AKA Street Sign of the Day: 6
Wait, there is a cow on this sign
The other day I was biking in the valley, which is over 15 degrees hotter than where I live. That is good, though – I need to start biking in evil dry heat to toughen myself up for the death valley century in the fall.
I looked on MapMyRide.com earlier and saw a nice 20 mile loop from Topanga Canyon to Kanan Rd., the entire way on Mulholland Highway. Great! Hills, canyons, great!! I need to do more climbing.
Alas, I didn’t get out there till 6 PM, but hey, sunset at 8 PM. Even with major hills, I can do this in two hours. No problem.
Well. Let me tell you – there were problems. I will list them out in chronological order, as well as the solution.
- Rocks everywhere on the road. Why? Because, as the multiple signs indicated, the area was all rock slide territory. Rocks the size of my fist and bigger, everywhere.
- After biking forever, I found myself half mile from Kanan, at the bottom of my friend’s street. It was 15 miles! Not 10!
- I was almost out of water. I go through two bottles of water every 20 miles. Therefore, not enough water to get home.
- Called friend, acted passive aggressive and didn’t want to inconvenience him (he was still at work)
- Biked five miles back, realized I would not get back before the sun set, and there were NO street lights on the canyon roads
- Got off bike, texted friend an SOS. Continued to bike.
- Knight in Shining Armor (aka Kyle) showed up. Had nice cold Mexi-Coke (Coca Cola from Mexico, which means it has real sugar)
- Knight in Shining Armor drove my a$$ back to my car (ten miles away). Yes. I got SWEPT. SWEPT!
Ultimately, I DID do 20 miles! My originally intended ride. Sigh.
Here is a collection of rock slide images I found online, and probably saw a few of today. None of the ones I saw today had a cow.
This is fairly clear cut
Norway's version of the sign. I dig the action stripes
This is what my ride looked like
Ever bike on a road covered in ‘death cookies’ (rocks)? Ever seen a variant of this sign, ignore it, move on ahead, then regret it??
Dang, foxy biker babe, hollahhh
So here I am, showing off my new head condom (no, I don’t mean the helmet), I mean the wrap under the helmet. All the padding in my helmet wore off, so I needed something to protect my delicate girl skin.
Also rockin’ my regular accessories and my favorite cycling jersey that dad brought back from Italy for me.
So while cruisin’ down the street, getting annoyed at a dood drafting me the entire time (bad headwinds by the ocean), I roll into King Harbor in Redondo Beach. The bike lane cuts through a pier with stores, with a ‘walk your bike’ section. I usually do walk my bike, or at least unclip a foot and go really slow (high pedestrian traffic’) when I notice two things:
1. Lots of police. Therefore, I get my butt off the bike asap (Yes, they will and CAN ticket you!)
2. A table laden with biker friendly food (water, bananas, crackers, etc)
No Food For You
I stopped by the table, wondering if some kind of supported bike ride was going on. I stared at the sign ON the table, and realized it was the catering for House M.D., a show I actually watch and like. Then I look around and see a sign that says “you are being filmed!”.
Once I identified the following..
1. the food is not for me
2. police are probably there for filming
3. i may or may not be captured on film
4. Hugh Laurie is not within range
I bailed. Damn you, Hollywood, all up in my bike laaaaane!!!
Here are some nice pictures I took on my way home from the hills of Palos Verdes (click to see larger size):
Long stretches of road and lovely scenery
View from the top - worth the hills
p.s. A freakin’ bee hit my face while riding
On my trek fiddy two, bumpin’ down tha street
Sunshine’s out ta get me and burn my sexy meat
Protectin’ my sweet necessities with my fly accessories
To avoid that lobstah* action and get a pimp reaction
w3rd
So I posted about what to carry in your bike bag, but what about on your own being (this is why bike jerseys have giant pockets in the back!) or apply prior to your ride (*cough sunblock and chamois cough*)?
I won't leave the house without this stuff
A. Helmet
B. Road ID**
C. Sunblock. Seriously.
D. Solid Food
E. Gelatinous food (aka Gel, Goo)
F. ARM covers!!!
G. Chamois cream 
H. Optional: Heart Rate Monitor
Don't let this happen to you
Think I harp on too much about sun block in all my posts? The image to the right was taken TWO MONTHS after the burn happened. I was lobster red. I foolishly did not put on ANY sunblock, went for a 50+ mile ride (and bonked, by the way) and ended up with the most horrific tan line evah. Then I went to the pool at the gym and was laughed at by young adults, which is apparently nothing new for me.
The moral of my tale of woe is to wear sunblock. Even if it’s cloudy. There are sun protecting arm covers out there, they are amazing. I don’t leave home without them anymore.
Is there any gear/apparel you refuse to leave home without? What is it?
*I am from New England so I can totally drop that ‘r’ in lobster.
**Ever since I got the Road ID, I have felt SO much safer riding around (I ride long distances solo). I actually just wear it all the time now. What if I got hit while just crossing the street? I’m also a horrible driver – a serious car crash could happen any time! Essentially, you provide all your medical/health info on their site and paramedics/police/person who finds your body can call the number on your bracelet and find out your blood type/allergies/emergency contacts, etc. It also comes in pink.
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