5-31-2010 Ride

Solo ride from home on Memorial Day. I got kind of a late start, beginning after 8:30am. It was fine at the beginning, as the temperature was cool and good for riding. There was a little headwind in the early part of the ride down to the coast and heading south. Headed over to RB Rd and took it to Camino del Sur, riding down to Carmel Valley Rd and turning right. Stayed on this road until Del Mar Heights Rd, where I again turned right. Took this road down to Carmel Canyon Rd, where I took a left, then another left onto Carmel Creek Rd. I crossed the 56 and got onto the 56 bike trail, which I took to El Camino Real. Over to Carmel Valley Rd, which I took to the coast and headed south. Up the normal route on Torrey Pines Rd, where the wind died down but the temperature started to increase. Stayed on Torrey Pines Rd until a right on La Jolla Shores Dr. At the light here, I couldn't clip out fast enough and fell over. Brother! Stayed on this road until it connected back with Torrey Pines Rd, which I rode up until a right on Prospect St. I took this road until it dead-ended, then got onto La Jolla Blvd. Turned left on Nautilus St, which I took up Mt Soledad. The early part of this climb is fairly easy, with a little stretch of steepness. After a small downhill section in the middle, it gets pretty steep until it connects to La Jolla Scenic Dr. Took this road to the memorial at Mt Soledad, which was all decked out for a Memorial Day celebration. Brief rest here, then down Via Capri to Hidden Valley Rd, which tees into Torrey Pines Rd. This section is uphill until it connects into La Jolla Village Dr, but the wind was at my back, which was a big help here. Took LJV/Miramar Rd all the way to Pomerado Rd. At this point in the ride, I was waiting for my second wind to kick in. Averaged 17-18 mph, but it was wind-aided. Going up Pomerado Rd, I had to take it pretty slow, particularly at the top. Down Pomerado, again the wind was at my back all the way to the hospital, and I felt better on this portion, tired legs but better cardio. Headed back to RB Rd, where I took a left and went to W Bernardo Dr. The small uphill section under the freeway was painfully slow, but the rest of the ride (normal route) home was easy, since it was mostly downhill. I was surprised to be able to finish without any muscles tightening up. They were sure tired, though, and maybe I was helped by keeping a slower pace on the latter half of the ride.

Average speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 55.9 mi
Average heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2510'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/17804382/

5-29-2010 Ride

Solo ride while staying up at the Lazy W Ranch for Claremont UMC Fellowship Camp. I drove the car into San Juan Capistrano, since riding on the Ortega Highway is not a good idea. Headed into SJC from where I parked, then turned right on Camino Capistrano and headed north. Turned right on Junipero Serra and crossed under the I-5, then turned left onto Rancho Viejo/Marguerite Rd. This part of the ride was somewhat familiar from earlier times of riding down from the Fullerton train station to Oceanside or San Diego. However, I think this was the first time I had ridden it in this direction. It is much more uphill in this direction, with a couple of stretches of gradual climbing. Stopped on the way and got some bread and veggie burgers at a Pavilions. Rode out to El Toro Rd, where I turned around and headed back. This section was mostly downhill, much easier, but it seemed like I hit every red light. Made good time on this part, including back through the village of SJC. The final stretch was flat to uphill, and the tailwind helped. This was the first time in awhile that I had ridden during the middle of the day, and it was toasty, particularly on the Marguerite Rd section. I suspect that my average heartrate was higher because of the higher temperature during the ride. It was in the high 80's to low 90's during much of the climbing section.

Average speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 29.7 mi
Average heartrate = 155 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1080'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/-san-juan-capistrano/789127526199730890

5-24-2010 Ride

Solo ride from home over to John's after work to visit him after he got home from his prostate surgery. Went Duenda to RB Rd, then over to Pomerado and then Poway Rd. On the way over, I stopped at a 7-11 and bought him a bottle of chocolate milk. He looked good, all things considered, but he was pretty weak. Will take some time for him to heal.

Average speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 18.7 mi
Average heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 570'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/133127526145321533

5-17-2010 Ride

Solo ride from home to church for yoga, following the normal short route. I didn't really push the pace, just kept it steady.

Average speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 10.6 mi
Average heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 440'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/964123799127555358

5-15-2010 Ride

Ride from home with Dave. Headed up Centre City into Escondido. On the freeway section after the mall, I put a little distance between us and kept it past Felicita. We rode together from here out to the climb section near Deer Springs, where I separated again. Stayed together all the way to the beginning of the climb up 395 to the top by West Lilac Rd. The initial section was steep, and the section over the freeway was steeper than I remembered it. But it wasn't as steep in the latter sections. Waited for Dave at the turn, where we took a brief break before continuing on. The portion of the route on West Lilac Rd was more hilly than I remembered it, with lots of going either uphill or downhill. Turned right when we got to Lilac Rd, and this section was more of the same. At the point where Old Castle Rd connected in, we had to do a long, gradual climb, and I again separated. Took a right on Valley Center Rd and headed up the small crest (steeper than I remembered) before going down the grade into northeast Escondido. Turned on BVP and headed back toward home. At this point in the ride, I was tired enough that Dave was keeping up with me but not getting ahead. Finished by going across Lake Hodges and up the hill before the park (pretty slow, but no pain). I was beat at the end, but I didn't have any muscle cramping. Legs tired throughout the day.

Average speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 46.0 mi.
Average heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2100'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/17098328

5-13-2010 Ride

Solo ride after work up Highland Valley Rd to the 67 and back. It was breezy during the ride, with the breeze helping on the way out and in my face on the way back. I seemed to be slower than usual on the climb up to the top of Highland Valley Rd, maybe not enough to eat during the day. However, on the way back, I kept up a good pace on the gradual climbs by the elementary school and back up to the top. Probably didn't push the pace as much as usual on the flatter downhill sections. I made it up the hill before the park pretty well and still had enough to go pretty fast up Aguamiel. Felt good, but tired, at the end of the ride.

