Big ride to get ready for the Tour de Palm Springs. Started from home with Dave, Jim, and Joe. We headed up Azucar Way to Duenda Rd, taking it over to W Bernardo Rd. Over to RB Rd, heading to Camino del Sur. On the early climbs in this ride, Joe was slow, but over time he warmed up and handled the climbs really well. Jim rode strong throughout most of the ride, only slowing down toward the end of the first part. We headed over to San Dieguito Rd. I took my jacket and long gloves off, as it was warming up, but it was a whole lot cooler on this descent into Fairbanks Ranch. We turned on El Apajo and rode over to Camino del Bosque, which is a nice flat rode over to Via de la Valle. At this point in the ride, everybody was pretty much riding together, breaking up only when we encountered little climbs. We got over to the coast road and took it into Del Mar, again with a little separation on the small climbs here. Through Del Mar and over to Carmel Valley Rd, where we had to take a small detour through the Torrey Pines State Beach parking lot, as they were working on the bridge again. Up Torrey Pines, I sat on Dave's wheel and let him do the work on the first half of the ride, where he powered up the hill. I passed him when he ran out of gas, and we gathered up again at the top. From here on, Joe was in good form, hanging with the others for nearly all of the climbs and leading out on the flats. Headed back via Genesee Rd to Eastgate Mall Rd, then over to Miramar Rd. I was flagging a little here and couldn't keep up with Joe at one point when he took off. We rode for a short while with a group that was training for the Solvang Century. I got caught with part of this group while Jim and Dave rode out ahead on the climb up Pomerado Rd, and Joe and I had to work steadily to catch back up with them. I passed them and led at the top of the hill but not by much. Down Pomerado Rd for a needed rest, then I had an energy bar to get some rejuvenation. Rode back up with the other three, and we basically stayed together until the turn onto RB Rd to Duenda Rd. On the little climbs, there was some separation, and the three of us in the lead hit the light at full speed. I stopped at Jim's house, where we left Jim and Dave. Back to my house, where Joe topped off his water bottles and I dropped off my warm weather gear. The second part of this ride was ridden at a distinctly lower speed. We headed over the freeway to Escondido and up BVP to Sunset Dr. This little climb here was slow going, as were the rest of the climbing sections of this ride. We made it over to Centre City Pkwy, where it seemed that we hit most of the lights. Joe and I were riding at basically the same pace. I was slow on the climb up to Deer Springs Pkwy, just a little ahead of Joe, who was still riding strong. We rode down and over to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, and we traded leads on this flat, slightly downhill section of the ride, averaging over 20 mph. I felt pretty good at this time. We connected onto Mission Rd via Richmar Rd, and here is where we started riding more or less into the wind. Things slowed down quite a bit at this point. Joe was beginning to feel sore in the seat, so we took a brief rest just after Woodland Pkwy. There was a little climb here, and Joe was slow to pick the pace back up. We gathered back up and rode together to Centre City Pkwy, at a slower pace. Through Escondido, we did hit basically every light, but it was a relief, as I was getting tired. Joe's right foot started to get sore from the exertion, but we only had 3 miles or so to the finish. The wind helped us on the downhilll and flat section after Felicita Rd and over the freeway. I had been feeling some mild twinges in my thighs that were of minor concern. But I had enough gas to power up the hill before the park, and I felt pretty good, albeit slower, on the final climb up to the house. All in all, a decent ride. It would be great to have another week to get ready for the century, but if I take it at a modest pace I should be fine.
Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 76.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2600'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/67558568
