This is another one of those route segments which I've ridden several times.
This climb of 900 feet over 8.5 miles is not very steep and always goes well for me, yet it always ends up being a tad more demanding than I think it should be. This may be because I've usually climbed this hill late in the afternoon, in the heat of the day, with the sun on my back, and today is no exception.
Coyote Springs, today's goal, sits at the base of the mountains at the centre-right.