05/30/2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning at work, listening to music from my laptop.  It was really frustrating to set this up, and it gave me a better appreciation of the true portability of my smartphone and table.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Calories burned = 760
Distance = 21.8 mi

05-27-2013 Ride

Ride with John, starting and ending at the little cafe across the highway from Lake Henshaw.  We headed out west on the 76, which is downhill for awhile before it starts climbing.  There are a couple of little climbs before you get to the South Grade road, S6.  It was cool at the beginning, maybe even a little chilly.  But once we got onto the climb, the temperature was good.  I started out strong, making the first half in 7-8 mph.  I slowed down on the second half, which felt steeper.  My lower back was acting up a bit, but I was able to work through it by standing up in the pedals every so often.  I got to the top in under 55 min for the climb, and the summit came before I thought it would, which was a pleasant surprise.  John was about 20 min behind me, and we rested when he got to Mother's Kitchen.  Then we headed up to the observatory.  I was slow on the downhill, then I kept pace with John for most of the climb up, only pushing the pace within the last half mile or so.  On the downhill section returning, John again got out ahead, as I was really cautious on the downhill curves.  We headed down the East Grade Rd, S7, and I did better here on the downhill sections, still really cautious on the curves, particularly the ones to the left.  We finished in under 2:40 riding time for me, feeling good about my pace and the accomplishment.

Avg speed = 14.5 mph. Total mileage = 38.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 4660'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/288531633

05/25/2013 Ride

Solo ride from Fellowship Camp up in Wrightwood, heading down Elm St to Hwy 2 and heading west.  I felt pretty good on the first long climb, had a little bit of a tailwind at the beginning that helped push me up the road.  This climb averages 5%, and it has some steeper sections heading up to the ski lifts.  On the downhill to the place where the PCT crosses the highway (I went a little beyond to get in 20 miles for the whole route), I was pretty tentative, fighting nerves and some squirrelly winds.  The climb back is only a little less of a grade, and I was feeling it a little bit in my lower back, but it was manageable.  I had a better downhill ride on the way back, especially on the straighter sections after the ski lifts.  I took it slowly on the ride back up Elm St and made it up to the top without feeling as wasted as previous years.  My average speed was significantly higher than previous years, a good reflection of the training miles I've put in this year.

Avg speed = 14.3 mph. Total mileage = 20.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3050'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/287974835

05-23-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 45 min before work, listening to music. I felt pretty strong this day, and it was a good workout.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Calories burned = 580
Distance = 16.7 mi

05-21-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home to yoga, taking the route through the San Pasqual Valley.  I had the wind working with me on the climb up Highland Valley Rd, and I made good time and didn't really struggle.  The ride down into the valley was fast over to the 78, then I started heading into the wind.  It was something of a workout, but I felt fine until I started climbing out, at which point I started running out of gas.  I made it up the hill, but it was much slower than I was hoping to ride.  After that, the rest of the ride went smoothly, taking the normal yoga route once I got onto BVP.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 21.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1430'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/286191073

05-19-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for the time trial route with John, Dave, and Jim.  Throughout the ride, I generally kept on the same pace as the others, stretching out a bit on the climb up to Poway Rd, the section on Sabre Springs Pkwy, and a couple of hard pushes on Pomerado Rd, one by the hospital and another before the turn.  Finished the time trial in 57:50.

Total mileage = 23.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1330'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/283127671

05-18-2013 Ride

Solo ride, initially, starting early to get some miles in before hooking up with the others.  I rode over to work to see if I could find my other glove, which I lost on the previous day before riding home.  I took the neighborhood route to RB Rd, the over Via del Campo to work.  The glove was laying on the ground right outside the entrance door, which was most excellent.  I headed over to Camino del Norte and then over to Poway Rd via Rancho Carmel Dr and Sabre Springs Pkwy.  The wind wasn't helping me anywhere as much on Thursday afternoon, and my pace was off.  I took Poway Rd back to RB Rd, then back toward Jim's house the normal route.  I felt fine, just no real extra push in my legs.  I met up with Jim, Dave, and John, and we headed out Duenda Rd and Poblado Rd over to Matinal Rd.  Dave and Jim were lagging, but John was in reasonable shape from all of his marathon training, even though he hadn't been riding.  We took Matinal Rd up to RB Rd, then over Lone Quail Rd to Dove Canyon Rd and down to Bernardo Center Dr.  We took Carmel Valley Rd over to the 56 bike trail.  I did okay on the little uphill section, pushing the pace somewhat but not over the top.  We rode together after that, all the way to El Camino Real.  Even though I started at a moderate pace on the gradual uphill on El Camino Real, I accelerated some to try and catch up with a couple of other riders ahead of me.  The downhill was fun, and I dialed my pace back a little bit on the flats afterward for the others to catch up.  We rode together briefly, then I pulled away for awhile, finally stopping to meet back up with them.  Dave and I rode together to the base of the Three Witches climb, then John and I started up it together.  I picked up the pace early on and had a pretty good, not great, ride to the top.  I caught up again with the same two riders near the top, and I had to gut it out to keep my pace at a decent level at the top of the climb.  We all gathered up on Camino del Sur, then John and I rode together for awhile until more separation as it started uphill.  We gathered together at Casey Glen, and I slowed my pace down considerably, as Jim was really hurting from lack of recent riding.  We rode basically together back to Jim's house, taking Cabela Dr off of Matinal Rd over to Duenda Rd.  I felt fine at the end, legs in good shape and only a little tired throughout the day.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 50.3 mi
Total elevation gain = 3000'
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/282436387

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/282433639

05-17-2013 Rides

It was Bike to Work Day, and I had to take my car in to Jesco for a lot of work (it turned out).  So I rode from Jesco to work, taking Felicita Rd to Centre City Pkwy, then the straight-shot route.  It was fairly fast until I got slowed down by the little climbs on W Bernardo Dr.

