading home we had a decent tailwind to help push us back the way we came.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Riding Solo
I headed out my house by 6:30 am and was at GMR and Sierra Madre by 7:00 am. Waited for a few then proceeded to Live Oak to see if Annette will be riding with me. Not today, I peered down Live Oak and didn't see Annette. She must have left earlier.
7:05 am - Headed up GMR, boy was it was and by Big Dalton I was already out of gears. A 11 - 25 or 27 sure would be nice.
It was a lonely ride up to the first saddle. Off in the distance I could see two riders, hmmmm could it be Annette? On the way up I was past by a dude in a Polka Dot Jersey. He was fast and on a mission. I guess if you're wearing polka dots you have to back it up with performance.
I caught up with the two riders at the maintenance shed, Jason and Mike. Jason was from Glendora and Mike a fellow P-Town Boy. We talked awhile before heading our separate ways.
The trip to Baldy was quiet and I did not see any riders. Must have been the heat! I made it to the Village in good time, about 1 hour 8 minutes from the Maintenance Shed. I rested at the post office hoping to see additional riders show up, but riders never came. I took an inventory and felt good. I decided to head up Baldy to the lifts. I made it about 100 feet past the trout farm before turning around. The lifts will be had on another day.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
SART Fixie Style
What a great ride. Fixed Gear, Fixed Gear, Fixed Gear all the way to the beach. Today I rode my fixie from Yorba Regional Park to Newport Beach. I was a little worried because at 40 miles round trip this would be my longest fixie ride to date. And the thing about riding fixed, is you literally ride the whole distance. Yep, no coasting to give the legs a break. If the wheels are turning, you have to pedal, no exceptions.
With that said, I did great. I was running 46 X 15 and at 100 rpm, I'm doing 25 mph. I carried this speed to the beach and dropped to about 18 to 20 mph back.
On the way to Newport, I ran into Luis from Jensen USA. He was riding SAG for a group of runners training for an insane 100 mile run!
Coming back, I spotted Mr Beanz, but didn't get a pic! Next time Beanz.
Meme did great and finished the ride about ten minutes back. By 10:22 am we were all back at the car and ready to head home.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
From Bike Day LA - Wear a Helmet
Ouch! Always wear a helmet, always wear a helmet! I don't understand some roadies I see riding GMR without helets.
Rebecca Rae's story:
"starting at 6.30p. august 15th, i started in an alley cat bicycle race around the city i love and hate, birmingham, alabama. i was making excellent time, i was on my way to my 4th stop within 20 minutes. i was making a turn onto 14th street on my way to my 4th stop, then i don’t remember anything…
until i was riding in the back of an ambulance to UAB’s emergency. i was told i was going too fast as i hit a bad patch of pavement, and went head first over my handle bars landing directly on the crown of my head. i suffered a seizure at the sight, road rash along my left side, a black eye, and a major concussion. i was placed immediately into UAB’s NICU ( neural intensive care unit) and went into surgery early monday morning to have two sub-dermal hematomas removed to relieve a dangerous pressure on my brain, the procedure is called a bi-frontal craniotomy.
i am however, really lucky. as it has only been 5 days i am home, walking, talking, and am able to function. there are so many people who end up losing motor or brain function. i am extremely blessed.
i wasn’t wearing a helmet though i should have been.
please, if you ride a bike, for the sake of your life and mine, wear a helmet."
Rebecca Rae's story:
"starting at 6.30p. august 15th, i started in an alley cat bicycle race around the city i love and hate, birmingham, alabama. i was making excellent time, i was on my way to my 4th stop within 20 minutes. i was making a turn onto 14th street on my way to my 4th stop, then i don’t remember anything…
until i was riding in the back of an ambulance to UAB’s emergency. i was told i was going too fast as i hit a bad patch of pavement, and went head first over my handle bars landing directly on the crown of my head. i suffered a seizure at the sight, road rash along my left side, a black eye, and a major concussion. i was placed immediately into UAB’s NICU ( neural intensive care unit) and went into surgery early monday morning to have two sub-dermal hematomas removed to relieve a dangerous pressure on my brain, the procedure is called a bi-frontal craniotomy.
i am however, really lucky. as it has only been 5 days i am home, walking, talking, and am able to function. there are so many people who end up losing motor or brain function. i am extremely blessed.
i wasn’t wearing a helmet though i should have been.
please, if you ride a bike, for the sake of your life and mine, wear a helmet."
Ride Naked?
"World Naked Bike Ride celebrates a future of human-powered transport and healthy, clean, green walkable cities with simple, grassroots naked bike rides all over the world. As the vessel of this revolution, we highlight the beauty, power and individuality of the naked human body with an aim of promoting body-positive values, self-awareness, simple healthy living and independence from consumerist, toxic, oil-dependent and car culture paradigms that are killing us." – Daniel Johnson, WNBR Seattle Team
I'm not sure if I'm ready to shed my spandex bike shorts and cycling jersey for a free range, free wheeling celebration of cycling. I guess for some, any reason to get naked is a good reason and if it includes cycling, even better. Looks like this event was last year. I guess no 2010, bummer.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to shed my spandex bike shorts and cycling jersey for a free range, free wheeling celebration of cycling. I guess for some, any reason to get naked is a good reason and if it includes cycling, even better. Looks like this event was last year. I guess no 2010, bummer.
