It has been a while since I put in any decent mileage so I was concerned about how the ride would go. I have been having problems with my cleats and pedals and just changed my pedals to some old Dura Ace pedals I had laying around. They worked well, but my left cleat again moved on me when I unclipped. I think my shoe is too ripped up around the cleat to salvage. Anyway, after stopping to adjust my cleat in less than a 1/4 mile, I ran down a tandem that had passed me while my shoe was off and I was adjusting my cleat. I caught up to them after about 2 miles of climbing. Then they passed me again as the climb got steeper. I then caught up to them again on Old Spanish Trail after dropping into the valley and then I hitched a ride to where they turned off at the Rincon Valley Market. I saw a cyclist way ahead of me on OST and thought it might be another 'bent. I was able to gain ground on it and confirm it was another 'bent. I caught him too. I had to put myself into heart rate zone 5 for a significant amount of time to do it. I think that is the longest I've been able to maintain HR Zone 5. The other 'bent turned off at Camino Loma Alta and I continued on to Collosal Cave Mountain Park entrance where I turned around. I do enjoy the ride back down OST. I love being able to average between 25 and 30 for such a long distance. Climbing out of Jeremy wash was a chosre as usual. The gradient hitting 13%. At the top of the steep portion of the hill, where it levels off into a false flat, I usually struggle to maintain a decent speed, but today I was able to maintain good cadence and maintain a push. This felt good. Psychologically, I needed today. I have been frustrated with all the mechanical issues I have been having of late, as well as not feeling well a couple of days. These have kept me off the bike and I have feared that my fitness will not be where it needs to be for El Tour de Tucson in two weeks. It still may not be where I want it to be, but I feel with this coming week of good training, I will be fine.