Southern California - L.A. Beach Bike Path--clydesdale report

This old Clydesdale had a good day yesterday. I did 50 miles on the L.A. Beach Bike Path. This probably wouldn't be significant, except that I have to confess that it's probably the longest day I've had in over 16 or 17 years. (I'm so embarrassed! :-) )

There was a time when I did double-centuries, but I let marriage, kids, home ownership, corporate take-overs, and a few very serious illnesses (asthma, pneumonia, my wife's cancer, my kids ailments, etc.) get in the way. Now I've decided that it's now or never. I'm diabetic, and I have to beat that! I need to lose about 60 pounds or so, and I still own ten bicycles. I'm going to lose it the old fashioned way. I'm going to ride it off. I want to retire in a few years, and I want to be skinny when I do it.

Anyway, I started at my house in Culver City, took the Ballona Creek Bike Path to MDR, went North to the end of the path at Will Rogers/Temescal Canyon, turned around and went south to the other end of the path in Torrance, near PV, and then rode home from there. No hills, but it was windy and cold. The old Huret Odometer said 49.2 miles when I got home, so I rode around the block a few times until it clicked over to 50....a perfect half-century.

Sorry, no pictures. I didn't have my good camera with me. The high points were passing by the main channel in MDR. On the way south I spotted a school of dolphins in the main channel, and on the way back north I passed a flock of ten great blue herons sitting by the creek. Amazing!

If you ever see a bearded old fart out there on a vintage maroon sport-tourer with beat-up old cannondale panniers, be sure to say "hi." I try to get some miles on the bike path at least once a day.

Nice ride. Good job. If you don't need the paniers though, take them off. I prefer a small trunk over panniers for small loads, or just jersey pockets and a small wedge. The wind along the coast can make them a bit of a drag. That's a fun ride. I've done it many times, starting in the Valley and going over the Sepulveda Pass to get there. Watch for thugs along Ballona Creek (so I'm told; never had a problem myself). Make sure you bring enough fluids, or buy along the way.

Tip: Don't lose track of the path and go off the edge. Your front tire will sink five inches into the sand, you'll go over the handlebars, and it will take a month to get all the sand out of the brifter. haha


Keep at it.

Nice ride. Good job. If you don't need the paniers though, take them off. I prefer a small trunk over panniers for small loads, or just jersey pockets and a small wedge. The wind along the coast can make them a bit of a drag. That's a fun ride. I've done it many times, starting in the Valley and going over the Sepulveda Pass to get there. Watch for thugs along Ballona Creek (so I'm told; never had a problem myself). Make sure you bring enough fluids, or buy along the way.

Tip: Don't lose track of the path and go off the edge. Your front tire will sink five inches into the sand, you'll go over the handlebars, and it will take a month to get all the sand out of the brifter. haha


Keep at it.

Thanks for the kind words, Daoswald. I actually prefer using the panniers. I like to carry everything with me but the kitchen sink! :-). I usually have a cable and lock, a fair amount of tools, a jacket, spare tubes, etc. I can't help it, it's the old tourist and club rider in me. Besides, I hope to start touring again sometime soon, so I might as well get used to them. Besides, how fast am I going anyway running 27 x 1 1/4" tires? :-)

I've lived across the street from the Ballona Creek Bike Path for over 20 years, and have never had a problem there. There were some issues years ago, but once they built a fence by the housing projects they pretty much cleared up.

Thanks again!

(I'm so embarrassed! :-) )

I'm so proud of you! Well done!

I did that same thing on New Year's Eve- my first half-century in 25 years.

>I'm going to lose it the old fashioned way. I'm going to ride it off.<

Your goal is commendable and you can achieve it. :thumb: However, be aware that it isn't exercise that will allow you to lose weight. It's taking in, over time, less energy than you expend.

Read about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/oct/28/healthandwellbeing.features1

Shorter version of the issue in a nutshell: When we exercise strenuously, we also build up a powerful appetite. So exercise, simply as a means to lose weight, won't work for most humans. Hunger will override the benefits of exercise. The more exercise the more hungry we will be. Of course, it's good to be in shape for a variety of reasons, but serious exercise, while putting us in shape, won't guarantee losing weight - it will insure we'll experience hunger.

