A little ride with "Sit-down" Steve on Barber Road

Larry was hit by a car this morning

As we waited in the parking lot, a vehicle drove up to Jim and said a bicyclist had been hit by a car on Fury. Since Larry is always on time, and he wasn't there yet, it was a good chance he was the victim.

We quickly took off on our bikes and pedaled up the steep hill to the accident scene. The paramedics were carefully getting Larry on a backboard in preparation for a short ride in an ambulance to the waiting LifeFlight helicopter, which had landed in a nearby park.

The woman who hit him with her BMW was distraught, and when I heard how the accident happened, I can understand how she missed seeing Larry riding down the Bike Lane. However, she should have fully checked for all oncoming traffic before initiating left turn.

After Pete took Larry's bike back to his house, only four of us continued on the ride, Jim, Steve, Frank, and me. No one said a word as we rode down Willow Glen and Dehesa Road. Once Frank took the lead, the guys pulled away from me, so I turned around at the bottom of Harbison Canyon and headed back. It took almost the entire ride before my brain could think about anything else but Larry and his condition.

Here are the tracks for my shortened ride:



And here are the results of the heart rate monitor for both Thursday and Friday's rides:




When I got home, I called Larry at Sharp Memorial. He has cracked ribs, a broken shoulder, and six stitches in his head. It will be a long time before he'll be able to ride again, and that makes me sad.

A ride from fog up into bright sunshine

It was overcast and very cool when we started out from the Starbuck's parking lot at 8:00, but with just a bit of elevation gain, we were in the sunshine and clear skies accented with a few very high clouds. Jim, Frank, and Steve set a very fast pace going out Willow Glen Road and I could have used my new fleece earmuffs I bought a couple of weeks ago.

The profile of my ride looks familiar because I stopped at the Starbuck's where both "Sit-down" Steve and Tom were stopping. The faster, stronger men continued out East Willows Road.



This is what the heart-rate monitor recorded for today's ride:



Coming back I didn't have to work very hard because I was drafting behind Jim. There was one heck of a headwind and I was never tempted to take the lead after my "first place finish" going down Harbison Canyon.

I felt better today, back to the way I felt two months ago when I first started riding with this wonderful group of people. I hope they know how much I appreciate their company. Their friendships mean a lot to me. It has been wonderful to expand my social contacts since I met them in September.

After a rainy week, we can finally ride again

The bad weather coincided with the first cold I have had in ages, so I didn't miss out on any rides this week and today, I finally felt well enough to make the drive down the hill to join up with the Bike Buddies. I got to ride with Jeannie again today, and a friend of her's named John. He was a very strong rider.

I rode my $40.00 Gios Torino today and had a good time on it. On the level parts, that bike just flies.

As we rode around South Grade, Hector got a flat tire. We stopped for him and who do I see right across the street from us but "lostguy". Since he is the guy who got me back into riding, I introduced him all around to the half dozen of us who were lending "helping" Hector fix his tire.

Here is the Profile of our ride today:



And here is the chart from my heart rate monitor:



I have no idea what all those little squiggles mean, but it looks like I'm working pretty hard most of the time.

It was a beautiful day after the morning chill burned off. I was grateful to be able to talk to Mike after the ride. I appreciate his kindness and moral support.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

I missed the Thanksgiving Day ride with the Bike Buddies for two reasons. First, the weather. It has been raining for a couple of days now. And, I have a cold. I haven't had a cold for eight or nine years, so I almost forgot what it was like to have to stay within a few feet of the Kleenex box. This has been going on since last Saturday, when I had a sore throat. So far, there is no improvement, but I am hoping I'll feel better by Saturday so I can ride that morning . . . if the weather cooperates.

A really fun ride on a gorgeous, gorgeous day!

Before we took off, several of us visited in the Ralph's parking lot, so we didn't get started at 8:00 like a couple of other groups who also ride on Saturday morning. Today I rode with Steve, and two people I just met, Jeannie and Tom. Boy, it was a fun ride.

As we rode down Willow Glen, and later on Dehesa Road, I could smell the big Saturday morning breakfasts being prepared and served in the kitchens of the houses we passed. When we got to the "rest stop," Larry and his wife and son were still there. He showed me the cool Flight Deck computer he has on his bike. It has buttons on the handlebars for changing the screens to see the data that is important.

