8-27-2011 Ride

Solo ride from home, leaving early to get done sooner. This approach helped me avoid the hotter weather, but it was still warm and muggy for the latter half of the ride. Headed through the neighborhood over to RB Rd, then out to Camino del Sur and San Dieguito Rd. The sun was already out by this time. Used El Apajo/Via de Santa Fe to get over to Via de la Valle. My legs were okay, but I didn't feel strong during this ride. Took this road all the way down to the coast, then through Del Mar and up Torrey Pines. Here, I did okay, not letting my speed get below 9 mph. Over Genesee to Eastgate Mall, using this road to connect to Miramar Rd. My average speed on this road was below par (tired legs), and I was also slow up to the top of Pomerado Rd. Took this road all the way to the freeway, then back home by the park and the normal route. I was really slow up the little climb just past the freeway, okay on the last little climb to the stop sign.

Avg speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 47.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1640'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/47985860/

8-26-2011 Ride

Solo ride at lunch from work. It was hot during the ride, and that really sapped my strength, particularly in the latter half of the ride. Headed over to RB Rd using Via del Campo, then out Camino del Sur to Carmel Valley Rd. I went down the hill past this intersection to the next stop light, then turned around and headed back. Here is where I was struggling. Headed back into 4S Ranch, using Dove Canyon Rd to get back over to RB Rd, then took the usual route back to work. Riding in hot, muggy weather is much more challenging than when it is cool and relatively dry.

Avg speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 15.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 660'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/47982696/

8-21-2011 Ride

Ride to church in the afternoon for youth group. I took the usual route there, and I was battling fatigue from the previous day's ride as well as headwinds. And it was hot. The pace going back was much better, particularly on the BVP section. Slower at the end, due to winds working against me again.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph (with rest in the middle). Total mileage = 21.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 580'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/47980336/

8-20-2011 Ride

Initial solo ride up Azucar to Duenda, then over to Pomerado Rd via normal route. Took Pomerado to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, keeping the pace moderate. Then over to John's house using the normal route, where I met up with him and Dave. Dave is still recovering from a knee injury and was intentionally keeping the stress level on his knee minimized, which meant he was slow, particularly in the climbing sections. We headed up Scripps-Poway Pkwy to the 67, then down toward Lakeside. Headed over to Mast Blvd using the normal route through the neighborhood. Again, here I was keeping the pace moderate, not pushing things too hard. I did ride up the grade at a fairly good clip, nothing record-breaking. Took Mast over to the 52 bike trail, which has about a 2 mile gradual grade. At the top, I stopped to tighten the magnet for my speed sensor. Again, I took a decent but not blistering pace on this climb. We headed down to Santo Rd and got the word from Dave to try and cut the ride short, so we turned right on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and took it over to Ruffin Rd/Kearny Villa Rd. Here, we slowed the pace down quite a bit, to stay close to Dave. Over to Pomerado Rd, where he said he would ride slowly and wait for John to come an pick him up in the truck after we finished. John and I rode together for about 2/3 of the way up, trading leads until the incline steepened up a little bit. He fell back but still had a really good climb here. Back to his house the normal way; I sprinted up the last little hill before Angelique and felt pretty good. I headed home via Sabre Springs Pkwy, almost getting hit by a car (my fault) at the Poway Rd intersection. Took Rancho Carmel Dr to Carmel Mountain Rd, then Camino del Norte to Bernardo Center Dr. Home via the normal route by work. I was riding on tired legs but they weren't cramped or tightened up at the end, perhaps because I kept a moderate pace during most of the ride.

Avg speed = 16 mph. Total mileage = 60.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2730'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/46957572

8-14-2011 Ride

Time trial loop, riding from home and meeting up with just John. I kept a pace to ride with John for most of the route, only getting out in front on the climb up to Poway Rd and Sabre Springs Pkwy. In other cases, I would slow down when I got much in front of him. It was a good pace, with a really fast finish. Even though I finished faster than the previous week, my average heartrate was significantly lower. Good sign. Finished in 55:35.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

