fire on the mountain photo 2009

fire on the mountain (2009 tour)

Yes, folks, it’s that natural and normal time of year again. The hills are alive with the sights and smells of smoke. Yesterday evening looked like a scene out of that primordial soup world of ancient earth – dark orange skies and smoke everywhere providing for an awesome sunset. One smoke column rising straight up from behind one of the rounded mountain peaks up in the western San Gabriel’s looked just like an erupting volcano – I’m pretty sure I heard a pterodactyl’s cry in the distant sky…

ImageCredit:adrianchesterman.com

Saturday 57

Rode out to Santa Monica (the beach) yesterday on Mindful Mule for a CICLE ride. Even though it’s a pretty long ride out there I took Mindful because the roads are pretty rough pretty much the whole way as I went all the way across the city of Los Angeles. Two months ago when I went out to Venice I took Totally Eighties and just got pounded the whole way.

The CICLE ride was fun. We toured some art galleries in association with the Santa Monica Museum of Art. It was a big group of riders – probably about 200. By far the biggest ride CICLE has ever put together.

I was a little concerned about this because Santa Monica has had some conflict in the past couple years between Critical Mass rides and motorists. And there’ve been arrests and complaints and hoopla. We did manage to attract the attention of some cops. I was taking up the rear of the ride as is my usual position when I volunteer for CICLE. I’m the caboose – making sure no one gets dropped. At one point a copper dude pulled up next to me on his motorcycle and inquired about our group and ride. He was pretty cool about the whole thing though and even complimented us on our ride style.

It’s fun riding next to motorcycles (if only for a few seconds.) Mindful Mule was definitely puffing out his chest all proud like. (Actually, I’m not sure if Mindful Mule is a she or a he, but since she’s a mule, I guess the distinction is less significant – no offspring.)

Well, after the group ride I pushed off into the night and rode back through LA. I was reminded of that movie, “A Night on Earth,” (trailer) I think it’s called where they zoom in on four taxi cab drivers in four different cities through out the world and each has whacky experience which somehow brings you to the realization that the city at night is the same all around the world.

This part of the world at night always smells like doughnuts...

worst run

Worst run of the year tonight. Hopefully worst ever. Although I can’t fairly call it a run. More like a speed walk. A slow speed walk. Went a total of one and a quarter miles. Half a mile to the track. One lap on the track. Half a mile home. I think it took me like half an hour. My lower back is jacked up. I thought that easy three mile bike ride to lunch would have loosened it up a bit but no. Electrical spikes shooting all over the place down there (Sciatica.) What’s my cure? Watch the World Track Champ’s and drink mint tea…

am I ready to run?

I had a barefoot running dream last night. I haven't run for a few days - I've been sick. Hoping for a run today, although sickness always seems to throw every part of my body out of whack for no particular reason - now my back hurts. I'm thinking an easy three will get the juices flowing again and everything will be fine.

If you run with forefoot down style (as in barefoot running) but still wear shoes, can you wear those shoes forever until they fall off your feet or would you still need to replace them on a regular basis?

I finally passed the 500 miles mark this year. Seems like it took me a long time. I guess I'm still just about on track for 800 for the year but that is seeming pretty lame at the moment. Maybe I should try for more. But why?

whoa

9.58!

the coldest August I ever spent…

“I can’t believe how cold it is!” I can’t believe I keep saying that. I mean, it’s August, generally the hottest month of the year, and it’s only, like, high-eighties. It could easily be 108. And, it’s really cool in the morning and the evening. It’s amazing. I almost needed a sweater to sit outside with my wine last night. I’ll probably need to start bringing my gloves with me on bike rides soon. The forecast for next Sunday is 81 degrees! It’s unheard of. I have to say, I’m liking this global climate change thing…

Currently reading:
Los Angeles – A.M. Homes
The Mojave – David Darlington

slasher

Had a massive blowout on the road bike yesterday. Luckily I was at low speed having just started through an intersection after a red light. Heard a really loud pow-pop and was instantly riding on the rim. I must have ridden over something just awful. There was an inch-long slash right through the tire tread and inner tube. As always, I had a spare tube with me, but it took a little work to prep the tire. I’ve been carrying around a couple feet of duct tape with me for about a year in anticipation of this blowout. I taped both sides of the slash and placed a long strip of tape several layers thick in between the new tube and the tire before pumping up – otherwise the inner tube would have pushed right through the hole in the tire and popped again. I was able to limp home on probably about 50psi – I was only about 5 miles out.

Although these blowout events are pretty rare I would like to be a little more prepared for them in the future. On really long rides it’s probably a good idea to bring a spare tire. Maybe some thread and needle or fishing-line and needle to suture up slashes. I cut about a four inch piece out of the ruined tire when I got home and will carry that around to create structural support in between the tube and future slashes.

Right now I’ve got another old tire on the rear wheel and have continued riding this weekend. But I also ordered some new tires that should help me avoid most flats in the future - made by Schwalbe - I have tires from this company on Mindful Mule and they’ve been great. They’re a little pricy, but you’re supposed to be able to ride over glass and tacks and knives and such and not get flats so maybe in the end I’ll save money on tubes – and time off the road.