I got a late start up the hill because I had trouble getting my cleats in the Look pedals Steve gave me. Today was the first day riding with them, and since they are "one-sided," I have to work on my technique.

At the top of the hill we made the decision to ride down South Grade. This time I left plenty of room between myself and the guys in front of me so I could ride full speed, using "counter-steering" to round the curves. Since Tom has a motorcycle, I asked him if he counter steers and when he said "Yes," I said, "Would you tell Steve. Maybe he'll believe it from a man because he doesn't understand it when I explain the technique."

On the way back down Dehesa Road and Willow Glen, Jeannie and I drafted behind the men most of the time. When we arrived back at Willow Glen and Jamacha, Jeannie said, "That was sure an easy ride. I feel fresh as a daisy." Tom didn't have that same opinion since he fought the headwind most of the way . . .



After the ride, we sat outside the Coffee Grounds coffee shop visiting until it was time to take off our different directions to complete our Saturday afternoon errands.

As usual, I went to the nearby Goodwill Store hoping to find a second hand treasure.

The day was fantastic, and it sure is nice to be feeling better again.

Finally, a circumnavigation of my "neighborhood"

It was another gorgeous day, and I wasn't going to be going on the Thursday ride, so I decided to ride down Skyline Truck Trail to Highway 94 and east to Honey Springs.

My GPSr didn't record the track correctly, so I don't have a Profile of that ride, but one of these days I'll do it again, and then I'll get a profile of that challenging 20-plus mile ride.

A lazy ride up to Alpine

When we got near the Starbuck's, I told Tom I was going to stop instead of riding all the way out to the white church. I didn't feel strong today and didn't want to slow the guys down.

It was a good thing, 'cause Jim showed up back at the Starbuck's in what seemed to be a very short time. They must have been flying when they rode out there.

After leaving the Starbuck's, we rode back along South Grade and back to down Dehesa.



It was yet another gorgeous, warm day . . .

Another fun ride with the Bike Buddies group

I met up with the group in the Ralph's parking lot, and since I was finally feeling better, I was more outgoing and effusive in my conversation. Steve showed up wearing a racing outfit sent to him from Europe. He is secure enough in his masculinity to wear purple and pink, and that is a good thing, because he sure got teased by the other guys.

We did the usual ride up Dehesa Road, then north on Tavern, but this time we rode to Arnold and coasted down it. I was behind another, more-cautious ride, so I didn't get to go as fast as my bike wanted to go down Arnold. Once we got to the Harbison Canyon road, I stood up on the pedals and passed up Steve and two other guys in order to be first going down that steep road. Once I got going 42 miles an hour on that road. I think I might have gotten going almost that fast today.

A long, tough ride for me today

One of our riders hurt his leg a few days ago, so we decided to ride the Otay loop because the hills are not as steep. The ride was long, 41 miles, and I didn't feel very well, so I struggled along the Otay Lakes section of the road, and up the "phantom" hill on Highway 94.



I haven't been feeling well for more than a week now. I sure hope I get out of this low spot on my health roller coaster soon.

Up Dehesa Road and flying down South Grade/Harbison

The slope up Dehesa road looks daunting in the Profile, but it is an easy grade, one during which, if you have another cyclist to talk to, you can keep up a conversation.



When we ride the other way and go up Harbison Canyon, I struggle, however I have gotten stronger, and can change gears more than I did two months ago when I started these rides.

As has been the norm for this month, the weather was beautiful and warm again. It is very hard to believe this is November and Thanksgiving is just two weeks away . . .

What an amazing ride with the Thursday group

Our usual ride is up to Alpine and back. Sometimes we ride beyond the new Starbuck's before coming back there for a break.

Today, we took a really different route, riding on surface streets through El Cajon where Steve got a flat tire. There was a lot of glass on the road, and that is what his brand new tire picked up. I watched Larry put in a new tube in near record time, putting the tire back on the rim without the help of tire tools.

