Distractions

Followers (all 5 of you)!  What an incredibly emotional and crazy past month.  I feel as though I've let you and I down.  Here I am writing a blog about my amazing adventures of preparing for a 545 mile bike ride.  And in the past three weeks I have rode.... once.  Yeah. Not doing so well for this training.  The past few weeks I have put my job first, and everything else second.  Not entirely true, I have kept a friend at the forefront of all my duties, job, life, relationships and responsibilities.  However, in a close second was my job, and a very far distant third was my friends, family and boyfriend.  And ending the pack in fourth place, my training.  Well, still not exactly true.  I did workout at the gym hard core, but mostly it was to relieve the stresses of life.  But I know that I need endurance so I choose to workout a minimum of four and maximum of six days a week, trying to burn 550 calories each trip.  So I did keep the training though at the forefront of my mind, but mostly to burn off the stresses of life that were pissing me off.  It's funny, at one point, I took Turbo Kick Box and fought the reflection in the mirror.  That was a rough couple days.  I was mad at myself for not being in control of myself.  That is a lot to admit here to those that read this, but, I promised all the tribulations that will go with this upcoming ride.  I was horribly upset with myself.  I was jeopardizing everything in my life all for a job.   I was in a unique place; my work requires me to be a rock. Solid and unwavering to my team and our goals.  A month ago we were on the heels of a crazy Holiday install and I knew the demands on me were going to be extreme.  Constantly on call taking phone calls from 6 am to 2 am (yeah, that's only fours off a night).  Working 9-17 hours a day.  Brain thinking, analzingly, logistically thinking non stop. Physically demanding and brain draining. 
My friend, needed a rock to get through her difficult time in life (still need to hold the anonymity). And being a rock to your friend when you feel that same hurt that you are helping them through was a situation I had never been in.  I lost control of my emotional capacities. I was tired, exhausted that I was being such a strength to my friend and my job that I let myself and my personal relationships go.  That was difficult.  One day, I went to Turbo Kick Box and did the class.  In the class, I saw my reflection, and I boxed it.  I was that upset with myself and seeing what was crumbling around me, I fought myself.  It was intense.  I beat the crap out of my reflection.  I cried.  I knew that I had to pull myself out of my hole I dug for myself and get my life back on track.  Well, I did that.  Slowly.  Once Holidays at work got installed, my body gave out on me.  Literally, I got sicker than I have been in a while.  And my body, not a reflection of myself in the mirror, knocked me out flat on my ass. But it was what I needed.  I am happy to say that I have taken this past week to focus on myself first and foremost, because without me being in my prime spot, I cant be there for others.  I am still there for my friend and will be for as long as they need me to be there.  But today, I "spring" clean my cottage and am getting everything back in order.  I have reintroduced myself to my loved ones and they have welcomed me back.  I have brought my smile back to my friends and they are happy to see Ricky back to where he was not long ago.  And staring lovingly at me from across the room right now, is Blanch, asking for a date again.  I will go out this weekend, with or without a buddy, and start my track towards San Fransisco again.  I am sure that I will have more things that come up that will pull me into situations where balancing life will be hard, but, I know that this next time, I need to rely on my friends and loved ones, as they will be there for me.

Amazing People

I have an amazing group of people in my life.  It is hard for me to write this so as to keep anonymity for those I want to talk about.  Some I can say things more freely about.  Others, I will keep my words brief and to the point.

First, bike riding updates. I have not rode in a while.  I rode last Saturday 11/5.  But since then I have not rode and my next trip isn't until next Sunday!

It was an emotional ride on Saturday.  I had very little sleep and a rough night with my closest friend.  She was having a rough night and needed me.  I was there for her and I still get teary eyed writing these words.  But through a few calls and lots of texts, we made it through her hardest day she has ever had.  I was pissed to what happened.  I couldn't believe how unfair life is.  I decided that I had enough.  I took off and just rode.  Along the way I had to make some calls.  They were hard calls to make, lots of tears shed, but I needed to let people know what was going on.  The hardest call was to Jose, my boyfriend.  I needed him.  I was lost, hurting and needed that verbal loving embrace his voice provides to tell me that it was going to be ok.  OK, now I have tears on my checks.  But he was there for me.  His words let me know that though life throws you fast balls that smack you square in the crotch, no words can take away the hurt.  Friends, love and a shoulder to lean on and an open ear will help lessen the pain.

