8-29-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop with him and Jim . The weather was pretty much ideal for riding. We started out fast and kept up the pace. All three of us were riding together for the most part, and I was riding about as fast as my body would let me. I separated a little from the others on the climb up to Poway Rd, which gave me enough time to catch my breath before they got there. Down Poway Rd, we kept up the fast pace, and we hit every green light, which helped with time significantly. On the Sabre Springs Pkwy section, I rode fast, and Dave kept pace with me, catching me near the turn. He and I stayed together going up Ted Williams Pkwy, and we caught the light turning onto Pomerado Rd. I knew then that I had a shot for a PR, and we took the incline up to the hospital at a quick pace. Going downhill afterward, Jim jumped out in the lead, and we stepped on the gas to catch up with him. Passed him and pushed as hard as I could at the end, finishing in 51:36, a new PR. In fact, all three of us ended with PRs, a pretty cool accomplishment.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 158 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

8-28-2010 Ride

Ride starting from the Park-n-Ride by Ted Williams Pkwy near the I-15, over to John's house, where I met up with him, Dave, and Jim. We headed up the normal way to Pomerado Rd and took it all the way to Genesee Ave. On this stretch, both Jim and John pushed the pace pretty hard on the flats, but I just hung back, knowing that I hadn't ridden in awhile and wanting to be able to finish. The section on Genesee has been challenging for me in the past because it seems to be up and down the whole time. I did okay on this part today, hanging in or near the lead of the four riders. We turned left on Linda Vista Rd and took it over to Mesa College Rd, which eventually turns into Kearny Villa Rd. This part of the ride was pretty flat, and we had a little bit of a tailwind, so it went smoothly. On the climb back up Pomerado Rd, the wind had picked up a little bit and was again at our backs. I felt pretty strong here and had no problems riding up, which was a little surprising. Headed back to John's house the normal way, and I rode back to the parking lot after a short break. Again, the slight climb up Sabre Springs Pkwy wasn't bad. Finished feeling pretty good.

Avg. speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 40.3 mi.
Avg. heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1410'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/22141986/

8-15-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop with him and John. Set a faster pace than the previous week but still held back throughout the ride. Weather was quite foggy at the beginning, and the sun was just starting to burn it off toward the end. Finished in 56:39.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

8-14-2010 Ride

Ride from home up to Jim's house, where I met up with him and rode over to Dave's. From there, we headed back up RB Rd to Camino del Sur and over to Carmel Valley Rd. Took this road to Del Mar Heights Rd, which has a section not too long after the turn that was steeper than I remembered. However, the climb just past the freeway wasn't as bad as I had recalled. This portion of the ride was misty, with a fairly heavy marine layer present on the coast. Headed north on PCH to Via de la Valle, where we turned inland and headed back to Paseo Delicias. On the final climb up to this intersection, I got a thorn in my rear tire and it went flat. The first tube burst after I had put it in and pumped it up to near maximum. Bummer! The second tube held, although I didn't put as much air into it. I was pretty beat from changing the tires, which I think affected my pace going up Del Dios. We waited at the top of the first climb for Jim, then pretty much stayed together throughout the rest of the climbing. Turned right on Via Rancho Pkwy and headed over to the freeway. Going over the freeway, Dave really opened it up on pace, and I couldn't keep up with him. Jim split off at the intersection with Pomerado, while Dave and I headed back up to his house. I turned off at RB Rd and headed home via W Bernardo Dr, since I was pretty beat and didn't want to climb the part on Bernardo Center Dr. Got home okay, no muscle cramping and not too much soreness, just tiredness.

Average speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 46.7 mi
Average heartrate (with stop to fix flat) = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1690'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/21436284/

8-12-2010 Ride

Solo ride from home after leaving early from work, heading down to Moonlight Beach for the end-of-summer church beach party. Headed out RB Rd to Camino del Sur. I suspected I was in for a tougher=than-expected ride as soon as I felt the stiffness of the headwind I was riding into heading west. Had a big lunch too, and that seemed to weigh on me during the ride. Down to San Dieguito Rd and through Fairbanks Ranch to El Apajo, which I used to connect to Via de la Valle. Climbing up this section wasn't too bad, mainly because the wind was less of an issue. Headed into Rancho Santa Fe and took the turnoff to Encinitas, going by the golf course. This stretch was okay, much of it downhill. The one short steep uphill section was tougher than expected. Turned on Encinitas Blvd, which has a gradual uphill for about a mile that was a challenge. After that, there was really only one small uphill section just past El Camino Real, and I was pretty slow going up it. What made the ride tiring for me was the steady breeze I was riding into. Even on the downhills, it seemed like it was slowing me down even as I was working harder than usual. Glad to be done with that ride.

