11-30-2011 Ride

Solo ride during lunchtime from work.  Headed out Via del Campo to RB Rd, over to Camino del Sur, and out to Carmel Valley Rd.  Over to the 56 bike trail, where I had a pretty strong tailwind pushing me.  I made good time, due mainly to the tailwind.  Headed back via Camino del Sur to Carmel Valley Rd.  I was slow on the uphill section here.  Had forgotten to bring my water bottle, but I don't think that was the main reason.  Down to Dove Canyon Rd, then over to Camino San Bernardo.  Again, I was slow on this latter section.  Back to RB Rd, where I retraced by route to the office.  It was an okay ride, not great.

Avg speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 22.5 mph
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 900'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59923512/

11-26-2011 Ride

Solo ride from the house we were staying in up at Lake Arrowhead.  I heade.d north, with an uphill section then a thrilling downhill on North Bay Rd.  The weather had moderated from the previous day, so I rode with a single long-sleeved jersey and shorts.  I headed around the north side of the lake and into Lake Arrowhead Village, where I switched out my gloves before the 2-mile climb on the 173 up to the 18 Hwy.  While this was a long climb, it was fairly gradual.  Even still, it took a lot out of me.  Got onto the 18 and headed toward Running Springs.  There was a moderate 3-mile climb that I had remembered from last year, and it really worked my lower back out.  I slowed down on the latter parts, not so much due to my legs or cardio but more from my back stiffening up.  This was the general tenor of the ride.  The portion from Running Springs to Arrowbear was comparatively easy, then the unexpected challenge started.  I rode a long, 4-mile climb, followed closely by steeper, 2-mile section up to 7100'.  I was hurting at this point, with no drive left in my legs, even on the relatively flat portions.  Luckily, it was a net downhill to Big Bear Lake, but I was getting worried that I wouldn't make it there before Ann and Laura showed up.  On one of the downhill sections, I got a little too close to the guardrail and rode through the slush on the side of the road, almost losing it.  That got my adrenaline flowing, and I made it to the western edge of Big Bear Lake riding mostly downhill.  There was one final climb up toward the village, then mercifully a basically downhill final section to Cienega Rd, where Ann and Laura were waiting for me.  I was about 5 minutes late.  This ride definitely goes down as the hardest 30-mile ride I can remember ever having done.  Lots of climbing and all of it above 5000' elevation.

Avg speed = 12.7 mph. Total mileage = 29.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2980'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59181360

11-25-2011 Ride

Solo ride while staying up at Lake Arrohead at a house just off North Bay Rd past Alpen.  It was in the high 30's when I started, and there was still ice on the road in the shaded sections.  I took it really slow, not wanting to lay my bike down.  Headed over to Blue Jay, then up the other side of the lake.  I felt good on this section, and it's rolling but not steep, other than a short section just beyond Lake Arrowhead Village.  Then there's a gradual climb by the northeast section of the lake, followed by a long, gradual downhill.  I stayed on the 178 for about 2 miles past the North Bay Rd turn.  It was a nice ride, but the relatively short climb back felt tougher than it actually was.  When I turned onto North Bay Rd, this section had a 1.5 mile climb that was pretty steep at the start, and I was really slow going up it.  My cardio needs a lot more training.  Then it was downhill to the house, thankfully.

Avg speed = 13.3 (!)  mph. Total mileage = 13.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 680'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59051378

11-23-2011 Ride

Ride over to North County Fair to meet Eric Welch, a new rider who met up with Dave, John, and Jim on a ride to Ramona.  He's a very nice guy, lives in Ramona and just recently started riding.  Already, he's pretty strong.  We headed out BVP to San Pasqual Rd, then into the valley.  It was in the low 40's at the start of the ride.  He stayed with me on this section, and I was breathing hard.  I'm still out of shape, need to get more miles and more challenge into my rides.  We rode down into the valley and over to the 78, riding the climb out.  I was working a lot harder here than I would have liked.  Here, Eric and I stayed together for a little bit, then I outpaced him on the second half.  Took the 78 over to Citrus Ave, where I led out on this gradual climb.  Took it to BVP, then out to Lake Wohlford Rd.  On the initial steeper section, I was riding pretty well, but I didn't have much for the second half that isn't as steep.  Again, more miles needed.  We headed by the lake, and I got a flat.  Changed it, noticed that the tire had a thin piece of metal in it that I couldn' get out, so I switched tires.  We went over to Woods Valley Rd, and this downhill section was fun.  Back to Valley Center Rd, with a short climb and another long, faster downhill.  Turned on El Norte Pkwy, where we rode together all the way over to Nutmeg Rd.  Up and down, then up the short, steep Knob Hill section.  We were running behind schedule, so we stayed on Auto Pkwy all the way over to 9th Ave.  On this little climb past the freeway, my quads were telling me it was time to take it easy.  We headed over Quince to Centre City Pkwy, then motored back toward the mall.  Eric and I separated at Via Rancho Pkwy, and I headed home the normal route.  I was slower than normal going up the hill by the park but felt okay on the last climb back to the house.