I also have amazing leadership at work.  They called to check in on me and make sure I was ok.  They gave me words of advice and a sounding board for my emotions.  They also stepped in for me on covering my shifts to give me the time to be there for my friend.  I appreciate them for their leadership, strength and support.

Nicole O., what an amazing person. She has been a rock this past week as I work through life and an absolutely chaotic work Holiday install.  Someone who can give so generously and without any need for acknowledgment or credit is truly an awesome friend.  I owe you, what, I don't know.  But when you need a work sounding board, coverage, or just a ear to let the words flow on, let me know.

Danny, thanks for being my laughing friend.  You make the days so much better and fun.  And thanks for being my workout partner along with Kira.  I need this for my life change and upcoming ride.  Without you pushing me to take these classes, this upcoming ride would not be possible.

Jose.  I know I mentioned him above. But I am fortunate to have met such an amazing and honest person.  This has been a challenging week for me, and I appreciate who he is and the advice he has given me to be a better friend to my friend who needs me.  He is a rock, and I appreciate him more each day.  He also reminds me that I need to ride; this is going to be intense and I need to train.  He is there for me to keep me on track and support each peddle stroke I do.  I love him, greater than the distance from Chickentown to the 25th hour island of the Abarat.

Lastly, my amazing father.  Dad, I hurt right now.  The pain my heart feels sucks.  I dont want to blog all my emotions onto this page, but those who read it now whats going on.  And I hurt.  I feel like an ass. I feel low.  And I feel like life can be unfair.  I must say that this has been one of the shittier weeks in my life.  But, 2 years ago today, I got one of the worst and best phone calls a son could ever recieve.  It's not everyday you get a call saying dad was lost in the woods and survived the bear attack.  But then you realize if any person were to survive that, it would be you!  Hence the best phone call I have ever received.  Well, I got that call.  I hurt then as I hurt now.  But I have a fantastic father who got through it.  You are an amazing person and each painful moment this ride or its effects casues on me, I know that I have the Guy family strength in my blood and I will be fine.  I love you.

And a thanks to you who read this blog.  Your support of who I am, what I am doing and this journey means so much.

Hills and Blood

Friends.  It has been two weeks since I posted.  Yes, I know I said I would post weekly, but I have just been crazy busy!  Work, friends, social and sleep.  I am glad to have a night off with me, my laptop and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on in the background :)  (Did I just admit that??)

So, last Friday (a week and a day ago) I went with Dave to 4S Ranch area of San Diego.  We ended up doing a 30 mile ride!  It was great!  This was my first hills ride.  I was tired and hurting the day after.  It was fun.  I am linking below the route.  But it was moderate hills with 2 killer ones that really pushed us.  I was sweating soooo much.  But we kicked ass, doing the ride in two and a half hours.  We rode through Wisteria Lane, but didn't see any housewives (it truly was a picturesque road).  Got lost only briefly, but that was ok because it added the miles and helped with the training.  Thanks Dave for another great ride!

