Yesterday’s ride: 49.65 miles, through the barbarous Palos Verdes highlands. The most difficult climb was about half a mile long, with a grade of 8-11%. We’re talking about a serious upper aerobic zone workout, on the pedals for about half of it, lactic acid burn time. Today’s ride: 47.73 miles, with a steeper but shorter climb with a grade of 12%+, leading to that long series of leg-punishing rolling hills on PV Drive, which we took at a fairly intense pace. If my legs could talk, they would ask me one simple question. “Why?” Total distance: 97.38 miles.