Avg speed = 16.2 mph. Total mileage = 42.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1870'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58779278

11-19-2011 Ride

Ride from home with Dave, Jim, David Settles, and Jim's friend Flash.  This was the first time I had ridden with David and Flash.  We headed out through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then over via Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd. on the first little climb to RB Rd, the others were behind, but David kept with me on the climb before San Dieguito Rd.  He fell back on the downhill into Fairbanks Ranch.  We headed over to El Camino Real.  Dave and I led out on this climb, but he fell back about two-thirds of the way up.  David stayed close behind, though.  We headed over to the 56 bike trail and all pretty much stayed together until the gentle climbs beyond Carmel Valley Rd.  Then Flash, David, and I were pretty much together.  We dropped Flash on the second little climb, and I was working hard to stay on David's wheel.  On the part climbing up to I-15, I left the others behind with a push.  We all gathered up and stayed basically together on Rancho Carmel Rd.  Flash and I rode out ahead on Camino del Norte, but he cracked near the top.  We headed back home by HP.  This will be a good group to ride with, as there are more riders in the group who will push the pace.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 34.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1380'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59054558

11-13-2011 Ride

Ride in the afternoon from church with Joe.  I had gotten rained out of a ride on Saturday morning, so the opportunity to ride on Sunday afternoon was great.  The weather cooperated as well, although we rode into a headwind coming out of the northwest.  Started out on the same route as the last time we had ridden together, heading up to BVP via Grand Ave then over to E Valley Pkwy.  Got onto El Norte Pkwy, and here is where we were riding into the wind for awhile.  Over to Broadway, then out to Jesmond Dene Rd.  I felt pretty good on this section, keeping up a decent pace and finishing with a reasonably strong kick.  Joe hadn't been riding much, so we cut the pace back somewhat.  Rode up to Deer Springs Rd and took the loop back to Centre City Pkwy, then back into town.  We had some time, so we stayed on Centre City Pkwy to Felicita Rd, then over to Juniper Rd.  Back to church the usual way from here.  On the latter part of the ride, after we got into town, we slowed the pace down.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 21.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 510'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58173400/

11-11-2011 Ride

Solo ride from work in the afternoon.  Knew that the weather was going to be bad over the weekend, so I figured I'd get some miles in.  Went out Camino del Norte to Carmel Valley Rd.  This little climb was a chore for me, again because I haven't been riding a lot of miles recently.  Got on Camino del Sur over to the 56 bike trail, then took this down to Carmel Valley Rd.  Rode it back to Camino del Sur, then back to the office using the normal route via RB Rd.  All through this ride, I felt kinda sluggish, and I didn't really click on why until later, when I remembered that I had given blood on the previous Monday.  I finished with a decent average speed, all things considered.

Avg speed = 18 mph. Total mileage = 21.2
Avg heartrate = 155 bpm
Total elevation gain = 890'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58172048/

11-6-2011 Ride

Very short ride over to 4S ranch to get my hair cut.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 6.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 350'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58171028

11-3-2011 Ride

Solo ride over lunch from work, using the same route, almost, as the previous day.  I didn't stop at home, which allowed me to fly down Aguamiel.  I was feeling better too, and the wind wasn't as ornery.  I ended up with a much faster pace on this ride.

Avg speed = 18.6 mph. Total mileage = 16.8 mi
Total elevation gain = 620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58169766/

11-2-2011 Ride

Solo ride over lunch from work, taking a modified short loop route that included a swing by home to pick something up, maybe a water bottle.  I hadn't ridden much recently, so I took the pace easy.  Even still, I felt sluggish on any of the uphill sections.  The wind was up, and it swirled to work against me.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 16.8 mi
Total elevation gain = 620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58169766/