I DIDN'T Ride My Bike Today, Cuzz....

A little late here - meant to post on Sunday...

I didn't ride my bike today because my wife wanted to replace her running shoes. It's Mother's day, so her call. Once we found the perfect shoes (at the first stop!) she says, "let's go for a walk in Aliso!" Well, I'm in my Vans, but our 7 year old is with us, so how bad can it be? We parked at the main lot, walked to Wood Canyon, then to Cave Rock, then to Dripping Cave, then over the Dripping Cave Trail back to the bottom of Mathis, Wood Canyon and back around. Pretty long walk, but we didn't STRAVA it. We did see a nice rattler, but he was skedaddling across the road - so we just paused and watched him go.

Great day out there, but it's hard for me not to want to be on my bike. I really appreciated the awareness bells - the ones that jingle constantly - on a few bikes that came from behind. I did not appreciate the asshat on an e-bike that came up on us quickly and silently from behind on a narrow, overgrown section of singletrack where it is illegal for him to ride. My daughter shrieked and jumped into the bushes.

Fun day nonetheless. Quality time with my two girls!

BTW - my legs and back were fried from the walk - not sunburned - worn out and sore. I'm blaming the Vans.

 

So, I flew to Portland today for a conference over the weekend... Looking at the itinerary its meetings on top of meetings, that overlap with other meetings. I was good; I didnt pack my helmet, or gloves, not even my 5Tens. 0 temptation. I told myself be accountable, be responsible, don't blow off a day and ride; and I REALLY TRULY believed myself.

Then the plane started to descend, and I saw Mt. Hood standing through the clouds into the upper atmosphere, The DENSE forest came into focus next. Seamlessly endless lush green forest to explore. I could see what I recognized as rideable trails from the airplane and I felt a tear form in my eye. Now, I am here, at the host hotel, in my room. Guys, I am on the edge. I don't want to go downstairs and tell them I'm here. I want to go AWOL find a LBS rent a FS because F* IT! I'm my own boss, I own my business, this trip was for learning, networking and growth. If I don't do it I answer to me, and me alone. Hard knocks lesson my mtb trip to Portland cost me 3x what it should because this is not why I came here. I thought I was stronger than I feel right now, and I could resist the temptation. Whats really messed up is I am just telling myself to hash out all these thoughts and emotions on 2 wheels.

What would you do?

 

Step over to the dark side.

 

Ride. Smile.

 

I went to the lobby bar last night looking or anyone with half the enthusiasm I have for cycling, any discipline. No luck, these people here are some nerds. So now I sit in a suit I could be buried in and a neck tie that feels like a noose, eating my continental breakfast dreading this first 3 hour session starting in 15min.

 

Wednesday night wife and i camped at hurkey creek. Unseasonably cool weather that day, we got there at 2 pm and it was 47 degrees, cloudy and breezy. Had the whole campground to ourselves, took one of the sites next to the creek. Cooked a nice dinner and crawled into the tent as it got nice and chilly, low maybe 42. So nice to score a last bit of winter before summer starts. The next day was clear and warmer, had a late breakfast in idyllwild and then hiked a few steep mils on seven pines trail. High maybe 59 at 7,000'. Had a 1 lb patty burger at the Lumber Mill. A great "weekend".

 

That sounds painful. I am picturing this:
Ryan to stranger... "Ummm hi there, you don't now me, but, do you like bikes?"

To next stranger - "Excuse me, do you like lycra or baggies?"

Or maybe this:

 

I'm not riding today. But, I am going to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. And if there's a Bob's burger afterwards, I won't complain!

Riding tomorrow, hopefully... Maybe a Holy Jim to Trabuco loop? I'd like to hit Trabuco again when it's not 40 degrees and slicker than ice with 50 foot visibility.

 

I didn't ride, but there was a good movie with the wife. And pie!

I'll suffer tomorrow.

 

Is that American Pie?

 

Who cares about the pie I see vanilla ice cream...

 

I don't care what anyone else says.....best ice cream flavor.

 

Too much work turned my brain in to mush and I pulled the lazy card. But I was still somewhat productive. Fidget spinners are all the rage right now. So I helped the kid make his own from scratch using some spare skateboard bearings. I'd post a pic but i'm going back to being lazy. Won't ride tomorrow either. Hiking SOT instead.

 

Waiting for more parts so in the meantime I'm putting some 3M tape on rub spots. Removed the old plastic that came on my cranks and did my own using the old ones as a template, they look new!

 

Got ^said parts today while I was out taking my son to the beach. Which means I did not ride and will be returning to work tomorrow so hopefully I can get my bike back together in the next couple of days for the weekend.

Seagull photobomb:

 

I worked in an ice cream parlor during high school. We made our own ice cream from high quality ingredients. We had over 75 flavors. I could eat whatever I wanted. After years of study, gathering empirical evidence, I have come to this conclusion:
Vanilla is the best flavor.

 

No ride today, recovering from a crash on Saturday. Maybe Wednesday, I'll go.

 

... because I'm sick again and tired of it! EVERYONE in the house has a pretty annoyingly nasty virus. Have been sick since last Tues night/Wed morning when it came on like a freight train at exactly 12:04 in the morning. Took Wed off, slept all day, went in for the morning on Thurs, got credit for being there and left early, taking Friday off. Went and saw Guardians and that about wore me out. Slept all Saturday and that night. Up all day yesterday, went to three hour circus performance at the YMCA, and was awful with allergies combined with the virus that evening. Worked today miserably. Now back home and just laying about, coughing annoyingly. Will need some codeine soon, and my stash is running low...

TMI for everyone?

 

Hope you feel better quickly!

 

Yikes! Sorry to hear. Healing vibes your way.

 

How y'all feel better.

 

Thanks, should be good to go this week.

 

Silly me...took my daughter to her ortho appointment for her broken wrist, 150 yards from the FLoop. Didn't put two and two together when I checked the address. Doh!!

 

The kid comes home from college for the summer on Friday. Breaks her wrist roller skating Saturday night. Gets a plate surgically installed in said wrist today. Is and will be completely out of it tomorrow, not much better Friday.

Looks like I may not ride much until later in the weekend.

 

Dude - that suuuuuuuckss. Healing vibes to daughter.

 

^^RwS, healing vibes to your daughter for a full recovery.

 

Oh, Mark... Sorry to hear that.

 

That sucks.....tell her to suck it up. By Friday she should be fine/ 2 days post OP. Hell, my wife went horseback riding both days following my surgeries and left me home on my own.

 

I did not ride my bike. I'm not even sure what day it is. The wife kidnapped me to the casino. I'm hoping to get all the smoke out of my lungs in time for the death march Saturday.

I'm getting too old to stay out all night.

 

And now it's getting hot out...


FYI, don't buy a Whirlpool/Kenmore/LG that has the top controls... a design flaw lets in moisture.
Pretty easy to take apart and dry out, but lame having to.