Miles and Elevation 2011

In 2011 I rode 1,090 miles. It's not a big number but most of those miles included towing Betzi. At first I estimated  the weight of the trike, trailer and dog to be about 130lbs. After hooking up a scale it came closer to 150lbs. The total elevation gain was 81,206 feet. Everywhere I ride is hills. Unless I want to ride circles around the lake in Westlake Village there is no flat place for an extended ride. Even with the low mileage for 2011 I got plenty of climbing done. The mileage also includes two breaks for two hip surgeries and of course a heart attack which put an end to the last few rides of the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Grumpy Grandpa Needs to Ride his Tricycle

I know that it's time to take a ride when I start getting "grumpy". I let the wind that we've being experiencing here in So Cal get the better of me and I haven't been on a ride for the last 5 days. Wind or not I was going riding today. I woke up to silence...yea no wind. Being an early riser I woke up to early morning darkness and 32 degree weather. The stars were shining and I knew that it would be a good day regardless of the temperature.  I waited until the sun popped out and the temperature warmed up to a cozy 42 degrees before starting today's ride. As my ride progressed a breeze picked up but nothing that a "real man" can't handle.

The Simi Hills as seen from Thousand Oaks are behind me.

The endorphins kicked in and I'm feeling good and now Carrie will let me back in the house. Being active and getting outdoors is the best drug for what ails ya. 

No Black Friday for Us-Gone Trik'n

Today was just way to beautiful of a day to end my ride. So...on the way back from my ride with Betzi I picked up Leili at the bottom of our hill and together we went to the local school to meet up with Byron. He had gone on ahead in his trike and was already at school working on his parkour/freerunning.

__________________

But first...

While everybody is filling the shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving I take off for a trike ride.

All it takes is a little push and I'm headed down our hill.

I love autumn!!

_______________________

I ended up at the school with Leili and we played with Betzi while Byron went off to find obstacles to overcome. 

  

Leili and Betzi

Byron doing what Byron does

One last pole before calling it a day

Me

I'll be 58 this December.  Having younger kids challenges me to stay fit. Eating right (kinda), exercise and having the right doctors to make repairs is important. I might not be able to keep up with my kids but at least I won't die trying.

Long Shadows of Fall

Autumn in Southern California is my favorite time to go cycling. There is nothing that can match a cool, crisp and sunny November day.

When I started my ride it was a sunny 37 degrees and by the time Betzi and I made it home it was 55 degrees and the sun did not let us down.

Post ride workout...taking in the sun with a cup of tea, dog and Leili behind the camera.

The Perfect Ride

Perfect clear, cool autumn day and just a hint of a breeze. It doesn't get better. 

Not a Perfect Ride but Still Good

Last Sunday I took my Catrike 700 on my usual 40 mile weekend ride. It's a nice ride with a 2,600 foot gain. The last time I left my Catrike Expedition and my dog Betzi at home in favor of a ride on my 700 was three weeks ago. Unlike when I ride my Expedition, on the 700 I push myself and I wanted to get on the rode. Within the first mile I realized that the new rear derailleur cable I installed a few weeks ago had stretched just enough that I didn't have my low gear and on top of that my chain wasn't making it down to the high gear on the rear cassette (nice going dufus always adjust your derailleur shortly after installing a new cable). I pulled over and took a look at the situation and decided to ride on thinking I'd take a break later and make some adjustments (never did).

I was cruising along nicely with the gears I did have and started my first real downhill of the day. I screamed past a spandex clad youngster at 50 miles hour. Dang it I can usually do 55+ mph on this hill, now I miss my high gear...you lazy bum you didn't want to take the time to adjust the rear derailleur.

Next I started a steep climb but I was still fresh and didn't miss my low gear...to much. The climb was followed my another good downhill run. I make these climbs so I can get an adrenaline rush going down but again not having my high gear kept my speed a little lower...you lazy bum you didn't want to take the time to adjust the rear derailleur. As a punishment for being lazy the water bottle I keep behind me popped out of it's water cage towards the end of the downhill and I didn't notice it was missing until about a half mile later (that's what that sound was). It was starting to warm up and I needed that water bottle. I took a short ride uphill to retrieve my precious bottle of H2O only to find that it had sprung a leak but was salvageable.

It's now a good two hours into my ride and it's time for a short break. I check for my power bars and they're not there. Oh...that's right I left them in my Expedition. No problem I'm close to a local bike shop and I'll stop in, say hey, and  buy something to snack on. They're still closed and won't be open for another 15 minutes. I decided to wait because experience has taught me that if I don't eat and drink in a certain manner I tend to cramp up...and that's not fun.

After downing two very dry energy bars I continued on my ride. The weather was warmer then I anticipated and I was not prepared with the proper nutrition to keep my 57 old furnace functioning at maximum level and sure enough in the last couple of miles I felt the ole quads trying to cramp. I eased up my pace and all was well.

