12-30-2012 Ride

Ride after church with Andy Sweet.  He had been training for an upcoming marathon but hadn't ridden much recently.  Wow!  The weather looked a little sketchy and was cooler than I expected at the start.  We headed over Juniper St to 2nd St and over to Grand Ave, taking it up to BVP.  This part of the ride was at a moderate pace, talking to catch up a little on what's been going on.  We picked up the pace a little bit, but still not burning it, heading out BVP to Valley Pkwy and over to Lake Wohlford Rd.  This is where it got challenging.  I put just about everything into my ride up this grade, and Andy was basically able to hang on, although he was really huffing and puffing. Somewhere during this climb, my heartrate monitor started to register, and it was showing around 170 bpm for most of this climb.  We dialed it back a little bit after this climb, and it was cooling down and getting wet on the roads.  Headed over to Woods Valley Rd and smoked this downhill, trading drafts on a damp road.  We went back into Escondido via Valley Center Rd, and this was a fast, kinda wet downhill, with a very brief period of being pelted by hail near the bottom.  It was raining a little bit at the bottom, and the road was really wet.  We stayed on this road until it turned into Valley Pkwy, at which time the wetness disappeared and the sun was out.  It was blessedly warmer, although not really warm.  I was worried about getting caught in serious rain showers, so we headed back, hitting most of the lights on Valley Pkwy until we turned on Ash St and connected to Grand Ave.  Back from here at a modest pace, going to Kalmia and crossing over to the church.  It was a light workout for me except for the time of maximum effort going up the Wohlford grade and the section leading up to and on Woods Valley Rd.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 22.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 13? bpm (not including the section to get to the top of the Wohlford climb)
Total elevation gain = 1160'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/162318030

12-29-2012 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for a 7:30 start.  It seemed colder than the start on the previous day, even though the temperature at my house was a little higher.  Throughout this ride, the sun never really came out, and it stayed cool the whole time.  We started on the same route as John and I had taken on the rainy Wednesday ride.  I was keeping my pace low for much of this ride, knowing that I still have two more days, ideally, of riding before New Year's Day.  We got on the 56 bike trail and headed all the way down to Carmel Country Rd, riding a little bit of a tailwind and seeing a lot more cyclists than I did on the previous Wednesday.  We took Carmel Canyon Rd over to Del Mar Heights Rd, then rode against a headwind pretty much up to Camino del Sur.  At times, it was pretty brisk, but it thankfully moderated as we got closer to 4S Ranch and RB.  I pushed my pace a little bit on this section, then dialed it back after and rode with Dave after Camino del Sur, only outpacing him on the little uphill sections.  We stayed on Carmel Valley Rd to Dove Canyon Rd, then took it over to Camino del Norte.  We added a little to the ride by heading west here to RB Rd, then taking this at modest pace to Via del Campo, crossing over to the smoother downhill on W Bernardo Dr.  Then back to Dave's house, where I picked up a couple of pairs of shorts he bought for me at the December Canari warehouse sale.  Then back home via W Bernardo Dr, driving pretty hard on this section and feeling fairly strong.  This was the first ride where I felt good throughout, good cardio and no real exertion.  My max heartrate was in the low 160's.

Avg speed = 17 mph. Total mileage = 34.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 133 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1380'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/162068104

12-28-2012 Ride

Ride with John and Dave from my house, heading over into Escondido and up BVP.  It was pretty cold (upper 30's) at the start but warmed up over the course of the ride.  I kept my pace modest for most of the ride, and I can tell that my cardio is getting into shape.  Headed over to Citrus Ave and took this to El Norte Pkwy, then down to Centre City Pkwy.  We headed out to Deer Springs Pkwy, passing a guy on a pretty nice bike wearing pajama pants.  Weird.  On the way back into town, we were riding pretty fast in a loose pace line, with me and John trading most of the leads.  There was one section where I kicked out the jams, but otherwise I rode at a reasonable pace.  Headed back by CSUSM on Barham Dr, then took this to Mission Ave.  We took this over to Washington Ave and then to Valley Pkwy via Tulip.  Over to Quince St, where I was starting to flag.  Took Quince to 13th Ave and then got onto Centre City Pkwy to get back home via the usual route.  On the I-15 bridge across Lake Hodges, John went all out, and I couldn't quite match his burst.  Still have some leg fitness to work on.  My stamina is building, at least for shorter climbs.
Total mileage = 34.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1010'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/162065600

12-27-2012 Ride

Ride from the usual parking spot in Carmel Mountain Ranch over to John's house, following the normal route.  The weather was much nicer than the previous day, cool and clear, although the roads throughout the early part of the ride were still wet in numerous spots.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, then down to Miramar Rd.  It was crowded with traffic, which made riding more challenging.  About halfway to Genesee, I got a flat in my rear tire, the first flat I can remember since I got my bike.  Fixed it, but the small pump really struggles with getting tire pressure, so I rode on a soft tire for the rest of the time.  We got to Genesee Rd and rode the ups and downs over to Linda Vista Rd.  John was lagging on the little climbs, but we rode together for the most part at this point, taking Aero Dr over to Kearny Villa Rd and following it all the way back to Pomerado Rd.  I was feeling okay but not particularly strong on the extended flat sections.  I did have a decent ride back up Pomerado until it got steeper near the top, when my fitness kinda ran out.  Got back to John's house the normal way, took a little break, then headed back to where I'd parked the car, following the usual return route.  I was slow on Sabre Springs Pkwy, better on Rancho Carmel Dr, and glad to be done at the end.

Avg speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 42.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1560'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161794224

12-26-2012 Ride

Ride from home over to Dave's house.  Dave had bowed out because it was raining at his house.  But John indicated that he was willing to ride, so I got bundled up and headed over.  It was lightly misting when I started, and I rode through a couple of steady squalls before I got over there.  I met up with John and headed out with him up Pomerado Rd, trying to aim toward clearer skies.  No luck.  We rode through light and moderate rain for the first half of the ride, heading over Ted Williams Pkwy to the 56 bike trail.  John was riding well, and I was struggling.  We got on the bike trail and headed down to Camino del Sur.  I was okay with continuing along, but John interpreted my reaction as indicating that it was time to head back.  The rain kept steady until we got into Del Sur and 4S Ranch, where the rain let up but the roads stayed wet.  Stayed on Camino del Norte all the way to Pomerado Rd.  John was trailing on the minor climbing sections.  We decided to head back at Pomerado Rd, and John rode well here, including a high-speed sprint down to Rios Rd that I wasn't able to match.  By this time, the rain was gone, and the roads were drying up.  I was completely soaked.  I took RB Rd back to W Bernardo Dr, then home via the normal route.  This was truly a ride where it felt absolutely great to be done.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 30.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1100'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161607584

12-24-2012 Ride

Solo ride in the afternoon, after the weather finally cleared up. Had planned on riding for a longer distance in the morning, but it rained for most of the early part of the day.  My heartrate monitor froze up again, so it was useless for this ride.  Headed up Azucar Way and stopped by to wish Jim Garrett well as he recovers from a concussion and double vision suffered in a mountain bike accident.  Rode toward work, with a noticeable headwind to fight.  Turned on Bernardo Center Dr and then over to Camino del Norte.  Took Carmel Mountain Rd to Rancho Carmel Dr and Sabre Springs Pkwy, where my pace started to pick up (either downhill or with a tailwind for much of the rest of the ride).  Used Pomerado Rd to get over to Poway Rd (via Oak Knoll Dr), then took this all the way down to the freeway.  On the section past the hospital, I averaged over 20 mph with the help of relatively fresh legs and a tailwind.  Back home the normal way, putting in a big effort on the last little climb.  I rode significantly faster than the time I tried this route in reverse on the previous Sunday.  Hoping that means I'm starting to get back in cycling shape.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 19.9 mi
Total elevation gain = 590'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161404086

12-22-2012 Route

Ready to try some hills on this Saturday morning ride, which was brisk at the start.  Headed up Azucar Way to Duenda Rd, then over to RB Rd and onto Pomerado Rd, heading south.  This was grinding away riding, not feeling bad but not feeling strong either.  Rode over to Scripps Poway Pkwy and headed east, chugging up the first little grade at a fairly weak pace.  On the slight uphill and flat sections, I was pretty slow, but I did okay on the last climb up to the 67, not great but benefiting from something of a tailwind.  Stopped for a break at the top, then continued over to Poway Rd, glad that I was at the top of the ride by this time.  The ride down Poway Rd was thrilling and a little scary, the first time since the Tour de Poway that I had done any long downhills.  Traffic was light, which helped.  I stayed on Poway Rd to Community Rd, then took this over to Twin Peaks Rd, an up-and-down stretch getting me to Pomerado Rd.  The ride up to the hospital was slower than usual, again a fitness thing.  I did a little better past here, getting down to the freeway then heading up by the park.  I wanted a few more miles in, so I stayed on W Bernardo Dr up to RB Rd, then took it to Matinal Rd.  This last little climb was going pretty well until I downshifted and lost my chain.  Got to Matinal Rd and headed back home the normal way.  This first return to longer climbs felt decent, not as tough as I had thought it would be.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 34.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 154 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1850'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161408536

12-20-2012 Ride

Thursday morning ride, taking the day off to use up some vacation, hang out with Emily, and pick Laura up from the airport.  I've found that I'm pretty far from being in any kind of good cycling shape.  It was pretty chilly (high 30's) at the start.  Headed up Azucar Way through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then took this over to Camino del Sur.  I was okay on the first little climb on this road but pretty slow getting up to Carmel Valley Rd.  Rode over to the 56 bike trail, then took it down to Carmel Valley Rd, riding back toward home.  This was the slowest part of the ride, as I was riding gradually uphill without much fitness to help me keep a good pace.  It was painfully slow by Black Mountain Rd.  Downhill, then over Dove Canyon Rd to Camino San Bernardo, still slow.  Got over to RB Rd, which I took to Matinal Rd and back home through the neighborhood.  I felt generally good during the ride, but it's going to take a while to regain my cardio and legs.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 24.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1020'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161406196

12-18-2012 Ride

Tuesday morning ride on the stationary bike at work, still working on getting back into cycling shape.  I rode the rolling hills course for an hour at level 9, and it was plenty.  I was able to go 20 mi in this time, but my heartrate was up at the end.