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=carmel+country+&+sr-56,+san+diego&daddr=el+camino+real+and+san+deguito+road,+san+diego+to:camino+del+sur+and+camino+del+norte,+san+diego+to:4s+ranch+parkway+and+camino+san+bernardo,+san+diego+to:33.0148177,-117.1245564+to:lone+quail+road+and+camino+del+norte,+san+diego+to:33.016297,-117.1485436+to:camino+del+sur+carmel+valley+road,+san+diego+to:Camino+del+sur+and+Ted+Willams+Parkway,+San+diego+to:Carmel+country+road+&+Sr-56,+san+diego&hl=en&sll=32.976765,-117.177835&sspn=0.144293,0.161877&geocode=FYaP9gEdgRMD-SFfD8DlsXYQwCkJmC-lPAbcgDEfQPoD_96RVg;FT8r9wEd9TED-SmrI7bt8QjcgDHmV_qOFbPuPg;FUXd9wEdJdYE-SkdBPfV-PbbgDE9fL8ca_f3EQ;FSCw9wEdV_UE-SnDzjAmBffbgDFbivhA5bwfDQ;FSHE9wEdNNIE-SkBcFgvAPfbgDEb9atHn-QAMw;FefU9wEdEeQE-Sm_YMks_PbbgDEeK7FMOsz_9Q;FenJ9wEdgXQE-SmFxs62SfbbgDFjOtx59a0XIg;FcU79wEdHWQE-SmfcWWGlffbgDGt0JWJtgYUAA;FUHg9gEdOW0E-SnpWmDkF_jbgDF-DHXzSgSLZw;FYaP9gEdgRMD-SFfD8DlsXYQwCkJmC-lPAbcgDEfQPoD_96RVg&vpsrc=0&dirflg=b&mra=ls&via=4,6&t=h&z=13&lci=bike

Now for the blood.  I crashed!!!!  Yes, I hit that milestone!  My car needed some work done so I took it in and took my bike with the intention of riding around Mission Bay while I waited.  I started down Rose Creek bike path.  Let me tell you.  That was interesting at 8 am.  A few kids smoking pot, some homeless pacing around and/or cracked out, lots of camps with people sleeping.  I wasn't scared, but it wasn't a place where I wanted to linger with a flat.  So I turned around and started to bike back.  I realized I was too hot so I went to brake to take my long sleeve off and when I stopped, my bike tipped the other way from where I was hoping to go.  I couldn't unclip my foot in time so I fell over onto a tree stump! It was pretty fantastic.  I don't think I was caught, but my ego burst and I quickly got up and drove away.  No cuts, just some scratches and grease on my leg.  But wait Ricky, where's the blood you mentioned......

I crashed a second time!  I rode out to the mouth of the San Diego River.  It was so beautiful.  I was right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, on a jetty, with the ferrel cats all around and the old man feeding them.  Still, it is pretty cool to live right by the ocean.  I had been on the streets for 3 hours and had to pee.  There was a small park close by and no one around.  I figured I could leave my bike and it would be ok.  There were also a handful of convicts cleaning the bay area with some cops so I thought I would be fine.  After going pee (which is hard to do when your in bibs and a jersey), I got on the bike to ride away.  Clipped the left foot in, then picked up the right foot to clip that in, and fell over on my left side.  It smarted so bad.  I landed on my elbow and scrapped the heck out of my leg with the gears.  The blood started flowing right away!  Just dripping down my leg, I was so embarrassed, as everyone saw since I yelped out as I was falling.  I rode over behind the restroom on some grass and tended to my wounds.  It wasn't bad, but man, I was feeling low and just wanted to go home.  Here are some pics.

 (Just got home. Blood soaked bandaid.)

(After removing the bandaid and cleaning it up)

However, I am glad I had a backpack on me.  I had bandaids and cleaner and antibiotic cream.  I never thought to take bandaids with me, but now I know to put some in my jersey just in case!

I will go out again on the bike here this weekend.  I took some time off this week from the bike and gym.  My body hit a brick wall and I was tired.  Stay tuned friends!