The last one third of a mile is a steep, very steep grind up to my home. Without the aid of my lowest gear I didn't want to take a chance grunting my way up the hill only to get cramped up...you lazy bum you didn't want to take the time to adjust the rear derailleur. I called Carrie and she bailed me out with a short ride home.

It wasn't a perfect ride but it is still great to ride. 


When I ride my Expedition (usually with Betzi in tow) I ride relaxed and just watch the world go by and wave to folks. When I put my butt in my 700 I want to ride as hard as my repaired and aging body will let me. The only time I stop pedaling is when I can't keep up with the downhill speed of my trike or I'm taking a break. I get cheap thrills out of passing or at least staying ahead of capable looking riders. I'm 57 years old, take it easy old boy...when I ride the 700 I can't.


PS; Sorry no pictures I forgot my camera. Oh well.

Foggy Autumn Ride

The trees that gave me shade during the summer now pelt me with over sized drops of liquid fog. The moist foggy air condenses on the leaves and the resulting drops have only one place to go...on me. Betrayed I continue my ride hoping that the sun will soon burn away the moisture laden air and warm my cold aching legs.

In true California style I started my ride today under-dressed for the cool foggy morning that laid ahead. With Betzi in tow my cold legs struggled to make the climbs. The sweat I worked up while climbing became my enemy on the windy down hill runs.

Right as I was finishing my ride a glorious white hot orb in the sky defeated the misty gray monster and all was good and warm again.

WHAT A GREAT RIDE!

Ride with Byron in Ventura

My son Byron and I drove out to Ventura to catch the beginning of the Ventura River Trail and head up to Ojai along the Ojai Valley Trail. The marine layer cleared just as we began our ride and it made for a great day. The ride didn't go as planned but...just look at the pictures.

Although the Ventura River Trail (VRT) parallels the Ventura River the predominant view is of an industrial nature. At one time this area was home to a substantial oil field. Old straight drilled pumps dot the area. Some are still pumping but slowly. Riding along on this old rail road bed next to worn out tanks, oil pumps, trucking, industrial fabricaters and so on provide an interesting glimpse into the past history of this area. The ride along this area in the cool ocean air can at times seem surreal. Why does Mad Max come to mind?

The Ojai Valley Trail was closed. Come on folks you didn't post this on your Ventura County Parks Facebook page. With the VRT behind us I was ready for  a nice ride under the trees to Ojai. Think, think...let's go to the beach and have a picnic.

Making our way back down the VRT to the beach.

Wow!! This ain't so bad. A day at the beach with my son, a picnic lunch...

...and a Long Board competition to entertain us.

Beautiful day.

Time to pack up and head home. Some of the best times in life are a result of a detour.

I'm Back Riding Again

Being 10 days out from hip surgery I took my first real ride since August 7th (I'm not counting my token ride at the Cool Breeze Century). I took a short 12 mile /899 foot gain ride with Betzi in tow.

Looking good in my Bent Up Cycles jersey! 

All systems go:
1. Cardiovascular system surprisingly in good working condition.
2. Strength is better then I anticipated after sitting on my duff for the last few weeks.
3. No pain during the ride and minimal pain after the ride. Nothing a couple of ibuprofen can't take care of.
4. A little rusty on putting my water bottle in it's holder behind my head. Oh well...who's watching anyways.
5. The endorphin rush is still alive and waiting for a downhill on my 700.
6. I gained a couple of pounds sitting around but that won't last long.

It was a great morning for a ride and it was good to feel the breeze on my face again.

Tattoo Break Again

Took a fast paced ride on my 700 last Sunday knowing that I won't be riding again till this coming weekend. Why? Another tattoo break. Tattoo Break July 12th  

Two to three times during the week I usually take Betzi on a ride. She'll have to wait till next week. I've decided to sacrifice our rides this week for 5 hours of pain and 3 days of healing. That doesn't make any sense...does it? Oh well, if we're always trying to make sense out of what we do, life can get pretty dull.

Next week girl

 Picture of Betzi courtesy of my daughter Leili

         

                                                        

Beach Bums on Trikes

Byron and I headed out to the beach today to ride trikes with some new friends. We started  our ride in Venice and soon passed Marina Del Rey and ended up in Manhattan Beach. The overcast of clouds kept the ride cool. Excellent summer day at the beach.

Leaving our meeting area and headed to the beach

Riding through the park at Marina Del Rey

My boy Byron cruising through the park

Still in the park but not for long

Ahh...the beach bike path and headed to Manhattan beach

Beach bum #1, my son Byron

Beach bum #2

Beach bum #3 being pursued  by the rest of the gang

Beach bum #4 followed by beach bum #5

Beach bum #5 (aka Joel Roberts) with his beautiful wife

Back home and ready to unpack...soon