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Monday

It is labor day! We did the Lucas Valley Populaire route. Nate rode the BMC (new wheels!) and I rode black bike.

First we had to ride to the start (first checkpoint), which I mistakenly thought was this Crissy Field area. It wasn't, so I fucked up the route immediately.

After that detour, we crossed the bridge, went over Camino Alto, and followed the route to San Rafael.

We then rode around China Camp (second checkpoint).

It was very beautiful! I did not get that many photos.

After this, we rode out of China Camp and up a horrible climb along Lucas Valley Road (not shown, because I was busy suffering).

Eventually reached Nicasio (third checkpoint). There was nothing there, so we headed back home.

Notes: - It was a nice day outside today. Sunny but not hot, and not too many people out there initially. - Several climbs that I struggled with: Wolfe Grade, something coming out of San Rafael (but it was only like 1 second of climb), and that very brutal climb near Big Rock. WOW Nate said "it's easier than White Hill" so I felt okay going into it. It was NOT easier than White Hill and it was way longer. - Nate was mean to me during this whole ride because he was trying to go faster and I was feeling sluggish and lazy. In the end we completed this ride within the cutoff time (although we had the wrong start/end checkpoints), so suck it! - But I am truly going too slowly to be doing longer rides, so the next time I ride over 50 miles I am taking Nate's mog. - Strava

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Saturday

I wanted to ride Lucas Valley Populaire 110km but Nate had to leave for class by 12pm so I opted for Paradise Loop instead. Nate also invited one of his usual riding buddies, Mike Reidel.

We met up at Conservatory of Flowers and it was slightly rainy. We thought the rain would pass once we got over the bridge, but once we got over the bridge, the rain continued.

In fact, it was rainy all through Sausalito until Camino Alto. My socks and shoes were wet. We stopped at Equator Coffee and had a snack, during which I got very cold.

But once we started moving, it was alright. The rest of the ride was not rainy. Aside from my wet socks/shoes, it was a pleasant ride.

No photos were taken. My memory of this ride was blank/the ride felt inconsequential.

There was brief rain on or after the bridge, coming back. We picked up a lot of dirt.

Other notes: - Mike Reidel kept wanting to quit and turn back, but in the end he stuck it out, which is good. He stopped in Sausalito and Nate and I continued home. - I am quite grumpy during mile 0-20. I am happy between mile 20-60. Historically, I tend to be angry/complainy after that. So we will see how it goes when I start riding longer rides again. - Strava shows that I am at similar fitness to me in 2022. I am weaker than I was in 2020. This is because at the end of 2019 I had been riding 48x14 to commute to work at St. Mary's and riding up O'Shaughnessy every day. Good job, past self. But right now I need to get stronger and supercede my younger self.

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Saturday

Time to revisit Point Reyes Lighthouse!

Last time I did this ride was 1) by myself 2) on the black bike idefk what ratio 3) with a front brake 4) during a prolific time of riding wherein I rode daily for work because I was shuttling passports to and from consulates downtown for Travel Visa Pro (dat $13/h life. got me fit tho) 5) with no knowledge of what I would encounter (ignorance is bliss) 6) it was foggy and cold the whole time and I fell at least once on a cow gate. More details can be found here, on this very blog.

Today's Strava log

Today, I set off with Nate at 6:40ish in the morning. Same bicycles as last week's adventure. I rode black bike (46x17) and Nate rode mog. This time we did not have to carry bikepacking supplies as we intended it to be a day trip.

Leaving the house / Sunny Sausalito

It was a pretty smooth ride getting over to Marin. It was damp and foggy until we got to Sausalito. Instead of taking the dreadful boardwalk, Nate led us on a parallel way that was less annoying. Thus we got to Camino Alto pretty smoothly. After Camino Alto, we were in Larkspur, where we stopped to get breakfast at Equator. Three pastries and a small coffee.

Continued on Magnolia Ave, then followed the bike route through those towns that I never remember which one is which. As we were going into Ross, Nate had a sealant splattering onto his back and seat tube, which I initially thought was some sort of glitter or Plumbago flowers that he rode through (but it was not). The sealant was able to somewhat seal the puncture and retain tire pressure, and we made it through Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, and whatever other towns, up White Hill, through Samuel P. Taylor, up Olema Hill, to Olema, where Nate put a Dynaplug, more sealant, and borrowed a floor pump from the Marin Century (it was happening today! No relation/overlap with us).

Marin Century sign outside of Due West Cafe aka ripoff Cafe

We refilled water in Olema, then set off to lighthouse. The route there started out pretty chill. Sunny, mixed coast live oak forest, pretty flat. Went through Inverness Park and Inverness, then a horrible climb out of Inverness, and then back to chill vibes (flat, plus the weather was literally getting chill because coastal fog).

Halfway up the steep climb out of Inverness / At the top of the climb an encouraging sign making me feel a little closer to my destination

Note the change in weather

We passed the allee of Monterey cypress. Then it became "rolling" hills. Saw a lot of Grindelia and yellow Eschscholzia. Baccharis and Lupinus. Acmispon. One small area of Mimulus (possibly M. guttatus?). Cows. Mostly I was focused on the hills and the fog and going over the cow gates, and the myriad cars that passed us/hesitated to pass (very annoying, but I understand single-lane curving road logic).

Nate sympathy-zigzagging up the hill / Me walking up the hill

The last few miles or so, we encountered a climb that was so steep I had to walk my bike, and Nate and I traded bikes. On the mog, it was doable but I definitely blacked out what happened. I vaguely remember there was a bit of drifting sand (not a problem on these 35+mm tires also there was a narrow unsanded pavement strip to go through), and there was a lot of wind, which literally shook me and I was so scared and was clenching the brakes on the mog with fear. I rode the mog the rest of the way.

