We've had an exceptionally normal June and July. I mean, normally the temperatures and winds and stuff are like this, but usually with more variation. I'll take it, though. Every day that's not offshore flow, and no local fires is another day closer to the end of fire season.

So there was this in camp Saturday afternoon. I think it was a cicada killer wasp ripping apart a small cicada. Notice the legs torn off. After a few minutes it finally ripped the thing in two and flew off with the front half. Freaky.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fe8c9e123.jpeg

Why does she wear one arm warmer?

Pup.

Compression sleeve - helps blood flow and removal of lactic acid.

In the race showed this evening she wore it on the opposite arm.

Fixed

Memory problems?

Going to be a very uncomfortable morning here @ work. Friday the company returned to abuse mode. Mandatory overtime, or Slavery mode. 17 hours. Sending out to few people to do dangerous work shorthanded. Telling a mother that she had to stay @ work when she needed to pick up her children. Putting profits over safety. This is the company that uses "200% accountability for saftey" until one of the wigs pulls a ***** and doesn't bother to schedule things appropriately, then it's dumped on us. Safety goes out the wondow.

Had A nice ride yesterday. Managed to go with all the fast skinny guys, was at the back of the pack, but hanging on.
you should have seen the looks when the fat guy rode around them going up hill! Lol. I blew up 20ft from the top but it was worth it just to see those shocked faces!

Time to walk.
The lifeguards at the local pool have walked.

osha

Not as heavy as it may look. There is relatively little in those rear bags. A lot of my load is driven by potential weather conditions. No need for things like arm and leg warmers, rain pants and warm socks and gloves for that trip. I didn't even bring the zip-on legs of my convertible pants.

Many people think that the amount of stuff is directly proportional to the length of the trip. For me, that true around "the edges." For example, if I am taking a long weekend I am not going to fill my stove's fuel battle or my squeeze bottle of olive oil for cooking all the way. When I am pacing I think "Am I likely to need X, and what are the potential consequences if I don't bring it?" Made a poor decision in 2014 during a Montana tour with some high passes. Got weight weenie fever just before the trip and left my heavier rain jacket at home and only took a cheap shell. Also skipped the good winter gloves and brought a medium weight, not waterproof pair. Twice got caught in cold rain events at elevation. The second time left me hypothermic on the descent. My hands became like blocks of ice. I couldn't work the brakes well. Good thing I didn't need to. The road was empty and the descent was not technical.

It's a workers market until it isn't, though I expect the skills trade sector will continue to be able to write their own ticket, moving forward. The only ones that will ultimately suffer, is the consumer.

How heavy is heavy?

I never weigh the load. My point was that I sometimes travel with more. Look at that rear bag. Very floppy because it's nowhere near capacity. That day I did have to carry dinner and breakfast from the start. Also picked up a zucchini and a couple fo Roma tomatoes from a farm stand maybe 16 miles from the end of the 60 mile day.

Hmmm. Sounds a bit rude.....

wut

My touring bike was between 55-60 pounds but I didn't camp out. I only ever did motel touring. My friend who I went cross country weighed his bike @ 75 pounds. We had cold weather clothing which we didn't need after the first week so we mailed some stuff home.

3 of us did a 5 day tour once and one friend who was very strong carried extra stuff to bring his bike up close to 100 pounds. He had an espresso machine and a road atlas with him. The extra weight made the two of us equal at around 275 pounds, total. The longest day had us on the road for 11 hours and near the end he started racing recreational riders out on their evening rides along the coast. Fun trip.

We met a man from Switzerland and he was touring California on a hardtail mtb which we think was close to 150 pounds. He had so much stuff piled on the rear of the bike it would just go into a wheelie when he got off of it. While he was in L.A. a friend lent him a road bike and he easily rode with the fast guys on a club ride.

Why would he create that for the 2020 Olympics this is the 2021 Olympics?:foo:

Inexperienced tourers put an insane amount of stuff on their bikes. Inexperienced travelers severely overpack as well. Prolly backpackers too. The first and last time I backpacked was 1972, five days across the backcountry in Yosemite. I overpacked, mainly with a whole pineapple and canned goods, so the load lightened as I went along.

I toured around Oregon with my ex wife. It was her first trip beyond an overnighter. She wanted to bring all sorts of stuff, like a hair dryer. I kept reminding her she could bring whatever she wanted as long as she was willing to carry it. When she understood I wasn't going to carry it for her, the load got lighter.

That has been the standing rule in our house for just about forever and regardless of the form of travel - if you want to take it you can, but you have to carry it all.

Nice, short ride this morning and now having the kids help me bang out some lemon bars while listening to Smashing Pumpkins. You know - Monday.

Sounds like you're doing it right. My 16yo daughter has been repeatedly listening to a playlist of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Weezer, The Pixies, Live, and other similar 90's bands..."my" music. My 2 daughter and I will be going to the Green Day/Weezer concert next month. They're as excited about it as I am.