3-25-2011 Ride

Ride from home with John. It was a cloudy and cool day. Out Via Rancho Pkwy to Del Dios, then all the way down to Solana Beach, where we turned around and rode back up the same way. John was behind most of the time, couldn't keep up on any of the uphill sections. My heartrate monitor quit on me during the ride, probably needs new batteries. My cyclometer also wouldn't work for about 10 miles after the turnaround point. It kicked in at the base of the Del Dios climb, where I kept my speed above 9 mph the whole way. Felt pretty good about that accomplishment. With all of the recent rains, there was water running over the spillway by the dam, cool to see. On the way back on Via Rancho Pkwy, we caught up with a group of riders, and it was a challenge to try and ride up to the front of the pack. I didn't make it, but it certainly made me work harder than I would have. We flew over the freeway, and only a couple of them stayed with us.

Average speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 40.0 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20diego/516123705145113887

3-19-2011 Ride

Ride from the transit station parking lot off Ted Williams Pkwy to John's house, where I met up with him and Jim. Before we even started riding, Jim had to fix a flat. We headed up Scripps-Poway Pkwy. On the climb to the top, two guys passed me riding easy. I tried to keep up with them, but they were just better. Headed down the Lakeside grade, then over Lakeside Ave to Riverford/El Nopal, which we took up to Magnolia. Turned right on Mast Ave and stayed on this road all the way to the 52 bike trail. This is a long, gradual uphill, and the bike trail was really messy. I felt like I made pretty good time on this uphill, keeping my pace at a steady clip. On the downhill section near the bottom, I got a flat and had to fix it. Took the Santee Rd offramp and headed over to Clairemont Mesa Blvd, which allowed us to connect to Ruffin Rd/Kearny Mesa Blvd. On this part of the ride, we pretty much stayed together. I was a little worried on the Pomerado Rd section that I wouldn't have much left in the tank, but I felt pretty good for most of it, just running out of gas right near the top. Back to John's the normal way, then back to the parking lot. On this final section, I could feel my back wheel bumping, and I found out at the end that the bead of the tire had popped out of the rim (may have been that way for quite a while) and pinched the tube, causing it to flat. Oh well!

Avg. speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 46.0 mi
Avg. heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2320'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29966026

3-16-2011 Ride

Solo ride after work on the extended loop around RB. At the outset, I didn't think I would be pushing the pace, but I felt pretty good. On the uphill sections, I found I could ride pretty hard for a portion, then my cardio would catch up with me. Even still, I made pretty good time going out Pomerado Rd to the turnaround at Poway Rd. On the slight uphill back, I was in really good form, keeping a fast, steady pace almost all of the way to Ted Williams Pkwy. I was a little slow on the uphill sections of Camino del Norte, but after that my pace was fast the rest of the way home.

Avg. speed = 18.3 mph. Total mileage = 16.3 mi
Avg. heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 580'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6282957

3-13-2011 Ride

Time trial loop with John. The others were sick, so they didn't ride. I generally kept at a pace to stay with him, only moving away on the two longer grades. It was a really nice day for a ride. Finished in 57:25

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

3-12-2011 Ride

Ride with John, leaving from home. Originally, we were going to meet at Dave's house, but he came down with some kind of bug. Headed over by the park to Highland Valley Rd, which we took up to Bandy Canyon Rd. I felt really good on the first part of the climb, motoring on the steep section until the turn, then I kinda ran out of gas. I finished okay, but while I can go hard in intervals, my longer-term stamina is still building. Headed around the San Pasqual Valley, exiting up the hill on San Pasqual Rd. I've taken this hill faster, but I felt okay on it this time. Down to Citrus Ave, where we took a right and headed all the way over to El Norte Pkwy. Took this road all the way to Nordahl Rd, which we used to connect through Auto Park Way to Valley Pkwy. Went up this road over to Via Rancho Pkwy, then back home the normal route. Throughout the ride, I went out in intervals, pushing the pace hard, mostly on the climbs. On the flat section riding across I-15, I dropped the hammer and went out at 30 mph. Couldn't hold it for very long, but it felt good while it lasted. On the last little climb up to the stop sign by home, my quads were complaining, perhaps due to the stress from some of the intervals. At the end of the ride, I felt fine, so recovery was quick.

Average speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 34.7 mi
Average heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1170'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29553232/

3-10-2011 Ride

Solo ride from home after work. Did the reverse of the normal short loop. Felt good to be out on the road. This route generally has its more challenging parts in shorter sections, like the climb up to work. This is a good, short workout.

Average speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 12.6 mi
Average heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 400'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29510626

3-5-2011 Ride

Ride from John's house with the other three. It was the first ride in awhile where the weather was really pleasant to ride in, even from the start. Headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, then down to Kearny Villa Rd. On the short climb, I felt good but could tell that my legs and cardio weren't in tiptop shape. Over to Clairemont Mesa Blvd, where we turned left and essentially looped around Montgomery Field, using Santo Rd and Aero Dr. Took Kearny Villa Rd back, then retraced our route back to John's house. Dave and Jim pretty much kept up with me for most of the ride. Jim and I separated from Dave on the return section of Kearny Villa Rd, where Jim took a strong pull and I followed, but Dave waited to long to try and catch up. On the hill back up Pomerado Rd, we all stayed together until the very end, where I stood on my pedals and separated from the others. I really felt winded at the top, but good overall. The ride really didn't tax my system, as I felt good at the end.

Avg. speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 29.0 mi
Avg. heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 980'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29183658/