After that brief break, we continued all the way out to El Capitan Reservoir, riding past several horse stables. At the reservoir, we were surprised to see how full it is at this time of the year. We were also surprised there were not more people enjoying the lake on such an amazingly-beautiful, and incredibly clear day.

Before we headed back, we stopped at a nursery where they also have a coffee bar and a patio where we rested and visited for a while.

Here is the profile of the long ride, the longest I have been on so far.

In the beginning, it was a gorgeous day

It really was a gorgeous day when I set out on Skyline Truck Trail heading for Four Corners. At that intersection, I turned north on Lyons Valley Road. Once the views opened up when I reached the valley, I could see even more of the awesome sky and clouds.

I rode to the Japatul intersection, where some other bikers were just arriving after riding up Japatul. By then, the clouds had rolled in and the temperature dropped. I rode back with two people who didn't have jackets and needed to keep moving.

We had a great ride, and if the GPSr recorded my speed correctly, I got up to 44 mph at one point going down the hill after the Horsethief Canyon staging area.

Here is a portion of the profile of my 20-mile ride. I don't know why the GPSr didn't record the trip back up the hill from Four Corners . . .

What a glorious day!!!

When I made the drive down the hill, I was stunned by the beauty of the day. The air was so clear, I could see all the way to Big Bear. To make the view even more astounding, there were beautiful, high, delicate clouds.

I had to go into Santee for an appointment at 11:30, so I cut the ride short, as did Deanna, Christina, and Larry. We rode up Dehesa Road descending the steep, exciting South Grade. Along one stretch of road, we went over 40 mph.

Wow, what a day for a ride

This October has been hotter and drier than any I remember and today was another hot day, but it was perfect for our morning bike ride. We took off from the parking lot almost on time, but Pete wanted to secure my GPS unit better, so the two of us fell behind at first. I caught up to the group, but lost them again and so I pedaled by myself except when Deanna joined me for a short while.

The Dehesa hill went by easily today because I was talking to Christina most of the way up that grade that is perfect for pedaling and conversation, unlike some of the grades going up Harbison Canyon where I can only huff and puff like the character in the wonderful French film "The Triplets of Belleville."

We stopped at the Starbucks and visited for a long time before heading back down through oven-like heat, even during our fast descent on Dehesa Road at 36 mph. Here is the profile of our ride:



After the ride, Steve, B.J., Tom, and I visited at the RSD Starbucks and I even braved some conversation about politics, in particular, Proposition 8, a proposition I feel is mixing religion with government, something that shouldn't be allowed . . .

A "little" ride to Jamul and back

I needed to exchange something at the hardware store, so I decided to ride the Gios Torino down to Jamul and back. Getting there was great fun, but getting back up the hill, sometimes at less than five-miles-per-hour, was a struggle. Without the extra gears my old mountain bike, and my newer road bike, have, I really had to pedal hard, something that probably wasn't that good for my old knees.

Here is the profile of today's short ride.



I had trouble with the eggbeater pedals again today, so I'll switch out those pedals and try out the Shimano DuraAce pedals I got at the Velodrome Bicycling Swap Meet a week ago. I can do that now that I exchanged the too-big allen wrench at the hardware store for one I hope is the right size . . .

A very quick Saturday ride

The Bike Buddies group was sponsoring a race at the Velodrome, so only a few people showed up for the Saturday ride including Steve, Rich, and Fax. A few others on the "A" team were also there, but they were doing the "Great Western," a ride from RSD up Dehesa to Japatul Valley Road to Lyons Valley Road and then back to RSD down Skyline Truck Trail and Jamul Dr.

I had my "Vintage" bike, but even with my other bike, I couldn't have gone on that ride, not unless I wanted to ride by myself, since there is no way I could have kept up with Pete and the others.

So, after visiting for a while in the Ralph's parking lot, our little group finally got started. I had a hard time with my Crank Brothers eggbeater pedals and the cleats on my new-to-me Sidi Mountain bike shoes.

We only rode to the top of Dehesa Road and back down, so the profile is quite dramatic.



After the ride, Steve and I recovered by having some tea and coffee outside the coffee shop. He told me about his friend Angel who has a motorcycle shop in National City and who knew the real person Anthony Hopkins plays in the wonderful movie, "The Fastest Indian in the World," a movie I highly recommend to everyone.

