It was cold at the start of this ride, colder than I think I've been in a year. Might even have benefited from the new booties that Emily and Caleb got me for Christmas. Instead, I had on three top layers and suffered from cold fingers and numb toes for a while. Up through the neighborhood and through the 4S Ranch neighborhood (short route) to the 4S Ranch target. On this ride at the start, there was a big group: Ray, Perse, Arnold, Nel, Fritz, Eric (new Canyon Endurace bike), Charlie, Kamal, Maher, Omar (started with us), Aaron (he proposed the route), Ryan (the son of one of Rob's former co-workers, very strong rider), Cam, and Sassan. We rode on Camino del Sur over to RB Rd and then down to W Bernardo Dr, turning left there. The downhill section was cold, and it got colder as we approached the lake. Over to Pomerado Rd, taking it up to Highland Valley Rd and turning left there. We met Jamil at this corner and were supposed to meet Rob as well, but he had a flat and caught up with us later. It was near freezing on the flats and pretty brutal, with Jamil and Sassan (he's training for a half-IronMan) in their aero positions getting out in front. I caught up with them around the start of the first climb, then it was me and Ryan out in front of the others. He was fast! I couldn't match his pace, but I didn't get too far behind him. We waited at the top of the first climb for the others, and it ended up being a really long wait, since Omar was struggling to get up this pitch. Eventually he made it, and we continued on. Sassan was just behind me, and Ryan was a little out in front, and on the second climb I ended up dropping Sassan near the top of the first steep part, while Ryan was ahead. He waited for me and the others a little later, and I suggested that we keep riding, otherwise it was going to be a really slow waiting day. So we rode up to the summit of the climb, he was in front but again I stayed within shouting distance. When we got to the normal waiting area I have used in the past, we paused for the others to catch up. Ray needed a CR2032 battery for one of his shifters, and so we ended up taking the one out of his Quarq power meter and putting it in. This time, we didn't wait for Omar, who was struggling to make these climbs. We continued down the gradual descent, and I tried to stay near the front of the pack, including a time on the flatter section where I organized a pace line for just a short while. Out to the 67, turning left there and riding down into the outskirts of Ramona to Mike's Liquor Store, where we had our break. Then we reversed the route. I stayed near the front, and Fritz was more active on this section of the ride. On the gradual climb back to the summit, Aaron and Ryan got out in front and I couldn't come close to matching their pace, but I was satisfied with my effort in general. Some of us gathered near the summit for a selfie that Aaron took, and then we started heading down. There's a sharp turn in the first descent before a little kicker to get to when the longer descent starts, and Rob lost his back wheel there and went down. Bloody elbow and some torn clothes, but he was generally fine. Around this same turn, Ryan also almost went down when he hit one of the road reflectors, but he recovered. I was fast on this stretch back, descending well and pushing hard on the short little uphill sections. Caught and passed all of the others and was first to the bottom of the last climb. Then we had a more measured pace to get back to Pomerado Rd, where I split off with Jamil and Rob to head left while the others retraced their route back to the start. Wanted to make sure Rob was okay and supported, and he did fine. I rode with him back to RB Rd, where he continued straight and I turned. I got a low battery indicator at this time, and I think it's one of the CR2032 paddle shifter batteries (went to the store later and got some new ones). But I was able to work through a short period where I couldn't shift to a lower gear. Back RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and home the normal way from there. I think my core is definitely stronger, since I finished this ride, which was moderately punishing, feeling fine. Some soreness in my right calf, which acted up a little bit on the outbound climbs, but other than than my legs held out well. Not so tired at the end either.
Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 45.4 mi
Avg power = 173 W. Weighted avg power = 198 W
Total elevation gain = 3330'
Avg heartrate = 123 bpm
In the early afternoon, Ann and I went out to lunch at Cotija's and then to Walmart and Harbor Freight for some things, including a new set of metric Allen L-wrenches. I also went later to the library to get a new card, since I had lost my old one somewhere along the way.
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