10-30-2010 Ride

Ride from home over normal way to Pomerado Rd, then south to meet up with Jim, Dave, and John, who were riding from John's house. Right at the start, I felt a couple of small rain drops, but nothing fell afterward. I climbed up past the hospital and went across Twin Peaks, and it started to drizzle a little bit. Not too long after, I met up with the guys, and we headed north on Pomerado to Highland Valley Rd. The rain kept getting worse, so that at the RB Rd intersection Jim suggested we cut it short by doing the time trial loop and heading back to John's house. Needing the miles for next week's ride, John and I convinced them to continue. It kept raining and the intensity grew. We turned onto Highland Valley Rd, and the visibility started decreasing too. John and I were talking about turning around at the base of the first hill, but we decided to climb it and see how things looked at the top. Things looked wet, but for some reason we kept going, only modifying the original plan to take Highland Valley Rd to the 67 rather than risking riding on the 78 in such poor visibility. The climb was not awful, just very wet. Again, my cyclocomputer gave out when it got too wet. On the downhill stretch to the 67, I got even wetter, with water completely soaking my socks and filling my shoes. A small sprint to the stoplight, then we turned on the 67 and headed up to the summit point by Mt. Woodson. I was cold by this time and not functioning well, and the last section of this climb was bad. As if things couldn't get worse, the rain was the worst it had been on the windward, downhill side, slowing us down and coming at us so hard it stung. I had zero visibility, since my glasses were useless for seeing through. It was almost as bad going down Scripps-Poway Pkwy, with no visibility and a driving rain. Just miserable! We cut the ride short and headed back to John's house. Near the end, the weather cleared a little bit (go figure!). I caught a ride from Jim back to my house, the prospect of riding back being too much to consider. This was, by a fair margin, the longest I have ridden in such heavy rain, ever. Not looking forward to doing anything like this again.

Average speed = 15.5-16.0 mph. Total mileage = 40.4 mi
Total elevation gain = 2150'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/routes/detail/24883476/

10-26-2010 Ride

Solo ride from work down to RB Rd, then over to Pomerado Rd and all the way up to the top of the hill. I felt decent on the first part of the last climb but ran out of gas about halfway up and slowed down somewhat. Back via roads by John's house, connecting into Sabre Springs Pkwy / Rancho Carmel Dr, which I took back to Carmel Mountain Rd. Over to Paseo Lucido and onto Bernardo Heights Pkwy, which I took down to Bernardo Center Dr. Back via RB Rd and West Bernardo Dr, again with some slowness on the latter parts of this final climb.

Average speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 19.9 mi
Average heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1030'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24762912/

10-24-2010 Rides

Morning time trial ride with John and Dave, starting from home. It was pretty dark at 6:45 when I rode over there. I intentionally kept the pace slow throughout because I was planning on an afternoon ride as well. Finished in 58:00.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

In the afternoon, after church, I took off for another ride, solo this time. Headed over to BVP and up to E Valley Pkwy. Took this to Lake Wohlford Rd and headed up this grade. It was really tough on my tired legs, particularly the first 1.2 mi or so. Even after the grade got a little less steep, I was just chugging along, with not much push available. Got up to the top okay, then took it pretty easy on the other climbing section on the northern part of the road. Took it all the way to Valley Center Rd, then back toward Escondido. A couple of miles on this road, which was super bumpy, and I got a flat. Changed it and in the process got bit by an ant, which is still painful. Headed up to the top of the Valley Center grade, where I gave my rear tire a couple more pumps before heading down. This is a nice downhill, but I was riding into a steady crosswind this time, which reduced my speed somewhat. It would definitely be a challenging ride going up this grade. At the bottom, my legs were pretty worn out; even still, I turned right on El Norte Pkwy and headed down to Centre City Pkwy. The first section of this road is uphill, and it was slow going for me. Made it okay, then the downhill and flat sections were a welcome relief as I rode through downtown. The red lights helped give me additional breathers. Headed the normal way, ignoring the detour route, then crossed the freeway, with a pretty stiff breeze in my face. Headed up W Bernardo Dr all the way to Duenda, to add a little more mileage, then home the normal way. Felt good at the end, just tired legs but not feeling shot. There was a point while changing the flat that I felt a twinge in one of my quads, but it held out through the rest of the ride.

Average speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 40.1 mi
Average heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2420'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24689942/

10-23-2010 Ride

Ride from home with Jim, John, and Dave. The weather looked decent at the start, and we headed through the neighborhood (Poblado loop) to RB Rd, then over to Camino del Sur. All stayed pretty much together until the little climb after the bridge, where Dave showed his excellent fitness. I couldn't even begin to keep up with him. We stayed on this road until the 56 bike trail, which we took down to Carmel Valley Rd, which we had to take north because the bike trail is closed for an extended period. presumably to fix the poor condition of the pavement in the section that goes by the subdivision. Headed over to Del Mar Heights Rd, which we took to Carmel Canyon Rd, then Carmel Country Rd and back onto the bike trail. Took it all the way down to El Camino Real, which we took north. I led up this section, but I suspect it was just because Dave was holding back, even though I wasn't pushing the pace. Down to San Dieguito Rd. Just before the turn, Jim had a front flat, so we helped change it. On the Three Witches climb, again Dave turned on the jets. I kept him in sight but he was much faster than me. At the top, we stopped and waited, but it turned out that Jim had flatted again. I had to be back in time for a hike up on Palomar Mountain, so John and I kept going and Dave went back to help Jim out. We headed back the straightest route, and I ended up getting to church to meet the group right at 10:00. The hike was a good one, although the picnic and tour of the Palomar Observatory afterward were both pretty chilly. All in all, a good day. Oh yeah, Ann came back from a week-long visit with Kathy and Heather up in the Bay Area.