Average speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 18.9 mi
Average heartrate = 156 bpm
Total elevation gain = 640'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/21341750/

8-10-2010 Ride

Solo ride from home to church for yoga, following normal route. I felt okay for most of the ride but slower than usual on the small climbs on BVP. The wind was in my face once I started heading west, and it was more of a slog than usual on Oak Hill. I seemed to be working harder on this ride (see average heartrate) but without better results. Maybe residual recovery from donating blood on the previous Wednesday.

Average speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 10.6 mi
Average heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 440'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/964123799127555358

8-8-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop with him and John, who has returned to Team Slow after recovering from prostate surgery. It was good to have him back. We intentionally all rode together throughout the route. Finished in 58:52.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

8-7-2010 Ride

Ride with Dave from home out to North County Fair and up BVP to Sunset Dr, which we took over to Escondido Blvd and then to Centre City Pkwy via Felicita Rd. Out Centre City Pkwy all the way to Gopher Canyon Rd. On this early part of the ride, Dave was riding slow, not really motivated to push the pace, either in the flats or gradual climbs. Going up the grade on Gopher Canyon Rd was tougher than I had remembered. It's probably 6% grade for a little less than half a mile. We turned on Vista Valley Rd, which has a private entrance gate, and headed up into this golf course community. After we had gone about a mile in, it looked like there was no outlet, contrary to what I had mapped before the ride. So we turned around and continued on Gopher Canyon Rd out to E. Vista Way, where we turned left and headed toward Vista. Got into Vista on Vista Village Dr, but I was kind of lost by this point, trying to figure out how to get back. Went over the 78 and turned right on Hacienda, then left on Melrose Dr, which I knew connected with Palomar Airport Rd. It took a fair distance longer than I suspected to get to this connection, and we had slowed down by this time, knowing that the route was going to be quite a bit longer than originally intended. Headed back toward San Marcos, turning on Discovery and taking side streets (Bent Ave and Craven) to get to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy by the university. Went back into Escondido via Barham Dr to Mission Rd. Connected via the usual way to E. Valley Pkwy, then turned right on Quince to 13th St and back onto Centre City Pkwy, where we headed back to the freeway. At the turnoff, Dave headed home up Pomerado, while I went by the park and the normal route home. I was tired going up the final two little climbs but not cramping up, which was a good sign. Finished feeling fine, tired but not too sore.

Average speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 51.4 mi.
Average heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1760'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/21072116/

8-1-2010 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house for the time trial loop with him and Jim. The weather was cool with no sun, perfect for riding. Jim and I took off at a fairly rapid pace, and it took Dave awhile to warm up and catch up. Pushed it a little bit going up past the curve but not too hard. Kept a steady pace past the high school, putting some distance on Dave and Jim. We rested at the top of this hill, then took off again. Caught the light at Twin Peaks Rd and headed at a steady pace up the grade to Poway Rd; it wasn't the hardest that I had ridden this section, but I was definitely breathing hard after the turn. Down Poway Rd, we kept up a good pace but hit several lights, and I thought that I wouldn't have a chance for a PR. Again, some separation at that little rise past Community, but the others caught up and we traded leads on the section down to Sabre Springs Pkwy. After the turn, Dave really hit the jets, and it was all I could do to hang on his wheel. He slowed down and let me take off. On Ted Williams Pkwy, I kept up a good, steady pace, trying to keep the pressure on my average speed. The ride on Pomerado was also helpful to me, as Dave set another good pace and led out for awhile. I took over the lead, then he pushed the pace again as we got to the hospital. I passed him going up to the crest and kept riding fast. Down the hill, I was pedaling steady and somewhat hard, then Jim and Dave came blowing by and I raced to catch up with them. The final section on Rios Rd was all out for me as I tried to finish fast. Finished in 52:18, a new PR. Felt completely gassed at the end but also knowing that there were sections of the ride that I could have ridden harder.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 155 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575