Ride over to Dave's house, where I met up with him and John. We were helping John get ready for the Palomar Challenge, so we rode up to Ramona. Took Highland Valley Rd to Bandy Canyon Rd. On the climbing section of Highland Valley Rd, Dave saw a guy ahead of us and took off. I couldn't keep up. Haven't been riding many really steep roads lately, so I was huffing and puffing trying to keep up. I kept him in my sights and had enough left near the top to pass him, although I was really spent (so was he). Down Bandy Canyon, we three separated, so I waited after the turn and rode with them. We again separated on the 78. This was my kind of climbing, and I was feeling good with the wind helping me along. Got to the top 7 min before Dave joined and another 2 min before John was there. Headed out to Warnock/Dye Rd, where we all kept together and rode in a loose pace line. Stayed together for the first part of the ride on the 67, then I pulled away when it started to climb. Again, I was feeling pretty good, with just some significant exertion on the last parts of the climb. We rode loosely together on the downhill sections to Scripps-Poway Pky and down that hill as well. More separation on the little climbs, where I waited to connect back up with them. Then we rode pretty much together down Pomerado Rd. Dave and I worked to get to the top by the hospital, then we motored down the rest of the way. I was able to keep up a good pace all the way on Pomerado, which felt pretty good. Headed home the normal way, with tired but not cramped legs. All in all, a really good ride for me.
Avg speed = 18.0 mph. Total mileage = 49.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2340'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/38070746/