8-13-2011 Ride

Started out with a solo ride, following the short loop from home up to the turn onto Bernardo Center Dr. There, I kept going on Camino del Norte to Dove Canyon Rd, then over to RB Rd. Over to Jim's house through the normal neighborhood route, where I met up with him, John, and Dave. We headed over the freeway to BVP and up to San Pasqual Valley Rd, where we moved over to Citrus Ave and took this road all the way to El Norte Pkwy. Here, John found he had a slow leak in his rear tire, so he changed it. We continued over to Broadway and then to Jesmond Dene Rd. I had a decent, not scorching pace on this road, and Dave hung with me until about halfway up the last little climb, when he fell back. We continued on up to Deer Springs Pkwy, then down and over to Buena Creek Rd. This is a really great downhill, wonder what it would be like going up. Over to Santa Fe Rd, which turns into Mission Rd. This was a fairly long section, where various people took leads out, then got caught by the others. Followed this road all the way to Centre City Pkwy, then back the normal route. I kept a pretty good pace across the freeway, so did Jim. Dave split from us here and headed home, while we rode up the little hill by the park. I was pretty slow, having more than 50 miles on my legs by then. I decided not to ride all the way up to Jim's and split off at my house. Felt good throughout, with just some tightening of my quads when I pushed toward the latter stages of the ride. Legs were really tired all through the day.

Avg. speed = 18.7 mph. Total mileage = 53.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1760'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/45963686/

8-9-2011 Ride

Ride to yoga, following the normal route to Oak Hill. I had a good tailwind at my back, and I made good time. I didn't really push the pace hard but had a fine ride nevertheless.

Average speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 10.6 mi
Average heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 440'
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/964123799127555358

8-7-2011 Ride

Time trial loop, riding from home and meeting up with Jim and Dave. I was surprised to see Jim, but also happy, since I wasn't keen on riding a fast pace. So I didn't, preferring to keep with Dave and slowing down when I got out ahead of him and Jim. Dave had hurt his knee swimming, and that probably slowed him down somewhat. I took it easy up the little grade to Poway Rd, getting near the top with lots left in the tank, which is an unusual occurrence. Again, I didn't push the pace on either Poway Rd or Sabre Springs Pkwy, just riding at a comfortable clip. Same thing on Ted Williams Pkwy, where Dave and I rode together. We kept a similar pace on Pomerado Rd, with Jim staying pretty much up with us and leading out on the downhill section. I didn't feel anywhere near as wiped out at the end of the ride (and throughout the day) as I normally do. Finished in 55:55.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

8-6-2011 Ride

Ride, starting from home and heading around Poblado to Matinal and up to RB Rd. Rode up to Via del Campo, then over to W Bernardo Dr. Took this over to Bernardo Heights Pkwy, with the Paseo Lucido spur, then over to Pomerado Rd and Stone Canyon Rd. This road, if you know it, can be ridden pretty aggressively, with the toughest section being just before it tees into Martincoat Rd. Over to Espola Rd, then up to Old Coach Rd for a little more mileage. Down Espola to Alondra Dr, where I met up with Dave and Jim. Jim hadn't been riding for a long time, since he'd been on vacation. We headed up Pomerado Rd to Ted Williams Pkwy, then over to the 56 Bike Trail. I didn't really push the pace throughout the ride, since I was content to get the miles in without too much suffering. We headed down to El Camino Real, then took this south and over to San Dieguito Rd. Up the Three Witches climb, I took it pretty easy, especially on the last section. We turned right on Camino del Sur and rode over to Carmel Valley Rd, then up and over to Dove Canyon Rd. By this point, Jim was hurting and slowed down. He cramped up on this last little climb, so we slowed down the overall pace more. Over to RB Rd, then up and down. The downhill section has truly awful pavement in the bike lane. We hit every light going through RB. Back to Dave's house, where I left them and headed home going right on W Bernardo Dr and up Aguamiel. On this last little climb, I was still feeling good, with no muscle twinges, just some tiredness.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 48.6 mi
Total elevation gain = 1860'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/44864198

8-4-2011 Ride

Solo ride over lunch from work, taking the short loop. It was toasty, and the heat sapped my strength. This was the first ride on new tires, which look to be more puncture-resistant than the ones I have been riding. I'm sure hoping so.

Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 12.2 mi
Total elevation gain = 480'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/27820722