Total mileage = 20.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm

12-16-2012 Ride

First ride in awhile, given weather and Bethlehem Walk things going on.  I chose a fairly easy route, heading down by the park and up Pomerado Rd.  I couldn't find my heartrate monitor, but I could feel that my cardio was out of shape.  No real challenges to my legs, although it will take time to get them back into good shape.  Headed up to Poway Rd, then down to Sabre Springs Pkwy, where I felt the lack of conditioning while riding over to Ted Williams Pkwy.  Stayed on Rancho Carmel Dr all the way to where it tees into Carmel Mountain Rd.  Rode home the normal route from here by work.  All in all, it felt good, particularly at the start, to be out on the road again.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 19.7 mi
Total elevation gain = 590'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/160711930

11-25-2012 Ride

Time trial route, starting from home.  It had been about a month since I rode with the others.  The morning was cool and foggy, but not cool enough to warrant wearing tights.  I was fine during the ride, just a little cold in my toes.  I was running late, so I pushed it on the way over, even still not doing all that great.  I got there just after 7:00, and we headed right off.  Jim was feeling good, so he pushed the pace right from the start.  It took me a little bit to catch up to him, then we rode basically together past the turn and little climb on Espola Rd.  I got a little bit out ahead of him, not too much.  We waited for Dave to catch up, then continued on, with Jim again riding at a faster pace.  On the climb up to Poway Rd, I had no drive, no cardio.  It was painfully slow.  We rode down into Poway together, basically all the way to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  There, I got out a little bit ahead of the others, which was the story of the day.  A little bit ahead, not much.  No drive or stamina by the hospital, and I couldn't keep with Jim or Dave when they accelerated past me near the finish going downhill.  Finished in 55:00, but I have a lot of work to do to regain my fitness.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 156 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

11-24-2012 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house, using Azucar, where I met up with him and Jim.  We headed up Pomerado Rd to Ted Williams Pkwy.  I was feeling better than the previous ride, so I kept up a pretty good pace throughout this ride.  It was cool but not cold during the early parts of the ride.  We went over Ted Williams Pkwy to the 56 bike trail, then took it all the way down to Carmel Country Rd.  After Black Mountain Rd, this stretch is mostly downhill, with the slight uphill sections being ones that I could power through.  I really pushed the pace here, and the others basically kept up.  We stayed more together once we got off the bike trail, heading over to Del Mar Heights Rd.  We rode over to Carmel Valley Rd, again staying together for the first part.  Then I spotted a rider ahead of us and picked up the pace to try and catch her.  On this slight uphill, I made decent time.  We turned on Camino del Sur and headed back toward home.  There was another rider who was ahead of us, so I rode fast to catch up with and pass her, then worked hard on the slight uphill section up to Casey Glen.  We gathered together again and headed over to RB Rd, taking it over and down into RB.  Back to Dave's house, then home via Pomerado Rd to get another couple of miles in.  I felt pretty good on this ride, worked a lot harder and didn't seem worn out at the end.

Avg speed = 17.4 mph. Total mileage = 36.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1150'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155928785

11-22-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home after being off the previous week due to a serious bout with the flu.  I felt okay but didn't want to push it.  Headed through the neighborhood, normal route, to RB Rd, taking it easy.  Down RB Rd to Camino del Sur, enjoying the day and keeping a steady pace.  Took this all the way to Carmel Valley Rd, slowing on the little climb just before this intersection.  Went straight through and over to the 56 bike trail, heading east.  Not much cycling traffic on this cool Thanksgiving day.  Modest pace on the little climb to Black Mountain Rd, keeping things manageable and staying on the bike trail until it transitioned into Ted Williams Pkwy, which I used to get over to Pomerado Rd.  Turned left here and had a decent stretch, nowhere near pushing the pace hard, over to the hospital.  Then down Pomerado Rd all the way to the freeway and up by the park, steady and feeling pretty good.  Home after a total distance a little less than I originally hoped for, but I'll make it up in tomorrow's ride.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 24.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 790'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155539799

11-10-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home, since nobody else was interested in riding.  I had just gotten the stitches out of my left forearm, and everything felt fairly decent.  Still, I didn't feel the need or have the energy to push the pace during this ride.  I headed down by the park, then up Pomerado Rd to RB Rd, taking a left and going up into Poway via the normal time trial route.  I kept my pace modest, enjoying the downhill section to Twin Peaks Rd, where I turned right.  It was starting to get nice here, sunny and cool.  I took this down to Camino del Norte, then headed up Camino del Norte to Carmel Mountain Rd, jogging over to Rancho Carmel Dr and taking it all the way to the 56 bike trail.  Stayed on this trail down to Carmel Valley Rd, keeping a steady pace but not burning it.  Started heading back at this point, going over to Camino del Sur and taking a left here.  Back to RB Rd at a steady but slower pace, noticing that they have opened the eastbound lane of Camino del Sur just before RB Rd.  Took RB Rd down to W Bernardo Dr, rough ride as always, then home the normal way.

Avg speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 35.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1340'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/152707823?

11-3-2012 Ride

Ride up to Jim's house via Azucar, my front derailleur still not working right.  We connected and headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur.  It was foggy at the beginning of this ride, and the fog lasted until the turn on Camino del Sur.  We headed over to Carmel Valley Rd and took it to the 56 bike trail.  Headed back on the bike trail all the way to Rancho Carmel Rd.  I rode the first hour of this ride harder than the second.  We went over to Carmel Mountain Rd and then to Camino del Norte and Twin Peaks Rd.  The conditions were really nice by this point, not too cool or too warm.  We headed up the gradual grade to Espola Rd, then back toward home.  This small climb is not steep, but the grade does increase near the top.  I made good time going up this grade, really pushing it to the stops.  We gathered back together at the top and headed down.  I didn't let up on the gas going downhill, so we were riding pretty fast.  All the way back to Bernardo Center Dr, then a right onto Duenda and back home the normal way.  Felt good on the ride.  I could feel my arm when I hit rough patches on the road but not when exerting myself.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 33.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1220'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/150952545

11-2-2012 Ride

Stationary bike in the morning at work.  Level 9, classic hill route for 45 min. More moderate pace, although I was working hard and sweating at the end.


Total mileage = 15 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Calories burned = 430

10-30-2012 Ride

Stationary bike at work. Level 9, classic hill route for 45 min.  I really pushed the pace in this workout, not sure why.


Total mileage = 16 mi
Avg heartrate = 160 bpm
Calories burned = 470

10-29-2012 Ride

Stationary bike at work while recovering from the minor arm surgery to excise a skin cancer.  Level 9, classic hill route for 56 or 57 min.

Total mileage = 20 mi

10-20-2012 Ride

Ride over, in the dark, to John's house.  My front derailleur still wasn't shifting properly, even after I tried to fix it the previous evening.  So I kept in the upper chainring this entire ride, meaning less spinning and more pushing.  It was misting, heavily in some places, on the way over.  I had my bike lights on for most of the way over, needing the front one to see where I was going for about the first half.  I got to John's, where he, Jim, and Dave were already there.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, me taking my time because of the gearing issue and the thought that I was going to be putting in >50 mi.  Down to Miramar Rd, taking this out to Eastgate Mall with all four of us riding together for the most part.  Jim doesn't lead much, which is unfortunate.  So it was mostly me and John, with some Dave.  We went over to Genesee, where the roads were fairly slick and the mist was heavy.  Down this hill, a little scary, then a slow climb up to Torrey Pines Rd, a grind for me in my upper chainring.  I had replaced the battery in my heartrate sensor, and apparently it's not missing beats like it may have before.  So my heartrate was higher than I would have expected, based on my fitness level.  I was a little freaked on the Torrey Pines downhill because of the slick roads and my own unease.  We headed over to Carmel Valley Rd and took it over to El Camino Real and the bike trail.  Then up the bike trail, all of us basically riding together this whole time.  At the place where the bike trail exits the neighborhood, we met a couple of novice riders, one of whom had a flat.  We tried to help them out with pumping up the tire and even patching the tube but didn't have the tools to get the guy's rear wheel off.  John took off ahead of us, to get back home in time for church.  So the three of us rode to Camino del Sur, Jim riding well on the first little climb.  Headed up to Black Mountain Rd, where I decided to split off (weather and gearing getting to me) and head home.  The mist was really heavy in places here.  Over to Carmel Valley Rd, slowing down due to tiredness.  I took this road to Dove Canyon Rd, then up and over to RB Rd, slow but steady.  Down RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and back home the normal way.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 45.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1780'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/147732395

10-14-2012 Ride

Time trial ride, starting from home.  My chain locked up on me right as I started up Aguamiel, and I couldn't unclip fast enough, so over I fell.  I bumped my hip and elbow, nothing serious, just embarrassing.  I headed over to Dave's house, and my chain came off on the way.  I was taking the pace really easy by then and got over there a little before 7:00.  We waited for Jim to show, then all four of us took off.  It was a pretty slow pace at the beginning as the others warmed up.  Near the curve on Espola Rd, Jim was riding well, so we were both out in front.  I kept my pace steady and got a little ahead of him and Dave, not too much.  At the stoplight, I waited for John while the others kept going.  John and I then rode up to the top of the hill and connected with Jim and Dave.  Down the hill, where we caught the light.  I stayed in my big chainring on the little climb up to Poway Rd, and it was a different exercise of my legs and cardio.  We connected at the top, then rode down Poway Rd together for the most part, hitting a lot of lights.  I pulled away on the little uphill and got some separation from the others, and we reconnected at Pomerado Rd.  Riding together and trading leads down to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  I got a little ahead of the others here, although I was not riding at maximum effort.  We stayed together going up Ted Williams Pkwy and turning onto Pomerado Rd.  I got to the hospital first but fell back behind Dave and John on the downhill run back to Dave's house.  Finished in 56:10.

