9-27-09 Ride

Ride, after church, with John and Dave, starting from Dave's house. I rode over there, and it was already hot and somewhat windy. We headed up Pomerado to Poway Rd, then turned to go up to the 67. The climb up Poway Rd was brutal, very hot with the wind at my back to keep any breeze from helping. Dave got up to the top about 3 minutes later, and John followed abour 4 minutes after that. John looked wiped out. We headed up to Ramona, then around via Dye Rd to Warnock Rd to San Vicente Rd. Stopped at the AM/PM on the corner, and John and Dave refueled. I was hot and my throat was dry, but I just wanted to continue, so I didn't get anything to drink, which in hindsight was a mistake. We headed back to Highland Valley Rd, then up to the top, working against a headwind much of the time. Slowed the pace way down from this point on, to hang with John. Coming down was fun as always, although the heat was wearing us out, John in particular. Got to Pomerado, and headed back home for a pit stop. By that time, John was completely spent, and I was feeling really tired. We rested for awhile, then headed back over to Dave's house. I rode back via Rancho Bernardo Rd to West Bernardo Drive and on home. Right at the end, my quads were a little stiff. Through the rest of the day, I was incredibly thirsty, having sweated more than I had in a long time. John told me later that he lost 7 lbs during this ride.

Average speed = 15.6 mph. Total mileage = 49.3 mi.
Elevation gain = 2170'
Average heartrate = 155 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/974125424005418003

9-20-09 Ride

Time trial loop, starting from home, and riding with Dave and Jim. John was riding the Tour of Eastlake. No really fast pace throughout the ride, and we hit a lot of red lights. Even so, I felt good throughout, considering the workout I had the previous day. Finished in 54:20.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 820'
Average heartrate = 152 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

9-19-09 Ride

Solo ride from home. Tried to connect with Dave, but he didn't respond. Out to Via Rancho Pkwy, then over to Del Dios and down to Via de la Valle. Took this down to Camino del Mar and through Del Mar down to the coast. Saw Kevin Miller riding with the Team in Training at the base of Torrey Pines, going the other way. Went up the inside route, and I was blowing hard, but I kept it pretty much at or above 7 mph. Lots of walkers. Got to the top of the hill, and the sun started to come out from the morning fog. Back the usual way to Pomerada and Scripps-Poway Pkwy, where I turned right and headed up, slower than usual. Rode to the base of the big climb, then headed over Sycamore Canyon to Garden Rd, which connects to Poway Rd. Down to Community, then over to Twin Peaks, which I used to connect to Pomerado. All the way down Pomerado and home by the park route. Felt good throughout the ride, although my quads were really screaming at the end, when I really pushed it up the final small hill on Aguamiel.

Average speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 56.6 mi.
Total elevation gain = 2220'
Average heartrate = 154 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/-san-diego/919125338201731393

9-13-09 Ride

Ride with Joe, starting from his house and heading out Village to Broadway, then over to El Norte Pkwy, which we took up to Valley Pkwy. Headed over to Lake Wohlford Dr, then up this climb. The wind was at our backs, and I averaged about 8 mph going up, which I thought was pretty good. Got to the top and headed back down to meet up with Joe and ride with him back up to the top. Then we continued over to Woods Valley Rd, which we took to Valley Center Rd. Headed east on Valley Center Rd all the way to N Lake Wohlford Rd, which is by the Valley View Casino. The wind was at our backs for this stretch, and we made good time, even though we were going up a slight incline. Headed back to Lake Wohlford and the climb here wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Cruised down the grade, although the wind made the turns tricky. Then we headed back the same way we came. Felt a little tired at the end but not too much. I kept the pace down at times to stay with Joe, so that reduced my output effort level.

Average speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 36.5 mi.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/escondido/426125289694680793

9-12-09 Ride

Solo ride while up at Fellowship Camp at Cedar Glen. Took Farmers Rd into town, then bought a Gatorade because I had forgotten to bring a water bottle. Headed out toward Cuyamaca Lake on the 79. This isn't very steep, but perhaps it was the altitude (and a fairly stiff cr0sswind) that seemed to make this part of the ride so difficult. Got to the lake and continued on the 79, past Paso Picacho campground and about a mile down a fairly steep grade, where I turned around and headed back. The ride back was more downhill and also more into the wind, so it was still a workout. Got back to the Camp Cedar Glen entrance and went back up this road very slowly, not a lot of gas left in the tank for a comparatively short ride.

Average speed = 15.6 mph. Total mileage = 31.5 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1380'
Average heartrate = 151 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/julian/368125287244757331

2009 Tour de Labor

Ride, starting from the Sizzler in Ramona, with John and Dave. We took the Old Julian Hwy over to the 78, then on up to Julian and back down. Dave had forgotten his sunglasses, so we stopped at the Ramona AM/PM and he picked up a stylin' pair. Turns out he didn't need them, since John had a spare pair. It was cool at the start, but it didn't last long at all. It wasn't too hot, but it was warm enough. I made it up to Julian in 1:36, averaging 12.9 mph. This was better than previous years, but we didn't have a stiff headwind to battle. A number of stops along the way to let the others catch up after climbs, although I did the Santa Ysabel-to-Julian stretch non-stop. Overall, I felt really strong going up to Julian, and I averaged 9 mph for much of the last 7 miles. On the way down, we had some wind to contend with, and both John and Dave are better riders in the flats and slight uphills. I kept up, but it was a struggle at times. I caught a second wind toward the latter part of the ride and that helped in the final miles. Felt good at the end, no muscle cramping or soreness.

Average speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 41.6 mi.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/-ramona/577125235159784002

9-6-09 Ride

Time trial loop with Dave, riding from my house. I intended to take it easy, and we actually kept a fairly steady pace during the first part of the ride. I didn't push it at all, just kept up with him. He was carrying 16 lb of extra weight (!!!). I pulled ahead a little on the climb up to Poway Rd and really had to pedal to keep up with him on the downhill from there. We traded places and set a fairly fast pace on Poway Rd, but nothing really draining. Again, steady pace up Sabre Springs Pkwy, where I again pulled ahead of Dave a little. We stayed together through the rest of the ride, going at a pretty good clip up Ted Williams, then really dropping the hammer on the climb up to Pomerado Hospital, which we negotiated at a 20 mph pace. It was a fast ride back to his house, and I finished in 53:10.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

9-5-09 Ride

Ride from John's house with him and Dave. Dave rode from his house, and we took off up Springbrook/Angelique up to Cypress Canyon to the top of Pomerado Rd, then down to Mira Mesa. Right on Black Mountain Rd, which we took all the way to the 56 bike path. We ran into some fog, and it was really muggy. Took the bike path to Ted Williams Pkwy, which we connected into Twin Peaks Rd and up to Espola, where we left Dave to see his daughter play in a soccer game. John and I continued up to the top of Espola, then down Poway Rd to Garden, where we turned left and followed to Sycamore Canyon Rd. This is an area of Poway I had never seen, and it was very rural. This road has a short, kinda steep climb up to an unused ramp to get onto Scripps-Poway Pkwy, so we did this, then rode up to the top of the hill. There was a Team In Training group riding around the same time, but I didn't see Kevin. Turned around at the 67 and followed this road all the way back to Springbrook, then back to John's house. I felt like I had a good pace throughout this ride, so I was surprised to see my average speed be so low. Could be a miscalculation, but I'll go with it.

Average speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 30.5 mi.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/272125220106187087