Nate on my bike / Finally made it; Nate back on the mog.

Eventually we made it to the lighthouse and then walked to the lighthouse and walked down and back up the allegedly challenging 313 steps. The steps were nothing compared to biking all the damn hills. I can't believe I ever did this ride in 2016. And I did the damn steps.

The fog is unreal. Remind me not to come here in February.

After taking a moment to refill water, eat a shitty croissant we bought in Olema, and eat a Maurtens (yes I know Maurtens has a reputation for being pretentious and/or extra, but they have now saved me twice so I support the hype), we headed back the way we came. Instead of Bear Valley Road, we took Shoreline Hwy to Point Reyes Station to get some food.

Cows observing me suffering

We got to Point Reyes Station after 2pm so no more farmer's market / Free calls to get God's Blessing, and other services.

We sat on a bench and ate a sandwich, havea chips, ritter raisin and hazelnut, beverage, and water. Then continued on. My stupid bibs and saddle were combo attacking my "soft tissue" so we stopped again in Lagunitas at the store, where we got a strawberry lemonade. Then stopped in Fairfax for more water at Splitrock. Then stopped again in Larkspur for more water at Equator. Then finally suffered some more and made it home while I complained and prayed for a swift death the entire time. I guess that's one good thing about me riding solo-- got no one to complain to so I just shut up and bear it. My hands were literally pruny from sweating. Gripping the bars on descents was the other major workout aside from climbing.

Almost home (on the Marin side of the bridge) / Home so tired

Notes on climbs:

I still have trouble getting up Arguello into the Presidio, but I can do it, if I zig-zag my bike and go super slowly.

Camino Alto is longer than I think, but it's not a grind. I just have unnecessary dread. The descent was fine because there was no traffic today.

White Hill aka Sir Francis Drake where the equestrian center is: still hard. It's a grind. A bunch of roadies passed me and I don't care. The descent is still terrifying as well. Veryyyyy long.

Getting out of Samuel P. Taylor and going to Olema: still hard. I feel that it might be shorter, and I like that it's not as winding, but it's a grind. Descending it is also awful.

That last hill that I remember from last time coming out of Inverness is as bad as I remembered. It is the worst of the hills encountered along this ride. Last time I mentioned that I had to walk it. Today I managed to ride the whole way up, and that is a triumph. I did stop at the brief moment where it was flat (before the arrow sign). Everything after the sign was steep AF. I saw cars driving up and I saw them getting more inclined. I had to seriously zig-zag across both lanes while the lanes were empty. Made it, though. Descent was also so long and painful.

Oh ALSO, that "last" hill isn't even the last hill! How on earth did I deceive myself into thinking that there were only 3 major hills on this ride??? I guess I blacked out from the difficulty last time. There was one hill on the way to lighthouse that was kind of a switchback? At the bottom of the hill there was a ranch gate. I don't even remember.

Then there was another hill at the fork of Chimney Rock and Lighthouse (obviously we went towards Lighthouse). I literally had to walk up this. I don't even care. There was no way I was gonna get up there. I went until I lost momentum and had to put my foot down. And then I could not do any more. I tried to get back on the bike and failed. Okay actually THIS hill is the worst one of today. This is where we traded bikes.

On the way back: first two cowgates there was a hill that was so fucking steep I could not believe it. I did it though. I think this or the next one may have been the one where I stopped and ate my hardboiled eggs last time.

Then there was another hill that I remember descending and my legs moving faster than they have ever moved in life LMAO, and I think that was the one where two guys we saw at the lighthouse passed us and said "good job" to me. Bro thank you. I fully accept and need this support.

Literally can't remember any more hills because I blacked them all out. Oh wait the one coming back out of Olema. That's where in 2016 someone asked me if I was ok because I stopped out of fatigue/pain. That one has always sucked. I hate it. Okay, it's actually not THAT bad. Compared to some of the other ones I experienced today.

Then coming out of San Geronimo on the back side of White Hill? Cakewalk. Easy peasy.

Camino Alto was fine going southbound. I counted in Swedish to distract myself. This was a technique I used to use during warmups at the track to distract from suffering.

Alexander Ave/coming out of Sausalito: gunned it the fuck out of that corner where the guy one time told me "your ass is going to get too big if you keep riding fixed gear" and I said "there is no such thing as an ass that is too big", a story which i shouted at the top of my lungs today when I was going up that short distance.

Then I suffered thru all the way to the bridge by talking to myself out loud. I did a lot of that today actually. Gotta stay motivated.

Okay I have no more notes for now and I may upload photos later but I didn't get too many due to being too busy complaining/suffering. I am now going to eat a burrito and nachos from Underdogs because Nate picked up some just now thank you sweet angel.

Edit: I could not sleep cuz I got mildly sunburnt lol. Photos uploaded.

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Saturday/Sunday

This weekend we are bikepacking for the first time in many years (Salt Point in 2021 I believe was the last time). We wanted to camp in Big Basin, but ultimately ended up at New Brighton again.

We got our gear packed up the night prior, and decided that I would ride black bike (for the wider tires and the front rack), and Nate would ride Mog.

Saturday: The weather was damp and cold in the morning when we started the ride around 7:30. Nate had a slow leak on his rear tire as we were going up Skyline right outside of the city, but fortunately we were able to continue on after he jammed a Dynaplug in there and hand-pumped it to a reasonable pressure.

