Last Day

I managed to fight my way awake this morning, ate my Albertson's brand bran flakes, suited up and headed west to the big water. It wasn't as chilly as I thought, but it was certainly cool. The Weather Underground stations on Mt. Helix and Ocean Beach both agree it was around 45 degrees this morning.

My turn-around point is out on the jetty. Back in the day you could walk all the way out, but not no more. When the water is down I've seen people fishing out there. I'm shooting through the gap in the locked gate.

You should click on the image to visit my Zooomr page
See the big version of the image. This one IS big, 700k!!

I've got all my winter gear on here. It's kinda warm in the sun!

It's better bigger, so click on it!

The flash was turned off so I wasn't sure when the camera timer took the pic...

Lots of birdies in the birdie refuge.

It's better bigger, so click on it!

Ducks. I like ducks.

What the heck is this pole for?

Narrow road, be careful!

I hope when the Indian gaming places get enough money in the bank they will do the responsible thing and shut down the casinos. Yeh, that's gonna happen!

I've always liked this piece of art. It's been there about 30 years, but it's looking pretty sad.

It's better bigger, so click on it!

Today's ride was 29.73 miles in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 39 seconds (riding time)

MILEAGE TOTALS:

James 2006 -- 1,655 miles
Schwinn 2006 -- 1,022 miles

TOTAL 2006 2,677 miles

Day Before Sunday

Went for a little ride to the libery to return a couple books, and to mail the bills, then decided to toss all caution to the winds and ride a little farther. I rode over to Grossmont High School then back Fletcher Parkway eventually. It came to about 8 miles, I think.

When I got home I replaced the rear tire (It WAS a Hutchinson!) with the cheap-o tire I got from Performance, but I used the same old tube (which has four patches, one of which is peeling!). We shall see how THAT holds up!

I also adjusted the front brakes. I'm sure it's because I don't know what I'm doing, but I really don't care for the V-brakes!

I also earled the chain. Which reminds me, I need some Phil Wood Hand Cleaner, Santa Claus! Or maybe, Mr. Easter Bunny...

Tomorrow, being Last Day, is my final opportunity (See how I avoided using "last chance" there?) to get some mileage for the year, so, I'm not saying anything, as I don't want to jinx it, but, let's just whisper "beach ride".


My Favorite Blog Quote Of The Day^TM:

Dude, we're riding bikes here, not babysitting. Cornerstone Life

Payday

I went for a little Dam Ride this morning at about 7:30. The new fleece helmet hat with ear flaps worked very well. It would have worked better if I had loosened the helmet straps, but they are pretty much "cemented' in place...

It was kinda chilly, and there was frost again on the shadowed fence in Mission Gorge. There were not too many people out and about untill I got to Lake Murray. It had warmed up by then and there were many people in shirt sleeves. At the turn-around point I stopped and changed from the gigantic Artic glove (not the Air Force ones, the other ones.) to glove liners and retro-mesh bicycle goves. I explaine to a lady who was blowing her nose how to do it "Italian style". She thanked me for that information.

I haven't fooled with changing the tire yet.

Of Tires And Caps

Went to Performance today and purchased a cheap tire for the rear on the Jamis. I THINK this is the first tire I have put on since I purchased it. I bought a GT2. It cost 8 or 9 dollers, I think, I've already lost the receipt. It's not REALLY the tire I wanted, but I got confused looking their tires. They are a bit of a mess.

So, it looks like I got around 2,200 miles on the orginal equipment tire. I don't know what brand it was, it seems to have its label, but the front tire is a Hutchinson, if that means anything. One would think it came with the same brand tires on both wheels... I should have gotten another Hutchinson, but I couldn't bring myself to spend the bucks. Although it probably would have been cost effective.

I also bought a fleece-lined cap that goes under the helmet and will cover up my delicate ears, even while wearing glasses (I hope!). I may have to sew on some strings so I can tie the flaps together. Some say it doesn't get cold enough in Southern California, but I get plenty cold sometimes!

I'd like to put a basket on the front of the bike, too. I read an article at Rivendell Bicycles that said THEY like baskets, so if it's good enough for THEM, it's good enough for ME!

Christmas Day

In the afternoon I went for a short ride up to the library to return a couple books (Science fiction, if you MUST know!). It's nice and warm out so I didn't wear a jacket, and it was a short ride so I didn't even suit up. I know people who would be glad to hear THAT!

