Bah Humbug

Questions about Amazon bikes are boring.

rpenmanparker 

I dunno. What's a conscience?

surgeonstone

That grouppo is the ****z.

surgeonstone

Question how much and is it worth it.

rjones28 

Maybe we could ship him one of your cool bikes. Assuming that shipping to the UK is less than £300.

rjones28 

If those questions are on your mind, it is not worth it.

Velo Vol 

I didn't know Amazon made bicycles.

Bah Humbug

They don't make much of anything, but they sure do sell a lot.

LesterOfPuppets

That's Amazonas

datlas 

Chilly and windy ride this afternoon. I had an obligation this morning so I had to skip my club's Sunday ride. I learned that one of the riders on that ride got clipped by a car's rearview mirror and went down at pretty high speed. Luckily he is ok with only soft tissue injuries.

I ended up going on a 45-ish mile ride with a Tri friend. I swung by his house, he converted his 2-car garage to a Tri training gym. It's got an endless pool in one side, and a cool treadmill, stationary bike trainer, HDTV and sound system etc. on the other side. Hummer would be in heaven there.

Ride was fine, but my hip is still bothering me a bit. One bummer about getting older is that it takes longer to heal. I am estimating I have a few more weeks before it's fully healed. Once it's all better, I might try running.

rpenmanparker 

Certainly true about respiratory infections and such. But I don't have to tell you that.

Heathpack 

Thanks @BillyD, @surgeonstone, @LAJ, @rjones28.

Stoney, welcome the <bleep> back! How have you been?
@Bah Humbug, funny pic. I know lots of people with that attitude.

Nice ride today, 35 miles/4000 ft. We rode Stunt, Piuma and Cold Canyons. I have now covered all of the Mulholland Challenge course. Boy that's going to be a tough ride. Its just hills hills hills all day. Up and down relentlessly. Its way easier to pace yourself up a continuous climb IMO. Less variables than a zillion hills, all with different exposure, wind direction, number of miles in your legs, traffic, road condition, etc.

Overcast and humid this morning. We got an early start but still finished with temps pushing 80 degrees. Maybe 5-7 miles of rollers to get to Stunt Canyon, which is a 4 mile climb at probably 6%. You start inland and when you get to the top, you see the Pacific Ocean. Not the greatest pic because of the overcast day. But you can see Santa Monica Bay. The little piece of land in the distance to the left is the Palos Verde peninsula. Great cycling there, lots of short hills and beautiful views. The piece of land in the distance on the right is Catalina Island, where we will be heading on a sail trip in a few weeks.



After Stunt, you have a nice 2ish mile twisty descent and then a climb up Piuma Canyon, just a mile at 8%. Then this very long very technical descent to Cold Canyon. Four and a half miles, very technical stuff, 6% downhill grade. You can see in the pic the road on the upper right that we just came down. Then the road loops behind where I am standing and continues on to the road in the middle of the pic, which then curves tightly to the left and drops enough that you can't even see the continuation of the road.



After the Piuma descent, just one more canyon, Cold Canyon. Which I thought was a climb, but was mostly rolling and very pretty. Just a 0.25ish mile climb at 10-12% at the end, that's going to hurt on the Mulholland Challenge because it will come at around mile 110. Then rollers all the way back to the start. I had nothing to save my legs for, just a recovery ride tomorrow, so I just opened it up and rode the heck out of the last 10 miles.

Nice pair of rides this weekend.

datlas 

Wow, @Heathpack. Thanks for the ride report and pics. Almost enough to make me move out your way!

rjones28 

Heathpack 

Committing to doing something that I care about (like cycling) and then not doing it well. Its different for different people. For me, its all about the challenge. Its not exercise or freedom or something social. Not that I'm denigrating any of those things, just that for me, cycling is an athletic challenge and if I'm going to take it on, I want to be sure that I've done everything in my power to set myself up to do well. So if I commit to something like this, my motivator is the desire to not have a poor showing. I'm not actually "scared," that was a dramatic word choice. I guess a better way to say it is that signing up for a challenging ride and telling people I'm going to do it is a motivator for me.

Heathpack 

Very sure you guys did it in far better time and form than I did. But its a nice ride for sure.

Bah Humbug

Oh, @BillyD, I also shot a bird... sort of:



No Johnny Rehab in it though. Wonder how he's doing.

BillyD

Hey 3a, keep an eye on that thread for me, will ya? If anybody starts to harass that poor guy because his english is bad or because of his bike choices, let me know.

Or click the black triangle and report it. I know that would be a first for you, but give it a shot.

In fact, you might consider trying on a mod's blue star. I think you have some potential to be an excellent one. And just imagine the kind of respect you could command amongst the droolheim crowd.

BillyD

Is he a Texas resident?

BillyD

Yes, we're into March, a traditionally windy month. The wind has been blowing like crazy the last two days.

Yep, those hip bruises seem to linger forever. I try to avoid them at all costs. I don't know about at this stage, an orthopedist might know best, but some ice applications might help, especially if you had started them right away. (Yes, I realize the incongruity of giving therapy advice to a doctor. Just relating personal experience.)

Bah Humbug

No, but one of the (many) scandals last year was that he was here in Austin during the X-Games on an inflatable swan with a bottle of booze. He does seem to love this city. Can't say I blame him, even if the aspects we like are completely different.

datlas 

Is there a full moon tonight?

datlas 

Thanks for thinking of me. In general ice is best right after an injury. Probably not much help 6 weeks after.

I think I just need a little more time. If I don't ride it is practically healed, but major exertion makes it act up a smidge.

3alarmer 

...all is calm. I shall do so because I know it's been a brutal winter there, and I want to inject some happiness into your life.

........what did I do to make you hate me so ?

3alarmer 

L.A. Marathon: Kenyans win; dozens hospitalized in stifling heat

...gonna be a long, hot summer.