Oleg captured the group ride well in his ride report and he takes great photos with ease.  It was one of our largest Descender group rides ever.  The morning did start out a bit cool but it warmed up nicely and we rode in bright sunshine from the start of the HVR climb.  The Voris flat and tire cut on Pomerado was a disappointment.  We got to the start late and Dave had to head home.  The ride was supposed to be his 50th b-day celebration; he turned 50 years old last week.  Happy B-day Dave.  He hustled home to get a new tire and rode a PR back up the Poway Grade to catch us at the top of Old Julian.  I do not know how he was fresh enough after the long chase but he mixed things up quite a bit on the descent of Old Julian.  We flew back to Ramona and stopped at the gas station for some needed rest and refreshment.

 

Pace lines with more than 20+ riders can be complicated and beautiful.  We rode along Dye and the top of HCR in a nice pace line.  I tried to capture the long line of riders in a photo or two during the ride.  I will post to our Shutterfly album those I do not attached to this e-mail.  The large group rode well going up or down hills throughout the ride. 

 

I fell back a bit on the return on HVR.  Sheehan and I hit the start of the long descent about the same time.  Jeff S and Eileen were just behind us.  Sheehan quickly passed me and we motored down the road smoothly carving around the corners.  We both passed Yi-Shiou north of Bandy and kept up a fast pace all the way to the bottom.  Claus was waiting at the corner but the rest of the leaders had already made the turn down Pomerado.  I headed west across I-15 and cruised back through 4S and behind Black Mountain to get back to PQ.  I finished with 79 miles and a bit over 5,000 of climbing.

 

Special congrats to Chad for the addition to his family, a healthy baby girl.  See everyone on the road soon.

 

Ride on-

 

Rob