https://www.facebook.com/events/525818067585529/ CTC event #49 in the books. I rode in the "vicinity" of Pete, Judy and Jeff. Radio KF*K played loud and clear in my head for much of the day. Several factors combined to make this a difficult day of cycling for me. Just an opportunity to test one's mettle and soldier on! I'm a good 10, maybe 15 lbs over what would be an ideal weight for me, this ride had an inordinate amount of climbing that was front loaded, several of the climbs had steep pitches, and I was riding an 11-28 which is just peachy for most, but for me meant I was not able to spin the steeper pitches of the climbing. This brought on hot foot, the threat of cramping, knee pain, and just plain tired out my legs. I was drinking a lot of water and took a lot of electrolytes and calcium. In spite of being careful to drink water, even when it was cold first thing in the morning, I became a little dehydrated in the afternoon. I sucked my CamelBak dry at least twice, and I drank well over 4L yesterday. My Garmin registered 91F while climbing Cotharin Rd (from Yerba Buena to Deer Creek), and the heat sapped the strength from me also. The crew was kind enough to wait for me at the bottom of Deer Creek, but it was a waste of time for them; I was unable to hold their wheel and needed to stop at Neptune's Net for more water to fill my empty CamelBak. I told them to go on and not wait for me, but they were still at the cars for lunch when I finally made it there. Perhaps because I had Pete's light locked in my car! LOL. I left before them but they easily caught me while climbing Westlake Blvd. I eventually gave up thoughts of catching the crew after leaving Neptune's Net the last time, just after sunset (they pulled out just as I was pulling in). I started peddling easy, basically free spinning, which was probably a good thing. I had none of the usual post-ride cramping issues and my legs felt unusually good the next morning following such a ride. Note to self: get the 11-32 back on the bike before a serious climbing ride, particularly if there are any steep climbs. At the lunch stop/cars, the rubber of the mount for my light tore as I was putting it on my handlebar. Fortunately, Pete was carrying some rubber bands which secured it under the handlber. I had intended to buy some just that size to reduce strain on the mount from vibration, and was just lucky that Pete was following good randonneuring practices! The temperature range was from a low of 34F (in the canyons at the start; arm warmers and Tyvek envelope for the first hour!) to a high of 91F on Cotharin (per my Garmin). The new Mulholland Double route is certainly challenging. I did not like riding PCH at sunset with the sun in my eyes and many spots where cars were parked close to the fog line, requiring me to go into traffic with drivers looking into the sun. Norwegian Grade is also a little dicey after dark with no shoulder to ride on and very poor sight lines if a motor vehicle is speeding up the hill; a bright taillight, a mirror, cycling savy and no "bad luck" is necessary to navigate that after dark.