Body step and long rides dont mix

Wow.  Just got back from a ride.  Not being too familiar with routes in SD, I choose to do the same route I did last week with Steve.  It was great.  I went with my friend Dave.  It was great.  The weather was perfect.  It was cool and overcast, which is great as there was no sun beating down on me and the weather kept you cool.  Dave was a good riding buddy.  He and I had a good pace and cadence.  What is funny is he was all in black.  We had to catch the ferry to San Diego.  So I passed him and said "lets go!  Got to catch the ferry" and I took off at a moderate pace.  Well I looked over my shoulder and he is on me, literally right on my ass drafting me (I think its drafting, or drifting, either or).  So I sped up, he speeds up.  I am thinking, thanks for motivating me Dave, but I am still new, get off my tail or we will crash and burn.  I couldn't keep up so I shifted to ease the thighs burning and Dave passes me.  Low and behold, it wasn't Dave!  Oops.  But man, that was scary to see someone right on me, inches away.  I didn't like it.  Yeah, I took the brunt of the wind and you got the easy way, but give a man some room!  Dave wants to go again so I am happy that he is into riding again and hope that he keeps me motivated and going.  It is nice to have someone else rely on you being there bright and early so you don't get lazy and not ride.  Also, Steve already sent an email for the next ride.  So I am pretty lucky that I have friends who also ride who will keep me going!
However, as the title says, BodyStep (think a step class on speed) the day before a long ride, doesn't mix too well.  Thanks to Emily and Kira, I took an amazing step class that incorporated some light dancing and step.  Yes, slightly unmasculine, but it was super fun and amazing.  I sweated so much.  A literal fountain of sweat puring off of me.  But man, my legs hurt.  Tomorrow will be a bad day for my sexy legs!

First Bike Ride!!!! One day, 3 days worth of posts (post 3)

(I am all caught up with posts.  So this post is specific to today.  Yay me :) )

Today was the day.  My first big boy bike ride!  I am so so happy with life right now.  Steve, a friend who was probably the catalyst for me even considering riding a bike, invited me on a bike ride around the bay.  It was a 23 mile ride and beautiful.  Steve's friend Jorge accompanied us. He was cool (and caught me prior to falling on top of him). We started downtown at the County Admin Building.  We took the bay around down to IB, then up the silver strand to Coronado and ferried across to San Diego.  Riding a bike is amazing. You see views you would have never seen while driving a car.  My biggest struggle was the clips! I can unclip no problem.  But clipping in, not so much.  That was where I almost fell on Jorge, within yards of my car.  Oh well.  I will get the hang of it.  But, the ride was nice, beautiful day, great people.  I strutted my stuff around in my biker shorts (don't worry, full body shot coming soon!) and even got take out from Daphnes in my gear :)  Blanch was great.  She shifted gears smoothly, braked well and kept up with the ride.  Her and I almost ate it on a bump in the rode that nearly knocked me down, but she got me through it without more than a stumble.  Oh, and I drank water while riding (for non bikers, this is much harder than it looks).  Still have a slight fear.  I almost side swiped a moving car; the lane split with right turns to the right of the bike lane and forward traffic to the left of me.  The car on the right scared me as I was closer to them and they were moving along at an amazing pace.  It threw me for a loop and scared the crap out of me.  Also, Jorge was telling me that just last week a cab clipped his front tire and he took a stumble.  He is fine, minus the cut on his face.  I wont lie, this is nerve racking (I will blog the story at some point, not tonight).  Also, cars may be bad, but other bikers, roller bladers and pedestrians are just as bad if not worse.  The bike paths are congested and narrow.  It is going to take some getting used to being in a group of people and riding.  Still though, I have never been so happy with my life.  I don't know what more to say.  I can only say that the euphoria of riding was amazing and that I am on the best high of my life.  I cant wait to tell you about the next ride, my experiences, the sights I get to see, and my first fall.
To cap off the night, a very good Martini (thanks Tony) and a friend who wants to ride!  Let's go Dave!

Jorge and I

 Steve and I

Link to my route from today.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/53734916

One day, 3 days worth of posts (post 2) Fundrasing Party!

(This post should have been submitted Oct 5th in the ??.  Unfortunately, this was my birthday week so I am just now catching up.  I also had quite a hangover from the 4th so who knows if this would have gone up on the 5th! So lets pretend today is October 5th, definitely in the PM  :) )

