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