04-28-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for the time trial route.  It had been a long time.  The weather was a little misty but just the right temperature.  I rode at Dave's slower pace for nearly all of the route, going just a little faster on the uphill sections.  Finished the time trial in 1:01:10.

Total mileage = 23.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 131 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1440'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/268242406

04-27-2013 Ride

Initial ride to get some miles in before meeting up with Dave at his house.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and out to Camino del Sur, continuing on Lone Quail Rd over to Dove Canyon Rd, using it to get over to Camino del Norte and taking this to Carmel Mountain Rd and then onto Rancho Carmel Dr.  I rode down to Ted Williams Pkwy and took it to Pomerado Rd, staying on this road until RB Rd, then up to Dave's house.  We met up and took off up Espola Rd, following the time trial route.  I stayed with him until the little climb at Poway Rd.  Then we rode together down across the freeway and up to the 56 bike trail.  We took it all the way down to Carmel Valley Rd, and I had a little stretch between Black Mountain Rd and Camino del Sur where I wound it all the way out.  I kept a good pace, above 21 mph, on the little uphill stretch between Camino del Sur and Carmel Valley Rd, even with the wind working slightly against me.  After that, I slowed it down and rode with Dave for the most part, only getting separation on the uphill sections.  We headed back to Dove Canyon Rd and took it over to RB Rd, then back to his house the normal way.  I headed home from there following the usual return route from the time trial.  My legs were a little more tired in the day than I would have expected, must have been the hills and periods of higher exertion.

Avg speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 48.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3370'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/267403074

2013 BP MS150 Bike Ride Day 2

The second day began with a wake-up at 5:00, to be ready to eat and get on the road by 7:00. I got everything packed up, had a breakfast burrito, and staged my bike near the start so I could get going sooner. Even so, it wasn't until close to 7:30 that I got on the road, and the pace at the start was slow, as the majority of the riders took the Bechtel Challenge route. I had heard from a couple of people that it had some hills, so I was planning on going significantly slower. The first section was rolling, but my legs were feeling fine so it went fairly fast. I stopped briefly, maybe in Bellville, to take my jacket off and switch gloves. Then I latched onto a long pace line and rode with them all the way to the entrance to the park, around mile 30. I stopped at the break point near here, had some food, and went to the bathroom. Just before the entrance to the park, there is a significant downhill, but it was straight and everybody behaved. The ride through the park was lots of ups and downs, some a little longer but none significant. There was a nice downhill near the park exit, then we linked back up with the main group of riders just outside Bastrop. There was an accident at the bottom of the hill, so we were stopped and walking our bikes for several stretches, which was mildly frustrating. I skipped the lunch stop and made decent time, eventually linking up with another fast-moving pace line that I rode with all the way to the turnoff to get to a rest stop in a park in Webberville around mile 55. I called Ann here, took a bio-break, and had some food for the last push. Not too long after starting back up, I caught on with a pace line that was moving a little slower than I had been but offered more chances to catch my breath than riding solo. For the last 10 or more miles, they had the bike lane separated by cones, which made it difficult to pass on the left without hitting them. We basically stayed together until about 4 miles to go, when I passed them and went solo for the remainder. The route was all blocked off, so we didn't have to stop much at all. I finished a little before noon, and it was thrilling to have such a large crowd of people cheering me at the end. Ann and Laura were there with a sign right before the finish line, and I heard Ann yell out my name. Again, I was the second rider to the HP tent, might have been the first, but I met up with the ladies and we had trouble finding the tent. I had a sandwich and a beer, picked up my luggage, and we headed out. I felt fine at the end, just a sore neck from being bent over for so long. During the course of the second day, I saw two fiddlers, guys playing bagpipes, people dancing to YMCA, and rode through several clouds of soap bubbles. It was a much more festive day. In the park, I stopped to help out a guy who had a low-speed spill but was just a little shaken up. All of the training miles really paid off in giving me the stamina to ride through both days and feel good at the end.

