This was a good day on the bike. I rode over to the parking lot by the CVS, our alternative starting spot for the Bisikleta ride. On this day, we had the following riders: Arnold, Fritz, Jed, Jamil, Eric, and Sassan. It was cool at the start, cold enough on the initial downhills that my toes were feeling it. We headed down W Bernardo Dr and over the pedestrian bridge to get to BVP, which we took up to Valley Pkwy. There had been some discussion about this being a chill ride, but it didn't really turn out that way. Jed was pushing hard on the gradual climbs on BVP. At some point, Fritz's friends Robert (he traded in his Specialized e-bike for a nice Pinarello) and Maya joined us. We turned onto Valley Pkwy and took it to El Norte Pkwy, then rode down to Broadway. Around this time, Robert and Maya turned back and we continued over to Jesmond Dene Rd. After the turn, I stopped to take off some layers in anticipation of the climb, and the temperature was definitely rising. I got to the top of the climb first, but it took a big effort. Down to Centre City Pkwy, which we took up toward Deer Springs Rd. We stopped for our one break at the Circle K just before the turn, then continued on after a relatively brief stop. Down to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, then we turned right onto Buena Creek Rd and took this gradual climb up, then the nice descent down to Santa Fe Ave. Several people, especially Fritz, really liked this descent, which is actually one of the better stretches of riding around. I held onto Fritz's wheel for the stretch to the stoplight. Then we rode Santa Fe Ave over to Mission Rd, and Fritz was continuing strong, pushing me to stay with him in the front. We took Mission Ave back into Escondido, and I set a number of PRs on this stretch, given how fast we were riding. Jamil was doing very well, especially when he was on his aero bars. Right on Centre City Pkwy, then back to the starting point the normal way following the back side of the mall and using the pedestrian bridge again. I went full gas on the little climb up to the park and didn't have too much left in the tank for the final climb up W Bernardo Dr to Duenda Rd. Sassan attacked here, and I couldn't match his pace at first, putting in another big effort to close the gap before we made the turn. Power numbers on this ride were pretty good, and I was leading the pack for most of the way to make sure we didn't take any wrong turns. Nobody got lost, and we all stayed pretty much together.
Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 43.1 mi
Avg power = 175 W. Weighted avg power = 191 W
Total elevation gain = 1960'
Avg heartrate = 125 bpm
After we finished the ride, we all (except Jed, who had a prior engagement) had lunch at Marco's Pizza in honor of Fritz's 38th birthday. Good conversation, although the food seemed to take a lot longer than expected. Then, in the afternoon, Ann and I drove down to December Nights, second day, parking at San Diego City College and taking the shuttle over to Balboa Park. We walked around the international houses, where it seemed that more of them were offering food for sale. We also were on the lookout for live music, nothing noteworthy early on. Had food from the House of Palestine booth, where we met Andy and Roya, who were also there. We walked over to the organ pavilion and watched the end of the Polynesian dance troup, then a Scottish bagpipe group, which was okay. Not a big fan of that instrument. Robert, Isabelle, and Trish Harnett were there as well, and I eventually found them in the crowd, where we talked for a bit. Then Ann and I stayed on to watch Switchfoot, who were really great in this small concert, good enough that we decided to stay and see them again in the beer garden by the History Museum later in the evening. We walked by the Old Globe and saw bits and pieces of other music, some decent, most average. Had drinks in the beer garden while we listened to salsa music and waited for the second Switchfoot show. Ann and I got up really close to the stage, and it was interesting to see all of the preparations needed to get the stage ready for their performance. Their second set was a little more intimate, and we really loved it. A great, found experience.
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