(The GPS turned off around the summit of OTR, so there are about 4.5 miles of missing metrics)

I got up in time to go for an early morning ride. I decided to go to the Alpine Forest, then to SS. The weather is a bit on the warm side, but comfortable. Mild winds from the North West. I did have some sensation of lacking in O2. The legs were average to start. I made it to the end of OTR in good average time. Around this time, the GPS turned off. I turned it back on and saved the workout before starting a new one. The Banducci Wall had minimal traffic mitigation, so I was able to concentrate more on my effort. The Alpine Forest was the usual business. Stay patient till you reach the speed bumps, then ramp it up. I zipped around the backside, reaching over 41 MPH on the dips. I made my way to the summit of Banducci. I took a few moments rest, let traffic by, then headed down the mountain. There was minimal traffic, so I was able to practice my tuck . The trek through the farmlands was quick. The wind was mild, so I was able to go faster than usual, 18 to 21-ish MPH. I made my way around the backside of SS and then the descent into town. The descent was a treat. I put in a sprint to gain momentum, then the tuck. I stopped at the local park to take a quick BIO. Shortly after, I got back on the road and under the tunnel in around 51 minutes (discounting the GPS outage earlier in the ride). I made my way through SS and then through the farmlands. The lack of a sufficient tailwind made it seem more difficult than usual. Nevertheless, I was doing moderate tempo most of the time. I think I gave up around 10 minutes by the time I reached Boss Hogs. The last climb went well. The legs were fatigued, but I was able to stay concentrated and that got me through the ascent. I kept my momentum going over the top, no heroics. When I reached the summit, I pulled over to swap out the GoPro battery. The camera turned off just as I pulled over. Perfect timing. I took the is moment to swap out my third bottle that I put in my saddle bag. Shortly after, I got back on the road. Route 202 had some traffic mitigation. So, I was on high alert. The OTR descent was mostly fun and games. I pushed over Mariposa and then made my way back home. I shut it down after reaching the summit of Weston.

My concentration was good. Minimal lapses. A bit impatient in the first 30 minutes. It got better as the time progressed. Balance and form was good. Gear worked flawless. No slippage on the stem faceplate. The disc brakes were squealing a bit towards the end of the ride. Will have to give them a cleaning. Nutrition was good. Interesting that I didn’t have to feed, although I probably should have as I need to condition my body for feeding during a ride. I went through most of my Gatorade, 1 bottle of water and a bit more. Ailments were minimal. The usual sensation of exhaustion and some hand numbness while grinding out of the saddle. Other notes, I saw two or three cyclists today.