Total mileage = 73.1 mi. Avg speed = 19.5 mph
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2210'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/266946128

2013 BP MS150 Bike Ride Day 1

Ann and Kathy took me over to Tully Stadium, where the start of the MS 150 century route was. It was cold at the start, cold enough to need my jacket and full-fingered gloves. I got my bike together and broke off a valve on my front tire when I tried to unscrew the cap. So I had to replace the tube, which got me frustrated. Everything else went smoothly. There were a lot of riders at this particular starting point, but not an enormous number. I'd be curious to know what fraction of the riders took the two longest routes. After some starting festivities, we were off, beginning at a modest pace as everybody spread out on the initial part of the ride. Going through the area behind Addicks Dam on Eldridge, it got pretty cold, and my fingers and toes were numb. Things eventually warmed up, and the weather was ideal for much of the ride. I hooked onto a pace line fairly early, led by some Team Toyota riders, and we made really good time. Eventually, I couldn't keep up with them without wearing out too soon, so I dropped off and rode solo. I skipped the first rest stop and stopped at the second, to take my jacket off, switch my gloves, and use the bathroom. I had some food and was feeling pretty good. I rode with some others over the course of the next 30 miles, and this first section was almost completely flat. I think I was averaging over 22 mph at the 60 mile mark, where I stopped for a break. Here is where I put on more sunscreen and took a bathroom break. The last 40 miles were more rolling, which slowed me down somewhat. It didn't compare to anything in San Diego. I was feeling the effects of the ride toward the end, so that it slowed me down, particularly on the little uphill sections. Turning onto the last road into LaGrange, I was ready to be done. It wasn't too far to the entrance to the Fairgrounds, and it was really cool to have people cheering me on at the end. I arrived a little after noon. I was the second rider into the HP tent, and they were really wonderful, helping me with my bike and providing all kinds of food and drinks to re-energize. I rested up a little, had a shower, then ate lunch and walked around the site. Most of the action was taking place in the tents, not so much going on otherwise. I drank a couple of beers throughout the day, had dinner, and saw a little bit of a Christian praise music concert. Throughout the afternoon and evening, I massaged my legs and stretched, and I think it helped me on the second day. I was ready to lie down by 8:00 but waited until 9:00 to get into my sleeping bag. Slept pretty well, although it got chilly in the tent.

Avg speed = 20.5 mph. Total mileage = 99.3 mi

Avg heartrate = 142 bpm

Total elevation gain = 2210'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/264920070

04-19-2013 Ride

Solo ride from Kathy's house, heading over to Mason Rd and taking it north until it reached a dead end.  I was riding into a stiff, cold headwind on the way out, and it was a challenge.  I started to warm up a little after awhile.  I headed back to Schiele Rd and took it east to Mueschke Rd, heading north into the wind again and going until it dead-ended into Waller-Tomball Rd.  Then I turned around and retraced my way back to Kathy's house.  Riding on the flats was good, riding into the wind was not.  Even so, it was a nice warm-up ride for the following two-day longer ride.

Avg speed = 17.7 mph. Total mileage = 17.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 250'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/267395224

04-14-2013 Ride

Solo ride in the afternoon after church, on a cloudy day with little spits of rain occasionally.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then out to Camino del Sur.  Down San Dieguito Rd and around to El Camino Real.  I kept my pace above 11 mph for nearly all of this little climb, even though I was generally taking it easy on the ride.  Then it was down to the 56 bike trail and up to Carmel Valley Rd.  The wind helped me here, so I had a decent ride back to Camino del Sur, slowing down for the next little climb up to and beyond Black Mountain Rd.  Back home via Dove Canyon Rd to RB Rd and down to W Bernardo Dr.  This was a nice little tune-up ride where I just wanted to exercise my muscles and get my heart pumping.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 31.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2250'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/260164970