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

10-13-2012 Ride

Ride up Azucar to Duenda, then over to and by Jim's house, out to the end of Pajaro, then back to Duenda and to Jim's, where I met up with him and John.  We headed out through the neighborhood to RB Rd.  Early on, I found that I couldn't shift into my lower chainring, so that slowed me down at the beginning.  My chain came off a couple of times during the ride.  It needs to be cleaned and probably replaced soon.  My front derailleur also needs adjusting.  I hadn't ridden since the Tour de Poway, so I paced myself throughout the ride.  We headed out Camino del Sur over to San Dieguito Rd, then rode down into Fairbanks Ranch, turning right at El Apajo.  We were all riding together here, onto Camino del Bosque and over to Via de la Valle.  On the little climb up to Paseo Delicias, I again took a measured but steady pace.  We gathered up, then headed up Del Dios Hwy.  In the initial climbing sections, the wind was really working against me, and I was pacing myself anyway.  A couple of other riders passed me, so I tried to stay with them.  One of them was a little faster, so I used his pace as a goad to keep going.  I waited for the others at the first crest, and we rode together for a little while until it started climbing again.  On the last little climb up to Via Rancho Pkwy, I had a little bit of a tailwind and some strength, so I kept my pace above 12 mph the whole time, my strongest effort of the day.  After that, I stayed with the others for the most part.  John and I rode fast across I-15, and I pushed the pace even harder near the end, maintaining 32 mph for about 30 sec.  Jim then split off to ride home while John and I headed up Pomerado Rd, at a reduced pace for me to stay with John,  up to Bernardo Heights Pkwy.  In the last gradual climbing portion, I pushed the pace moderately.  The section on Bernardo Heights Pkwy is a gradual climb for longer than expected.  We connected back near the top, then rode down to Bernardo Center Dr and back home the normal way, again keeping a moderate pace for me.  I felt fine at the end, it was just a slow ride to get back into the groove of riding.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 34.2 mi
Total elevation gain = 1570'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/145673881

2012 Tour de Poway Metric Century

Only John and I rode this ride, as Dave and Jim were staying home with kids while their wives were at a church retreat.  I had been training pretty consistently for this ride, so I felt good about my fitness.  We started a half hour early, going off with the century riders because of a hot weather forecast.  I rode briskly at the beginning, keeping a steady pace up the Poway grade.  Very few people passed me, maybe one guy.  I waited at the top for John, then we took off again toward Ramona.  I had another decent climb up to the high point by Mt. Woodson and rode down into Ramona, catching on with a couple of other fast riders to help pace me and trading leads.  I waited for John by Dye Rd, and we rode together for awhile, but he wasn't keeping pace, so I rode with others through the back streets of Ramona, I think following the same route as last year.  We got back together at the first sag stop but didn't stop there.  Continued over to Haverford Rd, then over to the 78.  Going downhill, we had the wind at our backs, and I was riding the brakes and feeling nervous on the turns.  John got out ahead a fair distance at the start, but I caught up with him near the bottom, and we rode with another group at a nice, fast pace all the way through the San Pasqual Valley, which was really nice.  I didn't feel great on the climb out of the valley, but I did okay.  John and I hooked up again, and we rode generally together to BVP and all the way past the mall, trading leads.  I separated a little bit from him on the freeway, and I pushed it a little bit on the hill before the sag stop at the park.  We stopped there for about 10 min, getting some food and fluids.  We stayed together on the gradual climb up to RB Rd and for a time after the turn.  But I kept a faster pace up the little climb and waited for him at the top.  We rode together briefly onto Camino San Bernardo until it started climbing again.  So I waited for him at the turn onto Dove Canyon Rd, and we rode together until the early parts of the climb on Carmel Valley Rd.  I was feeling kinda worn out here, but John must have been feeling worse.  I waited for him at the top, and we rode together down and onto Camino del Sur and on this road for a time.  There were very few riders on the route at this point, so not much help from riding in groups.  I started to feel better and had a pretty good ride up the little climb heading toward 4S Ranch, maintaining a steady pace that some other riders who I'd joined up with couldn't keep up with.  When John and I connected again, he was really starting to slow down.  We caught up with each other at the stoplight by Dove Canyon Rd, then I rode ahead to get through most of the next series of little uphill sections on Camino del Norte, riding them pretty well.  I waited just after the turn onto Pomerado Rd, and John and I rode together here onto Metate Ln and for some of this ride.  I rode out a little bit at the last little uphill part, and he caught up at a stoplight on Community Rd.  I was close to an 18 mph average speed and had some energy left, so I put on a strong pace after crossing Poway Rd and tried to keep it up all the way to the finish, basically succeeding but not able to ride at the fastest pace possible.  I finished in about 3:22:30 and felt the best at the end of this ride that I've felt in quite awhile, no cramps or muscle tightness even though it was unseasonably hot during the latter half of the ride.  This was a much better ride for me than last year, so I hope I learned my lesson about putting in the necessary miles before a big ride.


Avg speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 61.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3010'

9-26-2012 Ride

Solo ride after work.  I started out slow, thinking I would keep it a pretty modest pace and not really knowing where I was going to ride.  I headed up toward HP, not pushing it on the last climb.  I continued over to Bernardo Center Dr and on to Carmel Valley Rd.  On this climb, I got to talking with another rider who was also an HP employee.  We stayed together on the first part of the climb, with me riding in front.  On the second part, the guy pushed the pace, and I was working really hard to keep up with him.  We rode together down to Camino del Sur, where I turned right and headed back toward home.  I was keeping a decent pace, not scorching.  I made okay time up the gradual climb into 4S Ranch and stayed on this road until Camino San Bernardo, where I turned left.  I had the wind at my back until then, and it helped my pace.  I got onto RB Rd and again rode fast with the wind at my back.  The downhill section to W Bernardo Dr was really rough.  That road needs a serious repaving.  I then headed down to Aguamiel Rd and finished with the last little climb, going at a good pace.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 17.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 137 bpm
Total Elevation Gain = 800'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/140879261

9-23-2012 Rides

Time trial route in the morning, riding over to Dave's house and meeting up with him, John, and Jim.  I kept with them, slowing down when I got out in front and letting them catch up.  John lagged behind us on the little climb by the turn, so we waited at the top of the hill just past the high school.  Some other guys passed us while we were waiting, but we caught up with them on the downhill.  On the little climb up to Poway Rd, they passed us, so I got on their wheel, saw they couldn't keep with me, and outpaced them.  I kept my speed above 10 mph the entire time, felt pretty good about that.  I didn't have my heartrate monitor with me, as I was in the middle of putting it back together after the display froze.  On the downhill near the bottom by the turn, Jim got a front tire flat, so John and I stopped to help him.  We all stayed together on Poway Rd, then John got a flat just past Pomerado Rd.  We helped him fix it, then all rode basically together, with John lagging behind on the climbing sections.  I dialed it back significantly on Sabre Springs Pkwy, riding with Dave and Jim, only sprinting near the end to get my heartrate going.  On Ted Williams Pkwy, Dave and Jim got out ahead, while I waited to ride with John.  We caught up with them, having the benefit of making the light onto Pomerado Rd, then Dave, John, and I pushed the pace pretty steadily but not stressfully on the way up to Pomerado Hospital.  John dropped the hammer near the end, but I was able to hang with him without too much difficulty.  On the downhill section, it was Dave's turn to ride fast, and I hung on his wheel. I finished in around 55:00, no real hard riding except for the little stretch up to Poway Rd.

