2-20-10 Ride

Ride from John's house with him and Dave. It had rained during the previous night, so the roads were wet, but the sun was peeking out at the beginning of the ride. We headed up Scripps-Poway Pkwy to the 67, then down the Lakeside grade to Vigilante/Moreno. On this climb, I was riding the bike borrowed from David and Christine, and it really seemed like I had to work much harder to get up the grade. For this portion of the ride, it was humid and wet on the roads but not raining. On Moreno, John suggested that we all try to keep a 25 mph pace. We tried, but the wet roads prevented any drafting. John and I traded turns in the lead at about 23 mph, but we couldn't keep it up. We turned right on Willow Rd, then onto Lakeside Dr and then Riverside Dr. At about this point in the ride, we had gotten onto roads that had been rained on very recently. Turned right on El Nopal, which we rode on to Timberlane Way, where we took a left and got over to Mast Rd. Took this road all the way to the 52, and the uphill sections got us warmed up for the long (about 2 miles, but it felt like longer), gradual climb up the 52. On the downhill section to Santo Rd, it started to rain pretty heavily, so that section was miserable. Took Santo Rd over to Clairemont Mesa Blvd, which we took up to Ruffin/Kearny Villa Rd. Followed this to Pomerado, with rain squalls and very wet roads making it challenging. Up Pomerado, where I was really beat. On the flatter sections, John and Dave got ahead, but I caught up to them in the latter portion where it got steeper. Even still, I was wiped out at the top. Headed back the normal route, and I was really glad it was all downhill. This was clearly a day when it felt fantastic to finish the ride, the hardest 40-mile ride I had done in quite a long time.

Average speed = 16.2 mph. Total mileage = 39.2 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1970'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/403126671311342704

2-19-10 Ride

Ride from work with John and Dave on a Raleigh Gran Sport borrowed from David Thompson. The bike is heavier and softer in its ride than my broken Univega. Shortly into the ride, I had to adjust the seat down, since I think it had been set up for Danny. The brake lever shifters are a nice change. I didn't feel super comfortable on the bike during the ride, but that's to be expected. We headed out Via del Campo to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur, which we took to the bike trail. Down to El Camino Real, and over to San Dieguito Rd, which we took back up to Camino del Sur. On that climb, I felt like I was working harder, and going slower, than normal. Dave's knee started acting up, so he was slowed down from here to the end of the ride. Headed back via Camino del Norte to Bernardo Center Dr to West Bernardo Dr.

Average speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 31.9 mi.
Average heartrate = 148 bpm (for latter 3/4 of ride, with stops)
Total elevation gain = 1150'
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20diego/987126671451580796

2-14-10 Ride

Black Sunday! I got up early, fixed a bunch of flat inner tubes, and lubricated my bike. Headed over to Dave's house, and it was really flexing, particularly on the section of RB Rd. I knew something was up and checked it out when I got there. I couldn't see anything, but as John, Dave, and I looked at it, Dave noticed that the frame was cracked near the rear tire drop out on the derailleur side. Crap! It' wasn't rideable, so I called Ann and had her pick me up. Looks like time for a new bike.

2-13-10 Ride

Ride with Dave from his house. I left early and went down by the park and up Pomerado to the hospital, then turned around and headed to his house. Somewhere, I lost one of my short-finger gloves. We headed over to BVP, then up to East Valley Pkwy, which we took to Lake Wohlford Rd. By this time, it was warming up. I climbed up this grade fairly quickly, then Dave and I regrouped at the top and continued by the lake. My bike was making a lot of noise when I pedaled, and I thought it was either the pedals or the bottom bracket. Over to Woods Valley Rd, which we went down pretty quickly. A short climb up to the top of Valley Center Rd, then it was flying time coming down this grade. When we got to the bottom, I saw that I didn't have much time to get to the mall, where I was supposed to meet Ann and the Open Hearts Fellowship group for a hike. So we really pushed the pace on BVP. My bike felt like it was flexing during this part of the ride. Got to the mall, and I discovered that I had a slow leak in my rear tire, which is what I thought caused the flexing.

Average speed = 18.5 mpg. Total mileage = 39.9 mi.
Average heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1760'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/284126612215571928

2-9-10 Ride

Ride with HP crew on a Tuesday, out to the bike trail and back. I hadn't ridden since the previous Friday, and I really felt it on the latter half of the ride. I climbed up the bike trail section okay but was slower after that exertion. We hoped to get the ride in before the heavy rain started, and I almost made it. It started raining heavily when I was near the Sony building.

Average speed = 18.9 mph. Total mileage = 21.0 mi.
Total elevation gain = 890'
Average heartrate = 153 bpm
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/794126480658396810

2-5-10 Ride

Ride in the morning from work with John and Dave. Headed out Bernardo Center to Camino del Norte/Camino del Sur and down to Carmel Valley Rd, which we took all the way to the 56 bike trail. Took this down to El Camino Real, then headed up to Del Mar Heights Rd. Back to Carmel Valley Rd, which we took up to Black Mountain, then a detour down to Stargaze and up to the top. This is one steep road, but it's fairly short. Back on Black Mountain Rd to Carmel Valley Rd, then down the hill to Bernardo Center Dr, where we retraced our route back to work. Took it fairly easy, with the exception of the Stargaze climb, which was grueling.

Average speed = 17.4 mph. Total mileage = 29.6 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1110'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/115126540315262956

2-4-10 Ride

Thursday noon ride with the HP crew. This ride is supposed to be a an easier pace, and that was true this week, compared to the Tuesday ride. Headed out RB Rd to Camino del Sur and down to San Dieguito Rd, which we took down through Fairbanks Ranch, turning right on El Apajo/Via de Santa Fe and getting over to Via de la Valle. Up this short climb to Paseo Delicias, then through Rancho Santa Fe via La Gracia, Via de Alba, and Los Arboles, ending up on Camino del Bosque. This road connects to Via de Santa Fe, and from here we retraced our path. On this ride, the section where riders go hard is on the climb up out of Fairbanks Ranch on San Dieguito Rd. I led the group for about 2/3 of the climb, then the guy in back of me attacked. I stayed with him until he conked out, but meanwhile three other riders (Tony, Perry, and Todd)
pulled ahead and left me behind. Wow, they are strong! On the gradual climb back up Camino del Sur, nobody was really interested in going hard, but a small group took off near RB Rd and sprinted ahead of everybody else. Again, all of these riders were much stronger than I am. After the turn onto RB Rd, I headed back quickly to make a 1:30 meeting.

Average speed = 18.4 mph. Total mileage = 23.5 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1000'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/727126540273191911

2-2-10 Ride

Ride with HP group during lunch, same route as the previous Tuesday. Found out that one of the riders, Bill Braamse, used to race. It figures, since he takes off on the sprint outs and he's fast. I seem to be able to warm up quicker than most of the others. Kept a good pace up the first hill on Carmel Valley Rd and stayed near the front up to the bike trail. This is the section of this route where everybody seems to pull out all of the stops. I had a steady pace going, trading places with another rider. Other stronger riders were in front of me. Near the top, Dan Caputo passed me, but I couldn't match his pace. On the way back via Camino del Sur, I was near the lead for much of this part, although I don't think anybody was riding very hard. After the crest of the gradual climb, the faster riders pulled out and raced to the RB Rd intersection. I hung on the back of this group but didn't make up any ground on them. The RB Road section of the ride is typically a cool-down portion, where nobody goes very fast on the gradual climb.

Average speed = 19.0 mph. Total mileage = 21.0 mi.
Total elevation gain = 890'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/794126480658396810