04-13-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home, heading over the freeway and getting onto Via Rancho Pkwy.  I tried to keep my pace above 10 mph on the uphill section but couldn't hold it the whole way.  It was probably doable with maximum effort, but I wasn't tough enough to finish it off.  This was the only time during the ride where my pace fell below this threshold.  Onto Del Dios Hwy and down into Rancho Santa Fe, continuing on Linea del Cielo and Lomas Santa Fe Dr into Solana Beach.  I got on PCH and headed south toward Del Mar.  On the ride up Torrey Pines, I kept a good pace, over 11 mph for nearly all the way and finishing strong.  Then it was onto Genesee Ave and over to Eastgate Mall to get onto Miramar Rd.  Here, there was perhaps a little bit of a tailwind, not much, and I kept my pace above 20 mph for nearly the whole way, which was a real workout.  The bike lane on this road is in terrible shape.  I dialed it back a little bit on the climb up Pomerado Rd but still had a good stretch.  I stayed on Pomerado Rd to RB Rd, keeping my pace above 20 mph on the section leading up to the hospital.  I took RB Rd over to W Bernardo Dr, then down to Aguamiel Rd for the last section to get home.

Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 49.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3190'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/258679074

04-12-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 30 min in the morning before work, listening to music on my phone. It was a good short workout.

Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Calories burned = 370
Distance = 11.0 mi

04-11-2013 Ride

Solo ride from work in the late afternoon.  I headed over to Camino del Norte and up to Carmel Mountain  Dr.  I was hearing noises from around my handlebars and discovered that I hadn't tightened them up enough after having them off while practicing packing my bike into the travel box.  So I rode the rest of the way with a light touch on the handlebars.  I rode over to Poway Rd via Rancho Carmel Dr and Sabre Springs Pkwy.  The Poway Rd section was fast with a tailwind to help me.  I turned on Oak Knoll Rd, then got onto Pomerado Rd and took it all the way down to the freeway, again aided by a slight tailwind.  After this, it was much slower, as the rest of the ride was mostly uphill.  I kept a decent pace but didn't stress things.  The weather was close to idea for riding from the standpoint of temperature.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 19.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1070'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/258673762

04-07-2013 Ride

Solo ride leaving from church right after the service.  It was overcast and somewhat cool at the beginning.  I headed over to Juniper St and to 2nd Ave, getting on to Grand Ave and taking it up to BVP.  I headed out to Valley Pkwy and took it up to Valley Center.  This climb is long (2.5 mi of it is at an average 4.7% grade), but the grade is generally manageable, although it seems to get a little steeper near the crest.  I kept my pace above 10 mph for all of the climb except for the last quarter mile or so, where I just couldn't manage it.  With maybe a little more fitness, I could make it to the top, but it sure didn't seem possible on this day.  I headed over to Lilac Rd and took it west.  There was some kind of organized ride going on, so I saw a lot of riders in Valley Center and on Lilac Rd.  The downhill section on Lilac Rd is good going in this direction; it's longer than I remembered from going up.  I stayed on Lilac Rd until turning off onto W Lilac Rd.  This section is up and down, probably good training for the kind of terrain I will see on the second day of the BP MS150 ride.  The downhill into Bonsall is about 5 mi long, with just a couple of flat or uphill sections.  I stayed on Camino del Rey until I turned off onto Old River Rd.  I had never been on this section before.  It is a decent ride, but there is a steady climb of about 2 mi after it crosses the 76, and that was a chore.  This road turns into Vista Way, then Vista Village Dr, and I stayed on it until I turned onto Melrose Dr.  This was another workout section, with lots of little climbs, including one where I just couldn't keep my pace above 10 mph.  I did fine on the climb on San Elijo Rd, which I turned onto from Melrose Dr.  Back into Escondido via Harmony Grove Rd and Elfin Forest Rd, where I did okay on the gradual climbs, helped probably by a tailwind.  I turned on 11th Ave and cut over to Valley Pkwy.  There is a short, painfully steep little stretch that I struggled up, and I stopped to take a little break at the top.  The climbs on Valley Pkwy and Via Rancho Pkwy went just fine, but my cyclometer quit reading my speed on the fast downhill section.  I stopped to adjust it and continued on.  Across the freeway, pretty slow, starting to feel all of the miles over the weekend adding up.  I headed up Pomerado Rd to get more miles in and felt okay.  At Paseo Del Verano, I turned left and negotiated the first short climb.  Then it's roly-poly until by the Bernardo Winery, where I had to go all out on a short, pretty steep section to keep it above 10 mph.  The road then drops generally down and back to Pomerado Rd, where I continued up to Camino Del Norte, noticeably slower than usual but feeling drive in my legs, which were holding up pretty well.  I started slow on this little climb and ground out a steady, modest pace, feeling the headwind near the first crest and working against it until I turned onto Bernardo Center Dr.  From here, it was an easy finish, following the normal way home and glad it was downhill with some wind to aid me.  I feel really good about the average pace I was able to manage on this ride.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 68.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 137 bpm
Total elevation gain = 4690'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/255663136

