Those Ghastley Thorns.

Over the past three months I have replaced more tubes in my bike tires than I have in an entire lifetime.  It appears that there are these tiny plants that grow in arid areas like dirt trails and in pavement cracks that have rock hard thorns just long enough to puncher the inner-tube of a mountain bike tire and small enough that you can not see them without examining the tires really well.  I replaced both front and rear tubes yesterday, and picked up two self sealing tubes today to carry as spares.  Then I went for a 42 mile ride and not a single leak occurred while on the road.  If the tires are still inflated to 80 pounds tomorrow morning I missed the thorns.

It has been really nice riding weather.

Today I rode over the Dumbarton Bridge to Fremont, there is a lot of construction work happening on the Alameda Creek Trail so I do not think I will be back until the lower trail reopens on November 1 of this year.
 The weather has been in the 80 degree range for that past five days.  I have however only been out on two of the five days.  Saturday I took my Dad to the grocery store, on Sunday I watched the 49er football game with him and on Tuesday I took him to visit his heart doctor. I do not mind doing these things for my parents, I just wish that he would make his appointments in the morning instead of the middle of the afternoon.  I should be able to get out over the next 4 days.  I still need another 255 miles to reach 1000 miles for the month and there are only 7 riding days left. Hope I have a chance to use all of them or I might not reach my goal.

Some interesting finds.

Found a great on line store for cycling cloths it is called Voler.com the reason this store is so exciting is that they actually have men's cycling gear in size extra small.  Most of the time when buying gear I am forced to by boy's extra large.  I was so impressed with a close out item (tri-athlon skin suit) I purchased the last two they had in stock.
I have also found a very good local source for Nutrilite Products her name is Corina Mandrut of Aniroc International. Check out the Nutrilite Products on the Nutrilite Website and then if you are interested contact me for Corina's email address and phone number.

Silly Weather Report

The weather report from the national weather service said the wind would be out of the SSW at 10 to 15 miles an hour.  So I adjusted my route so that I would have a tail wind, however the wind all morning was from the NE so I spent the first half of my ride riding into a head wind.  When I turned around to head home so did the wind so all afternoon I was riding into a head wind.  Oh well, can not have a tail wind every day.  It reminds me of when I was younger and doing yard work around the town house Sue and I owned in Fremont. There would be no wind while I was mowing the lawn or trimming the bushes however the minute I picked up a broom the wind would blow counter to the direction I wanted to sweep in.  Life is full of little mysteries like that.  Saw something funny near Bear Island in Redwood City.  There was a family out for a bicycle ride and the little girl who was about 6 or 7 years old was looking at all the heavy equipment working there.  She looked at her father and said "Daddy what are all those dumb trucks doing out there?"  Her father said "Don't you mean dump trucks?"  She replied "That's what I said, dumb trucks!!"

A little colder today but still nice.

I wish I had a little more time to ride during the day, but I can not leave the house much before 10:30 in the morning, and I need to be home by 4:00 in the afternoon. If I could figure out how to get in another hour I could go 60 miles each day. As it is I am limited by trail length and time to around 48 to 50 miles.

September and Nice Weather

The weather has been great warm and very little wind.  I have been averaging about 45 miles a day since September first and completing the rides in about 4.5 hours.  My average speed has been about 18.67 KPH and my highest speed has been 35.24 so that made me feel really good then I watch the Tour of Spain on TV and tonight they rode a 120 mile stage in about the same time at speeds in excess of 80 KPH.  I would feel depressed except for the fact my mountain bike is at least 4 to 6 times heaver than their road bikes and at least 25 years older.  The riders are also half my age.  So I guess I am not really doing to bad.  However I would like to know what you think?

Labor Day Holiday

It was a great day weather wise for a bicycle ride, but because it was a holiday there where a large number of Cyclists (weekend warrior type) getting in everyone's way.  I still managed to ride 50.5 miles in just under 4 hours and 40 minutes.  Not race tempo but I think very good for a 60 year old cyclist.

Vuelta a España

I have been watching the Vuelta a España (tour of Spain) bicycle race. The race is 21 days long and has some massive climbs of Category 1 2 and 3 with some points of over 20% uphill. Most days are averaging 100 miles which the riders are doing in 4 hours at some points going over 50 miles an hour.  Makes my rides of 40 to 50 miles in five or six hours look pretty bad, but then the riders are professionals riding the latest custom built road bikes and are half my age.  I they also do not stop for a break.  Maybe someday I will try to ride the 20 miles to the San Francisco Airport without stopping except for traffic lights just to see how fast I can do it.