Average speed = 17.4 mph. Total mileage = 35.9 mi
Total elevation gain = 1360'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24689478/

10-21-2010 Ride

Exercise bike at work, fitness mode, level 8 for 30 min

10-17-2010 Ride

Ride from church with Joe after music rehearsal. It was a little misty at the beginning, but I was hoping it wouldn't get too wet. Wrong! Headed out Juniper to BVP, and it was already pretty wet on the roads and heavily misting. Not too bad on BVP, since we were riding with the wind, but it got downright nasty when we turned on the 78. It was raining by then, and I got totally soaked going down the hill. Originally, we were going to ride out to Bandy Canyon, but it didn't seem prudent under these conditions, so we ended up taking a right at the light and heading out of the valley by Orfila Winery. We turned left on BVP, and here the ride got bearable. The rain and mist were absent in South Escondido, so we rode dry up Via Rancho Pkwy to Felicita, where we turned right. As it crossed under the I-15, the rain started up again, and we stayed wet all the way out Centre City Pkwy. I got a flat just past the high school, and it's no fun to change a flat in the rain, which was heavy at this time. Headed up Broadway to Ash St, using this road to come back toward downtown. I got another flat, rats! Fixed this one, not happy at all. The two flats caused me to cut the ride short, so we headed back to Grand Ave and down to Juniper, taking an alley over to Kalmia and back to church. It was a memorable ride but not for all of the good reasons. I was completely soaked and filthy by the end of the ride, so I took a shower at church and got ready for playing music at a district youth event at St. Mark's UMC later that day. At least that part was fun.

Total mileage = 22.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 640'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24469914/

10-16-2010 Ride

Ride from home up to Jim's, with a ride up to the street above ours to look at the new houses and a loop around his block while waiting. It was overcast and a little misty at the beginning. All four of us rode, and the mist got heavier until it was light rain on the flats on Highland Valley Rd before the climbs. I was behind Dave on the first climb but slightly ahead of him on the bigger climbs. This was a wet ride, never really raining hard but misting and drizzling throughout. Went out to the 67 and back. Sometime on the way back, my cycle computer stopped working. So far, I haven't been able to revive it, so it may be truly dead this time. Alas. Finished the ride feeling okay, just thoroughly wet and still not in great shape.

Total mileage = 30.8 mi
Average heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1740'
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/5491037/

10-10-2010 Ride

Time trial loop with John and Dave, riding over from home. On this ride, we tried to get a PR for John, so Dave and I kept with him almost all of the time. However, he missed it by about 10 seconds. Finished in 56:12.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/854917700575

10-9-2010 Ride

Ride from home with John, Dave, and Jim. It was cool enough at the start for a long-sleeved jersey and full-fingered gloves. Headed over the freeway to Via Rancho Pkwy, which we took up and over to Del Dios Hwy. The climb on Del Dios is short and steep, and I was sucking wind on it. Down Del Dios through the fog to Via de la Valle, which we took down to Via de Santa Fe/El Apajo. Headed on this road over to San Dieguito Rd, where we took a right and rode on the flats to Rancho Diegueno. This stretch of road is nasty, with a very steep grade. It doesn't last too long, but it's a killer. Turned right on Rancho Santa Fe Farms Rd, which had a thrilling, fast downhill section followed by a very steep, short section to climb back up. Connected into Carmel Valley Rd, which we took all the way back into 4S Ranch, turning left on Dove Canyon Rd. Up this short hill, then left on Camino San Bernardo, following roads around the perimeter of the neighborhood and going by the new high school. Connected into Lone Quail Rd, where we took a left and got onto RB Rd. Back the normal way via West Bernardo Dr. On the gradual climb up RB Rd, my quads were tightening up, not having been abused this much in awhile. Finished feeling alright, although I was tired. Will take some time to get my cycling legs, lungs, and cardio back in shape.

Average speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 30.4 mi
Average heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1420'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24060340/

10-7-2010 Ride

Solo ride after work from home down by the park and up Pomerado Rd to Poway Rd. The wind was swirly, but I felt pretty good, not pushing the pace super hard. The sun was out but it was on the cool side. On the stretch down Poway Rd, the wind was more in my face, but I made it through pretty well. The section up Sabre Springs Pkwy/Rancho Carmel Dr was a good workout, as I kept up a steady but not overwhelming pace. Took Carmel Mountain Ranch Dr over to Camino del Norte. Kept a good pace up the slight incline after the turn but flamed out as the incline leveled off. Stayed on Camino del Norte to RB Rd, then took this road back toward home. I had a little bit of a tailwind, and it really helped on the gradual uphills. Headed home via West Bernardo Dr and Duenda, again making good time. Felt generally good in this ride, although my lower legs were cramping up in the tendons, not painfully but difficult to ride through.

Average speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 22.2 mi
Average heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 750'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/24049520/