2011 Alpine Challenge Metric Century

2011 Alpine Metric Century. Rode with John. It had a rolling start time, so we got there pretty early, got ready quickly, and got on the road a little after 6:30. This turned out to be a good thing, as much of the climbing section up to Descanso was done in really nice weather. The start/finish location was in Flinn Springs, which worked out okay. It was in a park, and the parking was a little sketchy but otherwise a good spot. A little climbing before we got to Harbison Canyon Rd. I was with two other guys out in the lead, and they were setting a pretty fast pace, so I was pushing to keep up. I stayed with them until early in the Dehesa grade climb. At the first sag stop, I waited for John to catch up and took off my long-sleeve jersey and full-fingered gloves. I pushed the pace a little too hard on this section of the climb. Nobody passed me, and I was the first one to stop at the third sag stop about 2/3 of the way up the Japatul climb. My back had stiffened up pretty significantly, so I did a lot of stretching while waiting for John, and it helped a lot. Up to Descanso, then we did the 12-mile loop out to Pine Valley and back. On the way there, there is a longer, fairly gradual climb, then the road goes down a little more steeply, but shorter, into Pine Valley. This is a nice little community, and the route took us on a loop through it, bringing it back to the main road right at the base of the climb back. My legs were feeling it, so I took it slow and steady, no real problems. Waited for John again at the Descanso sag stop, and I was worried. My legs were twitching and there was still some climbing and pedaling to do. John, of course, took off fast from this sag stop, and I kept up with him at a price. On the little climb back up to the freeway, my legs were really complaining. I was very slow here, then did a lot of coasting on the downhill sections, suffering through the minor climbs here and there. I kept up a cadence in a low gear and didn't stop pedaling. On one of the downhill sections, I must have gotten my second wind because I was able to handle the climb back into Alpine fairly well. It was slow but I made it, and I was really concerned that my legs were going to give out on me. The new route seemed to have less climbing at the end of the ride, but it made up for it with the Pine Valley loop. Don't know the exact time, since my cyclometer quit reading around mile 38. At the very end of the ride, the last mile, my legs were again complaining a lot. Thankfully, it was pretty much downhill by this point, so I was able to complete. Finished in right around 4:00, which I was pretty proud of.

Avg. speed = 15.6 mph. Total mileage = 62.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 159 bpm

Total elevation gain = 4660'

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/33059322

4-27-2011 Ride

Solo ride from work at lunchtime down W. Bernardo Dr and over the freeway to BVP, then up to Sunset Dr, which I used to connect to Juniper St. Took this all the way into town to buy some inner tubes at the new Bike Bling location on Grand Ave. They were really expensive! No more buying them there. On the way back, it was pretty toasty. I hadn't brought a water bottle, so I was really parched and a little dehydrated at the end of the ride, and I was very flushed.

Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 18.8 mi
Avg. heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 790'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/33056742/

4-23-2011 Ride

Ride from home with John and Jim, preparing for the Alpine Challenge. Headed over to Escondido and BVP, which we took to San Pasqual Rd. Into the San Pasqual Valley and onto Old Milky Way, which we used to connect to the 78. From here, it was up to Ramona. On the initial flats, I got out a little ahead of the others, but we regrouped before beginning the climbing section. I felt pretty good on the climb, keeping up a decent pace on the first part, then really having a good ride on the second, flatter part. It felt like I had a tailwind on this part. We regrouped at the stoplight in Ramona. It was cool and breezy here. Headed out San Vicente Rd to Warnock Rd, then over Dye Rd to the 67. Here, we traded leads and worked in a loose pace line, and it was a real energy-saver. Out of Ramona, we separated again. There we a little bit of a headwind on the uphill section to the crest around Mt. Woodson. Reconnection again, then downhill into a stiffer headwind until Scripps-Poway Pkwy. Here, John and Jim split off and headed west, while I rode down the Lakeside grade into a pretty steady headwind. At the bottom, I took Vigilante Rd over to Moreno Rd, then turned around and headed back. On the first section, I had the advantage of that tailwind and it really helped push me up the hill. My back stiffened up somewhat near the end of the second section. Headed down Scripps-Poway Pkwy into a freshened headwind. Took it to Pomerado Rd, then followed this road all the way back home, by the park. On this section, my legs felt good and I was able to keep up a good pace, again helped by a tailwind. I had tired legs at the end but no cramping, a good day on the bike.

Avg speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 58.1 mi

Avg heartrate = 154 bpm

Total elevation gain = 2950'

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32560680/

4-20-2011 Ride

Solo ride from home after work. Headed over by the park to Highland Valley Rd, then up to the top and a little beyond. I got to the place where the palm trees line the road, then turned around. I was really struggling on the steeper sections of the climbs; my lower back was giving me lots of problems. Not sure why, unless I still haven't recovered from last Sunday's draining ride. The weather was cloudy at the start, then the sun was out as I headed toward Ramona, then cloudy on the way back home. Again, my average heartrate was low because I couldn't keep up speed on the climbs.

