Solo (for the most part) ride during lunch heading out Via del Campo to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur. It was really hot in the middle of the day, and that affected how fast I was riding. I kept it at a decent but not super-fast pace, heading over to Carmel Valley Rd. I saw a rider waiting at the corner and wondered whether he was part of the HP lunch ride crew. I kept riding, and sure enough around Del Mar Heights Rd here they came behind me in a pace line. I hopped on and stayed with them as they got onto the 56 bike trail. This group wasn't fooling around, and everybody but one rider stayed together in a pace line on the first gradual uphill section, then down to the beginning of the second uphill section. At this point, the pace line fell apart as the riders generally broke down at the high pace. I kept going and passed them, holding onto the lead for about 2/3 of the way before one of the riders sprinted past me and I couldn't match his pace. I closed on him near the top and passed him as he slowed down to wait for the others. That was probably the fastest I have ever ridden that section of the bike trail. After that, the combination of the exertion and the heat caused me to slow down to about the same pace I had early in the ride. I turned on Carmel Valley Rd and took it back to Dove Canyon Rd, then over to RB Rd, retracing my route from there. It was a good workout for me, particularly given the high temperatures.
Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 23.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 940'