The ride up to water tower (what is this thing?? for years I've been referring to it as a water tower but I don't think it is one) was hard, but the descent was harder. I hate that hill. Riding through Pacifica was quiet and cold and straightforward. Then we got to the part where there's a Taco Bell Cantina and the road goes into the woods and to the tunnel? And it said *Road Closed* but we asked the Caltrans employees if we could go through and they said, there's a fatal accident up ahead with lots of emergency vehicles and cranes, but you can probably go through. So we did this and wow I've never biked this section with no cars so it was a little bit of a luxury. Then we got through the tunnel and started seeing all the emergency vehicles and I refused to look directly at that area because it was tragic and scary. Nate said there was a car stuck in the cliff that the crane was gonna pull out. Anyway that was a dark moment of the ride.

A bittersweet stroke of luck

We then stopped at Montara Lighthouse, which is now a hostel. Didn't get a lighthouse stamp, but got a photo of the lighthouse which was cool.

The slope from the 1 down to this hostel was steep. I walked down and biked up.

Next we stopped in Half Moon Bay for bike shop and a breakfast/snack. First we went to Straight Wheel Cycling, where Nate refilled his rear tire sealant and bought some ride snacks (bonk breakers!). Then we went off in search of some coffee and pastries. I was grieving the loss of the Dunkin Donuts which I used to hit up every time I was in HMB (honestly, it was my sole reason to ever stop in HMB), but we got some unfresh pastries at Moonside and continued riding.

Hand pump air refill right before HMB; then SWC.

Our next stop was Pescadero (for bread), but before that, we encountered three small challenging hills. The first one was right after Tunitas Creek Road, where a small group of cyclists led by a long silver-ponytailed asian man (henceforth known as "the sensei") were passed by Nate. I passed 3 of the 4 riders (I never passed the sensei until he stopped to wait for his group). On the second hill, which came after a long descent that I took my sweet time on, I was passed momentarily by one of the riders in the sensei group, whom I then had to pass when he ran out of steam 1 ft into the climb, but then I was passed by the sensei, and all of us were passed by this time-trial bicyclist who was zooming. Nate was far ahead and could never be caught by the sensei. The last hill I don't remember anymore why it was challenging, but nobody passed me. Good riddance! I was grinding, though. The 46x17 on black bike is harder than my usual 47x19 spin on gangster.

Anyway, we finally got to bread, which I was surprisingly underwhelmed by. A billion other cyclists were there; fortunately we staggered our departures and kept going and never crossed paths. Next we stopped at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which was only 5 miles away. I got my stamp and read a little bit about the lighthouse (1st order Fresnel lens) and we continued on.

Currently under renovation for the next two years, after which visitors can go to the top via neverending stairs!

I remembered this last stretch from Pigeon Point to Santa Cruz to be extremely boring and neverending, and I was correct. There were a few rolling hills that took a small amount of effort, but nothing to dread or fear. It was mostly the boredom that I dreaded. We also had a decent tailwind, which really helped.

Here you can see the weather starting to change from cool and gray to warm and sunny. I enjoyed the cool weather, but the sun was a nice change!

Finally we got to Santa Cruz and I insisted on going to the UCSC Arboretum. In order to get there, I had to climb up a 10% hill, which I physically could not do, and had to walk my bike. The rest of the route was a little hilly but I pushed through the pain. Oh I should also mention that my sitbones were in great agony at this point due to the weird shape of this saddle. Anyway I was very glad to get off my bike and walk around once we got to the Arboretum.

Recently I learned that the font of highway signs is called Highway Gothic.

After about an hour of me exclaiming loudly about how much I loved the Banksia in their collection, we left and continued biking to New Brighton State Beach. The ride was kinda interesting actually! We rode through a non-tourism/boardwalk part of Santa Cruz, where there were a lot of [thrift] shops, movie theatres, stores, restaurants, and other everyday city things, which I greatly enjoyed seeing. Then we biked on Capitola Ave where we admired the residential landscaping, and finally we arrived at Capitola Village which was tourism as usual, and then the campsite. After unpacking, we ate dinner at Margaritaville (same as last time in 2020) and then retired early at campsite.

Made it, with lots of daylight to spare / Next morning

Sunday: Got up and packed up around 8? The morning was once again damp with slight drizzle. We biked to Ugly Mug coffeehouse, where the proprietor noticed I was riding fixed and told me about a fixed gear team that does AIDS LifeCycle. Their coffee cake tasted weird (Nate said kelp).

From there on we rode up Soquel San Jose Road which was 11 miles of climbing, but after that, no more climbing! We switched bikes for about a mile during the climb, which was a great relief to me. I was grinding very slowly up the endless uphill curves. I hate when ascents are curvy and you can't see the crest. I like to be able to see the end.

Up and up and up

Then we reached the descent, where I went very slowly and never used my foot brake. Then we reached Lexington Reservoir, which I HATE! Because gravel is scary to me and I hate it. I keep imagining my tire slipping off a rock that moves causes me and my whole bike to just tip over. This would obviously not happen because I am not stationary, balancing on the corner of a rock. But I am still scared.

Anyway, the gravel also sucked because I felt every single god damn pebble thanks to this saddle that literally I later found out left me with blisters. BLISTERS!

Finally we got to Los Gatos and had lunch at LUNA Mexican Kitchen in Campbell, then rode to SJ Diridon station and went home. It was a little underwhelming but I was fucking tired so I did not care to be whelmed.