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

In the afternoon (it was >90 deg), I rode over to church to meet up with Joe.  I also fixed my heartrate monitor.  It's really tricky to keep track of the three springs located in between the battery and the electronics module.  It was also breezy, although I didn't really notice it on the way to church.  They had recently repaved BVP, and it was still sticky.  I kept the pace moderate going up Sunset since it was pretty hot.  Took the Juniper route and got to church just before Joe showed up.  It was nice to wait in the shade.  We headed over Broadway to Mission Ave, then headed west directly into a 15 mph breeze, and it was brutal for me.  I was worn out from the other weekend rides and didn't have much drive in my legs throughout this ride.  Joe and I rode together the whole way on Mission, with him occasionally taking the lead to give me a needed break.  We turned right on Las Posas Rd and took this slight incline to Borden Rd, where it gets a little steeper but not for very long.  It was long enough for me, as I was really getting worn out.  We regrouped at the top and rode down, with the wind now at our backs, to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, then over to Barham Dr.  Around this time, I felt a twinge in my left hamstring and got a little worried that my leg my seize up, with about 10 mi of riding still to go.  It didn't last, and I intentionally kept the pace modest, only breaking out a little on the section of Mission Ave that was slightly downhill with the wind at our backs.  We were riding at 30 mph for a period, and it felt good.  Headed back into town by taking the little jog over to Washington, then Tulip over to Valley Pkwy.  The light here takes forever to change.  Then it was an easy finish, with the wind at our backs, to get to church.  I took off, with not much left in the tank.  Took 5th Ave over to Centre City Pkwy and was surprised to have a tailwind, when I really could use it.  I made decent time here, suffering a significant left leg cramp near Felicita Ave.  Again, luckily, it didn't persist.  I flew down the road on the downhill section by I-15, and did okay going over Lake Hodges, slowing down at the end.  It was slow going up the little hill by the park and slow again on the final little climb back home.  Really felt good to get home and not have to ride anymore.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 31.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 840'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/139549619

9-22-2012 Ride

Ride from home over to John's house.  It was dark enough at the start that I used my bike lights.  My heartrate monitor froze up at the start and didn't work throughout the ride.  Headed over the normal way toward Dave's house, then up Pomerado Rd and normal way to John's.  At Rios Rd, I saw Dave in his car, so I pushed the pace more than usual, thinking that they wanted to leave before 7:00.  I made decent time up the last hill to John's place, keeping it over 10 mph the whole way.  John, Dave, and I then headed from his house over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, then down to Black Mountain Rd.  Throughout this ride, we were all basically together, including several stretches of pace riding that were nice.  The only places where I got out in front were the uphill sections, and John and Dave got ahead in the longer downhills, where I can't keep pace.  We headed down to Kearny Villa Rd and took it all the way to Aero Dr, taking a left there and getting over to Sand Rock Rd.  We took this to Murphy Canyon Rd, then right on Mission Center Rd, which has a short, steep downhill section into Mission Valley.  I hit 48 mph here, and it was a little scary.  Took a left onto Friars Rd and went over to Qualcomm Stadium, looping around it and getting onto the bike trail at the northeast corner.  This trail eventually connects to Murphy Canyon Rd, and it is a gentle uphill climb out of Mission Valley, the easiest exit as far as I know.  We took this route to Clairemont Mesa Blvd, then a short jog to Ruffin Rd.  We gathered together here and rode generally as a group all the way back to Pomerado Rd.  I didn't try to push my personal pace, knowing that I still had a ways to go to get home.  I rode a little bit with the others going up Pomerado, but got out in front and rode with another guy who was setting a fast pace.  I kept with him until it started to climb near the top, where I couldn't match his pace.  We headed back to John's house the normal way, including a fast spring right at the end when John stepped on the gas.  I headed back home the way I had come, again trading pace with another rider around Pomerado Hospital all the way to RB Rd.  Without these riders, I don't think I would have pushed the pace as much as I did.  I went home on RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr, then took it down to Aquamiel Rd.  The last little climb let me know it was time to stop riding, and I was pretty tired the rest of the day.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 55.2 mi
Total elevation gain = 1850'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/139461937

9-16-2012 Ride

Time trial ride with Dave and John.  I don't remember too much about it, except that I pushed the pace a couple of times and couldn't sustain my pace on the little climb up Espola Rd to Poway Rd.  We must have done well in hitting the lights on Poway Rd.  I rode at a fast pace on Ted Williams Pkwy, and I think I had a decent ride up to the hospital.  Dave was riding well, John was tired out from the previous day's ride.  I finished in 53:30 and could have ridden harder in a number of spots.


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

9-15-2012 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for a 6:30 start.  It was expected to get above 100 deg (it did), so we wanted to get out early.  John and Jim rode too.  We headed over to Highland Valley Rd via Pomerado Rd.  On the flats, it was nice and cool, and it stayed fairly cool on the first climb until just near the top, when I felt a blast of warm air coming over the ridge.  I was slow and steady up this climb and slower than normal on the ups-and-downs leading to the next climb.  As usual, this second climb was tough but seemed shorter than I remembered.  I kept going here and took a steady pace through the winding sections, again going pretty slow up the last climb.  The apple trees along the road were fruiting.  We all gathered together at the normal gathering place, where the wind was surprisingly calm.  We generally rode together the rest of the way to the 67, with John going all out in the last half-mile stretch.  I kept with him, but I was working hard.  We then headed up toward Mt Woodson, and this time it was Jim and me at the front for awhile, until he fell back on the gradual climbing section approaching the steeper part.  I couldn't keep my pace above 10 mph for the early parts, but then the wind got at my back and I had a good finish.  Again connecting together, then downhill and over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  Near the turn, we caught up with another rider, but he rode out as soon as John and Dave got near him.  Both of them are able to take downhills much faster than me.  They got out in front, Dave by quite a bit, on the downhill on Scripps-Poway Pkwy, and we caught the other rider.  I caught up with them on the uphill section and got out ahead a little bit when the other ride came by.  I jumped on his wheel, and we ended up riding together down to Pomerado Rd.  At the turn there, I waited for the others, and we rode basically together back to Dave's house, with John throwing in a spring to the top of the little incline by the hospital and Dave pushing all out on the downhill section just before Rios Rd.  I headed back home via W Bernardo Dr, as my quads had gotten a good workout during the day, what with all of the climbing and high-energy pedaling to keep up with John and Dave when they pushed the pace.  Felt fine during the day, just a little headache from having to squint during the ride (I lost my red sunglasses on the way to Dave's house).

Avg speed = 17.3 mph. Total mileage = 42.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 2170'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/136923651

9-9-2012 Ride

Time trial route, starting from home.  All four of us rode, and we started early to make sure we were back to Dave's house by 8:00.  This incentive also caused us to ride pretty fast, although the start was a little slow.  I rode with the others until the little climb by the bend in Espola Rd, then hit the gas and rode ahead.  I waited for them at the stoplight, the rode with Jim to bring everybody together again.  On the climb up to Poway Rd, I was riding hard but couldn't keep up the pace all the way to the turn there.  Still need to get my cardio fully back.  We all rode together on Poway Rd until just before the turn.  On Sabre Springs Pkwy, I pulled away on the first little uphill but didn't have the push in my legs to keep increasing the separation from the others.  I had a decent section on Ted Williams Pkwy but caught the light at the turn on to Pomerado Rd.  John and I made a pretty good run by the hospital, and he told me he was on pace to break his PR.  So I led out on the downhill, pushing the pace strongly and letting him draft until I dropped away.  After he got ahead, I tracked him down just after the turn onto Rios Rd.  I finished in 53:30, the fastest time for me in a long time.

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

9-8-2012 Ride

Ride with John, starting from home and heading over the freeway and up BVP.  On the majority of this ride, I kept my cadence down to ride close with him, creating separation mainly on the climbing sections as well as a couple of places on the flats where I pushed the pace pretty hard.  The weather cooperated pretty well, not getting too hot.  We headed up BVP then jogged over to Citrus Ave and took it back to BVP.  Then we headed out toward Lake Wohlford Rd, taking it up the grade.  I did pretty well in the first mile but didn't speed up much after the grade lessened.  Still working on building back my cardio fitness.  We headed out by the lake, then came back by the casino to Valley Center Rd.  This stretch of road back has a nice slight downhill grade, but the bike lane is in terrible shape, very bumpy and jarring.  Once you get a little closer to Valley Center, the road smoothes out and is a nice ride.  We rode together for most of this section, with a little separation on the little climb up to the downhill grade into Valley Center.  I was pretty aware of my speed on this downhill, which is long but fairly straight.  The ride back through Escondido on BVP was also fairly fast, since it's a net downhill with very little uphill to speak of.  John was keeping up a good pace here, and we were trading leads.  I had a pretty fast ride across the I-15 bridge, able to keep a pace >30 mph.  Then it was a cooldown effort back home, where we celebrated the ride with smoothies.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 37.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1670'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/134098477

9-5-2012 Ride

Solo ride at lunchtime from work, taking the extended loop route.  It was pretty warm and somewhat humid, so I didn't have the full push I wanted, particularly on the sections where extended effort was required.  I had a decent ride, particularly the stretch on Pomerado up to RB Rd.

Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 16.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/38068332

2012 Tour de Labor

Ride over to Carmel Mountain Ranch, where I got my bike and stuff ready and headed over to John's house, following the normal route.  It was really foggy in spots, only clearing to an overcast sky when I rode up to John's.  There, I met up with him, Dave, and Jim for a Tour de Labor ride.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd.  On this and all of the other climbs, I kept my effort to a moderate level, knowing that it was going to get warm and I hadn't ridden 50+ miles in quite some time.  We headed down Pomerado Rd to Miramar Rd, where we got a decent pace line going.  Our pace was fast, and I was working pretty hard on this section.  We took it all the way to Expedition Way, the road that takes you by Birch Aquarium.  Following this road, with a couple of turns, got us onto La Jolla Shores Rd.  Near a stop sign on this downhill section, I had too much speed going into the stop and turn and locked up my rear wheel.  Luckily, I kept it under control and didn't spill.  I think I need new brake pads.  We rode over to Torrey Pines Rd and took this little uphill over to La Jolla, dropping down to Coast Blvd via Prospect Pl.  This section of road is pretty rough, bad pavement and lots of traffic.  To be avoided.  Back out of La Jolla, John lost track of how to get to Nautilus St, so we did a couple of jaunts through the city streets until we finally found it.  On Nautilus, I climbed at a slow pace, and this climb wasn't as tough as I remembered it.  It's got a somewhat difficult finish, as the grade steepens and you have to deal with an uphill ride all the way to the circle at the top of Mt Soledad.  We gathered back together here and took a rest.  The general energy level of the group was flagging by this time, myself included.  We headed back down via Soledad Mountain Rd, and again I was skittish on the turning sections of this downhill.  I made it through okay.  Balboa Ave is not a great road to ride on.  There is a lot of traffic, the road quality is sketchy, and it has a couple of gradual uphills, the first one being reasonably long.  We got onto Kearny Villa Rd and took it back to Pomerado Rd.  Jim was tiring, so Dave was riding with him.  John and I rode together until the little uphill section by one of the overpasses, where I put a little separation on him.  However, my energy level wasn't high enough for me to put any significant distance on him or the others.  Back to John's house via the normal route.  I rode with the others at the start, then put some separation between us.  Around this time, John developed a slow leak and they stopped to fix it without me knowing.  So I rode to the top of Pomerado and waited for them until I realized something was up.  I started riding back down and saw them coming up the last little climb, so I turned around and rode with them.  We headed back to John's house, and I was getting tired, so I didn't stay long.  The ride back to where the car was parked was very slow.  My legs weren't tight, but there was no drive left in my quads, so I just gutted it out and was glad to be done.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 52.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2470'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/132302369

