Good riding day, with a fair amount of suffering mixed in. I got up around 5:30 and started getting ready for my Palomar ride. Packed everything into the Sportage, double checking to make sure I had everything I needed, and I was on the road right around 6:00. Light traffic allowed me to get to the Harrah's parking lot a little after 6:30, and I was rolling before 6:50. It was chilly at the start, but as soon as the sun came up over the mountains, I knew it was going to be warm. I took a jacket, stuffing it into my jersey, in case it looked like it was going to be cool on the descents. Ended up not needing it at all, but it was only a minor inconvenience. The first section of the climb, on the 76, was harder than I had remembered. I spent nearly all of my time in either first or second gear, and I felt like I worked more on this section than on earlier rides. However, it also seemed to be over sooner than I expected. I was off my fastest time on this segment by about 30 seconds. When I had a PR on this segment, I started out slower but had more stamina to finish the segment stronger. When I got onto South Grade Rd, again it was seemingly slow going, but I noticed the parts of the climb where the gradient dropped down to 4% or so, to allow some recovery. I spent more time out of the saddle on this climb than last time, it helped to break up the monotony as well as allow me the opportunity to stretch my lower back. This time, I had a pretty good idea where the end of the climb was, which allowed me to push harder in the last mile or so. Still I was off my PR pace by 1:45 overall. On the plus side, my avg heartrate was measurably lower, albeit with a slightly lower avg power. Got to the top, and Mother's Kitchen was completely closed and the parking lot deserted. I ate a banana, then continued on Canfield Rd to the Observatory. This has a nice descent for about 1.5 miles before climbing for about 2.5 miles. I took it fairly easy, legs still feeling the effects of the bigger, earlier climb. They were just opening the gate to the Observatory when I got to the parking lot, so I walked my bike up to the steps and took a couple of pics before walking back down until I could get on my bike and ride. I made the mistake of pausing by Wahoo on the walk up, then I forgot to turn it back on until I had finished the descent from the parking lot. Drat! I did better on the last climb back up to Mother's Kitchen, in low gears but seemingly better able to push the pedals. When I got up there, I noticed that my right shifter wasn't actuating, so I walked over to some shade by the store and replaced the shifter battery. Problem solved. Tried to use the bathroom but it was locked, so I rode back down to the start. Captured video of the full descent, and it's pretty fascinating to watch, you get a good sense of just how fast you're going. I also used my Wahoo to help me see the curves ahead, as a way of influencing when and how hard to brake. I wasn't quite as fast as the last time, wind wasn't in my favor (and there weren't other riders behind me that I wanted to try and stay ahead of). Still, my legs felt fine at the end, no cramping and more tired than sore. It's been a while since I climbed that much in a ride, felt good to be done.
Avg speed = 11.9 mph. Total mileage = 33.6 mi
Avg power = 165 W. Weighted avg power = 193 W
Total elevation gain = 5640'
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm (Coospo)
Relative Effort = 144
Training Load = 224
Intensity = 88%
I stopped and bought an overly expensive Coke at the Harrah's convenience store, then drove home. My stomach was a little queasy from the high exertion, so I took it easy for a while when I got home before Ann and I drove to have lunch at Poki Poki in Escondido. The poke bowl was pretty good, with a spiciness that lingered for a while after I was done. We got some junk food snacks at Aldi while we were there, then drove home. It was a light afternoon. Around 4:00, I rode over to Karl Strauss and met James for a drink (I drank Pepsi). He is going through a lot at work, a fair amount of uncertainty about his short- and intermediate-term prospects. I gave him some advice about trying to influence the nature of his position and some people to talk to for their insights. Wishing him luck. Ann went to see Sandi Love-Baxter, who is homebound and recovering from a broken leg, among other ailments. She is not well. Jennifer Kennedy is staying at her house to help her out. Ann and I had a light dinner when I got home, then we chilled. Around sunset, I went to the 7-Eleven to get my free monthly Slurpee, then I parked by the Sharp Rees Stealy clinic and walked a little to get the rest of my steps in. The Slurpee was probably a mistake, as I didn't end up sleeping well.
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