Good lord, what a night!  Besdies having an awesome birthday day (pumpkin bagel, bike ride, pumpkin latte in the afternoon) I celebrated my birthday at Bamboo Lounge, a wine bar in Hillcrest.  I am blessed!  I have such an amazing group of friends.  I chose to use my birthday as an opening night fundraiser to kick off my $3000 needed/$4444 goal to ride in the AIDS Lifecyle.  The food was great, the drinks flowed nicely.  However, in that one day, I raised..... wait for it...... $1005 dollars to my goal!  What the @$#&.  That is so AWESOME!!!!  Thank you friends so much.  You are the best ever and I could not feel any more fortunate that to have a great group of friends in my life.  The pig alone raised $70.  Amongst the online donation and two generous gifts of $350 and a matching $300 gift, I am one third of my way to raising the money to ride and one quarter of the way to my goal (4 is my favorite number, hence the goal of $4444).  After Bamboo Lounge, well, ask Jenna, Kira, Danny, Ryan or Jose.  I don't recall much from that part of the night :)
Again, thanks and I send my love to my friends for being kick ass people.  Enjoy the pics!

The boys (Joey, Dustin, Ryan, I, Manny, Garrison)

 Friends! (Nicole, Dustin, Ellen, Lindsay, Byron, Sebastian)

 (Jose, I, Randy)

 The girls and Joey (Danny, Kira, Jenna, Joey)

 Kira and I (she kept my wine glass full!)

 The boys of Dolphin and Mama Nicole :)

 American Gothic

 See, I told you!

 More of the girls and Joey (Jenna, Danny, Joey, Jaimie)

 The besty and I, Ellen

 Jose and I (heart emoticon if I knew how to)

 The besty and the boyfriend!

 Kristi and I

Till next time (which will be tonight seeing as I am doing three blogs in one day)

One day, 3 days worth of posts (post 1,) My 30th Birthday!

(this post should have been submitted Oct 4th in the AM.  Unfortunately, this was my birthday week so I am just now catching up.  So lets pretend today is October 4th around 11 am  :) )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!
Today is October 4th, my 30th birthday!  And so far it has been awesome!  I had the most wonderful morning when Jose gave me my birthday gift just minutes into October 4th.  Besides giving me the gift of being the most thoughtful and amazing man I have had the fortune to know and really really like, he gave me the next two books in a series of what I am currently reading.  And some Archie comic books :)  What is cool is that he knows me and what is going on in my life to know that this would be a meaningful gift and one of the best gifts ever.  Thanks Jose for being so thoughtful.
After getting a pumpkin bagel for breakfast (I love this time of year) I headed home for my first bike ride!  Lets just say that the weather was perfect.  It was cool, overcast and drizzling.  My type of weather!  So I only did a half hour around the neighborhood as I haven't rode a bike in.... years!  But on my way back to my house, it started drizzling!  Then raining.  It felt so refreshing.  It brought a big smile to my face.  I will say though that I was a mix of emotions.  I was nervous, scared and a little overwhelmed.  What the hell am I thinking.  545 miles in 7 days.  I can barely ride a straight line and I think I am going to ride across California.  I know I will be fine.  I believe in my self.  I would lie if I said that I wasn't scared with each passing car, each car door that opened.  Oh yeah, and the rain slicked roads.  But, I am proud of myself.  I am taking steps in my life to a better Ricky and doing an amazing thing that is more than I, bigger than I.  I look forward to more rides.

Introducing Blanch

Friends!  So here it is.  The affection of my heart!  The beauty of my life that will be the core of my love affair (don't forget, this is a mini romantic comedy).  Meet Blanch, my Bianchi Imola bike (blanch is her working name; she can change names or sex at any time, any suggestions)

Let me tell you, what a crazy experience.  It was like buying a brand new car.  My friend Manny accompanied me to the bike shop as he is a pro rider, and I, just an amateur.  I needed the support and knowledge. The sales guy, Noah, and Manny started talking spokes, weight, carbon steel, centimeters, pedals, etc. and I just sat and stared as if a Mack truck was headed right towards me and I was the deer in the headlights.  I digress.  I know very little about bikes.  However, Manny practically held my hand through the process taking me through each step and even joined me on test rides.  I will say this, this bike shifts like smooth silken butter. It is nothing like the bike I had eons ago that would clank and clunk with each shift.  The process though, once the boys had their shop talk, was easy.  I went to Adams Avenue Bicycles.  They were Fantastic! They knew I was a newbie but treated me respectfully, spent almost two hours with me, including a bike fitting, and answered all my questions.  On top of that, I got a discount as they are a sponsor of the Aids Life Cycle!  (Oh yeah, free tune ups for the life of the bike!)  I will encourage any and all who ask to go to this shop for their wonderful customer service.  I got my carbon shoes, pedals, gloves all from there as well. 