Here's a quote from the above link, which in turn quotes the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, which published joint guidelines for physical activity and health a year or so ago:

"It is reasonable to assume that persons with relatively high daily energy expenditures would be less likely to gain weight over time compared with those who have low energy expenditures. So far, data to support this hypothesis is not particularly compelling." In other words, there is no scientific evidence yet that exercise will help us lose weight, or keep it off.

Eating lots of healthy foods - yes, veggies, fruit, grains, etc. - is key. So is cutting down as much as possible on less healthy (but delicious) calorie-rich foods. These include many processed foods, and things like cake and ice cream and other sweets that I know I crave.

And it's going to be as much about how you feel about yourself as how you look. So good luck. And keep riding.

>I'm going to lose it the old fashioned way. I'm going to ride it off.<

Your goal is commendable and you can achieve it. :thumb: However, be aware that it isn't exercise that will allow you to lose weight. It's taking in, over time, less energy than you expend.

Read about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/oct/28/healthandwellbeing.features1

Shorter version of the issue in a nutshell: When we exercise strenuously, we also build up a powerful appetite. So exercise, simply as a means to lose weight, won't work for most humans. Hunger will override the benefits of exercise. The more exercise the more hungry we will be. Of course, it's good to be in shape for a variety of reasons, but serious exercise, while putting us in shape, won't guarantee losing weight - it will insure we'll experience hunger.

Here's a quote from the above link, which in turn quotes the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, which published joint guidelines for physical activity and health a year or so ago:

"It is reasonable to assume that persons with relatively high daily energy expenditures would be less likely to gain weight over time compared with those who have low energy expenditures. So far, data to support this hypothesis is not particularly compelling." In other words, there is no scientific evidence yet that exercise will help us lose weight, or keep it off.

Eating lots of healthy foods - yes, veggies, fruit, grains, etc. - is key. So is cutting down as much as possible on less healthy (but delicious) calorie-rich foods. These include many processed foods, and things like cake and ice cream and other sweets that I know I crave.

And it's going to be as much about how you feel about yourself as how you look. So good luck. And keep riding.

You are absolutely correct on all counts, and thanks for your input. You'll be happy to hear that I've been practicing a great deal of portion control, and have lost 12-15 lbs since late October. In addition, I've been concentrating on eating home cooking, which I prepare myself, so I know what goes in it. I've cut my caloric intake way down in the last few months, as well as concentrating on eating a lot of whole foods.

I'm so proud of you! Well done!

I did that same thing on New Year's Eve- my first half-century in 25 years.

Thanks, Doohickie, and congratulations to you as well. Let's keep in touch, and compare our progress.

>You'll be happy to hear that I've been practicing a great deal of portion control, and have lost 12-15 lbs since late October.<

Awesome!

I love going out for a stroll on that path every now and then. Next time you go riding, go up PV. :thumb:

Have you thought about joining a club, for some motivation?

I love going out for a stroll on that path every now and then. Next time you go riding, go up PV. :thumb:

Have you thought about joining a club, for some motivation?

Actually, I was thinking about going up PV when I was there. I did that quite often back in the day. I'm going to do the 50 milers for a month or so, and then extend the mileage with some quick jaunts up there as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

I was a member of the L.A. Wheelmen back in the eighties and early nineties. If any of you are wheelmen, you might remember me from those days. My first name is Ross, I work for KABC-TV, and did the long ride every Sunday for many years. I'll probably be joining them again eventually, but right now I'm working weekends so that puts a little wrinkle in the idea of club riding.

>You'll be happy to hear that I've been practicing a great deal of portion control, and have lost 12-15 lbs since late October.<

Awesome!


Hey, Icyclist, I just noticed that you're a Fargo Street Fan. Are you an L.A. Wheelman? I belonged to that club for many years, although I never quite made it all the way up Fargo street.:)

Will keep an eye out for you on the beach bike path! :thumb: