02-27-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning, using my Touchpad to watch a Twin Peaks episode and listen to music.

Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 132 bpm
Calories burned = 670
Distance = 20.0 mi

02-26-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 30 min in the morning, listening to music on my phone.

Level = 11
Avg heartrate = 131 bpm
Calories burned = 330
Distance = 10.5 mi

02-24-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home on Sunday morning.  I planned, and was generally successful, on keeping my pace down for this longer Sunday ride.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and took it over to Camino del Sur.  Took this road to Carmel Valley Rd, again taking it easy on the little uphill sections.  Right on Carmel Valley Rd and over to Carmel Canyon Rd, which I used to connect to Carmel Country Rd and onto the 56 bike trail heading back.  Here, I was successful in keeping my pace modest.  Took the bike trail up to Black Mountain Rd, turning right here and heading over to Miramar Rd.  I turned left here and headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, keeping good time but not wearing myself out.  I stayed on Pomerado Rd all the way down to the freeway, facing a fairly steady breeze working against me at times.  Back home via the park.  At the end, I was feeling the effects of the accumulated miles in my legs.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 41.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2690'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/236612344

02-23-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home.  I started about an hour later than normal, to allow time for it to warm up.  The temperature was a little cold at the start but not unbearable.  My toes were cold.  Headed over to Escondido, then on the freeway over to Centre City Pkwy, making decent time on this little uphill section.  Through the city and out to Mesa Rock Rd, taking a little jog over here, then getting back to the old 395 and going by the Welk Resort.  Past here, I started to see a large group of cyclists in several bunches heading the other way.  Turned left onto Camino del Rey and started out riding strong.  This is a net slight downhill to W Lilac Rd, but there were several stretches where I was slower than I would have liked.  Headed up W Lilac Rd, which is about 5 mi to the top, with a couple of rest sections where it's relatively flat or downhill.  I kept my pace above 10 mph the whole way.  In fact, this was the case for the entire ride, which was quite an accomplishment for me.  I passed a set of 4 riders, the lead rider of whom was able to stay with me before I dropped him near the top. On the following winding road, the weather was pretty nice by this point.  I passed another group of cyclists going at a more modest pace.  Just after the tee at Old Castle Rd, there's a steady climb for about 2 mi that was a chore for me.  Got onto Valley Center Rd and headed south, deciding to turn onto Woods Valley Rd to get the extra miles in.  This gradual climb was a fairly slow section for me, as it had some more steepness to it than I had remembered.  I did okay on the section of Lake Wohlford Rd heading into the village, and I was really careful coming down the grade, riding the brakes on the turns and slowing to allow cars to pass.  The road quality is really poor, so it's dangerous to have too much speed.  The ride back home, via BVP, was uneventful, fairly fast even though I felt like I was riding into a headwind.  At the freeway, I did a little U turn to get onto the on-ramp, and I didn't have a lot of gas left in the tank.  So I took it easy across the bridge but did okay on the little climb up to the park and on the finishing uphill stretch.  My fitness is improving.  I felt the week's exercise in my legs during this ride, but they held up just fine.  This was the largest amount of elevation gain I had attempted in quite awhile.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 59.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3930'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/236137140

02-22-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning, using my Touchpad to watch an X-Files episode and listen to music.

Level = 11
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Distance = 20.8 mi

02-21-2013 Ride

Solo ride over lunch at work.  It looked a little threatening at the start of the ride, and it was unexpectedly cool.  I headed down W Bernardo Dr and onto Pomerado Rd.  My pace was pretty good on the little uphill section just past the freeway.  At around Twin Peaks Rd, I started to feel light rain drops, so I decided to turn onto Ted Williams Pkwy and start heading back.  It rained on me for a fair portion of the time I was on this road, but the water didn't build up on the road.  It had essentially stopped by the time I turned onto Rancho Carmel Dr.  I headed up to Carmel Mountain Ranch Rd and took this as a connector to Camino del Norte.  I made pretty good time on the little uphill section here, slowing down as it flattened out at the top.  Back to work the normal way, not really feeling the strength in my legs to push the pace all out.

Avg speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 16.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1040'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/235949838

02-19-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 30 min in the morning, using my phone to listen to music.

Level = 11
Avg heartrate = 133 bpm
Distance = 10.3 mi

02-18-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home, planning on a longer training ride.  During the early part of the ride, I was rationalizing shortening the length of the ride, but I got over it.  Headed into Escondido using the pedestrian bridge across Lake Hodges.  It's still slippery, with lots of gravel after you get off the bridge on the north side.  Got onto BVP and headed up to Sunset Dr, taking it fairly easy up this little climb.  Used Felicita Rd to get over to Centre City Pkwy, then took it to Washington St, turning left and taking Hale St to Auto Park Way.  Over to Valley Pkwy, then right on the street by Home Depot and through this little industrial neighborhood to get onto Harmony Grove Rd.  Around this point, I saw a group of three riders ahead of me, so I set out to catch up with them.  It took me about half of the Harmony Grove Rd section to get to them, and I rode with the trailing guy for awhile, trading stories about recent crashes.  Right around the turn onto Elfin Forest Rd, I passed the others and left them behind on this first gradual climb.  It got steeper, but I was ready for it and was able to keep my pace at or above 11 mph all the way into San Elijo Hills.  This required some steady effort during several sections.  Then it was a nice downhill section to get down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, with a little slight uphill followed by an extended downhill section.  Connected to Olivenhaim Rd, which turns into Leucadia Blvd at El Camino Real.  This was the steepest section of the entire ride, not too long but a chore to get up.  Then it was mostly flat to downhill to PCH.  On PCH, I made pretty good (not great) time, probably had something of a tailwind.  I stopped at the base of the hill on Torrey Pines Rd, had a gel packet, changed gloves and took off my hat.  I started up at a modest pace, intending to keep it above 10 mph all the way to the top and succeeding.  I think that's a first for me.  Stayed on Torrey Pines Rd all the way to La Jolla Village Dr, which I took through UTC.  Stayed on it as it turned into Miramar Rd.  Here, I started strong, keeping the pace above 20 mph for about 2/3 of the distance to the freeway.  But I ran out of gas and had to slow it down.  On the climb up Pomerado Rd, my pace was decent, and I kept it above 10 mph on the last little climb.  Resting section on the following downhill.  I took Pomerado Rd all the way down to the freeway, feeling tired and energy-drained.  Back up the little hill before the park, feeling it now and taking it easy to the finish.  I stood on the pedals on the last little climb, and my legs held up just fine.  Felt in decent cardio and leg shape for this length of ride.  In particular, my legs felt really solid for significant stretches.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 64.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3330'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/234409744

02-17-2013 Ride

Time trial ride, riding from home over to Dave's house.  All four of the regulars were there.  Whoohoo!  Dave and Jim weren't in great cycling shape, and John, although he hasn't been riding, was in decent shape.  Aligned the magnet on my front wheel with the pickup and got my cyclometer working again.  I took it slow essentially the whole way, hanging with Jim to make sure he was doing okay.  I really let it loose on the little climb up to Poway Rd, keeping my pace around 11 mph or greater nearly the whole way.  The only other place where I went all out was on the final sprint to Rios Rd on Pomerado Rd.  I was able to hang with John but couldn't pass him.  Finished in 1:03:00.  Took RB Rd back to W Bernardo Dr to get back home.

Total mileage = 23.3 mi.
Total elevation gain = 1430'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/234122358

02-16-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home in the morning.  It was a little over 40 deg at the start, but I knew it was going to warm up, so I didn't wear tights.  I was normally bundled up in my torso and hands, and it was just fine after an initial chill.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and took it over to Camino del Norte, where I turned left.  I didn't feel really strong throughout the ride, and I had also planned on not stressing things too much.  Headed up to Pomerado Rd, turned left and took this all the way down to the freeway.  It had been warming up but was cooler on Pomerado, mainly because the road was in the shade for most of the time.  Headed over the freeway and got onto BVP, taking it to the 78.  At the top of the little climb, I stopped for a brief rest and to take off my long gloves, jacket, and hat.  Got onto Citrus Ave and took this over to Del Norte Rd.  Down to Broadway and over to Jesmond Dene Rd.  Here the wind was pretty steadily in my face, not too breezy.  I kept a moderate pace on this section and still managed to keep over 10 mph on the last little climbing section.  Back onto Centre City Pkwy and up to Deer Springs Rd/Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  The wind seemed to be swirling during the ride.  Turned right on Buena Creek Rd, again keeping my pace moderate.  My cyclometer stopped working about at this point, and I was feeling kinda tired.  So the downhill section was welcome.  Got onto Mission Rd, and those little uphill sections were a chore.  I turned right on Las Posas Rd to get some additional miles in, taking it over to San Marcos Blvd, again turning right and heading up to Discovery St.  I was wearing down here, so I stopped for a break after turning onto Craven Rd.  Had some water and a gel packet, then continued on, following the normal route here to Twin Oaks Valley Rd and onto Barham Dr.  This section was also plodding on the little uphills, and I felt like I was riding into the wind.  Took this to Mission Rd and headed over to Centre City Pkwy.  I was hitting lights on Centre City, which was annoying but allowed me to catch my breath.  The wind wasn't a big factor until I got past Felicita Rd, when it seemed to be in my face for a period of time.  Back home over the freeway and the normal route by the park.  The ride over the bridge was aided by wind, and I made good time up the last two little climbs, working to finish right at 3:00.

Avg speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 53.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2730'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/233584360

02-15-2013 Ride

Solo ride from work in the afternoon, starting around 4:00.  The weather conditions were almost perfect, very little direct sun and temperature in the low 70s.  Headed over to RB Rd and out to Camino del Sur.  On this way out, the wind was generally working against me.  Did pretty well on the gradual climb up to Carmel Valley Rd, had my heartrate up near 170.  Turned right at that intersection and headed over to the 56 bike trail.  This part of the ride was fairly easy.  On the bike trail, I had a trailing wind and kept my pace on the first uphill section up around 20 mph for the whole way.  I started strong on the second section but ran out of gas about 2/3 of the way up and was averaging 13-14 mph in this latter portion.  Headed back on Camino del Sur to Carmel Valley Rd, turning right and riding the gradual uphill.  I kept my pace above 10 mph the whole way, and most of the way it was above 12 mph.  I was working pretty hard.  Down the hill to Dove Canyon Rd, cutting over to RB Rd and finishing the normal way.  I may have pushed the pace a little too hard, given that I'm planning on riding 50+ mi on Saturday.

Avg speed = 18.6 mph. Total mileage = 23.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1690'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/233342334

02-13-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min, using my Touchpad to watch a Dr Who episode on Netflix and listen to some music.  I really pushed the pace toward the latter part of this workout.

Level = 10
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Distance = 20.6 mi

02-10-2013 Ride

Originally, this was supposed to be a time trial route with Dave and Jim, and I was going to add some miles onto the end to lengthen it.  But Dave wasn't feeling well, and Jim backed out because it was Elizabeth's birthday.  So I ended up solo, heading through the neighborhood to RB Rd.  It was the same temperature at the start, about 40 deg, and it was generally fine, although my toes were cold throughout the ride.  I took RB Rd to Dove Canyon Rd and over to Lone Quail Rd, connecting back to Camino del Sur and heading over to the 56 bike trail.  On the climbs, I was exerting myself but not pushing it to the max.  On the bike trail, I kept it over 20 mph on the slight uphill section (that took a fair amount of effort) between the two downhills to Carmel Valley Rd.  Stayed on the bike trail, but I wasn't riding too fast here, because the trail seemed slippery.  I got onto El Camino Real and started heading up toward Del Mar Heights.  Initially I wasn't pushing it, but I was riding hard after the first little climb all the way to Del Mar Heights.  I stopped here to take off my outer full-finger gloves and my hat, and my progress to the top wasn't great.  Took the downhill section and got onto San Dieguito Rd.  Here I had a steady pace, but I couldn't seem to get rolling fast.  I really felt it on the uphill section near Camino del Sur.  On the last uphill section, I went all out to keep my pace above 11 mph all the way to the top, which seemed like a good accomplishment.  Turned on Camino del Sur and did okay on the climb toward 4S Ranch, just not feeling it in my legs on this ride.  I turned left on Dove Canyon Rd and then right on RB Rd, comparatively slow to get to Via del Campo.  Headed down to W Bernardo Dr and home the normal route, working hard to finish on a strong note.