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Vasona Lake County park; Del Monte water tower

Right next to the Caltrain: people playing basketball blasting Linkin Park; us stopping for snacks before getting on the train.

Also in checking my personal bests on Strava apparently I did not use Strava the last time I did this ride because I only see a record of the time I rode with Conrad. Anyway who cares I'm slow it's fine.

Strava there and back

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Friday, Sunday

Friday: Biked out to meet Stephanie in Sunset Park, and Emily in Park Slope.

Yellow internet bike / Kosciuszko lights

Some notes on riding there:

Has the Kosciuszko Bridge always been that close to #2D???? The bike path is definitely new, though, right? Anyway, this was the more efficient route to where I was going. I can't believe for so long I was still doing Pulaski/Greenpoint to Kent Ave. I hate Kent Ave.

I dislike getting lost around East Williamsburg, but it happens every time. I don't know these streets and I won't learn them.

Once I found Atlantic Ave I was somewhat in the right direction. I took Washington up to Prospect Park, which was annoying, because it's a bike lane and all the bikers on it were slow and oblivious.

Past the park, I found 7th ave and then 5th ave and it was smooth sailing from there.

Strava here.

Nate came to meet up with me because he was finishing up a ride around Manhattan. We biked to dinner with Emily and then home. The Kosciuszko was cool at night. Strava here.

Sunday: On Saturday we walked around a lot with Misha, which we were not that tired from, even though we covered probably 14 miles and it was pretty hot outside.

So, on Sunday, I decided to tag along with Nate's ride with his cousin Tony across the GW Bridge (which I have never crossed) and up to Nyack. It was a hot day. We left the house around 6:30 (already it was 76deg F) to meet Tony at his place above Central Park, then the three of us rode westbound to look for the entrance to the GW. At first we tried to get onto the WSH but couldn't, and figured that it was unnecessary because we would have to leave the WSH to get on the GW anyway. Then we followed Riverside Dr to... the highway exit for the GW... for cars. Luckily, there was an escape (Haven St Underpass) off the exit, which Tony found and led us through. The stairs were super gross and full of homeless trash, but no fecal matter so not too bad. We reached the street at the top of the stairs and wiggled our way over to the real bridge entrance.

The bridge was really clean and spacious, compared to the bridges that I usually ride (Golden Gate, Queensboro, Triboro, even Williamsburg). A trio of cyclists passed us on the bridge, and when we got to the other side we followed them without looking at a map. We ended up taking a Google Maps-suggested route instead of our intended route on 9W. Later I would realize this was a blessing in disguise, maybe.

The ride through the various towns of New Jersey were nice. We re-crossed the border back into New York and saw more cyclists as we joined up with 9W. Got to Nyack and stopped at a coffee shop for water refill and snack. I had a lemonade. Nate was so sweaty that throughout the ride his hat was dripping droplets of sweat onto me. He also had to change shirts.

On the ride back we decided to take 9W instead of cutting through the towns again. At the fork there was a small uphill, where Tony said, "Okay, see you boys at the top!" and Nate and I raced up the hill. We kept going and encountered two significantly brutal hills. Nate stopped for a rest and I kept going.

My legs felt so heavy and tired and I feared another large hill, but fortunately there weren't any more. I kept going until I crossed the GW, where I got off my bike and waited for the other two. Another cyclist (old man) stopped and asked me "Do you have a regular bike?" and I said "This is my regular bike." (my yellow internet bike) and he said "Get a regular bike. You're strong. You can race." I said "Mmmm."

Pfft. Been there, done that, buddy. I'm not gonna race road bike. I'm not even gonna ride road bike. The reason I'm strong is what you see right here. Good old fixed gear yellow internet bike.

Anyway I only waited a few minutes before Nate and Tony showed up. We rode back on Riverside Dr to Tony's house, and then disbanded. Nate and I got beverages around the corner (I got another lemonade! At Dunkin) and then rode home.

The fatigue really started hitting me after stopping for that lemonade, whoops. Made it home and ate some watermelon.

Notes:

It was unbearably hot. The only way to stay cool was to keep moving. Thus there are no photos from that part of the ride. Too tired and hot to think about photos.

My legs were covered in dirt. It had rained that morning so everything was extra sticky.

I'm glad I put that front brake on, because my chain had skipped during the last ride, and I was hesitant to put a lot of pressure on it. The descents were quite steep in some places. Plus the roads were a little slick in some areas from the rain.

I was afraid I would be slow/left behind, and I pushed myself quite a bit. As a result I am now (currently it is the following day) quite tired. But nobody thinks I am slow! (Except the thousands of kitted-up carbon bicycle riders who passed me.)

Strava here

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Monday, Tuesday

Monday: Strava here. It finally stopped raining and the sun came out, so we rode (Nishikwok aka NYshiki, and yellow internet bike) with Jon and Martha (Aventon e-bikes). They led us on a fun loop around Unity Pond. The roads were very clear, decently paved, and lined with mixed-hardwood forest. It was very beautiful. Martha told me about one of the streams that floods some of the roads in spring.

BABY HORSES!

Ward Hill Road is still tough af, coming from Chase's Toys. My memory from last year is that it is non-trivial, and I was correct. Other hills: fun and not too steep because I don't remember.

After getting to the end of Ward Hill Road, we split off to go get some fresh strawberries and cream! The road to Palmer Hill Farms was gravelly and scary for me. I was glad to have put on a front brake the Saturday prior, at MOFGA Farm&Homestead Day. This ride was fun, and I'm glad we were able to get it in before leaving Jon and Martha's place.

