this too shall pass

It’s the last day of April, so quick - get a post in before the whole month has gone away.

To tell you the truth, I have not felt like posting, every once in awhile I just feel like I’m done with it.

I mean what is the reason I even do it?

Then I remember, I do it for me, it doesn’t matter if people make comments, though I love it if they do.

It is not about what people out “there” think, it is what is going on in my head.

Sometimes I don’t have the energy to write it down, don’t even know if I want to share it.

It is awfully revealing, and I am a very private person, even if you already know too much about me.

Sometimes, I think, that people aren’t even really interested, I mean how many times has someone asked you how your day was, and you start to tell them, and they get “that look”, and you know that you are boring them to death.

Once again you forgot, “They were just being polite” (Actually, sometimes it is just not the right place or time – like a party)

Sometimes I get down on myself, I’m getting older, the body does not respond the way it used to, it takes awhile to get over being sick or getting over some of the work of training rides.

Sometimes, I just don’t feel like going to the gym again, I want to go shopping! And yes to tell you the truth, mostly I want to go and buy bike parts, or start saving for my very own bike.

What? Bike Parts? I though you were not one of those bike freaks, you say to me?

It’s starting to get to me, I want to get out of this office and go for a bike ride ((as soon as the wind dies down))

I wish I could afford to take some time off and just go for some rides, stop at a coffee stop, sit and drink coffee and then get back on the bike and go again.

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Its funny how we get depressed sometimes.

Last week I went to bike event and I was saying goodbye to some friends of mine ((Sonoma County Riders)) and this lady whispers in my ear, “ When you came in this room, after the ride, I heard a couple of gasps, Those guys ( she pointed all around her) think you are the handsomest guy in the room”

I blushed, and said “Ah Shucks”, and then I spend the rest of this week, thinking, well I don’t have as much muscles as that guy, my face isn’t as handsome as that guy. I’m not as thin as that guy.

Well I have to laugh at myself, because, for I should be happy that I was perceived that way, it doesn’t make me better or worse than anyone else.

It just is. For that moment, relish it, for life changes, and this moment too shall pass. ((Once upon a time there was a King who said to his advisors “ make me something that will make me sad when I am happy and happy when I am sad, or I shall know that all my advisors are fools and I will kill you all – and the advisors make him a ring that was engraved inside with the words “This too shall pass”))

Day of the Ride

Not "the ride" but a ride to simulate a day on the ride. 465 Riders, 81 miles, it was a ride from Golden Gate Park to the Petaluma Cheese Factory and back.

We start out in a big group, with the riders being released about 20 at a time, and then we ride through the park, down Arguello through town then through the Presido where we then cross over the Golden Gate bridge, then it is our usual down through Sausalito, over Camino Alto, up White's Hill and then right to go up to Nicasio, and then another right to go up the hill to the Cheese factory.

We have Lunch there and then we turn around and ride back down the hill, go around the reservoir and then take Sir Francis Drake back to Fairfax, going over White's hill one more time

Stop for a minute then head on back over Camino Alto, and then down through Sasualito again and then up that hill to the bridge.

I only took 1 picture that wasn't of friends, this was going out through the Presidio at the top of a small hill.



Alcatraz, and the Dome of the Palace of Fine Arts...

It was a nice ride, I didn't have any cramps, however I didn't really push myself, still it was nice not to have any, gives me hope for the long ride, just 1 month away

However, after getting done with the ride, I ate something that night that gave me food poisoning and I have been sick ever since.

I'm much better now, but still trying to watch what I eat, normally I have a cast iron stomach, and can eat anything.

The ride route

Well, this was last year's ride, and we are probably not going to go up Skyline this year, but it is mostly the same as last year I think!

Terrain 4

Big Hills and lots of them this weekend, but I forgot my camera, so instead I will post pictures from my last two rides, which I don't think I posted.



















This ride was Marshall Wall, lots of hill but not as high as what we did this weekend, this was from Novato to Tomales & back

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This ride was the ride I called the hell ride - SF to Woodside & back - up hill and against the wind all the way





















I was dead, beat exhausted when I came back, I wanted to quit, but with the help of my friend Beau, I made all the way.

