eyemage

Most of us have ordinary lives; we are creatures of habit for the most part. We ride the same trails, greet the same people, try to live life the best we can.

Then, there is the life of BEANZ…

There are The Mayor’s civic responsibilities: jury duty, moving couches for mom, defending his role as a flatlander without any evidence whatsoever to back him up, playing paparazzi to rogue bicyclists while “in the middle of a real start”, etc. etc. etc.

There are The Mayor’s ride invitations pouring in from all over the SoCal universe: “Pick me, PICK me, PICK ME!”

Within the maelstrom of immense popularity, there remains a mystery to ponder: Why does everyone want to ride with Mr. Beanz? What is his deal?

Do people want to see if Beanz is actually who people say he is? Is Beanz a poser?

Or is it something different? Other riders have remarked it’s because he is perceived as “hardcore”. Or more specifically, people want to match themselves against The Mayor. Kinda like those guys that pay thousands of dollars to play basketball against Michael Jordan at his camp. Are they faster than Mr. Beanz? Can they climb as well as he does? How well does Beanz handle headwinds? Can Beanz ride in high temps?

Whatever the case, I set out to do more research in this matter. I was honored do another ride with Mr. Beanz.

We set out to conquer White Saddle in Monrovia today.


Happy at the start




Beanz getting ready with the bug spray



Still feeling good at the 10% grade “pre-climb”



Pushing the grade



Sweating it out at the first gate



Made it to White Saddle



Hurtling downhill



The only thing that can stop him is the gate

eyemage

Now, something unbelievable happened as we returned to the cars. Deer usually run away from me. But, this was not the case.

The Mayor is so famous, that even the deer approached him.





Pick me, pick ME, PICK ME!

eyemage

Here is our route, care of Google Earth



View of White Saddle from above

Mr. Beanz

Bwahahahaha! Funny Eyemage!...I think it's more like everybody wants to beat me up but can't legally or without settling out of court with a new bike!

Well, the day started early. That Eyemage is one early bird. Cool cause he had to get to work and I had a checkup at the dentist. Yup, just had a major filing done a couple days ago. Doc wanted a followup before doing another on Tuesday. Oh yippee!

Well early means it's cold so sucking in cold air on the way up is just too much fun! But I would have to say that I smoked on the climbs, literally! At the first gate Eyemage says, "dude you're smokin". I raise my arm and sure enough, I'm smokin'! Of course that was after a 20% grade at the start of the climb!..I did take a couple pics of Eyemage at the first gate but they didn't come out, they hazing from the smoke flowing from my body!

Good thing Eyemage provides bugspray on the ride! The helmet!

Now the body! I read the label and this spraydoubles as deodorant!

roadfix

Make sure your OCP dues are current.

Mr. Beanz

So I ask for a ride description and his reply: To start out we have a short paved section as a warmup. Sounds nice I say then he looks down at his Garmin and shouts ,"20%". Jeeze, some warmup!

Is this fun or what?


Guy is having too much fun when he says, "wait till we hit the 20% in the dirt!".


At the first gate. Got a picture off before my smoke got too thick!

Mr. Beanz

I did get a little worried at one point on the ride since I had no idea where I was going, how near or how far. The conversation was a little something like this:

Eyemage (looking down a his Garmin): 7%!
Beanz: How much further?
Eyemage: 8%!
Beanz: How much further?
Eyemage: 11%!
Beanz: How much further?
Eyemage: 14%!
Beanz: How much further?
Eyemage: 17%!
Beanz: How much further?
Eyemage: 20%!
Beanz: How much further?

Still having too much fun!


Eyemage at White Saddle


Eyemage pointing further up the mountain at our turnaround "maybe we should ride a little further up there!" If you do, you'll be alone!


Does this guy enjoy climbing or what!?

Mr. Beanz

Well my dirty downhill skills are lacking so I asked for a 5 minute headstart to find a DH for a snap. I find a spot and he's about 30 seconds behind me. Either he didn't have a watch or I'm slow! Then my newbie dirty skills stop me again down the trail. I hear a loud BRRRRRRRR! It's my 'puter wire dragging on the knobbies! Hey, this is different from roadbiking, You actually have to tie stuff down!

Heading down


Smoke was too thick to see it on the way up. Stopped for a peek at the dam on the way down. Pfft, Eyemeage was just being nice letting me catch up! That's a cool looking old dam.



DEER! DEER!..Dude, I told you, only Gina calls me Dear! No, I mean DEER! OH! They were all over the place!


Eyemage was so close I thought he'd pick one up and take it for a handlebar ride!

robertkat

Man you get all the fun. Looks like a pretty fun route. I'd hit it, twice even.

Mr. Beanz

I offered to do it a second time! Good thing I had an appointment!

Mr. Beanz

It's because I carry a camera and touch up crows feet and zits!

JimmyNH

Naaah, Beanz ain't no poser! It's too hard for him. He must do at least one poser ride, but he's too much of a chicken for that. Here are the Top 10 posers in SoCal.

Mr. Beanz

Being to chicken is only part of it! Being born a poor brown child is another! Heck, some of those kits cost more than my bike! You ride an Orbea and I a Lemond, what kind of pic would that make for?

Sheesh, I'm still using the jerseys that I picked up about 5 years ago at a $1.99 special at Performance! Well, ok, not that good of a sale but you get the picture! Even at IN-N-Out, the price goes up for a XXL t-shirt. In the cycling world, I'd say another $50 for a XXL jersey! It's just as much as Ti!

Even Gina rides a more expensive bike than I do, I can't pose!

Rick@OCRR

I think Mr. Beanz famous bright orange posing jersey is really an Euskaltel–Euskadi with the lettering all worn off. I think that would be a good team for him since he's part Spanish.

Maybe that's where Alberto will end up and Contador and Beanz could share a room on the Grand Tours!

Rick / OCRR

jabantik00

same. when is the hopelessly unfashionable ride?

Mr. Beanz

I actually started the team and was captain till the kicked me out for too many no-shows at their poseur rides!

Mr. Beanz

Sheesh! I don't know what happened but 4 kids, then 7 grankids popped outta nowhere!...With both our sides of our families, it's like a birthday party every other weekend. Buggers are taking up all my bike money!

I've already had to give up my $20 weekly allowance!

bigtempo

Very cool. I probably may have ridden by as you guys were prepping (if you saw a crazy clyde on a Bridgestone). I live at the bottom of Monrovia Canyon. Have been up to White Saddle numerous times and know the area well. Nowadays I usually just ride my road bike until it hits dirt or take the other side to the upper parking lot. Some steep grades! If you want a real challenge, go up to White Saddle the other way, the Tessel route up to White Saddle. I have only made it up this way once.

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...e/747756261355

eyemage

This sounds like a great ride.

Where is a good place to park?

And how do I get Mr. Beanz to attempt it?

Richard_Rides

Not one pic of Gina? This thread has nothing to offer without Gina! Baaa!

bigtempo

Good place to Park is Encanto Park. Just ride north on Encanto Pkwy, splits to the right as Fish Canyon and make a left on Van Tessel, pass the horse stables and at the end the climb will shoot up on the left.

I can't help you with the second part, but I think he would not be one to back down from a good challenge.

Mr. Beanz

Hmm lemme see! I've driven 30-60 miles several times to do a 10 mile rides. 60 miles a couple times to do a 2 hour ride, more cost efficicient. But not once have you agreed to do GMR to the village with me for whatever reason. I'll let you post the reason but are you sure it's my name that should be in the title?...I have no problem riding either bike!


After we hit the village on raodies, I will do some more MTB rides.

alicestrong

Ask Roadfix I don't know....