In the evening we arrived in Mt. Desert Island and biked to get some food at Beal's. On the way home we stopped by the Causeway which was very picturesque.

The dock where Beals was, and then the Causeway.

Tuesday: Today our plan was to get to Bass Harbor Head Light and then take the ferry over to Swan's Island. We left the house at 8 and got to the light pretty quickly. We took the route along the water, even though we had heard that it was closed due to storm damage. It was a great choice because when we got there, only a short distance was closed, and the only remaining damage was a very small section of washout, and some rocks here and there. It was very possible to bike on, and very beautiful.

I love biking next to trees. It smells good.

We got to the lighthouse, which was cool but already starting to get busy with tourism, and then realized we were way too early to the 11am ferry. We then biked around Tremont to kill some time.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

After finding a nearby beach where we ate snacks and skipped stones, we returned to the ferry terminal and got on the ferry. Then we immediately set off to Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse. The last portion was gravelly and steep and winding and I had to walk parts of it because I didn't have enough traction.

This beach was pebbly. We skipped stones.

Waiting for the ferry, we saw this ferry employee whose haircut amused us.

Biking on Swan's Island was nice.

The risk of what? Having a good time? This beach was sandy.

Then we decided to check out Fine Sand Beach, where we locked our bikes at the trailhead and hiked a short distance to the beach. The walk was nicer than the beach, haha! We got in the water at the beach and it was so cold it made my feet hurt. Also, there were flies. Still, the water was refreshing and my wet clothes kept me cool for the ride back to the ferry. We were once again early to the ferry so I went into the Lobster and Marine Museum, and we chatted with a group of other cyclists from Massachusetts while we all waited.

After the ferry brought us back to Bass Harbor, we biked westbound and went to Hodgdon's Seafood. Nate set the pace at a pretty fast pace, and we got there very quickly. Hodgdon's Seafood was the best post-ride meal I've ever had, and the best meal I've ever had in Maine. We got the Shore Dinner, which was $39.99 for 1 lobster, 1 crab, 1 lb of steamed mussels, 1 lb of clams, and corn on the cob and coleslaw. Not only was it an unbelievable deal, but it was also super amazing delicious tasted like the ocean i didn't even use butter. Plus the owners were super nice and one of them taught us how to eat our crab and lobsterbody. Also he gave us an extra crab because we were the first Shore Dinner of the season and he had extra crab, and an extra lobsterbody because he had just taught us how to eat it LOL.

Best meal, plus buoys.

After that we were in a state of satiated bliss but we still had to bike back home on Seal Cove Road. This was a somewhat challenging road because it had an initial uphill that I did not think I could do after that meal, and then it became unpaved, and then there were flies attacking us! and then it became very ridged. My chain fell off again because I was backpedaling and it must've gotten bounced off on the ridges. I solved this by not backpedaling at all and instead using the front brake. We got home pretty smoothly after the road became paved once more. And that was the end! Strava here.

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Thursday

I'm back! Gotta update the bike blog because I hate when other blogs suddenly drop off and die. Haven't been biking much lately so nothing to report, but trying to get back on the bike now.

Things I did that I haven't posted:

August 2023 biked around Portland, ME and mid-coast Maine

March 2024 biked to Hakone in Saratoga

Adopted the Mamachari, which was found abandoned in front of the apt building. Fixed the rear flat and now it's my work bike. It has no controls for its electric assist, but it has a rear rack and a front basket, so I just use it as a very heavy (unstealable) single-speed bike when I need to transport plants and such things. It is not easy to ride any grade over 3%. On every other terrain it is fine.

Today we are back in Queens doing a casual ride. Strava here. It was very hot today.

First we went on 20th Ave towards our bagel spot, but Nate went too far and passed it and by then we were at ConEd and we were like let's keep going I don't care about bagels right now. Then my chain fell off right as we got into Astoria Park (at 20th). We biked through AP and then of course we had to ride to Socrates Sculpture Park (it was closed at that time), then doubled back to get on the Triboro Bridge entrance (rode behind a stinky schoolbus for part of that), finally got on the bridge, then crossed to Manhattan via Ward's Island Bridge, which was VERY gross and trashy :(. I would once again like to reiterate how I have previously failed to bike this bridge due to steepness, and this is very much a thing of the past. HA HA!!!!!

After that we went downtown via 2nd Ave and I hated it because too many mopeds, ebikes, potholes, they were repaving from E49th to like E42nd ugh, and too many peds not paying attention who had to be yelled at LOL. We went all the way to Katz's because Nate wanted a pastrami (at 8am). Then I got angry about being in that neighborhood (too hectic!) so we biked across Houston and went on the WSH to eat the sandwich.

Sitting and eating pickles and pastrami looking at New Jersey

Little Island aka Diva Cup Park

Then we kept biking up WSH and went past 125th! Which I've rarely done (the few times documented on this blog for sure)! And I stopped to learn about the Little Red Lighthouse. Nate missed it because he was busy climbing the steep part that comes right after that. We both had to dismount at the next steep part immediately following that.

Then we kept biking and saw that pillar thing that I used to have a photo of on this blog until TinyPic shut down:

Then we kept going until the path led us to this place, and we biked along it until it dead-ended. We also tried to go the other way but it was another dead end. We saw a groundhog! It was moseying along next to the path. I tried to take a photo but it ran away.

What seems to be the end of the WSH bike path?

We got off the WSH bike path, went on Dyckman, then Harlem River Drive (where we saw volcano-mulched trees!!!!), then stopped at Holcombe Rucker Park, and wiggled our way over to the Bronx. My chain fell off for the second time while going towards the Madison Ave Bridge.

