Morning ride

Went on a morning ride with Don & Bryan at 5:45 Thursday. These are the guys that made me realize I need to get a road bike in order to keep up with them. It was a pretty brisk start in Lower Park - both in pace and temperature! I only wore a jersey and was pretty cold at the start. The pace quickly warmed up the ol' blood. Went out to Middle trail at parking lot A - D&B quickly gained about 50 yards on me - but it used to be 100+. So either they are slowing down (doubtful), I am getting faster (more doubtful) or they were taking it a bit easy and I was at max pace (likely). Up Blue Oak and a brief rest there - kept the 50 yard gap to Maidu and closed it a bit on the way down. Have to admit that the road base at the top of Maidu has settled a bit and the trail is not near as bad as it was before. The first section is still a little sketchy but after the first switchback it gets better. Have to eventually do something with the lower waterbars - they take away the whole flow of the trail - we kind of blew it when remaking those. Went out Middle Trail to just before the power lines and headed back. These guys are like stable horses - once you turn them around they are gone! Good pace back on Lower Trail and crossed the road near Horseshoe Lake and took trail back to golf course and last bit of South Rim by old shooting range. Pretty relaxed pace back on Lower Park Road...then the sprint! Well, I'm not sure if they were showing me pity for being behind on the trail or if I just got a good jump...I sprung first and didn't see them again...hit almost 27 mph from a rolling speed of 14 mph in approx. 75 yards. Good cool down back home and off to work by 7:30.