9-1-2012 Ride

Ride from home, starting with a little loop before the others showed up.  I headed up Azucar to Matinal and over to W Bernardo Dr.  Over to RB Rd, connecting to Bernardo Center Dr and Duenda.  Back to W Bernardo Dr and down to Aguamiel.  I went up to Alborada and Smoke Signal to connect back to Poblado, then back to Azucar.  Even though I tried to push the pace, I wasn't feeling real strength in my legs.  The recent blood donation may still be having its effect.  John, Dave, and Jim showed up.  Jim had a work meeting, so we rode down into Sorrento Valley.  Headed up to RB Rd, then over Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd and down into Fairbanks Ranch.  We rode through the flats essentially together, Jim lagging a little bit behind.  On El Camino Real, I started at a modest pace and kept it going for awhile but couldn't maintain a good pace all the way to the top, slowing just before the last stop light on this little climb.  We gathered at the top and rode together basically all the way to Sorrento Valley, following the reverse of the Fourth of July course.  Jim turned off here, and the three remaining riders headed up Sorrento Valley Rd.  This road has a gradually climbing section, then a fairly short (<1 4s="4s" 56="56" a="a" ahead="ahead" all="all" and="and" at="at" back="back" backed="backed" basically="basically" before="before" behind="behind" black="black" bumps="bumps" but="but" camino="camino" canyon="canyon" capricorn="capricorn" carmel="carmel" climb="climb" complaining="complaining" continues="continues" couple="couple" didn="didn" dove="dove" e="e" end="end" even="even" far="far" felt="felt" fine="fine" for="for" garbage="garbage" gathered="gathered" get="get" going="going" got="got" grade.="grade." had="had" have="have" high="high" hydrated="hydrated" i="i" into="into" it="it" john.="john." just="just" kept="kept" left="left" levels="levels" little="little" me.="me." mi="mi" min="min" modest="modest" most="most" mountain="mountain" my="my" n="n" nbsp="nbsp" neighborhood="neighborhood" notably="notably" o="o" of="of" off="off" on="on" one="one" other="other" our="our" out="out" output="output" over="over" p="p" pace="pace" periods="periods" places="places" point="point" pushed="pushed" quads="quads" ranch="ranch" rb="rb" rd.="rd." rd="rd" really="really" relatively="relatively" rest="rest" retracing="retracing" ride.="ride." ride="ride" rode="rode" route="route" ruiz="ruiz" saddle="saddle" section="section" short="short" slower="slower" stayed="stayed" steep="steep" steeper="steeper" street.="street." strong="strong" stuck="stuck" sustained="sustained" t="t" than="than" the="the" then="then" this="this" though="though" through="through" time.="time." time="time" tiring="tiring" to="to" together.="together." too="too" took="took" top="top" truck="truck" turned="turned" two.="two." up="up" us="us" usual="usual" valley="valley" was="was" way="way" we="we" were="were" westwood.="westwood." where="where" with="with" y="y">
Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 42.0 mi
Avg heartrate = ??? bpm
Total elevation gain = 1720'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/131540131

8-30-2012 Ride

Solo ride after work.  I'd given blood on the previous day, so I intentionally kept my exertion level modest.  I headed out by RB Community Park with no clear route in mind but decided to take Highland Valley Rd.  This climb was a chore as usual, but I slogged up it at a low speed.  The weather was mild but the sun was out on this portion, which increased my effort level.  I headed out Bandy Canyon Rd, taking the downhill section very cautiously.  I'm still nervous on downhills with curves, particularly when the curve is off to the left.  The wind was generally at my back on this section until I started heading north.  It was more of a headwind when I headed back on the 78, so this section was a real workout.  I took Old Milky Way to San Pasqual Rd, keeping my exertion level low on the last gradual uphill section.  Back to BVP and home the normal route.  Across the freeway, I started out pretty fast but didn't (couldn't?) maintain the fast pace.  It was a plodding pace back home from there.  I was heated up at the end, felt okay but not much energy in my legs.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 21.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 690'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/132290135

8-26-2012 Ride

Time trial route, riding with Jim, Dave, and John for the first time together since Jim's crash.  I rode over to Dave's house, and the weather was cool and clear.  I rode fairly quickly on Espola Rd, particularly close to the bend in the road.  But my quads were telling me that this was not going to be a fast ride, as I was feeling the effects of the previous day's ride.  We connected before the high school and pretty much rode together until the climb up to Poway Rd.  John was pushing the pace on the early section of this climb.  I passed him but couldn't keep up a steady pace of >9 mph, because of my lack of recent riding.  We stayed basically together on Poway Rd, I got ahead of the others a little bit before it crossed Pomerado Rd, but we connected back up briefly.  Then John and I separated from the others, and I ended up riding up Sabre Springs Pkwy by myself, although not at a fast pace.  From here, I took it fairly slow, only pushing the pace on the last section of the ride passing by the hospital.  On the following downhill section, Dave, John, and I were riding fast.  Dave led out, but John passed him in an all-out sprint, and I pushed the throttle to the stops to catch and pass John.  Finished in 55:45 on this ride, so I need some more consistent rides, including during the week, to get back into really good shape.


Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 155 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

8-25-2012 Ride

Ride up to Jim's house, taking the Azucar Way route, where I met up with him and Dave.  It was misting throughout this ride, including at the start.  We headed out across Lake Hodges and up BVP to Sunset Dr, connecting to Juniper St and taking it all the way to Washington St, using it to get over to Broadway.  The section on Juniper was particularly misty.  We headed out Broadway to Jesmond Dene Rd and took it over to Centre City Pkwy.  I was consciously trying not to get too far ahead of the others, and I was also feeling the effects of not having ridden in nearly two weeks.  We then headed over Deep Springs Rd and took it down to Buena Creek Rd.  I took it really easy on the downhill section of this road, as I didn't want to crash on the rain-slick pavement. We took Santa Fe Ave to Mission Ave, following the normal route here and staying pretty much together.  We followed Mission Ave all the way to Centre City Pkwy and took the normal route back toward home.  Crossing the bridge, I had enough juice to get my speed up over 30 mph, but I couldn't sustain it for long.  Dave split off after we got to Pomerado Rd, and Jim and I rode back home.  I originally planned on riding up to Jim's house, but my left quad started complaining on the last little climb, so I cut it short.

Avg speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 36.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1180'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/129001999

8-12-2012 Ride

Time trial loop, starting from home.  It was cool for about the first 5 minutes of this ride, but that was it.  I got over to Dave's house and met up with him and Jim.  We started out riding at a moderate pace, but Jim fell behind.  I rode with Dave until before the curve, then rode out ahead, waiting for them to catch up before the high school.  I kept my pace above 11 mph on the little climb up to Poway Rd, felt good about that effort.  But I hadn't worked hard on the ride up to that point.  We all stayed pretty much together going down Poway Rd, and I pulled away again on the Sabre Springs Pkwy section.  Dave really slowed down here, I think his lack of sleep was catching up with him.  We rode, slowly, up Ted Williams Pkwy, basically staying together.  On the section of Pomerado Rd after the intersection at Twin Peaks Rd, I kept with the others for awhile, then pushed it all out to the top by the hospital.  We all then rode together back to Dave's house.  There were a couple of good portions of this ride for me, where I rode at or near my fastest pace.  However, it's going to be a long while before the others are in shape for me to consider getting close to my personal best time.  Finished in 58:00 on this ride.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi

Avg heartrate = 137 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

8-11-2012 Ride

Ride from home up to Jim's house, where I met up with him.  We were expecting Dave to ride as well, but his dog had had puppies the previous night, so he was catching up on his sleep.  Jim and I headed over to W Bernardo Dr, then up RB Rd to Camino del Sur.  Jim has put on some weight from vacation and travelling, so he was slow on the uphills.  We headed out toward the coast but got separated on the little climb up to San Dieguito Rd.  I rode ahead, trying to keep up with a strong rider who was on the early stages of a round trip to Dana Point, then I waited for Jim about a quarter mile beyond that turn.  For some weird reason, Jim turned right there and waited for me.  Strange.  I rode back toward where we had gotten separated and called his cell phone, but we didn't make the connection.  So I ended up riding the rest of the way solo.  Headed down to the 56 bike trail, where there was a fair amount of bike traffic, both ways.  Took it all the way to El Camino Real, then over Carmel Valley Rd to the coast.  It was starting to heat up by then.  I ended up taking the inside route up Torrey Pines, getting behind a guy who I couldn't catch, even though I was riding pretty well.  Alas.  Then I rode to the parking lot by the golf course to meet up with some church people for a hike around Torrey Pines State Park.

