Okay, so as most of you know, I turned 27 yesterday. Something about this birthday hit me hard this year. I’m very grateful to be alive and healthy, but I’m getting closer to a Big O birthday (3 years) and that somehow bothers my “but I only feel 20 mentality!” brain. So, what better way to celebrate it than get into the company of men in spandex (love ‘em), on my bike, and ride until my tooshy is on fire (really, I wonder if one can cause permanent damage in that region riding like I do – but I’ll save that for another thread and enjoyment of the masses).

So, 3:30 am, alarm goes off. Now, I almost missed yesterday because I thought I had a touch of a bug (still do, but oh well). Thank goodness I didn’t! I got my butt up, ate some rice with low fat cheese melted on it, chocolate milk and a Rockstar. Geared up, lubed up, grabbed bike and picked up Magicant (yes, DJ Jazzy Joel) at 4:30. We then met The Fixer and Scootcore (two willing victims) at the Metrolink station in Universal City. (Jpconrad, who didn’t feel well either and who has the sense God gave a lemon, didn't join. John, I hope you feel better!). We got on our bikes and rolled exactly at 5 am (I mean sharp, on the dot, not a second later…of course, we had someone keeping us on track all day as we were on a mission – San Diego or bust!)

Off we went hitting Ventura Blvd in the dark. Not five minutes into the ride, DJ Jazzy starts singing “Happy Birthday” to me, getting Bill and George to chime in. It wasn’t on key, but it was very sweet. I knew that wouldn’t be the only version throughout the day, so I grinned and beared it . Now, I don’t know how many of you have ridden over the Sepulveda Pass, but if you have and have done so in even a slight bit of traffic, it is a nice route but can be harrowing. Yesterday, both on Ventura Blvd. and Sepulveda, there was almost zero traffic (duh! 5-6am on a weekend morning – only complete nuts would be out there! Oh, wait a minute…) It was downright purty if not a little eerie. There was this thick fog along the pass and it was quite cool in the morning. I was grateful for my Cannari jacket (ladies, the women’s shell jacket is the best jacket I’ve ever owned and I highly recommend it!).

As we reached the Westside and continued down into Marina Del Rey, it was getting light outside. Hitting Ballona Bike Path off of the Pass was also eerie as it was empty and the fog over the swamp water (poor duckies) cast a little glow. We passed the rowers out being tortured in their canoes and hit the strand. The ocean was there, of course, and my breath is always taken a way for a moment when I see it. Okay, I’ll admit it, I was emotional all day yesterday, and although the boys didn’t know it, I cried a little along the route (I blew snot rockets and blamed my “bug” so they wouldn’t know). I’m just reminded how small and inconsequential I am yet still part of an amazing world at times like that (early morning, on my bike with friends, having the ocean come into view and having a blast).

Joel had told I am The Edge and Happytime that we would roll into Redondo Beach at 7:15am and we were right on the money (about 5 minutes early actually). I am The Edge exists! And he’s a cutie – tall Texan with a little bit of a drawl and a good rider. Happytime, who is adorable and OMG that woman has a gorgeous figure –I think I should take up Triathlons!- was there as well. We greeted and took off with I am The Edge joining for some miles. Happytime was off to run and, gulp, swim in the ocean. You go, girl, I ain’t putting so much as a toe in the ocean as I know a great white shark will bite it off!

After leaving Redondo, we hit the one and only yucky part of the route (and the only part I didn’t like – sure, we had traffic in Laguna, but at least it’s pretty down there) – Wilmington. But all in all, it wasn’t that bad, it was just about 1.5 miles of trucks and bridges with debris. Fortunately, the lanes are freaky wide and none of us flatted, so no big deal. Joel knew a back street that got us up to the LA river trail right before Long Beach. We jumped on that, headed into LB and down into Huntington. Easy miles, might I say, but we were going at a good pace. I’m NOT sandbagging, so everyone keep your panties on straight (unless you have good reason to remove them), but those boys can motor! And it seems effortless for them. Bill, whom I’ve ridden with many times, has lost weight (I’m so jealous, Bill) and he is climbing so strong and so fast on the flats. George has always been fast as well, and Joel is freaky fast (and like an energizer bunny, the man NEVER runs out of steam…never! I don’t think I saw even a hint of fatigue on his face the whole day). So, we were trucking between 18 and 24 mph for most of those miles. The stoplights slowed us for sure, but otherwise, it was a strong pace.