Most importantly, I got my helmet, and I did not skimp on it.  In my previous post, I posted that I got an email saying that an acquaintance (too be honest, I only knew of him) had got into an accident and was in the hospital.  He did unfortunately pass away due to his injuries.  From my understanding, he was not wearing a helmet.  My thoughts go out to him and his loved ones.  I promise to all of you that I will be careful, obey the street laws and wear my helmet.  I also bought the helmet that can take multiple strikes before becoming unusable.  I guess other helmets can take only one blow, but unfortunately, most crashes involve multiple blows.

So I have mixed emotions.  I am excited. I am nervous. This is very real now. But in the end, I am super happy.  Being at the bike shop, I recognized that I join a family of bikers who from being new to it, seem like a great bunch of people.

Got an email today

Last night was odd.  I dreamt of the dangers of biking.  I know that there are risks with everything, but driving home last night, I realize that car drivers are very concerned for themselves and what is occurring in their car, often neglecting the outside world (outside being literally what is outside their car).  I see cyclists all the time in my neighborhood.  They take the same routes as these cars, and they still peddle everyday.  I know that as long as I am a conscientious cyclist, I will be fine.  But still, I had dreams of being in close calls last night.  Oddly enough, this morning I receive an email that an acquaintance was struck by a car door (someone opened their door on him) and ejected from his bike.  He is currently in the hospital in critical care.  So, I will ride safe, with my gear on and only ask that those who share the streets with me are safe as well (both cyclists and motorists).  I also will keep this guy in my thooughts as he is in the hospital.
You know, I thought that this blog would be the happy blog with this amazing 8 month advenutre of changing my life.  Yet today, I will say that I have mixed emotions. 
However, I will end this post with this; I have an appointment today to buy my ALC bike!  I am super stoked on that!  Hopefully I can take it home tonight.

Going live, Pacific Standard Time

Well, now I am nervous.  The invite to my 30th birthday went out today and within that invite was a link to follow this blog.  Will people check it out?  Will they want to follow what I have to say?  Can't take it back now.  I invited people to check it out.  So far I have had 10 page views!!!!  Granted, three of those are from me.  But whatever, I'll take it!  Please remember folks, this page is a work in progress.  It will get better.  I will be adding pictures, stats on my progress for training, and the possible chaffing story (have you heard of Butt Butter; I guess it's a biker thing).  My shout outs!  One goes to Manny!  Thanks buddy for being a strength support (literally, have you met the man?  He is a solid rock of muscle who is getting me in shape) and a wealth of knowledge about bikes and riding training. Garrison; one night at dinner he really made me believe I can do this.  He has done it once before and I appreciate that night and your words of encouragement.
And Jose; they just turn into something so beautiful...(Amy Pond)  Thank you for finding your way into my life.

~Ricky 

P.S.Subscribe to my blog! Keep up to date on the latest and greatest on my adventures.  I will try to do one to two posts a week!

A technophobe begins his adventure

Well here goes.  I won't post my official welcome post.  That would be silly.  No one knows about this blog yet.  I will say that I am scared.  Not of the upcoming ride.  No, that will be fun.  I am scared of blogging.  More specifically, technology.  As my boyfriend recently pointed out, I am a technophobe.  Blogging, really.  I barely facebook and now I am going to commit to telling people about my bike training adventure on a weekly basis!!??  I hope that I make this blog easy to follow and understand.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!  Please let me know what I can do to make this blog a better experience.  I truly can't wait until a movie producer comes to my door after this is done and asks to make a movie of my adventure.  Who produced Julie and Julia? Well here's to blogging.  I will now hit save and preview my blog.  Wish me luck!