Avg speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 24.0 mi
Total elevation gain = ??'

8-9-2012 Ride

Solo ride after work from home.  I started out intending to ride a modest pace, going up Aguamiel Rd and over to W Bernardo Dr.  Went up by work, here I didn't push it.  Then over to Camino del Norte, taking it to Pomerado Rd.  I rode over to Poway Rd and headed east.  I had a steady breeze at my back and made good time, even on the gradual uphill section.  I had originally planned on turning at Midland but decided to go up to Espola Rd, taking advantage of the tailwind.  On the climb, I was slowed down and it got hot, since I was riding with the wind.  Down Espola Rd, taking it to RB Rd and back to Pomerado Rd.  I was debating whether to ride home directly, then I saw a rider go by so I decided to follow and try to catch him.  It was an easy catch, as he wasn't going too fast.  The wind favored me here, and I rode fast on this section.  Down over the freeway, the wind started working against me, and I powered up the little climb before the park in high gear.  I didn't notice how hot I'd gotten until I returned home, but I felt good on the ride, just a little discomfort from my left shoulder but finishing stronger than I started.

Avg speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 21.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 780'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/123023903

8-5-2012 Ride

Time trial ride, starting from home and meeting up with John at Dave's house.  Dave was going to ride but decided not to on Sunday morning.  We started out at a modest pace, and any time during the entire ride when I pushed my speed even a little bit, John fell back.  I would ride out in front, notice he wasn't keeping pace, then dial it back to connect with him.  We rode this way to the bottom of the little climb up to Poway Rd, where I pushed the pace, keeping it basically above 10-11 mph up to near where it flattens out.  Fairly good cardio and leg strength on this section.  We rode together down onto the flats on Poway Rd, but John would fall back on the longer, faster or upward sloping sections.  I slowed down to ride with him as we turned onto Sabre Springs Pkwy, but even at my much slower pace he was behind.  I took it easy on this section, waited for John to catch up, then we rode together on Ted Williams Pkwy and about midway on Pomerado Rd up to the crest at the hospital.  In the last downhill section before the turn onto Rio Rd, I kicked out the jams and hit 36 mph.  Finished in 56:30, and I feel I could easily have taken 3 minutes off this time without truly pushing it.  We'll see how times come down on the time trial route as Dave and John get back into cycling shape.  Back home at a modest pace.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

8-4-2012 Ride

Ride with John from home, the first time I was out on my bike after the crash two weeks before.  Throughout the ride, I could feel the stiffness in my shoulder, but it wasn't really painful, even in the times when I was standing on the pedals.  We headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then over to Camino del Sur.  I wasn't pushing the pace too hard, but John was lagging behind throughout the entire ride unless I slowed my pace down to keep with him.  Out to San Dieguito Rd and down to El Apajo, which we took over to Calzada del Bosque.  We connected with Via de la Valle and rode it over to El Camino Real.  On the little climb here, I kept my pace above 10 mph pretty much the whole way, working but not overdoing it.  Felt pretty good.  Then we rode down to the 56 bike trail, where John got something of a second wind and was riding pretty fast for a time until we started the climb up to Carmel Valley Rd.  I made decent time on the gradual climbing sections up to Camino del Sur, particularly at the end of the second climb, where I pushed it hard to catch up with a couple of riders ahead of me.  At this intersection, I ran into Kevin Miller, who was riding with a group of friends.  John caught up, then we headed back, essentially retracing our route after we got back to San Dieguito Rd.  I think I put a hurt on John.  I'll have to consider how I'm going to pace myself when riding with him and Dave, at least until their cycling legs and cardio get back in shape.  I felt good at the end, no tiredness or soreness and not much discomfort in my shoulder.

Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 34.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1330'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/121715307

7-30-2012 Ride

Monday morning ride on the stationary bike at work, still on the road to recovery.  I rode the rolling hills course for a little over 20 min at level 12.  Things felt pretty much the same as a couple of days before, including during the circuit of  low-weight extensional exercises for my arms and shoulders.

Total mileage = 8.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm

7-28-2012 Ride

Saturday morning ride on the stationary bike at work, recovering from my bike crash the week before.  I rode the rolling hills course for a little over 45 min at level 11.  I noticed the tightness in my shoulder, but it wasn't really painful, even when I did a circuit of fairly low-weight extensional exercises for my arms and shoulders.

Total mileage = 18.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm

7-21-2012 Ride

This was the crash ride, hopefully the last one for a long while.  I rode over to John's house from home, taking the usual route to Pomerado Rd except going up Azucar Way instead of Aguamiel Rd.  Up Pomerado Rd to Poway Rd, then to John's the typical route.  I remember feeling strong on the little climb up to his house.  I met up with him and Dave, who has just started riding again.  We headed over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, where I kept it pretty modest in pace until about 0.25 mi into the climb up to the 67.  I was feeling good and rode a nice steady pace up the climb, feeling that I could have come close to doing a personal best in time if I wanted to.  We gathered at the top and headed toward Ramona on the 67.  Dave was slow, getting his cycling legs back will take some time.  A guy passed us on the climb up to the pass by Mt. Woodson, and I hopped on his wheel.  He was moving pretty good, but I was hanging in there, including a strong push near the top where I led out and he basically kept pace, dropping back just a little bit.  We connected again at the top, then headed down to the turn onto Archie Moore Rd.  This road, going this way, doesn't really have any climbs in it.  We got onto Highland Valley Rd, and I took the gradual climb at a modest pace, thinking I still had another 20 miles to ride.  We started downhill, with John in the lead, and I was okay through the first downhill section.  I noticed that my cyclometer wasn't accurately reading my speed, and I was ticked off and probably just a little distracted.  So on the next downhill section, I carried too much speed into the last turn before it flattened out and lost it onto the right side of the road, going over the handlebars and driving my face and shoulders hard into the ground.  The right side of my face got scraped up and was bleeding freely but just for a short while.  It took a couple of minutes before my left shoulder started hurting, and the pain just kept getting worse, so I knew I was going to need a ride to the urgent care center.  A couple of good Samaritans stopped, one guy who lived nearby and brought me some towels to clean off my face and another electrical contractor who stopped, cleaned things off with a water bottle and some gauze, disinfected my scrapes with some hydrogen peroxide, and put a couple of bandages on.  Two quality guys!  Amazingly, my bike made it through the crash fairly well, with just a couple of scrapes on the brake shifters.  It took two weeks for me to feel good enough to get out on the road, and my shoulder will need some time to heal.

Total mileage = 25.9 mi
Total elevation gain = 1880'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/122242665

7-17-2012 Ride

Solo ride from work over lunch, heading out Bernardo Center Dr and Carmel Valley Rd all the way to the 56 bike trail.  The wind was generally coming off the coast, so it worked against me on the way out.  I made pretty good time on the little climb up to Black Mountain Rd, and I really flew on the bike trail, with the wind working to my advantage.  Kept my pace about 20 mph on the first section and above 17 mph on the second section.  Back via Camino del Sur and RB Rd to Via del Campo.  I was a little slower than I would have wanted on this section, but my endurance was okay.  Finished with a good average speed, a slightly higher than normal heartrate, but this latter was probably due in part to riding during the warm part of the day.

Avg speed = 19.3 mph. Total mileage = 21.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
'Total elevation gain = 900'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/85583133/

7-13-2012 Ride

Early Friday morning ride on a weekend that we were going camping.  I headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then down toward San Dieguito Rd.  It was overcast throughout the ride, and pretty humid but not foggy.  Down the Three Witches, then right on El Apajo and over to Via de la Valle.  I was feeling pretty good, and I climbed the short climb into Rancho Santa Fe pretty easily.  I made fairly good time going down to Solana Beach and turned left onto PCH.  Originally, I was planning on coming back on Via de la Valle, but I passed it by before realizing it, didn't know it was so close to Solana Beach.  So I stayed on PCH through Del Mar and came back via the 56 bike trail.  Down at the coast, there was a little bit of sprinkles but it didn't last.  Back up the bike trail, where I felt like I made good time, keeping my pace above 16 mph for nearly all of the gradual climb up to Camino del Sur.  Headed back this way and matched pace for awhile with a guy who was doing a similar loop.  Back through 4S Ranch, then down RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and home.  Throughout this entire ride, I didn't let my pace get below 10 mph.  Felt good at the end.

Avg speed = 18.6 mph. Total mileage = 40.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1550'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113719767

7-10-2012 Ride

Short ride to yoga, taking the Sunset Dr route because I was pressed for time.  The wind was generally favorable, so I made good time.  But it was a good warm-up for yoga, as I was sweating at the end.