In Huntington, I am The Edge turned around, but it was very nice having him along. I won’t repeat the joke, but after he cracked it, we all laughed and told him that he fits right in! He did, for sure, and I hope he joins on many BF rides in the future!

After Huntington, my stomach started growling. I was getting hungry and very sweetly reminded Joel of this (5 or 6 times, but whose counting?). Joel kept telling me it was just a few miles to San Clemente and we’d eat. We were stopping along the route at separate spots – at public bathrooms on the beach with lots of stalls to accommodate us riders and then at 7-11s and liquor stores to buy Gatorade. Smart move on Joel’s part. This made the breaks succinct and easy to roll in and out of! I was impressed with his route and planning to say the least. But fortunately for me, he got the Jack N the Box in the town before San Clemente mixed up so we got to lunch a little sooner – yippee! When we arrived, Indolent58 met us. He had ridden up 54 miles to meet and ride back down with us. So, before taken off, we grabbed a bite. I would have normally never thought of JNB as a food stop on a ride, but the chicken Ciabatta hit the spot (that and a few sips of Joel’s chocolate shake).

With our tummies full, we took off again. Traffic was a little heavy through the south beach communities, but it was still a very nice ride, and our pace was still strong. I was amazed that I actually felt better at that point. We headed out and onto the dreaded I-5. I’m chicken riding out there but I will admit that it is a faster option – UNLESS you get a flat. The cycling gods had been smiling down on us all day, but suddenly decided to talk amongst themselves whenever we entered the 5. Sure enough, Bill got a flat. So, we all stopped (except Dan who couldn’t hear me yelling over the wind) and Bill fixed his front tire (very quickly might I add). And we were off again…well, no, we weren’t…because Bill’s back tire then blew! Two flats on the 5 – go figure! Again, Bill was lightening fast and we were on our way once more. Now, we’re at mile 130 or so and I’m starting to feel it. Not bad, mind you, but a little fatigue. We were still hitting it hard and the talk of Torrey had started. Somehow, Torrey is feared, whispered about, argued over…and yet it’s just a hill! And not even a bad one – but still I feared it. I figured, granny gear it would be. Sure enough, hit Torrey and we were up that nothing of a hill in no time. I did spin it all the way up, but my legs felt fine. Freaky DJ Jazzy Joel sprinted up the damn thing as usual! Oh, and he sang at least three other versions of birthday songs as well. He says he takes B vitamins, but I still wonder where he grows his spinach. After Torrey, I knew we were almost home – just a few more miles. Dan left us in La Jolla to head home (he did his century for March!) and then there were 4. No drama, just easy miles (almost all downhill) into San Diego and to the train station.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that for the last 10 miles I was starting to really feel it. Dummy here had stopped fueling and I was just ready to be out of the air. My wheezing had started and I needed a hit off of my inhaler (I could have just asked the guys to stop but I wanted to get to the station), so when Amtrak finally came into view, I was elated. 159.5 miles!!!! Yippee!!!!! I jumped off my bike, and followed the boys into the station. I looked over, and there was Dan in a t-shirt all clean sitting. I thought, “is he taking the train back with us? I thought he lived in La Jolla.” Man, I’m a ditz sometimes. No, he was there with a birthday cake (I’m tearing up as I type this - why am I so emotional! ) and the boys started singing Happy Birthday (this time on key) and the people in the train station joined in. It was so sweet. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Joel, Thank you, George. Thank you, Bill. I know you are all going to roll your eyes (you're men and this stuff probably drives you crazy), but that was really touching and made my birthday so special. What a wonderful day and I can’t imagine having spent it in any other way and in any other company! The cake was the bomb! Joel ate half of it, but I was able to get a tiny little square of what he left (hee hee hee….…I crack myself up). Actually, there was a whole lot of cake left that Dan either left there or took. We did not take it on the train. Dan, not that I wasn’t grateful, but I would have eaten the whole thing and gone into sugar coma!

Train ride was great as usual with me picking on Joel and poking him all the way back (he’s single, I can do that - he’s also a hottie, so what’s a girl to do?). George fell asleep and Bill was his usual hy-larious self. Joel just took the abuse.

Great, great, great, great day!!!!! Thank you guys!!!!!!



PS: I may have fibbed a little about my age, but again, whose counting?