10-31-09 Ride

Ride with Dave from home on Halloween morning. He had taken the weights off his bike, and I thought I was in for a long day of chasing after him. It was a little chilly when we left but not too bad. Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then out Camino del Sur to Carmel Valley Rd to Del Mar Heights Blvd. I was outpacing Dave early on the hills, but he came on strong on a couple of hills on that last road, including the final short, steep section before it drops down into Del Mar. I hung on his wheel, but it was a challenge. We got onto PCH and headed north, looking for a fast pack to ride with. There were lots of riders, but we passed most of them. Eventually, we hooked up with some other riders who caught up with us and caused Dave to push the pace. Again, I was basically hanging onto his wheel most of the time, only taking short turns in the lead. Turned inland at Leucadia Blvd and headed uphill. By this time, I think Dave had overextended and didn't have a lot left for the rest of the ride. He slowed down significantly throughout this section of the ride up to San Elijo Hills, which has a fair amount of uphill to it. The weather had turned out great. Back via Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove. This road has been paved, and it's really nice to ride on. I slowed down a bit on this section to stay closer to Dave. Came into Escondido via Hale to 9th to Centre City, and home the normal route. The last stretch was a little tough, as my quads started to cramp just a bit. I recovered quickly after the end of the ride, with more muscle tiredness than soreness.


Average speed = 18.0 mph. Total mileage = 48.5 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1680'
Average heartrate = 156 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/693125699490985923

10-29-09 Ride

Ride after the second session of an extended DDO staff meeting with Mark Vaughn and Karl Walters. I rode from home and met them at the bottom of the hill by Aguamiel. Went up and down to Duenda a couple of times while waiting for them. Then we rode out to the top of the first steep hill on Highland Valley and back. I kept pace with Mark pretty well throughout the ride, except on the second half of the climb, when he outpaced me and I couldn't keep up. On the way back, we slowed the pace to keep riding with Karl. Still and all, I felt good about my performance, given his credentials.

Average speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 14.1 mi.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/212125695883663163

10-25-09 Ride

Time trial ride with Dave, riding to and from his house. It was pretty foggy throughout the ride. I really pushed the pace the entire time, but we seemed to catch every light going down Poway Rd. Finished in 53:33, which was disheartening given the effort I put into the ride.

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

10-24-09 Ride

Ride from John's house with him, Dave, and Jim. Dave was riding with 30 lb of weights on his bike frame. Was cool at the start but not cold, and we began the ride uphill, which warmed me up. Up to the top of Pomerado, then down to Kearny Villa Rd and over to Balboa. We took this all the way to Soledad Mountain Rd and up to the top. Just before the turn, Jim had a flat. I got up to the top and waited for a little while, then turned around to ride down and back up the last bit with John. I ended up missing my turn and heading down the wrong road for about half a mile. Oops. Turned around and met the guys up by the cross. We headed down Via Capri, which is a 15% grade and very rough pavement at the top. Too many turns to go very fast at any point, but it would be a wild ride for the uninhibited cyclist. We headed back via Torrey Pines Rd, which I had forgotten was a gradual climb up to UCSD. Got on La Jolla Village Dr, which turns into Miramar Rd, and headed back the way we came. John had been out for a couple of weeks with a recurrence of blood clots, so he was slow and running out of gas on the last climb up Pomerado. Even still, he hung in there the whole way, which is amazing to me. The guy has a gritty constitution and do-it attitude. I felt good the whole way, no problems motoring up Pomerado while trying to keep my heartrate around 165 bpm.

Average speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 38.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 1760'
Average heartrate = 151 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/769125643231545835

10-18-09 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop. It was misty on the way over, and Jim called to say he wasn't riding. Dave had about 50 lb of weights on his bike! I started out slow to allow him to warm up, then rode at a moderately fast pace up to the top of Espola. Then we really flew down Poway Rd, with Dave setting a mean pace and us catching every light. Got to the Ted Williams Pkwy turn and thought I wouldn't have a chance for a new PB. Still, I really pushed it up that road, then went at a fast clip up and down Pomerado, where Dave kept right there with me and helped push the pace. Finished in 52:37, a new PB by 1 sec.

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

10-17-09 Ride

Ride with Dave and Jim from home out BVP to Citrus. Initial part of the ride was slightly chilly, but I knew it would warm up, and it did on BVP before Citrus. Citrus to El Norte Pkwy, then down to Ash, which we took over to Rincon. This is a nice road to ride, with a short little hill to present a challenge. Rincon/Country Club to Centre City Pkwy, then up to Deer Springs. I felt pretty strong going up this slight grade and kept my pace pretty swift. Down Twin Oaks Valley to Buena Creek, where we took a right. This is a really great road, particularly about a mile into it. Nice scenic downhill, ending up at Santa Fe/Mission Ave. Took this over to Las Posas, then San Marcos to Bent/Craven and the regular Barham route back to Mission. Connected to Washington, then to Centre City and back the normal way. This is actually a pretty good 40-mile training route, with no steep climbs and much of the effort concentrated in the first half. Felt really good at the end, with no soreness or cramping.

Average speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 40.6 mi
Total elevation gain = 1250'
Average heartrate = 155-160 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/-san-diego/723125580745418564

10-11-09 Ride

Time trial loop with Dave and Jim, riding to and from Dave's house. Did okay, helped Dave set an overall course record of 52:22. I finished in 53:22 and didn't really push it throughout the ride. Could go harder.