Avg speed = 19.0 mph. Total mileage = 7.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm

Total elevation gain = 420'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/89133995/

7-8-2012 Ride

Ride from home to church, using the Sunset route, to meet up with Joe. This was the first time I'd ridden with him since he got his drivetrain fixed up, and he was riding pretty well.  We headed out Broadway to Jesmond Dene, trying to ride so that the wind favored us.  Then we headed up to Deer Springs Rd and back into San Marcos via Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  We decided to put in some additional miles, so we took Craven Rd over to San Marcos Blvd, then down to Las Posas Rd.  Over to Mission Rd, where the wind was at our backs all the way back into Escondido.  That was a nice, fast section.  Then we headed back to church via the Washington/Tulip section to Valley Pkwy, then 2nd Ave to Broadway.  I headed home, taking the Centre City Pkwy route.  I was worried that it would be windy against me, but it wasn't bad, just a little breezy by the lake.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 38.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 125 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1090'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/111232527

7-7-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home.  It was overcast when I started and pretty much stayed that way the entire ride, so good deal there.  I headed over to BVP and up to the 78, to get onto Citrus Ave.  On this early section of the ride, I was riding at a moderate clip, feeling a little leftover weariness in my legs from the long Wednesday ride.  I started riding better on Citrus, taking it over to El Norte Pkwy.  This part down to Broadway went fast, and I rode at a good clip on Broadway and Jesmond Dene Rd.  At the last little hill, I didn't charge up it.  Down and over to Deer Springs Rd and Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, where I turned onto Buena Creek Rd.  Here, I wasn't riding all that strong on these little uphilll sections.  On the downhill section, some guy in a pickup truck turned in front of me, which made me angry and got my adrenaline flowing.  This climb, going the other way, would be a challenge, because it's got some length and it's steepest near the top. I headed over Rancho Santa Fe Rd, turning right and taking it all the way to San Marcos Blvd to see where they are tearing down the old high school.  I followed Discovery to Craven Rd and over to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, then headed back into Escondido via Barham Dr to Mission Rd.  All the way to Centre City Pkwy, which I took through the town, connecting onto the freeway the normal route.  When I got up to the stoplight, I turned onto Pomerado Rd to get some more miles in, heading up to RB Rd.  I didn't go too fast on the initial climbs but made good time after that.  Lots of energy left in my legs for the stretch on RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr, then a fast finish.  I had planned on a ride with a high average speed but was surprised at how well I did, since my legs didn't feel super great during the ride.

Avg speed = 18.8 mph. Total mileage = 46.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1490'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/111230401

7-4-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home on the Fourth of July.  I knew I would start by riding up Highland Valley Rd to Ramona.  It was the first time I'd tried it on my new bike, and it went pretty well.  I didn't push the pace that hard and didn't have any real problems other than some lower back stiffness (it was a little sore throughout the ride) on the longer climbing sections.  While I was riding up to the 67, I decided to head toward Santa Ysabel and see how things went, both from my fitness and based on the weather.  It was overcast all the way up into Ramona, and it's longer than I remembered to get into the old downtown portion of Ramona from Highland Valley Rd.  I passed through and turned right on 3rd to connect with Old Julian Hwy. After the initial climb up to the left turn at the 2-mile marker, it's up and down for a little while, then there is a longer climbing section of about 3 miles.  It doesn't have any really steep sections.  I think I had a little bit of a tailwind going out.  I got to the junction with the 78, and I still hadn't put in 30 miles, so I decided to ride out to Santa Ysabel and get some snacks and sunscreen for the ride back.  The sun started to come out around here.  Not much traffic on the 78, and it generally has a nice shoulder in this section.  I was riding okay, trying to keep a steady pace on the two longer uphill sections.  When I rode into Santa Ysabel, not much was happening.  I stopped at Don's Market and got a Powerade, a candy bar, and a small tube of sunscreen.  I also had a banana and a small energy bar I'd brought along, so I rested for about 20 min and stretched my back and hamstrings out.  The ride back to Ramona was decent, although there was a steady breeze coming from the west that slowed me down on the downhill sections.  I had good energy for the little climbs, which really aren't much to speak of.  Back in Ramona, I headed back toward Escondido on the 78, not wanting to do the longer climbs on Highland Valley Rd.  I was slower on the gradual climb to that big church, and the descent went fine.  I couldn't get much speed going due to the headwind, but I didn't have any problems with traffic.  Back down in the San Pasqual Valley, it was a slog, as my energy level was waning and the wind was a little stiffer.  I headed back home via the Old Milky Way route and was glad that this is such a gradual exit from the valley.  It was a steady ride back home, although I had enough juice left in my legs to pass a group of four fit cyclists on the little hill before the park and leave them behind.  I finished with strength remaining in my legs and no real soreness there.  Cardio is in good shape, and my riding endurance is solid.  Now to try some rides with a goal of higher average speeds, after the last two hill-climbing expeditions.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 67.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3360'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/109795907

6-30-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home.  It was a little overcast at the start, nice temperature.  I headed up Azucar to Duenda, then over the normal way to Pomerado Rd.  I kept the pace modest, knowing I was in for a long, hilly ride.  Turned on Scripps Poway Pkwy and headed up.  After the first climb, I started riding into fog, and it was really heavy before I got onto the final climb.  Even though I wasn't pushing the pace, I was able to keep up a good cadence, and I climbed it in about 11 min.  It was clear and sunny at the top and for the rest of the ride.  Down the 67 toward Lakeside, and the air was fairly heavy at the bottom.  Over Vigilante Rd and Moreno Ave to Willow Rd, then over to Lake Jennings Rd via Ashwood.  I climbed okay up the little hill on this section, not great, and I downed an energy gel at the top.  I crossed under the freeway and headed up toward Alpine.  I had originally thought I would be turning around near Flinn Springs, but it was less than 30 mi to get to the stop sign, so that's where I rode.  On the way back, a mild breeze was facing me, so my pace wasn't fast.  My energy level was flagging on this portion, really all the way back to the base of the hill climbing up the 67.  I stopped before this climb and had a nice, long back stretch that really helped loosen me up.  Just before I stopped, I rode into some loose sand at the edge of the ride and almost tumbled.  There was a slight tailwind going up this climb, and I made short work of it, riding pretty well after getting my second wind.  I did most of the climb in the saddle, only standing up for a steeper section in the first portion of the climb and toward the end as my back started to bother me a bit.  Back down into Poway, where the wind was against me on Scripps-Poway Pkwy, and I started to slow down.  My pace was generally plodding on Pomerado Rd, not fast but not too slow either.  I turned on RB Rd and took it all the way to W Bernardo Dr, as I didn't relish too much more climbing.  Even still, I saw I was going to be short of 60 mi, so I rode all the way down to Aguamiel, then turned on Aguacate Way and rode it up to Alborada Rd.  Over to Smokesignal Dr, where I connected with Poblado Rd and then to Azucar Way.  I felt surprisingly good at the end, able to stand on my pedals for the little climbs with no discomfort at all.  Cardio is in good shape, and my legs are getting there as well.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 60.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3380'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/108357783

6-24-2012 Rides

Ride #1
Original time trial route from Dave's house.  He had texted me the previous evening to see if anybody was planning on riding on Sunday morning.  I was surprised to hear from him, so of course I said yes.  We rode the route together the whole way, taking a very easy pace, since Dave hadn't ridden his bike since the day of his bike accident with Jim on the 67 near Lakeside.  The weather was great, with some fog at the top by Poway High School.  We finished in 1:04:50, but it was one of the better rides I've been on lately, getting to ride with him again.  I hope he gets back into cycling at some level.


Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 125 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4958719

Ride #2
Ride with Andy Sweet after church and music practice.  It was full-on sun and breezy to boot.  I had hoped we could ride toward the coast, but he wanted to try some inland routes, so we headed to Juniper and over to Idaho Ave, taking it up and over to San Pasqual Valley Rd.  We headed out to the San Pasqual Valley, turning right on San Pasqual Rd and heading over to Old Milky Way to avoid some of the traffic.  We connected back to the 78 and took it out to Bandy Canyon Rd.  During this section, the wind was quartering at our backs, so we made really good time.  Once we started heading south and west, we were riding into the wind, and it was a real challenge.  I found myself really struggling to make headway all the way to the base of the climb out of the valley, where I slowed down anyway.  On the flats, Andy rides quite fast and was pushing me to keep up with him.  He's not quite as strong on the hills, but he's not far behind.  We headed back to I-15 on Highland Valley Rd, and I was relatively slow here, probably as a result of the wind and my tired legs from previous rides.  Turning back toward Escondido, we benefited from more of a tailwind as we headed across the freeway and back on BVP.  We followed the route I usually take to get to yoga.  On the first part of the gradual climb section, Andy was keeping a pace that was hard for me to keep up with.  But when it got a little steeper, he slowed down and I had no trouble maintaining the pace.  As we got nearer to Orange Glen High School, the wind shifted and started working against us.  I was slowing down anyway.  Our pace was decent, and I saved a little to sprint up the tiny hill by the hospital.  On the way home, I was riding into the wind for the most part, but it's a net downhill all the way across the freeway. Not a blistering pace this time while crossing, and I struggled up the little hill before the park.  It was a grind up to the house, but that's not really much of a challenge really, since it's short and not too steep.  Even drinking two bottles of lemonade, I was dehydrated at the end of this ride, since it had been awhile since I'd ridden in the middle of the day.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 33.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1060'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/106734229