Avg speed = 17.4 mph. Total mileage = 34.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 149 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2430'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/231397620

02-09-2013 Ride

Ride, initially solo.  I rode up to Jim's house, but he wasn't ready to go, so I took off to get some miles in, heading south on W Bernardo Dr, up the hill by work and over to Camino del Norte, heading toward Poway.  I turned right on Carmel Mountain Rd, then another right on Rancho Carmel Dr, taking this road to Ted Williams Pkwy.  I was riding at a pretty brisk clip, knowing that my ride with Jim would be slower.  Headed all the way up to where this road connects to Twin Peaks Rd, that's a steep little short section after Pomerado Rd.  Got back on Pomerado Rd and headed by the hospital, turning right on Stone Canyon Rd and heading up to Martincoit Rd.  Another little climb with the steepest section right at the end.  This little excursion turned out to be a mistake, since it made me late for meeting up with Jim at his house.  I noticed the time when I got back onto RB Rd, so I hoofed it pretty fast back, taking the normal route.  Jim was okay with me being a little late.  It was the first time he had been out on a bike ride since his crash in early December.  We took it slow, and I tried not to get too far out in front on the climbing sections.  We headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and out toward 4S Ranch, staying on Camino del Sur to Carmel Valley Rd.  I kept it dialed back on the climbs here.  Jim was feeling the results of the layoff from cycling, so we turned and headed back on Carmel Valley Rd, taking this little climb slowly.  Back over to Dove Canyon Rd, then over to RB Rd and back the way we had originally come.  He was out of cycling shape, but his vision was working well, which was a big plus.

Avg speed = 15.4 mph. Total mileage = 33.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2540'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/231394226

02-07-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min, using my Touchpad to watch an X-Files episode on Netflix. Feeling better about fitness, a long way to go before I'm ready for the MS 150.

Level = 10
Avg heartrate = 134 bpm
Distance = 19.8 mi

02-02-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home.  It was kinda hard to get started, since nobody else was riding.  I had to be back by 9:00 to wait for the delivery of our new love seat.  Headed out through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Dove Canyon Rd.  The weather was nice, a little cool (high 40s).  Headed over to Carmel Valley Rd, where I caught up with a rider, and we rode up this little climb together.  I put an all-out effort into it, especially the second stretch.  He hung on but fell back a little bit.  I stayed on Carmel Valley Rd until Del Mar Heights Rd, which I took over to Carmel Canyon Rd.  This is a nice gentle downhill to Carmel Country Rd, with a short stretch over to the 56 bike trail.  There weren't too many riders on this trail, surprisingly.  I took it all the way up to Camino del Sur, again with a strong push on the stretch after Carmel Valley Rd.  I kept my pace above 15 mph the entire time, although I've ridden this part faster.  Had a decent finish, working really hard but not hurting at the end.  Headed back on Camino del Sur, standing on the pedals for the steeper sections of the little climbs.  No really fast pace, though.  Turned onto RB Rd and was steady but slow on this section.  Took it all the way to Bernardo Center Dr and took a right here to add a little distance.  Over to Lomica Dr, then a left on Acena Dr and downhill to RB Rd again, then back home the normal way.  My legs were feeling it even though the distance wasn't long, perhaps because of the high level of effort on the two climbing sections.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 30.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2280'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/228598184

02-01-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 45 min.  I set up my Touchpad to be able to watch Netflix while riding, which was cool and made the time go much faster.  However, I forgot to bring a towel, and I was really sweating all over the place.

Level = 10
Avg heartrate = 140 bpm
Distance = 15.9 mi