12-30-2011 Ride

Ride through Westwood to RB Rd, then down to Bernardo Center Dr/Duenda and over to Jim's house, where I met up with him, Dave, David, and John.  We headed up Pajaro Way and over to Duenda, then to Matinal Rd via Cabela.  Up this section again, taking RB Rd over to Dove Canyon Rd and down to Carmel Valley Rd.  Up this hill, feeling okay and not pushing things too hard.  Then the long downhill and easy ride to the 56 Bike trail, taking this down to El Camino Real.  It was noticeably colder down on this section.  Got on Carmel Valley Rd again and took it down to the coast.  There is a little climb to the coast, then it continues as you head south toward Del Mar.  John was riding strong throughout the ride, Jim lagging back, and Dave feeling it in his knees.  We headed through Del Mar, then back on Via de la Valle to El Camino Real.  Took this over to San Dieguito Rd, and we all stayed together on the flats.  I felt pretty good on the climb out of Fairbanks Ranch, really working on the third section to have a strong finish.  We gathered up again and headed back via Camino del Sur to RB Rd.  The others headed back to Jim's house, while I continued over to Pomerado Rd, then went back home on Pomerado to W Bernardo Dr and the regular way.  I went to Christine's Iyengar Yoga class afterward and was really sore the following day from over-exertion.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 43.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 140 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1540'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62339556/

12-29-2011 Ride

Easy ride from home, with Dave and Jim.  We headed out through Westwood to RB Rd.  It was warmer at the start than previous days.  Up to Dove Canyon Rd, which we took over to Carmel Valley Rd.  Up this little grade, then onto Black Mountain Rd, which we took all the way over to Miramar Rd, the last little section being on Kearny Villa Rd.  I felt strong throughout this section and really kept my pace low to not get too far ahead of the others and basically stay with them on the flat and downhill sections.  Jim hadn't been riding much recently, so his pace was slower than normal.  We took it easy up Pomerado Rd, although I pushed it on the little climb at the top.  On the Pomerado Rd section, we all stayed pretty much together, keeping the pace lighter.  All the way down to the freeway, then back up by the park, where I stretched it out on that little hill.  The overall distance for the ride was a little less than I had planned, so later on I rode my bike over to the library to pick up a book on reserve.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 31.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 137 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1370'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62063022/

12-28-2011 Ride

Ride from home, up Azucar and over to Dave's house, where I met up with him, John, and David Settles.  We headed out Pomerado to the freeway and into Escondido via Centre City Pkwy.  I felt pretty good on this gradual climb.  Caught a fair number of lights in the city, turning right on 2nd Ave and heading up to the intersection at Juniper, where we met up with Joe.  We took Grand Ave to BVP and went out to Lake Wohlford Rd.  By this time I was warmed up, so I changed gloves and took off my jacket for the climb.  It went okay.  Dave hung with me for the first part but couldn't keep pace, even though I was significantly slower on the second half than I was the last time I rode it.  We all gathered at the top of the hill and continued riding.  On the climbs, Joe fell back but the others basically stayed together.  Over to Valley Center Rd by the casino, and it's a rough stretch for about 3 mi.  Then it smoothes out and it nice all the way back into Escondido.  On the little climb before the grade, Dave took off and I didn't have any response.  We headed down the grade and turned on El Norte Pkwy, keeping a loose pace line and making really good time on this section, averaging over 20 mph.  Down to Centre City Pkwy and back toward Dave's house.  Joe turned off at Grand Ave.  We stayed together, but I was winding down and tiring out.  Over the freeway, John turned on the jets and I couldn't match him either.  Alas.  I thought about heading for home but decided to ride it out.  Reasonably good pace up Pomerado Rd, with several people taking the lead at various times.  Back to Dave's house, then I went home via RB Rd.  At the end, I felt good, no muscle tightening or soreness, just tired.  This was the best ride of the week, easily.  Cardio appears to be slowly coming into shape.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 49.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1880'

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/61945196

12-27-2011 Ride

Solo ride from home out Del Dios to Solana Beach and back.  I was still tired from the previous day's ride, and I think I'm slowing down in general in my riding.  Kinda depressing.  I didn't want to push the pace during the ride, knowing that I have another long ride planned for Wednesday.  Didn't have any real strength in my legs throughout the ride.  It was cool at the start but not bitter cold.  Kept my tights on the entire ride, as it never really warmed up.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 40.0 mi.
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20diego/516123705145113887