6-23-2012 Ride

I thought, up until the morning of this ride, that it would be a solo one.  But Jim came through.  Because I was pretty sure he didn't want to ride 50 mi, I put in 16.6 mi beforehand, using the modified short loop from my house.  I had a sore groin from softball on Monday that I had aggravated at practice on Friday.  Combine that with sore quads and hamstrings from a Kettle Kore class on Thursday, and my legs were not in good shape.  Still, I managed an 18 mph average for the first part before meeting up with Jim at his house, working pretty hard to get there.  We headed through the neighborhood over to RB Rd, taking it to Dove Canyon Rd and getting over to Bernardo Center Dr/Carmel Valley Rd.  Other than the little climb up Matinal Rd, we rode together, as I matched my pace to his.  Same thing on the first part of the climb up Carmel Valley Rd, then I increased my pace a little on the latter part of the first section and the second section.  We rode down to Camino del Sur and over to San Dieguito Rd together and stayed together down into Fairbanks Ranch.  I had originally intended to cross over on Camino del Bosque, but I didn't know it doesn't connect with San Dieguito Rd (I do now), so we ended up going all the way to El Camino Real.  We rode over to Via de la Valle, then through lower Rancho Santa Fe.  It was a really nice ride here, with cool weather and nice scenery.  The climb back to Del Dios Hwy is not as long as I remembered, but I was still ready for a break at the top.  We connected back up, then headed back into Escondido.  I did okay, for the most part, on Del Dios Hwy, only losing steam as I approached the light at Via Rancho Pkwy.  The sun had come out, and it was pretty warm (not hot).  My cardio was just fine, but my legs wouldn't respond to the command to put out.  Our pace up Via Rancho Pkwy was slower, but I made a decent run across the I-15 bridge, given the condition of my legs.  After that, it was the normal slog back to Jim's house, with a very slow climb up Aguamiel to finish it off.  Jim made us these huge smoothies, and that helped me re-hydrate and cool down.  My legs didn't cramp up (surprise!), but they were definitely sore throughout the rest of the day.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 50.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2160'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/105954637

6-17-2012 Ride

Ride in the morning with Jim on the time trial route we have used from his house before.  I wasn't too interested in a fast pace, so we pretty much rode together on Pomerado Rd, with just a little separation on the longer uphill sections.  There was a little more separation on Ted Williams Pkwy, where I pushed my pace somewhat.  Then we basically rode together on Rancho Carmel Dr.  Then home by passing by work.  It's probably time for me to start tracking my riding time on this route if we can get into something of a rhythm riding it.

Avg speed = 16.2 mph. Total mileage = 16.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm

Total elevation gain = 610'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/85755101

6-16-2012 Ride

Ride from home with John and Jim. Headed over toward Escondido, getting on BVP and taking it up to Citrus. Over on Citrus to El Norte Pkwy, which we took down to Broadway. Then Broadway to Jesmond Dene. John was riding pretty well, Jim hadn't been riding on the road in a couple of weeks, so he was slow. On the flat sections, we kept the pace moderate on his account. I rode pretty well up to the top here, where we regathered. Over to Deer Springs, then down Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy. About halfway down, a guy came riding by and got ahead of us, so near the end I picked up my pace to see if I could close the gap. It was a nice little challenge. We headed back via Barham Dr to Mission, taking it all the way to Centre City Pkwy. Jim was slowing down, so we dropped the pace. All the way to the freeway, and we were riding faster with the wind at our backs. I crossed the freeway bridge riding at about 32 mph, pretty much full out for me. We headed back the normal way and had smoothies after the ride.

Avg speed = !7.8 mph. Total mileage =34.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1000'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/12114652

6-12-2012 Ride

Tuesday morning ride.  It's been a challenging couple of weeks at work, so I got in an early morning ride.  I headed down by the park, then up Pomerado Rd all the way to the top.  I made good time to the bottom of the last climb, but I didn't ride as well to the top as I had hoped.  It was good, not great.  Down on Cypress Canyon Park Rd, then over Angelique to Scripps-Poway Pkwy. I headed over to Black Mountain Rd, then climbed up to the 56.  It's up and down from here to Carmel Valley Rd, and I was feeling decent, so I turned left and rode down Camino del Sur.  Back toward home, making a decent pace on the gradual climb back into 4S Ranch.  Stayed on RB Rd down W Bernardo Dr, then home the normal route from here.  This is a nice 30 mi route, with a couple of climbing sections to give me a workout.

Avg speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 30.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1370'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/103345291

6-9-2012 Ride

Ride from home over to John's house, taking the normal route to Pomerado Rd, then up to Poway Rd.  I was riding a pretty fast pace on this section.  Over to Springhurst Rd, then up this little climb at a good clip, feeling good.  From his house, we headed up Angelique Rd to Cypress Canyon Park Rd to the top of Pomerado Rd. John hadn't been riding at all while he trained for a marathon he ran the previous weekend.  So his cardio was in good shape, but his riding muscles, particularly for climbing, were out of shape.  We headed down to Miramar Rd, taking it all the way to Genesee Dr.  On this flat-to-downhill section, John and I rode together, trading leads.  Once we got to the Genesee section, he was lagging on the uphill parts.  This is not my favorite road, since it has a lot of short up-and-down sections, very tiring for me.  We got up to Linda Vista Rd, then headed back.  By now, he was falling behind from lack of riding, so I slowed my pace down.  We rode together for most of the time, taking Aero Dr over to connect to Kearny Villa Rd and following this all the way back to Pomerado Rd.  I rode away just at the end, even at a moderate pace, as he started to run out of gas.  Again, we stayed together for about halfway up Pomerado Rd, then we reconnected at the top.  Back to his house the same way we came, then I headed toward home, following the same route back to RB Rd.  I was feeling it in my hamstrings mainly, not really sore, just tired and without a lot of drive.  Even still, I made decent time.  Followed RB Rd back to W Bernardo Dr, then home the normal way.  It had been awhile since I rode >50 mi, and my legs were tired for the rest of the day.  But they held up well for the ride.

Avg speed = 18.0 mph. Total mileage = 51.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1710'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/101021649/

6-3-2012 Ride

Ride from church with Dirk and Spencer.  We met at his office, then headed over to Broadway and out to Jesmond Dene Rd.  We kept the pace manageable on the flats, so that Spencer could ride at the same pace.  We got separated a little on the first climb, and I went all out on the last section, really laying it out.  From there, we headed  over to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy and back into San Marcos, turning on Richmar and connecting up with Mission Rd using Marcos St.  Spencer was starting to lag behind by this time.  We rode down Mission Rd toward the high school and stopped for lunch at a pizza restaurant by Mulberry Dr.  After lunch, we headed west on Mission Rd to Woodward St, where we got on the Inland Rail Trail, taking it all the way back into Escondido.  It's a nice enough trail, but it's too slow for my liking.  Back in Escondido, we rode on it until just past Spruce St, then we crossed a bridge over the concrete waterway, heading back under I-15 and over to Auto Park Way.  This we took to Tanglewood Ln, just past the Lexus dealership, which takes you up to a cul-de-sac dead end.  However, you can walk your bike up a dirt path and get easily back on the road, which we did, connecting onto Bernardo Ave.  This road parallels the freeway for awhile, with another little section to pass a gate across it, then heads into a nice neighborhood generally around Felicita Park.  We stayed on it until turning right on Felicita Ln, then onto Via Loma Vista, which crosses Via Rancho Pkwy.  Here is where we split up, since that's the road that Dirk and Spencer live on.  I headed on home the normal way from here, not really pushing the pace.  Throughout the day, the wind was swirling, and it was at our backs only for the section when we were heading east on Mission Rd.  The weather was mild, high 70s, but I was sweating at the end, and it felt good to be done for a relatively short ride.

Avg speed = 15.0 mph. Total mileage = 27.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 130 bpm
Total elevation gain = 720'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/99262483/

6-2-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home in the morning, June gloom.  I headed out to Via Rancho Pkwy and up the little hill, making pretty good time on this climb.  Zoomed down by Lake Hodges, turning right on El Camino del Norte, which has a couple of mild climbing sections before it drops down toward Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  On Rancho Santa Fe Rd, there are several climbs as well, one of them a little bit of a challenge.  That one slowed me down a little, but I rode well in general.  I took a quick break just after getting onto this road and had a gel.  It seemed to help.  I climbed up San Elijo Rd really well, then headed back into Escondido via Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Rd.  This is a gradual climb, and I was riding pretty strongly.  Once I got back into Escondido, I got onto Valley Pkwy by the Home Depot, and I headed up to Quince St.  I rode strongly here and all the way home.  Onto Centre City Pkwy via 13th St, then fast riding all the way home using the normal route.  I even hit 30 mph and maintained it briefly going across the bridge on I-15.  Fast up the hill near the park.  My quads complained a little bit on the last little climb up Aguamiel Rd, but I had good wind.  Riding the previous weekend in Wrightwood has helped my cardio.

Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 38.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1620'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/98670259/

5-28-2012 Ride

Solo ride from home over to the Thompson's house for Earl Guy's retirement party.  It was in the afternoon, I left home a little before 3:30.  As soon as I got on the road, I figured I needed to hustle to make it there by 4:30, so I rode hard, going the I-15 route to Centre City Pkwy, taking it to Mission Rd.  When I turned here, I was riding into the wind, and it was a chore, particularly the section up to Nordahl Rd.  I headed over Barham Dr to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  It's a little bit of a climb up to S Village Dr, not as bad as I thought it would be.  Then I turned on Bella Vita Way, going through the security gate and hitting a truly steep section.  It only lasts <0.1 mi, but it is brutal.  After that section, the steepness of the climb becomes manageable, still pretty steep and really steep in sections.  As I came around the final turn before the second gate, it got incredibly steep again, probably around 20% grade.  I was doing everything I could to pedal up, pushing so hard that my front wheel was coming off the ground and I was having trouble keeping control of my bike.  I finally had to stop just before the gate, and I walked up my bike up the last 20' or so, after resting enough so I could breathe normally again.  The gate didn't trigger, so I had to lift my bike over the fence and climb over the gate.  After that, it was pretty easy to finish the ride off.  This climb easily has two of the steepest sections I have ever ridden in my life, the second one so steep I couldn't quite finish it.  Maybe another time!

Avg speed = 14.0 mph. Total mileage = 13.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 158 bpm
Total elevation gain = 920'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/97046499/