Average speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 30.8 mi
Average heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1740'
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/5491037/

5-10-2010 Ride

Ride from work with Dave and John after work. It was John's last ride before his prostate surgery on 5-17-10. I had my cycle computer with me, which had flown off in our last ride, but it got jostled early in the ride and reset, so I didn't record my average speed. The last digit for the average speed doesn't work anymore. We headed out Via del Campo to RB Rd and Camino del Sur, then went west to San Dieguito Rd, where we turned left and headed into Fairbanks Ranch. Turned right on El Apajo/Via de Santa Fe and rode over to Via de la Valle, which we took slowly up to Paseo Delicias, all riding at about the same pace. Headed into Rancho Santa Fe and turned onto La Gracia, which tees into Via de la Valle. We followed this road to Calzada del Bosque, which we took back over to San Dieguito Rd. Again on the climb here, we all stayed pretty much together. Headed back Camino del Sur/Norte to Bernardo Center Dr, then back to work via W. Bernardo Dr. A nice, fairly easy ride.

Total mileage = 23.4 mi
Average heartrate = 140 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1000'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/17097578/

5-8-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Jim's house, where we rode over to Dave's house to meet up. Headed up Pomerado Rd to Ted Williams Pkwy, which we followed over to the 56 bike path. On this section, all three of us were riding pretty fast, not really letting up. On the bike path, we slowed it down a bit. Past Black Mountain Rd, we were going on a downhill and hit a bump, where my bike computer flew off. I went back and picked up the pieces, but it wasn't working. Not too long after, I lost a screw from one of my bike cleats. Not a great start to the ride. Headed down the bike path to El Camino Real, then over to Carmel Valley Rd to the coast. Headed up Torrey Pines Rd, taking the inside route. Dave hung with me all the way up the steep part, and he looks strong. Waited for Jim at the top of the steep part, then I motored up the shallow climb, putting some distance on the other two. Back onto Torrey Pines Rd, which we took over to Genessee Rd and over to Eastgate Mall. Took this road over to Miramar Rd, where the sewer smell was particularly bad. This road is getting pretty bad in the bike lane. Dave and I mostly traded leads on this section, while Jim stayed up with us. On the climb up Pomerado Rd, I put some distance on the other two in the early section, where the grade is gradual. I got stopped by a light and Dave caught up. After that, we rode together, trading leads back and forth to the top. Then it was all the way down Pomerado Rd back to Dave's house. There were a couple of places where I put some distance on the other two, mainly in sections where the incline was a gradual uphill. Picked up my jacket at Dave's house and headed home the normal route. I felt good throughout the ride and finished feeling pretty fresh.

Average speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 46.6 mi.
Average heartrate = 146 bpm (including some stops)
Total elevation gain = 1560'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/756127335336499008

5-4-2010 Ride

Ride from home to yoga. Took BVP to Oak Hill, then over to the 78, turning left on Grand and going by the hospital. Left on Kalmia, then right on 4th. Felt good throughout the ride, taking the uphill section on BVP at a pretty fast pace. Had a little bit of a tailwind, which helped.

Average speed = 18.9 mph. Total mileage = 10.6 mi.
Total elevation gain = 440'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/964123799127555358

5-2-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop with him, John, and Jim. The weather was good, and we started off at a good pace. Trading leads up to the turn on Espola Rd, although I was mostly following. I moved out at this point and pushed it pretty hard. Had to let off when the incline leveled off, and eventually Dave joined up with me. We traded leads to the high point on Espola, where we waited for the others. On the climb up to the Poway Rd intersection, Dave went ahead but I was able to hang on until the bend where it flattened out; I had some gas left in the tank and moved ahead to the waiting point at the light. Going down Poway Rd, we again traded leads, but I led out at the slight uphill section and nobody followed. Everybody caught up at the Pomerado Rd intersection, and we again rode at a fairly fast pace down to Sabre Springs Pkwy, Dave and me out in front. Up this road at a fast pace, dropping Dave. Up Ted Williams, Jim started ahead of me and kept a good pace for me to chase. We rode together down to the light, then everybody gathered up just past Twin Peaks Rd. John and Dave helped tremendously with their leads, but we hit a couple of lights that slowed us down. Eventually, I got frustrated and pulled out and away, trying to finish fast. Dave caught up near the turn onto Rios Rd. Pushed it hard all the way back to Dave's house, where I finished with a new PR of 52:24.

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

5-1-2010 Ride

Ride from home with Dave and John out Highland Valley to Ramona. On the very first hill, I felt really good at the start, then slowed down quite a bit around the middle of the climb. For the rest of the climbing section, I did it but didn't feel like I was really riding well. I finished feeling strong, then waited for Dave and John before continuing on. From this part of the ride on, I pushed the pace whenever I could and felt like I had good legs. Maybe it was the better energy transfer using my old pedals. Headed out Dye Rd and around that loop to Warnock Rd, connecting to San Vicente Rd and back to the 78. I pulled away from the others on the small climbing sections of the 78 leaving Ramona, then pedaled steadily and hard in some places on the downhill, working to make good speed going downhill, which I don't do very much at all. Got to the bottom in one piece and waited around the Bandy Canyon Rd turnoff for Dave and John. Then we continued on the 78 past the Wild Animal Park and to Via Rancho Pkwy, where we took a left and headed up and out of the valley. On this section, I felt really good, like the wind was pushing me up the gradual climb. Back home by BVP and across the freeway. Good ride all around for me.

Average speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 40.1 mi
Average heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1700'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/268127275657363834