After that, finally got back onto Randall's Island where I tried to blast up the ramp up to the bridge. Just checked my Strava and I am literally 1 second slower than my PR and I HATE it!!! wtf!!!! So close to beating it. I knew I could've kept accelerating, too. Dammit.

Then stopped at Lidl for snacks before going home. I had a Zoom interview. (It didn't go that well but who cares.)

After that, we went back outside (Strava here) to go to Kickstand Bicycles and buy pedals/get my chain and potentially chainring replaced. Riding down 2nd Ave for the second time today, yuck! Still too many mopeds. My chain fell off 11 blocks away from destination. Ben and Andrea remembered us and also said the chain would be fine if I just tensioned it by pulling the wheel back. I still bought a bunch of shit from them in case I need it in the future and because I like to patronize their shop. So now I have a spare chainring and chain. I'll bring the cog and tools I have in SF next time I'm here and make the upgrade. Oh and I also bought a front brake :( Yes I am here to admit defeat because it's supposed to rain this weekend and I am not trying to die if my skids or footbrake fails in unfamiliar territory.

Then rode back home; stopped at Athens Park, another must-visit fave.

Who knew this was an actual gift from Greece to Mayor Giuliani (I guess anyone who bothered to read the plaque. It's a good gift.)

Also couldn't resist attempting 75th St Pop but I was 2 seconds slower than my PR! Ugh I will try again.

Anyway we logged a bunch of miles today and I am not that tired but it was very hot today (which only sucks if you stop moving) and I am very sticky from being sweaty and accumulating dust.

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Saturday

I am basically a weekend warrior now. Oh well.

It's Thanksgiving weekend! Nate and I biked to Livermore via 84 and through Pleasanton today. Niles Canyon Road is not that fun to ride because the shoulder is very narrow and it is also a main artery for cars to cut through the mountains.

Some notes:

Flat. I actually hate flats because it is a lot of pressure to maintain a clippy speed, and there are no excuses to "rest," and I am very lazy. I am very slow on flats. My avg RPM is very bad. However I will admit that this route is a very good training route for me to be less of a slacker.

Shoulder is so damn narrow and there are a lot of those bumps along the edge of the road that make cars alert, but some were hidden by the white boundary line and we accidentally rode over some and scared ourselves.

We saw a LOT of roadkill. It was quite sad. There was a dead snake (this made me cry because I couldn't tell that it was dead at first so I backtracked to try and shoo it off the road but when we saw it up close it was dead and its face was very dead in a tragic way), a dead squirrel, a dead raccoon, a dead fox, and more dead things that were beyond recognition.

We also found a BMX park! It was cool. I was very afraid of riding in dirt, but turns out that my 40mm tires do their jobs and it was fine and not scary at all. I did a loop around the beginner course. Other people (adults and children) were doing the more advanced courses and actually getting some air. It was cool!

On the way back we left Livermore a little late after walking around and learning about the local history at the museum and exploring and eating, so we were worried we wouldn't have daylight to bike home, so we were really gunning it. I had a slight buzz from my 1 beer (lol), so I was very amped up initially (plus I had to pee).

We've been watching a LOT of Yowamushi Pedal. My entire mental process is that show. Particularly the scenes where people are already gassed but they just find more in their legs and shoot forward and magically catch up. Although I think I can only do that because Nate was slowing down to wait for me. Or because the grade started to decrease.

Our return trip averaged 18mph over 22ish miles so I am very pleased. Thank you Wahoo Elemnt for helping me keep a reasonable pace and motivating me to move my legs a little more each time I started lagging.

Going up the final small incline on Mission (238) toward Decoto, I honestly felt like I was gonna burst or throw up if I continued in that fashion. I think I was moving above 20 and just. Man. Could mentally keep going but physically the body was in warning mode. It felt GREAT to get to that point because usually it's the opposite. Usually I'm mentally weak and the body is fine. So I was thrilled to finally be pushing myself.

Anyway here's a Strava, courtesy of Wahoo Elemnt: There and back

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Saturday (errands)

I am really enjoying the ride from my house to Niles on 238. Did it on Thursday as well. Such a lovely straight stretch. I haven't done it from Niles to my house though. I anticipate it will be more uphill/headwindy.

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NY 2022

Nate and I went to NY last week (or two weeks ago? I'm late on writing posts) to see *fall color*. We biked around, mostly to midtown because we had to drop off various bicycles for service at Kickstand Bicycles.

Rode at Kissena with Melanie the first day.

Did a small 40mi ride up on the Empire State Trail (from the Bx to Chappaqua, then over to Ossining) on Nov 1st. It was bliss because it had just rained the night before and no one was around. Fall leaves were everywhere which was lovely. Not too sunny.

Nov 3rd we did a ride from Bayard Cutting Arboretum going further east. Made it to Mastic and the far side of Fire Island and then took the train from Yaphank. Mostly we were riding on Montauk Highway, which sucks. Took a few detours exploring small towns we passed through.

We also did a bunch of riding around town. Fun to explore. NY is fun to ride around because there is a lot of stuff and it always feels like you arrive at the destination immediately. Maybe because it is so hectic? Your mind blacks out the whole ride?

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Melanie

Melanie was in town last week. I met up with her at Rockridge BART and we got dinner and rode around to Indian Rock Park, and then the Berkeley Rose Garden. She had done a grueling 3h workout before that, so I was able to match her pace.

