Saturday Echelon ride... Or Steve Weixel is a Camel

Ok so the day started out as usual. I Woke up at 7, put on my kit, and rode down to the Daily Grind. I Ate a Bagel and had a cup of iced coffee with an added shot of espresso. (Decided I needed something a little more than tea today). Then by 745 I was riding up and down some side streets, up and around the mission, and mission ridge and another small road i don't know the name of. Then back to the Daily Grind by 825 for the Saturday echelon Ride.
The ride was good. There was a kid back from cal poly that joined us for the loop through hope ranch and really made me push on the hope ranch hills. Too bad he peeled off before Glen Annie, he was really fast. I did alright in the sprint; accidently sat in, and finished third. I was worried I was going to jump too early and ended up missing it all together. Maybe next time I'll hit it just right.
There are so many things to think about when I'm trying to strategize while simultaneously maxing out my heart rate. Theres sooooo much to learn it its exciting setting small goals to challenge myself.
After the ride a couple of us rode down to cafe Luna and grabed some food/drink/etc. Steve and I decided we were going to ride to ventura... EASY.
That was the key word and deciding factor in me heading down there.
Well, it was only a matter of time before we over took a rider and started a small 3 man pace line and rode considerably faster then I had intended. We made it to ventura and I was following Steve to his favorite juice bar down there.
My phone rang... I looked down for a second... I looked up and realized Steve was signaling and turning into the parking look... "OH SHIT" came out of my mouth and my front wheel slammed into Steve's back wheel. My bike turned sideways and I went flying right over it. I was alright, Steve was alright, and most importantly my bike was alright, just a couple of love marks, nothing serious. A little road rash on my arm and hip, but it could've been alot worse.
Its good to take a tumble every once in a while.
We juiced up; I cleaned my wounds and we headed out and around the lake. I had trouble keeping up with Steve on some of the flatter pulls. But made up for it when we got to the hills and was greated by a nice friendly little head wind. VIVA LA RESISTANCE!
I felt pretty good over the climbs but once we got back into carp and was at or around the 110 mile mark my legs started a full organized revolution. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of the green tea freddo awaiting me at Pete's Coffee.
I had one more sprint in me up the hill right after summerland and then limped the rest of the way to Pete's Coffee. Steve pedaled strong the last leg like he'd been riding only 10 miles, not 120.
We made it to Pete's just in the nick of time. They were closing early because of a planned power outage and we were the last two to be served.
I think I rode around 130 miles today.
my intention was to get in about 80... but that's the gamble you take riding with Steve Weixel. Oh, did I mention hes a camel and doesn't sweat. He managed that ride with only one bottle. Granted we did stop two times where we consumed additional fluids. I had to drink the equivalent of about 8 bottles and still feel slightly bonky.
I was planning on riding Sunday worlds for the first time tomorrow.
We'll see how I feel when I go to bed.

Happy riding.