David Does Descanso (Medium)
Distance: 31 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
All routes today head up to Descanso and on to Montrose for lunch. After lunch, all three routes use the same return to the start. The differences are in the way up to Descanso. While the long does three distinct climbs, this medium skips the first one in Elysian Park and joins the long route on its trip and climb through the Mount Washington area (the first bump at mile 9 on the profile). The route then heads over to Glendale, but instead of the difficult climb ridden by the long riders, this medium takes Chevy Chase all the way up to where it is rejoined by the long (the 2nd peak at mile 19 on the profile). They continue up Descanso (the small hump at mile 21.5) and on to lunch. After lunch, the common return is almost all downhill as we whiz down Verdugo and back to the Zoo. This medium essentially does two of the three climbs of the long, but substitutes the much gentler climb up Chevy Chase for the more difficult climb done by the long.
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