BadIdeaVille. Population: Me.

My doctor is a good guy, and also a cyclist, which is why I brave the crosstown commute to see him rather than someone closer to me who's also in network.

Today, I had an 8:30 am appointment, and since yesterday's heavy rains had stopped and the sun was out, I decided to ride the bike instead of drive.

Sure, the roads were wet, but what's the point of hauling around the extra weight of disc brakes if you don't really use them once in a while?

I'd forgotten about car tires and wet roads.

Needless to say, by the time I got to the doctor's office in Hollywood, I was not only soaked to the skin, but filthy from the damp road gunk that had been thrown up into my face by passing cars.

Awesome.

I had a short conversation with said doctor about my blood pressure (not so bad!) and my registering for the Spring Death Valley Ultra Century.

According to my doctor, the ride is terrible with crosswinds and very, very taxing.

Also according to my doctor, they have SAG wagons so I can quit if I get tired.

Yeah, that's going to happen.

I don't predict quitting unless something catastrophic happens, and maybe not even then.

We'll see. The ride is in March.

Social Media FAIL

The only thing that could possibly have made this funnier is if they had referred to the site as "the Tweeter".  Does no one who works at this club have teenage children?

Same stuff, different bike

The good news is that I can ride, I just can't ride Gary.  The more upright position of the commuter bike doesn't irritate the heel at all, which is good.

It makes headwinds suck like nothing has ever sucked before, but I guess I'll consider that training, although I'm seriously considering swapping out the straight handlebars for drops, so I can at least make some attempt to get more aero when I'm spinning headlong into a Santa Ana wind.

The heel's finally gotten to the point where it feels like it might actually be getting better. The doc's going to take a look at it next week and let me know if I can start running again.

Waiting on the subway platform

Glorious Fall Weekend Ride with Mucho Photos

 Saturday was one of those days that just makes me glad I live in Southern California - the sky was blue, the air was clear (actually clear, not 'clear for LA), and although it was on the chilly side, it was a perfect day to go for a ride.

I'd intended to leave early, but got stuck doing weekend errands and yakking on the phone with my sister, so I left around noon.  I decided to ride north on PCH, because it's a beautiful ride. I wasn't in much of a hurry, just enjoying the day. 

This guy was riding a gasoline engine assisted bike and pulling a trailer with "Share the Road" written on the back.

Scenic Malibu

Where the cliffs are rotten - I'd hate for one of those things to hit me as I ride by.

I didn't stop for seafood, but I probably should have.

Turnaround point: The tacky McMansion

I've always wanted one of these. I don't know why.

Gary enjoys the view

Beachy! 

Memorial wreath with equestrian ribbons and handcuffs.

Looking south to Santa Monica from the Malibu Pier. Note layer of smog.

I'm told this was once the famous Alice's Restaurant.

Yes, yes they do.

Hello surfers!

If only there had been a cop. I could have yelled "Sugartits"

Santa Monica State Beach with pier in background.

Oh, yes. You're going to get some hop-ons.

From whence I came - looking north to Malibu from the Santa Monica Pier

Total mileage was 42, but it took me a long time because I kept stopping to take pictures and chat with other cyclists who were also slowing down to enjoy the beautiful fall day.  I think this was my last PCH ride for a while, as the climbing's irritating my heel, and I'd really like for this thing to get better.

The next day, it rained all day, so I took my life in my hands and drove the car to the gym, then napped in front of the TV.

Back in the gym, for now

Currently, the Santa Ana winds are blowing here in Los Angeles, which means that the air is hot, dry and, well, gross. Since it's blowing from inland to the ocean, all the allergens, pollution and general malaise that float in the air are now headed straight for me.

Mainly, it's the hot and dry that causes my problems. Hot because, well, it's hot. Dry because the dry air makes me cough like I'm about to die. I had originally intended to do a 30 ish mile bike ride today, but upon waking up with dry eyes, a dry nose, and a dry throat, I decided to stay indoors. 

So, I went to the gym. Since I hate doing cardio at the gym (running in place is intolerable, even with trash TV to distract me), I did weights and then a yoga class to stretch out.


I haven't done much weight training since the triathlon season started, so it hurt. Way more than I remember weights hurting, but  then again the yoga hurt, too.  Mainly because of all the bending.

Then I went and sat in the steam room and felt awesome until I had to go back outside.


Hopefully, the hot and dry will be over soon - according to the weather report, it should only be like this for another couple of days.