Avg. speed = 15.0 mph. Total mileage = 21.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1430'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32247528/

4-17-2011 Ride

Ride #1
Time trial ride with Dave and Jim. John was supposed to ride but texted Dave the evening before bowing out. I took it slower, knowing I was going to ride in the afternoon. Basically, I let Dave lead out on the uphill sections, and I stayed on his wheel. It worked out alright. My max heartrate was usually in the low 160's with the exception of the climb up to Poway Rd. Even there, I didn't feel I was really straining. I put a little bit of separation on Dave going up Sabre Springs Pkwy, and he was able to separate at a slight uphill section on Poway Rd. On the climb up to Pomerado Hospital, he was giving it his max effort, and I kept up easily and passed him. I've been riding a lot more than him lately. Finished in 56:15 or thereabouts.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

Ride #2
Ride from church out Broadway to Mission Rd, which I took all the way out to Los Posas Rd. The wind was right in my face, and it was a steady breeze. No fun. Over to San Marcos Blvd and Palomar Airport Rd, where the breeze was a constant challenge. Even the downhills weren't fun. Got onto the 101 heading south, where there was a quartering wind to keep me slowed down. I had forgotten to bring water bottles, and I didn't put sunscreen on. Bad Paul. Slogged my way to Solana Beach, looking for a water fountain at the beach park to no avail. I had a small water bottle but it was gone by about this time. I was taking electrolyte cubes, and they seemed to help somewhat. Going up Lomas Santa Fe to Rancho Santa Fe, I had the breeze at my back, and it was really helpful. It was slow going on all of the uphill sections, as I was tired and dehydrated. Through Rancho Santa Fe and onto Del Dios Hwy. Same thing here, slow up the grades and benefiting from the tailwind. The uphill sections on Via Rancho Pkwy seemed to particularly tough, as I was running out of gas and sore in the saddle. I stopped at the Subway by the freeway and drank three cups of soda. Boy, did they taste good! They gave me the energy to finish the ride, and I was able to negotiate the final two small uphill sections without cramping, the last one standing on the pedals. My average heartrate was down because I didn't have the strength in my legs to keep my speed up.

Avg speed = 15.5 mph. Total mileage = 46.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1220'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32005342/

4-16-2011 Ride

Solo ride from home with an early start. I got out to look at my bike and discovered a flat rear tire. Ugh! Turned out that the patch was leaking. I put on a new tube and re-patched the other as a spare. Still got rolling around 6:35. Headed down by the park, then up Pomerado Rd to Scripps-Poway Pkwy. I kept a steady pace but not really pushing it. Same thing for the uphill sections of Scripps-Poway Pkwy. I was mildly surprised at my time up the final climb, which wasn't too bad. Got up there in about an hour. Headed north on the 67, where I was distinctly slower on the uphill sections. Then down Poway Rd. I must have been down this road before, but I don't remember when. It was actually pretty good, although I couldn't get into a tuck since my back was sore from the earlier climbing. Took it down to Community Rd, then over to Twin Peaks Rd. Connected back to Pomerado Rd, where I retraced my earlier route. I was slower on the uphill section by the hospital but pretty fast after crossing RB Rd. Decent energy left for the last two little climbs, although I felt it in my thighs on the section before the park.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 32.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 157 bpm.
Total elevation gain = 1650'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32005764/

4-10-2011 Ride

Time trial ride with John, Dave, and Jim. At the outset, Jim and I were riding out front, and I put some distance on him on the climb up to Poway HS. The others were farther behind. On the climb up to Poway Rd, I rode steady but not super hard, and Dave caught up with me. He was feeling better and was able to get his heartrate up. We motored as a group down Poway Rd, then Dave and I rode up Sabre Springs Pkwy at about the same pace. I put some distance on the rest going up Ted Williams Pkwy. We gathered up just beyond the light at Twin Peaks, and the others took off before I could join them. They separated enough that I couldn't catch them going up the hill by Pomerado Hospital. On the downhill section, they all took off, and I didn't have enough gas left in the tank to close the gap again. Too much gardening on the day before, I guess. Riding time was about 55:30.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 159 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

4-9-2011 Ride

Ride with John from his house. Nobody else showed up. I was recovering from a cold and didn't know how that would work out. It was pretty chilly at the start, but we headed uphill to the top of Pomerado Rd, so that warmed me up. Down the hill and out Miramar Rd to Genesee Rd, where we took a left and did the rolling hills up and down. The last one wasn't as bad as I had remembered it. Turned left on Linda Vista and took it north to Aero Dr, which we used to hop over to Kearny Mesa Blvd, which parallels the 163. This road merges into Kearny Villa Rd, and from there it was the normal route back to the top of Pomerado Rd. We added a little section of climbing by going all the way down Springbrook to Sabre Springs Pkwy, then climbing back up to Mountain Pass Rd on Springhurst. It was a shorter route, and I ended up feeling okay, with just some coughing and a lot of spitting up mucus. I felt more cleaned out at the end.

Avg speed = 16.? mph. Total mileage = 34.7 mi
Avg heartrate = ?? bpm
Total elevation gain = 1220'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/31325606