Ride, with a start around 6:00, intending to go longer than other recent rides. Headed out Ben Zvi to the 44, it was still cool and nice for riding. Out to the turnoff to Latrun onto the 424, which essentially continues the southeast direction of the 44. I intended to go all the way to Latrun and turn around. On the way, I got passed by three riders on tri-bikes, and they were going so fast I couldn't hang with them. This road slopes generally upward nearly all the way to Hwy 3, then it is generally downhill to the 44, which is the route I chose to follow. Back on the 44, I was going at a decent pace when a pack of riders came up, so I hung with them on the little climb up to Karmei Yosef, dropping them near the top and riding on, giving it pretty much all I had. A short while later, two of the riders passed me, and I hung with them for a couple of miles until I couldn't match their pace. Then I retraced my route back home, riding by the stadium to avoid red lights. I was slower in the last quarter of this ride, not having enough legs to keep up the earlier pace and not benefiting from any favorable winds as in previous rides.
Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 45.9 mi
Total elevation gain = 1580'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2971213606