12-26-2011 Ride

Ride, starting from the Park n Ride at Ted Williams Pkwy, over to John's house.  It was so cold at the start that my eyeballs hurt.  I hadn't been riding for a couple of days, since I had some kind of muscle strain in my middle back.  So I was trying to take it pretty easy on this ride.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, and it was already warming up nicely.  Down the hill, where I was pushing to keep up with John.  He was riding fast, my windbreaker was slowing me down, and I wasn't feeling particularly strong.  We headed over to Kearny Villa Rd, and again I was trailing John more than leading.  Over to Balboa Ave, which we took all the way to the bottom of the gradual climb up to Mt Soledad on Soledad Mountain Rd.  I stopped here to take my jacket and ear warmer off and put on my regular gloves.  At the beginning, I just rode steady and tried to stay with John.  I was feeling better and rode out in front.  This route doesn't really have any tough parts, but it's long, about 3.5 mi from the base to the lookout point on the circle by the cross.  I made it up fine, again keeping the pace slow to moderate.  We headed back using Via Capri, and I was really laying on the brakes.  I think I need new front brake pads.  We took Hidden Valley Rd down to Torrey Pines Rd, another gradual uphill that went pretty well.  Turned right on La Jolla Village Dr, which eventually turns into Miramar Rd.  On the section up to Genesee, John was falling back, so I slowed down to ride more at his pace.  He was riding faster once we crossed over I-5, and we traded leads all the way to Pomerado Rd.  This section of road is really bumpy in the bike lane, and the sewer smell by every manhole cover is downright gross.  John was pretty well wiped out by the time we started up Pomerado Rd, so I got ahead of him again, then slowed down to ride with him on the flat section.  I pulled away as it started to climb again, and I felt pretty good all the way to the top, again not setting any speed records.  We headed back to his house the normal route.  I rode back, was pretty slow on the slight uphill past Poway Rd.  I kept going a little beyond Ted Williams Pkwy, turning around at Shoal Creek Dr and heading back to where the car was parked.  My quads were pretty well done for, starting to complain when I stood on the pedals, so it was a good time to stop.  Recovery was fairly quick.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 46.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2220'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/61816206

12-18-2011 Ride

Time trial ride with Dave and John. It was cool but not cold.  Even though I rode more than I had ridden in awhile on the previous day, I felt fine but not ready to push it hard.  We kept the pace moderate on the Espola Rd section, and I only pushed it on the little climb.  Steady riding to the climb up to Poway Rd, where I kept it at about 9 mph, again not going all-out.  Hit a lot of lights on Poway Rd, which slowed down the pace.  I accelerated up the little hill before the turn onto Sabre Springs Pkwy and felt good there.  Just a steady pace after this until the pause before Ted Williams Pkwy, continued this pace until just past the first light, where I again accelerated up the little climb and tried to keep things going.  On Pomerado Rd, Dave and I stayed together for much of the ride to the hospital, where I pulled away near the end.  On the following downhill, we all three started together, but Dave led out and I followed.  Near the end, I accelerated ahead of him for a little bit, but he caught me, although I could tell he was giving it pretty much everything.  Finished in about 55:05, feeling good, still working on restoring my cardio to a higher-performance level.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Average heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

12-17-2011 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house,, using the Azucar Way route, where I met up with him and David Settles.  We headed out Pomerado Rd to Highland Valley Rd.  It was in the 40's when we started, but down by the creek here it was noticeably colder, and it seemed to make the exertion more difficult for me.  I had a slow climb up the steep section of Highland Valley, cardio just not as fit as in the past and I hadn't really been doing any steep or long climbing in awhile.  We regrouped at the top, headed over to Bandy Canyon Rd and then to the 78.  Dave was really cold here, so he fell back somewhat.  I separated from David on the climb, as he hadn't been riding much in the previous two weeks.  I felt okay for the first half, but my back started to tighten up as the length of the climb got to me.  My legs felt okay, but I had to slow down periodically and stretch while riding.  We gathered back together at the intersection with the 67, and the others were pretty worn out.  We made it okay on the 67, I separated and waited for them at the top of the grade by Mt Woodson.  Coming downhill after here, we were riding into the wind, and I had to pedal for much of the section to keep the pace steady.  Rode over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, regrouped, and took this downhill.  Dave got out ahead of me on the downhill section, but I caught him in the little climbs back into Poway.  Down to Pomerado Rd, where I turned down my exertion level and basically rode with the other two on this section, just separating a little on the section by the hospital.  Back to Dave's house, then I went home by taking RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr, not relishing the thought of any more climbing.  I felt fine at the end, with no muscle tightness or soreness.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 48.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2400'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/61047260

12-10-2011 Ride

Ride on Bethlehem Walk weekend with Dave, John, and Jim.  We met up at Jim's house and chose a route that was relatively flat, going out through Escondido all the way to Deer Springs Rd, then back to Buena Creek Rd and that little jaunt through the wooded neighborhood to Mission Rd.  I wasn't riding too hard on this part, knowing that I needed to conserve my energy for the weekend.  Back on Mission all the way to Centre City Pkwy, and we basically stayed together, with little separations here and there on the small hills.  Back the normal route over the freeway, where I really pushed the pace crossing the bridge and kept it at 33 mph for a stretch.  That was a workout, and it took a fair amount out of me.  We gathered back together and rode to Jim's house.  The Aguamiel Rd piece climbing up to his house was a real challenge for me, especially the steeper section after Azucar.  I was out of the saddle and pedaling in survival mode for most of this section, feeling it in my quads, which were starting to tighten up.  Rode home afterward, felt fine given the exertion level.

Avg speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 35.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm.
Total elevation gain = 1240'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/60523500

12-3-2011 Ride

Ride with John and Dave in the morning from John's house.  It was pretty cold at the start.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd using the normal route, then down on Miramar Rd all the way to Genesee Ave.  In this part of the ride, we had the wind at our backs, and we really made good time.  On Genesee, we slowed down, as this route has a number of ups and downs.  Interestingly, none of them are long enough to qualify categorization.  I did okay on them, still need to work on my cardio fitness.  Headed over to Linda Vista Rd, then back to Aero Dr for the connection to Kearny Villa Rd, and back to Pomerado Rd.  We pretty much hung together on this stretch, except for the last bit, where I pulled away.  Going up Pomerado, I felt decent and made a decent, not great, climb.  Back to John's house the normal way.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 32.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1080' (seems like more on this ride)
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59925006