It was so pleasant out I decided to ride up to the locomotive display in downtown, get a drink of water and check the geocache there. It's not there, and I see from the web page it's been gone for several months. Oh, well, it was a good one.

I rode up the hill to the top of Nebo Hill. Very nice view, all the way to the sea. Lucky people who live up there!

Came down the hill down, went through the ol' 'hood, which really IS the '"hood" now! Saw some antennas I will have to investigate at some later time.

Total Mileage:

3.73 miles in 25.55 minutes.

Of Measuring Sticks & Signs

On The Cycling Dude blog today he discusses California Assembly Bill AB 60 Bill that would require motorists to leave a 3-foot space when passing bicycles. Sounds good to me! To help motorists, like me, who have trouble judging distance I would suggest bicycles be equpped with a 2.5 foot ruler (on a hinge) with a six-inch spike sticking out the end. P'raps I shall construct one for your illumination.

My OTHER Great Idea is signs! We bicyclists can carry signs to communicate with other cyclists and drivers.

Here's a very important one, I would use a lot!

I would use this one a lot, too...but only
if the driver can read l33t! Might be
considered offensive.

Well, I've exhauted my creativity, so off you go!

LATER: Oh, yeah, I forgot, my Technoratati rating is: 723,707. Is that good or bad?

On the road

FINALLY went for a ride this morning, rode to the dam and back. It was pretty chilly. The weather station on Mt. Helix says it was 37 degrees at 7:30, the one in San Carlos says it was 45 degrees. So split the difference?

I talked to a bicyclist with a headlight that asked me if I was commuting. Not today, say I! This is recreational freezing, I wuz thinking to myself!

Down the hole, in El Cajon, it seems warmer, maybe because I was in the sun. The Santee weather station says it was 30 at 7:30 A.M., but jumped sharply to 40 by 8:30. Still chilly!

But no wind, thank goodness!

Here are some pictures for you!

Frost on fenceposts at Mission Triails Park, near the dam.

(Clicky the images to visit Zooomr and see the big versions!)

Here's a couple "Artistic" images:

Frost on fence post, with flash.

Frost on fence post, without flash.

Which is better, with flash or without?

In the large version this image looks oddly Photoshoped.

They have finished the work on the Jackson Drive hill, so it was smooth sailing, as it were, up the grade, except for the guys cutting brush who had their truck in the bike lane. Hey, whatchagonnedo?

I went around the lake, and then home again home again.

Mileage was 24.something miles, according to the ever-optismistic odometer on the Jamis.

Crud

Just came back from the uro-doc. Crud, the PSA is up. He wants me to talk to the radiation guy. I understand that I may lose my continance. Or is that gain incontinance. And lose other funtionality, which isn't all that functional anyway.

Saw a discussion on another bike thread, I think it was The Fat Cyclist (it was), wherein someone (chutneyboy) mentioned that wearing bike shorts with a chamois looked like one had a diaper on. I wonder what wearing bike shorts with a chamois AND a diaper will look like!

Yet Another Trials Movie From Youtube

I have trouble not falling off the bike whilst picking the water bottle out of its cage (to paraphrase a line I stole from another blog), but this guy on a trials bike can FLY through the air! And the background song is good, too.



I love watching this stuff!

Simmering Sunday

It rained a little bit last night, but I wasn't going to go for a ride anyway. Seems like I'm not up for a weekend ride lately.

Some very nice pictures on the Oil Is For Sissies blog. I recommend you checking them out.

I'm charging the battery as we speak, as it were, and writing the mileage in the log.

Weekly Mileage:

Jamis -- 31.4 miles
Schwinn -- Zero, as it is still disabled.

Mileage report

The Schwinn bike-o-meter on Dec. 4, 2006 said: 6,046
The Schwinn bike-o-meter on Jan. 1, 2006 said: 5,024

Therefore I have ridden 1,022 Schwinn miles this year.

The Jamis bike-o-meter on Dec. 4, 2006 said: 2,136
The Jamis bike-o-meter on Jan. 1, 2006 said: 618

Therefore I have ridden 1,518 Jamis miles this year.

So, total I have ridden 2,540 bicycle miles ytd!

It doesn't look like I'm going to set any new records, but it's respectable, I think.

That's the brakes

Put new brake pads on the Jamis today, front AND back. Aztrecs.

I really don't like how these v brakes don't let the pads wear more. I keep thinking I will switch to catilevers.

Or maybe I don't know how to adjust them properly.