04-06-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home on a Saturday morning, cool and overcast for most of the time.  Headed up Azucar Way to Duenda Rd and over to RB Rd, then to Pomerado Rd.  I took this road to the top (highest point in the ride), dialing it back on the last climb to conserve energy for this long ride.  Down to Kearny Villa Rd.  In the early part of the ride, I had a little bit of a headwind, which appeared to be coming generally from the southwest.  Got to Ruffin Rd and took it to Balboa Ave, heading west to connect to Genesee Ave.  This road is part of the route I've ridden in reverse with John that I don't like.  It's not bad at all going this direction.  Stayed on it until it connected to N Torrey Pines Rd.  On the flat section here, my chain came off and got tangled up, so I had to stop and get my fingers dirty putting everything right.  Then it was downhill and into Del Mar.  I stayed on PCH all the way to Oceanside, riding the last 7 mi or so with a guy from Carmel Mountain Ranch who could keep up with me.  We had to do a little detour in Carlsbad to Ocean Ave, since they were having some kind of kid's fun run.  I turned right on Oceanside Blvd and stopped for a Gatorade and Tiger energy bar at a 7-11, feeling pretty good at this point.  I think the wind had shifted somewhat by then because it seemed to push me for quite a while as I headed toward Escondido.  After El Camino Real, this section of road is really great.  I took it to Melrose Dr, turning right and then left onto Olive Ave, connecting to Santa Fe Ave via a short jog on Vista Village Dr.  I hadn't been on these roads before, and I got to see the older, seamier side of Vista.  This road turns into Mission Rd, which I rode all the way to Broadway.  Turned left here and took it to El Norte Pkwy to get some extra miles in, up to Citrus Ave, which I took to the 78.  Short jog to BVP, then home the normal way, with a little U-turn on Del Lago Blvd to get onto the freeway.  My legs felt tired on the last two little climbs, but they held up pretty well.  I think I benefited on this ride from the training miles about as much as favorable winds.  I like to think it was more of the former that left me feeling good at the end, certainly able to ride another 15 miles easily.

Avg speed = 18.2 mph. Total mileage = 85.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3760'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/254753808

04-05-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 30 min in the morning before work, listening to music on my phone. I had ridden the previous afternoon after work and plan a couple of really long rides on the weekend.  Felt pretty good during this short workout.


Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Calories burned = 370
Distance = 11.1 mi

04-04-2013 Ride

Posted this long afterward.  Rode from home in the afternoon, heading through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then out to Camino del Sur, taking it out to the 56 bike path, where I turned around and retraced my route to RB Rd.  Then I rode down to W Bernardo Dr and home via Aguamiel Rd, apparently wanting a little bit of climbing at the end.  Was moving fast on this ride.

Avg speed = 18.4 mph. Total mileage = 21.7 mi

Total elevation gain = 1770'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/253955526

04-04-0213 Ride

Solo ride after work.  It was a nice afternoon, cool and a little breezy.  This was the first time out after I changed my bike chain, and it worked well.  Headed out through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur, taking it all the way down to the 56 bike trail, then turning around.  Back to RB Rd, which I took down to W Bernardo Dr.  Down to Aguamiel Rd and back home.  I started out at a fairly moderate pace but built it up over the course of the ride, finishing on a good note.

Avg speed = 18.4 mph. Total mileage = 21.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 760'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/188775906

04-01-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 55 min in the afternoon after lunch, listening to music on my phone. I was really worn out from the previous two days of riding, so I didn't have a good workout.  It also took a lot out of me and possibly contributed to an upset stomach that came upon me that evening and lasted about 30 hours.


Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Calories burned = 640
Distance = 19.4 mi