Saturday Morning Bicycle Ranch Shop Ride

The crowd begins to gather in front of the bike shop.  I figured if I did not ride with the group today, I'd probably not get another chance considering the rate at which my cycling fitness is diminishing.  No doubt I'd get blown out the back but with the help of that 62 mile ride on Thursday, maybe I'd have enough to not just be the first to get blown out the back.

We rolled out at 6:30am so the sun had not yet risen above the mountains but when it did, it flooded the valley's peaks and was a beautiful sight.  At first we had 45ish but others hopped in in the first mile so maybe 50 of us in total.  Road construction has forced some rerouting so way too many traffic lights and with the first 10 miles being downhill-flat, I hung at the very back, nervous.  Ride hard, stop, repeat and repeat but eventually we turned onto the long climb up Twin Peaks to Dove Mountain.  Here, I got blown out the back, kind of early but not first, maybe tenth or even....eleventh?

I drafted for quite awhile behind a tandem.  It don't get much better than that.  I noted it was a Co-Motion just like the Rossi's ride and belt driven too.  The climb crosses Tangerine Road and keeps going for awhile but I bailed a bit above Moore Road cause.....

.....I hiking to that peak in the mid-ground tomorrow.  Cathedral Rock and maybe my toughest hike ever.  It is disconcerting that I can find no descriptions of a route or gpx file to down load of my intended route but I have a map and really, what else do ya need?  I've got the route details with family and if I don't check in by dusk, send S&R.  Anyway.....

....I ride to the gas station regroup point and wait.  Soon the gang arrives and we head toward Moore Road where I again get popped but form up with 8 others.  Good group of guys who worked together well and so finished with 46 miles and a 19.2 average.  I have the Garmin set to not pause which is best for hiking so it kept running at all the stops.