Where is Waldo?

Long time, no post,

I know, I know – I have no Internet access at work and most of the time, when I get home, I’m tired of sitting at a computer and typing.

TRAINING RIDES, I have been doing one every Saturday, mostly Sonoma County Rides, but since I was at my Dad’s and dropped the propane tank on my foot, it has been challenging. I guess it threw everything out of whack, which made it a lot more work to ride the bike.

But, I think I’m in better shape for it (( I sure hope so)), also, I have not felt like going to the gym very much, only two days a week, but I am down to 182 pounds. YEAH!

It is only about six weeks to the ride now, and I’m starting to get excited.

Next weekend is the SF Bay Area’s Day of Ride. That is simulated day of the actual ride, supported with Rest Stops and sweep vehicles, and a little party at the end.

The weekend after that is the Jonathan Pon Memorial Ride, which is a two day supported ride, we ride to the Russian River, campout at a camp-sites in tents and then return the next day.

to hell and back

It was the ride from hell

Or the ride to hell.

Hell, it was one Hell of a ride.

Oh it didn’t start out that way, it was a beautiful day, the Sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky.

And the riders were all experienced riders, well people that I had been on ride before, no brand new riders.

I was asked to be a training ride leader because one of the scheduled leaders went to the wrong location. ((McClaren Lodge, which is further, down the ride))

I had my BUHC ((Butt Ugly Helmet Cover)) with me, so I said sure, and then we were off.

First thing my speedometer wasn’t working, so I kept stopping to fiddle with it, so next thing I knew the sweep ((a training ride leader rides last)) had caught up with me. So I rode with him for while, next thing I know we are riding up this hill, a gentle hill and the two riders in front of us are riding really slow, so slow that I’m thinking “okay at this speed its going to takes us 10 hours to do this ride”

Beau says to me, “If they don’t speed up I will say something to them”

Well finally they get into the rhythm and there’ off, and we would catch up with the others, but while we are riding on the Great Highway heading south, we manage to hit every red light. (Its windy and we are on the coast, but we are headed south, so it’s blowing our direction)

We finally get off the coast and we get on Skyline Blvd Highway 35, and at the top of this little hill one of our riders has a flat (I had left Beau behind) so I stop and help him fix his flat, we have problems so finally I give him one of my tires, his new tires won’t take any air for some reason.

Beau catches up with us. Meanwhile at the top of this hill it is so darn cold and windy that I’m doing pushups to keep warm. Okay the tire is fixed and we are off again.

I ride up the hill and catch up with Peter (who is waiting along the route at place that is easy to miss) He rides ahead and I wait for the rest to catch up with me.

We are now riding on a bike path, one I hadn’t been on before, and it was beautiful. Nice winding paths with just perfect curves. Along side the northern part of Crystal Springs Reservoir I had never seen this before. It was a great ride, and I never noticed that we were going downhill and the wind was behind us all the way.
All the way to Woodside, not even thinking someday we are going to go back against the wind

Woodside is where we had lunch. Nice sunny place for lunch, but the market was so busy I didn’t wait to have my usual Tuna Salad sandwich; I just got a pre-made one off the shelf. Some Club sandwich thing, it was all right.

Then it was time to get back on the bike and ride back home. And what a ride it was, against the wind, slow up hill. One never even noticed that you were going down hill when we going down hill, it was just a slow gradual down-slope, one that against the wind, sure tired me out.

Oh I did fine until we got about 10 miles out, I started getting cramps, not enough electrolytes, not enough water, too many days limping around after I dropped that Propane tank on my foot.

I wanted to quit, and Beau even volunteered to go back and get his car and come get me, but I stayed the course and made back with Beau with me all the way.

When we got back and signed in, Beau was discouraged because 75 % of the riders had left comments that this ride “was a ride from hell” that they hated it and would never do it again.

I told Beau, “Yes it was a ride from hell, But we all made it and we will all be stronger for it.” ((I was so tired yesterday I didn’t even turn on my computer))