Cali and Nina:
I look at it this way we all have certain gifts. Cali, clearly yours is endurance and stamina. I can't and won't even think about doing some of the rides you do. It makes me tired thinking of them.
Nina is definitely fast on flats. I am too. My gift is having very large, very powerful, strong legs. I can also push a big gear in wind. But put me on a hill.... well, the big parachute sail comes out and I drop way behind. Now, I can climb the hill but my size and weight keeps me behind the pack but once I crest that hill I can usually make up the deficient. I'm not afraid of the downhills on a road bike - mountain biking has helped me over that fear.
That's why group riding is interesting. I consider it to be an "ebb and flow" people go forward, people drop back but eventually you usually catch up and regroup. Signals lights are a great equalizer.
Jess is definitely coming up with an interesting although challenging ride for us. It may be shorter than 50 miles (I'll cut it short if it gets too hot) but will definitely be challenging. Nina bring the triple although none of the hills are as steep as Shady Ridge, just long. Newport Coast is about a mile. Jess is also going to take us up off the busy, narrow part of PCH so we have to climb Dover, not a bad hill. The toughest hill will actually be the first - Lemon Heights. It is very short - just several 100 feet but crests at 10% or so, then a nice rolly road through beautiful 1,000,000+ homes and up onto Skyline, another doable but long hill with some switchbacks corners at about 10%.
Hills are not my favorite thing but they are good for me. Help burn off all those calories, make me lose weight so someday I can climb like Cali!
Nina don't be scared off - its all doable.
AND CALI - the reason your average is onl;y 13 is all the hills and elevation you do. Geez... considering 13 is awesome!!!!!!