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

10-10-09 Ride

Ride with Jim and Dave, starting from Jim's house. I had given blood on Wednesday, and it turned out to be a drain on my energy level. Went over Duenda to W Bernardo Dr and up to Rancho Bernardo Rd, then up to Camino del Sur. Dave was carrying about 25 lbs of weight, and I still struggled to stay with him up RB Rd. I pretty much trailed the others on Camino del Sur. We turned on San Dieguito Rd and rode down into Fairbanks Ranch. Particularly with the weight and his tuck style, Dave is impossible to stay with on downhill sections. Took this road around to El Camino Real, and I was still riding pretty slow but keeping up. Up the hill on El Camino Real, Dave took off and I couldn't keep up. Gathered together at the top and stayed together for awhile, getting onto the bike trail and riding up to Camino del Sur. I kept pace and led out starting at this point in the ride, as the weight that Dave was carrying started to take its toll. Turned on Camino del Sur, then again on Carmel Valley Rd, which we took to Dove Canyon Rd and over to RB Rd. Home via the Matinal route. I always forget about the gradual uphill on RB Rd coming out of 4S Ranch, and it was a minor challenge again. Felt better at the end of the ride than at the beginning.

Average speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 32.1 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1270'
Average heartrate = 155 bpm

2009 Tour de Poway

Rode this ride with John and Dave. I was a little nervous before the ride, thinking I would really have to work to keep up with Dave. The weather was cool at the beginning. We watched the Century riders go by, and I cheered Kevin on with his Team in Training group. We were lucky enough to get to the starting line right before the beginning of the ride, and we were near the front of the pack. Started off the ride fairly fast, riding together until the beginning of the climb up the Poway grade. I kept the pace pretty high on this climb, with my heartrate staying at or above 170 bpm for nearly all of the time going up. Got to the top with some energy to spare and waited for Dave and John to catch up. We rode together until the small climb up to the pass by Mt. Woodson, where I separated again and rode essentially solo on the long gradual downhill to Dye Rd. Waited for them to catch up, then we rode together through Ramona, using an alternate series of roads that put us out onto the 78 via W Haverford Rd. The downhill was fast, and Dave was really going fast, too much for me to keep up. We kept together on the 78 after Dave waited for us to catch up, then separated on the hill out of San Pasqual Valley. Regrouped again and rode together until the small uphill section on W Bernardo Dr. Went across the Lake Hodges pedestrian bridge for the first time. The path on the north side of the lake to get to the bridge is rough and hard on the tires. Sag stop at the park, where we had some food and fluids. Took off and stayed together up most of the climb to Rancho Bernardo Rd, when we separated again on the climb. I kept going, hooking up with a guy who was riding a Bianchi at about the same pace as me. Went all the way to the turn onto Camino del Sur, where I waited for the guys to catch up. They weren't too far back. Rode together for awhile, then we separated again on a gradual climbing section, where I caught back up with the Bianchi guy and another guy. We ended up riding together for a good portion of the ride on Camino del Norte. I met another guy after the turn on Pomerado Rd who noticed my HP jersey and asked whether I ever did the Tuesday/Thursday rides. The early ride has a 25 mph pace line, so I don't think I'll be joining that group any time soon. He wasn't in the Tour, just out for a morning ride, so we hung together on most of Pomerado Rd. He was gracious enough to slow his pace down a little in order to allow me to keep up. I waited for John and Dave to catch up at the turn onto Metate, and I was really feeling it. My left hamstring had started to tighten up by this time, so I was ready to coast on in to the finish. We tried to get a picture of all three in the same frame but missed it. On the final stretch on Community, I was just hanging on for the end, nursing my twitching leg. Dave had a sprint burst just after the Poway Rd crossing, but I couldn't keep up. He ended up slowing, since his leg started twitching too. Finished the ride in 3:24:30 riding time, and I felt tired but really good, at least as soon as I stopped pedaling. The weather was fairly cool throughout, and maybe that factor contributed to the slower pace that I ended up riding. I sure didn't feel like I had a lot left in the tank at the end of the ride.

Average speed = 18.0 mph. Total mileage = 61.3 mi.
Total elevation gain = 2860'
Average heartrate = 155-160 bpm

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/poway/887125469566142407

10-2-09 Ride

Time trial loop in the morning with John and Dave, starting from Dave's house. Dave had taken off the weights he has been riding with for the past 6 weeks or so. Our pace was slower than usual, since we were saving strength for the Tour de Poway coming up on Sunday. On the small climb up to Poway Rd, Dave really ate my lunch. I couldn't keep up with him, and he left me gasping. Wow! We pretty much stayed together down Poway Rd, then separated some on Sabre Springs Pkwy. Again, Dave headed out, but was able, just barely, to hang onto his wheel. Seesaw action on Ted Williams Pkwy, then we motored up to the hospital on Pomerado Rd, averaging over 20 mph up this slight incline. On the downhill near Dave's house, he put on a burst of speed that was really impressive and that I couldn't match. Alas. Finished in 53:58.

Total mileage = 17.3 mi.

Elevation gain = 620'

Average heartrate = 155 bpm

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/229054719055