The following day we decided to go to Hellyer for a Monday Night practice. This was especially exciting because Melanie has never ridden at Hellyer. The workout was, as usual, brutal.

We started with a many-lap warmup in which we did a rotating paceline. I was preoccupied with nervousness about not fucking up the rotation, and not fucking up the pace, so I didn't even think about the length of warmup. I did however notice that my hands were getting a little numb. I still hate this saddle.

After that surprisingly chill warmup (I understand that warmups are supposed to be relatively chill, but they never are, for me), we did some absolute masochism where we were supposed to keep a ~25mph pace on the sprinter's lane and then practice taking pulls and smoothly rejoining the paceline. Fat fucking chance!!!! I could not even hang on to anybody's wheel. I got in maybe one or two laps at speed, with some encouragement from Fergus.

Next was an exercise in sadism, where we did Take-A-Lap, but with such a small group that I found myself taking a lap after having just returned from the lap (ok, for me it's always 2+ laps) multiple times. Just. Brutal.

Anyway it was fun to ride with Melanie, as always, and it was nice to be back at the track.

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Tuesday

Took Bart to Union City/Fremont to check out Ardenwood. Normally I would've biked there via Dumbarton (which I still have never done), but I figured I should save my energy for the ride back.

Didn't feel inspired to draw anything at Ardenwood, but I biked around Coyote Hills Regional (actually, I got lost along Alameda Creek trying to get there) and then finally settled down to draw a bit. Unfortunately I was hungry by then so I wanted to get food. Also it was so sunny and I think I wasn't drinking enough water. I did pass by adequate drinking stations, which was nice! Thank you East Bay Regional Parks.

Went to Kabayan Kusina in Union City, but took my food to go because there wasn't really bike parking that I trusted. Then I wanted to bike to BART station and eat while waiting for BART, but I got lost and finally just sat down on a random sidewalk corner and opened up my food and lo and behold I forgot to ask for utensils. I ate the lumpia with my gross fingers and saved the chicken for later. Also mad cars were looking at me funny cuz I guess I looked either stranded or homeless or both? Whatever, I been sitting on sidewalks for fun for decades. Also why does this town even have sidewalks. There were no pedestrians anywhere.

Anyway I was trying to get to South Hayward BART station but I missed a turn so much that I just went back to Union City BART station. Got off at 16th and Mission which was such a god damn nightmare man I hate the Mission so much. Plus, 5pm commuter traffic was happening along the Panhandle so I just turned right at Masonic because I'd rather go up Masonic and take Geary than deal with other fuckers. Finally got home and ate the rest of my food.

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Friday and Monday

Friday: Had a field trip at San Bruno Mountain for class. I rode my bike because I do not own a car. It was pretty straightforward. Go from my house to Alemany, then somehow wiggle onto Crocker Ave and boom follow that to the parking lot. It was not too steep, save for the three or four blocks on Crocker Ave. Oof. I almost fell off my bike while zigzagging that. This is what I get for not biking for the last six months. And for chilling on my 47x19. I really need to set that back to a realistic gearing.

Monday: Went to draw at a new location that I have never known: Ring Mountain Preserve. Brought my lock to lock up my bike while I went for a hike+draw. Lock tucks nicely between my hip and my Tunitas bag, which fit my waterbottle, sketchbook, pen, and batterypack.

Strava there

On the way there, I voluntarily did Camino Alto, just to prove to myself that this climb is not difficult. In previous rides when I've been in much better shape, I have feared and avoided this climb. WHY! It is a fun climb. No PR on Strava though. Next time.

Then I got slightly lost trying to cross the freeway. Made it though, and had a nice ride along Corte Madera Marsh State Marine Park. Then parked my bike outside and drew for a few hours.

Strava return ride

I wanted to bike to the other side and keep hiking+drawing, but I was too hungry, and I had forgotten my wallet at home, so I just headed home. On the first small climb along Paradise Dr, I heard someone behind me rapidly changing gears, and this motivated me to gtfaway from them. I succeeded. Maybe it was the person who passed me on the downhill later. I don't care. You can have your descents.

Then I got lost somewhere trying to join the Bike Route #10 back to Mill Valley? I once again found myself on some sketchy almost-freeway road. But I eventually got to Bayfront Park which was good. I picked up the pace because I was hangry.

Then at Mike's Bikes, some roadie with multiple old racing flags on his seatpost/seatstay wearing a USA jersey was waiting for the light. When the light changed, I hung back to see if he would zoom off and give me some distance. BUT HE DID NOT! So annoying. I was stuck 15-20 feet behind him until one of those lights where no cars were going, and I got impatient and crossed, and then of course this guy picked up the pace and passed me. He got a good amount in front, but then started slowing down near the shops area, and by climbtime I was right on his wheel. AND I FUCKING KNEW HE COULD NOT CLIMB. I still hung back until there was a bit of a pileup with some tourist tandems* right around the bend/at the start of Alexander Ave. Couldn't deal with it anymore so I gassed myself and got in front. For the rest of the climb to GGB I was waiting for someone to pass me but no one did.

Bridge traffic wasn't bad BECAUSE I TOOK THE PED SIDE because I forgot what time they open the bicycle side. Whoops. The peds were nice/not too many/not too oblivious.

Anyway got home and showered and I still haven't eaten. Gonna eat now.

*BTW how the hell do you ride a tandem up Alexander Ave I mean DAMN I prolly couldn't even ride a tandem on flats. Kudos to the tourists I passed cuz they were doing it!

