This turned out to be a pretty good day on the bike. I took my time getting ready for the ride, unloaded all of the drinks from the coolers and packed them back up. I bought way too much beer and soda, when will I ever learn? Did some more clean-up from the party, then I packed my stuff into my backpack and met John, who showed up around 8:00. We loaded the bike into the back and were off, got to the La Jolla Trading Post store off the 76 a little after 9:00. Had a good conversation on the way there, talking about sports mostly. I bought a coffee (only $1.35) at the general store and had a pee. Paula and Catalin showed up around 9:40, and we were rolling a little after 9:30. There was a short downhill on the 76 heading east before it started with a gradual climb. I initially kept my pace dialed back, and Paula was there behind me for the first several miles. Eventually she couldn't hold the pace and dropped back without me knowing it. I kept going and then stopped to wait for her and the others at the turn onto East Grade Rd. We took a couple of photos and then started up the climb, getting to a point where there was a decent view of Lake Henshaw. Stopped and took a group photo there, then we continued on. Paula and I were out front, and she and I stopped for another photo a little further up, before the road turned away from the lake. We rode together and in front of the others for the first four and a half miles, where it flattened out and briefly descended. We stopped there and waited for Catalin and John to show up. They kept going, and we rode to catch up to them. Around this time, I stopped to pee, getting behind the others again. When I got back on, I picked up my speed and rode closer to my normal pace for the second half of the climb. I was about a minute and a half slower on the second half than my PR but felt like I put in a good effort, setting a number of PRs on the smaller segments comprising the second half. I waited quite a while at the split for the road to the county park for, initially, Catalin and, later, Paula and John to show up. Catalin and I chatted while we were waiting. We rode down to Mother's Kitchen and took a short break there, taking some photos. I also had another pee. Then we rode to the Observatory. I ended up setting a PR (15:47, 211 W, 152 bpm) on the two and a half mile climb up to the Observatory, felt pretty good on the climb, and it was a good day for riding. This was the third fastest time ever on Strava for my age group, that was nice. I waited by the entrance to the Observatory grounds for the others to get there, then we rode, slowly, on the path up to the Observatory. We rode around the Observatory to take a picture of it in the sun, then Paula and Catalin went in to see it, they had never been inside. Some more pics out front, then we started heading back. I put my arm warmers on, was glad I did, since it was cool in the shade on the descent on Canfield Rd. Right near the bottom Catalin hit a rock in the road and got a flat on his front tire. John rode ahead while I helped him fix the flat, then the three of us rode the one and a half mile climb back to Mother's Kitchen. On the way up I stopped to take a picture of the Observatory from a distance, and I still ended up setting a PR (10:34, 205 W, 149 bpm) for this climb. That put me sixth all-time in my age group, would have been higher if I hadn't stopped to take the photos. Got to the top and waited with John for the others to show up. We had a very short break and then headed down South Grade Rd. I was seven seconds off my PR for the descent, decent weather but riding from bright sunlight into heavy shadow slowed me down somewhat. John came down next, then Paula followed by Catalin. We rode the last three and a half miles back to the cars, I was out in front and pushing a little harder on any of the flat or slightly ascending sections. John wasn't too far behind.
Avg speed = 13.2 mph. Total mileage = 37.9 mi
Avg power = 129 W. Weighted avg power = 167 W
Total elevation gain = 4430'
Avg heartrate = 131 bpm (Coospo)
Relative Effort = 109
Training Load = 187
Intensity = 76%
After the ride, which was very successful for all, we had cake that Catalin had made along with sodas and a chat. Then John and I drove back home, talking a little about the back story of Jayden and his IVF origins in Malaysia. Surprisingly, I wasn't starved when I got home, ate a little bit and was fine. I watched some TV before dinner and caught up on blogging after that. Read some in the evening before turning in.
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