A shorter ride than usual up to Alpine and back

It was a beautiful, warm day for our ride today. We went up the steep road through Harbison Canyon and right through Alpine to the Starbuck's on the east side of town. During the break, the conversation took a political direction and I was distressed by some of the things that were said . . .

This is the Profile of today's ride.

Another ride all the way out to the white church

My second ride with the "Bike Buddies"

It was a warmer day for this ride than it was last Saturday, and that was welcome. Here in San Diego, we are fortunate to be riding in mid-October wearing shorts and short-sleeved jerseys. For that I am very thankful.



When the weather really turns cold, I wonder if I'll be as excited about getting up at 6:00 on a Saturday morning to go for a bike ride . . .

A little different ride around and back from Alpine

Another ride up to Alpine and back

My first Saturday ride with the "Bike Buddies"

This was a short ride just up to Alpine and back. I rode with Larry, and his wife and son. Frank usually joins them, but he was in St. George, Utah preparing for a Senior Olympics bike race, a race he won by one second!!

Another ride out to the little white church

My first ride through Bonita and around Otay Lake

Another ride up to Alpine and back

My first ride out Highway 94 to Otay Lake

Wheeeuuu! A long ride out to the white church

An urban and Lake Murray ride for a change

I had to go into town to get some new tubes at the Trek store, so I took my bike out of the car there and took off to do a bit of shopping and then revisit Lake Murray, a place I had visited many times to look for caches.

On the relatively flat terrain, it didn't take any time at all to cover more than sixteen miles.



It was an absolutely beautiful day.

A day before my birthday, a long ride to "celebrate"

My first full-length ride with the group

My first ride with the Tuesday/Thursday group

Last week I met a man named Pete at the great World Cycling bicycling shop in Casa de Oro. He told me several people ride every Tuesday and Thursday morning, so I showed up in the parking lot in front of the RSD Starbucks at 7:30 in the morning, expecting to see Pete there.

He wasn't.

I asked the small group if they minded if a newcomer joined them. They said "No." so I got my bike out of my car and joined them as they talked about where to ride. They decided to make the big loop out Willow Glen, up Dehesa Road towards Lyons Valley Road and back down Jamul Drive from Jamul.

I had to give up at the top of Dehesa Road because the bike saddle was so uncomfortable, so my ride was only 30 miles, according to the Trip Computer on my bike.



I had a great time riding up into Alpine then down South Grade to Harbison Canyon and back to my car. That is the farthest I have ridden a bike since 1983 . . .

Ride number two

I started out to ride on Sunday, but it got too hot, too early in the day, so the second ride on my bike was Monday. I took the scenic route down, down, down Skyline Truck Trail to Lawson Valley and then to Lyons Valley Road.



What a beautiful morning!

I made it the whole way up the steep grades without having to stop to catch my breath, although I did have to stop one time when I saw a huge Asplundi tree-trimming truck coming my way on the narrow road heading up towards the Lyons Valley Trading Post. Stopping was the prudent thing to do, especially with the blind curve just ahead of me.

The inaugural ride on my new road bike

I bought my Trek "hybrid" bike almost 18 years ago, so it seemed time to get a new bike. This is the track of the inaugural ride.



I rode up to my friend and neighbor's new house and watched it being lifted into place. It was a hot day, so I didn't stay long before heading out and down the road where I could create my own cooling breeze — at least until I started back home and up the long hill following the Four Corners intersection.

Another Laguna bike ride on a hot day

This was a ride with my friend Dick and another Geocaching friend, Jodi. Unlike the previous ride in the mountains when the day was overcast and we even had a little rain, this day the sun was bright and hot. There was a cool breeze most of the time, so it was a perfect day.

We saw many other bikers that day. Some of them had little bells on their bikes to warn us they were coming. They were much better, more experienced, and lots faster than I was . . .

This is the Profile of our more-than-twenty-mile ride.

A wonderful bike trail in the Lagunas

Mountain biking on Barber Road

I rode my Haro mountain bike to the end of the road then locked it to a tree and hiked up, up, up to the top of Elena Mountain. It was a beautiful day and a fun ride.