Solo ride from home, planning on a longer training ride. During the early part of the ride, I was rationalizing shortening the length of the ride, but I got over it. Headed into Escondido using the pedestrian bridge across Lake Hodges. It's still slippery, with lots of gravel after you get off the bridge on the north side. Got onto BVP and headed up to Sunset Dr, taking it fairly easy up this little climb. Used Felicita Rd to get over to Centre City Pkwy, then took it to Washington St, turning left and taking Hale St to Auto Park Way. Over to Valley Pkwy, then right on the street by Home Depot and through this little industrial neighborhood to get onto Harmony Grove Rd. Around this point, I saw a group of three riders ahead of me, so I set out to catch up with them. It took me about half of the Harmony Grove Rd section to get to them, and I rode with the trailing guy for awhile, trading stories about recent crashes. Right around the turn onto Elfin Forest Rd, I passed the others and left them behind on this first gradual climb. It got steeper, but I was ready for it and was able to keep my pace at or above 11 mph all the way into San Elijo Hills. This required some steady effort during several sections. Then it was a nice downhill section to get down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, with a little slight uphill followed by an extended downhill section. Connected to Olivenhaim Rd, which turns into Leucadia Blvd at El Camino Real. This was the steepest section of the entire ride, not too long but a chore to get up. Then it was mostly flat to downhill to PCH. On PCH, I made pretty good (not great) time, probably had something of a tailwind. I stopped at the base of the hill on Torrey Pines Rd, had a gel packet, changed gloves and took off my hat. I started up at a modest pace, intending to keep it above 10 mph all the way to the top and succeeding. I think that's a first for me. Stayed on Torrey Pines Rd all the way to La Jolla Village Dr, which I took through UTC. Stayed on it as it turned into Miramar Rd. Here, I started strong, keeping the pace above 20 mph for about 2/3 of the distance to the freeway. But I ran out of gas and had to slow it down. On the climb up Pomerado Rd, my pace was decent, and I kept it above 10 mph on the last little climb. Resting section on the following downhill. I took Pomerado Rd all the way down to the freeway, feeling tired and energy-drained. Back up the little hill before the park, feeling it now and taking it easy to the finish. I stood on the pedals on the last little climb, and my legs held up just fine. Felt in decent cardio and leg shape for this length of ride. In particular, my legs felt really solid for significant stretches.
Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 64.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3330'
