Tuesday Ride Report - Valley Center

Quite a difference from last week's late-season storm: plenty of sunshine and pleasant temps for today's cycle up to Valley Center.  The ridership consisted of Liz, Mary Ann, Matt, Maurice, and me.  We noticed right away that Matt had brought yet another prospective replacement bike, this time it was a sweet-looking Specialized Tarmac... maybe next week we'll see Pinarello?
  
The ride up to Valley Center was pretty normal except that we spotted what might have been either a ferret or a weasel (deceased) on Citrus Avenue.  My vote is for weasel.
   
After getting over the VC summit we dropped down to visit Java Journey.  It's been awhile since we stopped there, but proprietor Soledad was happy to see us and provided smoothie samples: strawberry (juicy-style) and pina colada (creamy-style).  They were both very good, but the pina colada was begging for a shot of rum!
 
The Woods Valley Road section was as scenic as ever with it's oak-lined rollers, as was Lake Wohlford Road.  No cafe stop there today, just straight into the twisty descent back down to Escondido. If your ears don't pop on that downhill then you just aren't going fast enough!
 
Next week's ride...
 
Del Dios Loop
Date: Tuesday May 31, 2011
Time: 8:00am
Close out May with this short but hilly ride. Refresh in Escondido... Nayeli's? Peterson's?
Map: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/47226  
 
The Thursday time trial at Beeler Canyon continues this week too... indulge your need for speed, increase your VO2Max, and build up your lactate threshold!  
 
Cheers,
Steve