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Tuesday

Even though the previous ride was so un-fun, I did like the plants that I saw, and I did not get a chance to draw them. So today I decided I should go back to Crystal Springs Reservoir and sketch.

The weather was phenomenal today. Fog. And then sun, once I went south for a bit.

I was determined to avoid the terrible route from last time, so I took Skyline starting from Fort Funston. That climb is not even that bad. I don't know why I always dread it. Then, I did not remember which street to cut into Daly City, so I kept going, and then I got nervous because I ended up on the freeway. Classic.

Fortunately, it was a Tuesday (like 9/9:30am?) and not too many cars were around. I stayed on the freeway shoulder and had to cross lanes a few times to get to the 35. Felt good though because I avoided a lot of hills by just staying on Skyline. And no one pulled me over.

Drew some plants, biked along the trail slowly, drew some more plants, etc. Didn't encounter too much other cyclist traffic, which was good. Stopped at Pulgas Water Temple to see what I could draw and refill on water.

A direct route is my favorite kind of route.

I listened to a few episodes of Cultivating Place and Ologies until my phone battery ran low. Then I listened to frog and bird sounds.

On the way back, I got lost at Skyline and Glencourt because I was afraid I'd end up on the freeway again, so I did some idiotic navigating and eventually gave up and just took Callan to Southgate. It was better than doing the reverse direction, but I still hated it, cuz at that point I was hangry.

Smooth sailing after that. Stopped at South Sunset Playground because I left my bag and phone charger there, and then headed home.

Notes: - I like riding by myself. I go 12mph on average. I get to climb at a comfortable pace. I can stop to draw frequently, if I see something cool. And I usually end up on some sketchy road, which is fun? because I get to avoid some other route I don't want to take. - I think I will continue to bike to draw. All I need is water and sketchbook. And gloves, for being cold when I am drawing. - Strava once again dropped my ride so I turned the shit off and just started recording for the ride home. Here it is.

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Ice Cream 2022

Nate and I biked to get ice cream at Mitsuwa. I really did not want to go because I've given up biking in the past few months and I just wanted to live in my sad-sack no-biking pity party.

Also Strava dropped most of my ride but I'm sure it would've been pathetic so maybe that's a plus.

We took the worst possible route through Daly City (Southgate to Callan to Westborough), which reminded me that I am out of shape.

Then we went through Sawyer Camp/Crystal Springs which was nice, and I cheered up because I saw some new plants. And we also saw turkeys! I love turkeys.

The rest of the ride was the standard Alameda de las Pulgas which was terrible and boring and I resumed being grumpy. Also my sitbones really hurt.

The ice cream was good but this was probably one of my worst rides. I complained 1000% more than usual and I did not want to be on a bike. Thinking about it makes me angry at myself and at the world.

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Friday

I turned 30 on Friday and did a bit of biking to feel like less of a turd.

Strava

Started off in Windsor. Foggy morning. Cold. Forgot my biking gloves. Ate a delicious lemon muffin and a less delicious danish figure8 pastry. Saw goats. Sun came out while we were biking through wineries. Pleasant and flat.

My chain fell off at one point. Also I bumped into Nate while trying to stop at an intersection and made him fall over.

Climbs: 1 moderate, 1 extremely difficult, 1 very difficult, and the rest were insignificant, but difficult due to fatigue and inadequate water and snacks.

Descents: I hate descents. But what goes up must come down.

We finished riding before the sun set, which, to me, is good time. The actual mph according to Strava was not impressive. I don't care.

Ended at Oliver's Market in Windsor and ate two apples which were the most delicious apples of my life. Then a burger which honestly was not enough burger. Needed more burger.

Legs are not sore, but body is weak.

I am 30 now. Need to make birthday resolutions.

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Wednesday

Yesterday while wasting time on instagram, I came across Strav.art, and was introduced to the concept of "burbing," i.e., traversing every street in a suburb. I do not live in a suburb, but I do have, uh, streets. Also I like the picture it forms hahahahhahahahah. Initially, I planned to trace every street in my neighborhood. But I quickly realized that my laziness would impede me on hills like 27th/28th and Anza, or Anza Library, or ... the other minor steep bits that I've always avoided riding. In order to make this more appealing to me, I assigned some rules to the challenge and thus a game was born.

Actually, a graph theory problem was born. I no longer know (actually I never knew) how to even attempt this optimization problem that minimizes distance (overlap wastes time), minimizes going up steep hills (needless suffering wastes energy), and maximizes area covered.

Tala and Xo had fun discussing how to solve this problem (I think Windy Postman?) and I had fun not understanding but doing this in real life.

Rules: - 1h time limit - must be a region in which all the edges are filled in - if region meets that requirement, points are awarded based on number of blocks fully outlined

Here is my Strava and a picture of the little deadends that I missed:

I could figure out the largest contiguous region that didn't miss any streets, but I'd rather just score this as 0 and reattempt. Because the whole point of burbing is EVERY street.

Anyway this was a fun hour of my morning. Notes: - Glad I did diagonal zig-zagging because it cut down on waiting for lights - Glad I did right turns onto and left turns off busier streets (Geary). Actually I'm not sure if this even made a difference? Maybe it would've been the same if I had moved northwest-southeast instead of northeast-southwest. - I secondguessed myself many times thinking that I had skipped entire chunks. You can see I leave the diagonal pattern at 15th and Geary because I was afraid I had done the whole thing wrong. - I was so nervous about this that I stopped the clock with 3min to go because idk I suck lol

EDIT: ok those small blips that I thought were streets I missed were actually just like, driveways or parking lots or whatever. They are not named, so they are not streets.