Avg speed = 18.2 mph. Total mileage = 7.6 mi
Total elevation gain = 520'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/281808475

Then I rode home, quite fast with a favorable wind until I turned onto Duanea Rd, but my cyclometer wasn't recording my speed.

Total mileage = 2.4 mi
Total elevation gain = 50'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/281809155

05-16-2013 Ride

Solo ride after work, leaving from the parking lot at work and heading over to Bernardo Center Dr, then onto Camino del Norte.  The wind was coming in from the west, which generally helped throughout the ride. I turned on Carmel Mountain Rd and then onto Rancho Carmel Dr, heading over to Sabre Springs Pkwy and Poway Rd.  The Poway Rd section was fast, and I got onto Pomerado Rd via Oak Knoll Rd.  The wind was definitely helping me along on most of Pomerado Rd, with a little bit of a shift as I got closer to I-15.  I was slower  from here on back to work, going uphill and having a little bit of a cross breeze to work against. Throughout this ride, it felt like I was hitting every light, which was a bit frustrating.  On the plus side, the temperature was close to ideal.

Avg speed =18.5 mph. Total mileage = 19.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1060'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/281807757

05/12/2013 Rides

Ride over to Dave's house for the time trial route with John.  The weather was foggy at my house but clear and a little warm during most of the ride.  I started out riding at John's pace but picked it up a little bit at the bend on Espola Rd, waiting for him at the stop light, then riding with him to the base of the little climb up to Poway Rd.  I kept my pace near 11 mph on this climb, not feeling like I was pushing it but getting my heartrate nonetheless up near 180 bpm.  We rode together down Poway Rd, with me creating a little separate just before the turn onto Sabre Springs Pkwy.  I rode a little faster on this section, not going all out but riding faster.  Same thing on Ted Williams Pkwy.  We rode together mostly on Pomerado Rd, with me pulling a little bit ahead by the hospital and sprinting out at the end.  Finished the time trial in 53:50.

Total mileage = 23.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1440'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/277991431

Solo ride over to BVP and up to Sunset Dr, on up to Juniper St, and over to Valley Pkwy, then to check in at the volunteer tent for the Amgen Tour of California.  Then they sent me back to watch the route on BVP by Royal Crest Dr.  I retraced my route to Juniper St, turning left on El Dorado Dr, which is where the tour riders were going to turn as well.  Down to BVP, then over to Royal Crest Dr.  I got to stand in the median of the road, blowing a whistle to alert the riders to move to either side.  It was a good way to experience the peloton, which was by me in a flash.  Then I headed back into Escondido, taking Royal Crest Dr, which turns out to be a short, steep little climb.  I turned left on Sunset Dr and went over to Escondido Blvd, stopping at Jack-in-the-Box for fries and a soda, as it was starting to get really warm.  Then I headed over to Grand Ave and rode into the set-up for the finish of the stage.  I left my bike at a bike valet and walked around to see the booths.  They had big screens showing the tour coverage, but it was a preview show and the sound was hard to make out.  I walked up to Bike Bling and talked to Bill and Laurie Schwarz, then walked down to see a few more sights and pick up my bike.

Avg speed = 15.0 mph. Total mileage = 14.7 mi
Total elevation gain = 940'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/277993477

My station in the afternoon turned out to be right in front of Chin's Restaurant.  Across the street in the performing arts center parking lot were all of the team buses, which was mildly interesting to watch.  I got to my general spot around 2:00, but not much was going on.  I walked over to buy a PowerAde at the AM/PM on the corner of Escondido and Washington, then walked back and took up my station after the pylons blocking off the exits from the parking lots on the east side of the street had been set up.  Most people were accepting when told they had to turn around, while a few with medical issues raised a bit of a stink.  The lead riders came by a little before 4:00, two out in front followed closely by the main chase group.  It took until around 4:30 before all of the riders were off the course, then I rode home (relatively slowly).  I got onto Centre City Pkwy via 5th Ave, then followed the normal route, thankful for a bit of a tailwind in Escondido, that turned into more of a headwind as I continued south.  It was a fun day, and I hope the tour organizers make San Diego a regular stop for stages in the future.

Avg speed = 15.0 mph. Total mileage = 7.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 210'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/277994611

05-11-2013 Ride

Solo ride in the morning, after dropping Ann off at the airport.  It was foggy for the first part of this ride and generally gray throughout.  I headed over to BVP and took it up to the 78, getting onto Citrus Ave.  I rode over to El Norte Pkwy, keeping a steady pace but not feeling like I was really pushing myself.  Right on Broadway and over to Jesmond Dene Rd, where I hooked up with a strong rider.  We traded leads going up this road, and I pushed it to the max to get to the top of the last little climb ahead of him.  He passed me not too long afterward, since I was played out at that point.  I took Deer Springs Rd/Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy back into San Marcos, making really good time on this section.  Over to Barham Dr, where it seemed I was slow but really wasn't too bad.  I made good time on Mission Ave back into Escondido, taking it all the way to Broadway to see what kind of set-up there was for the Tour of California.  Broadway to Grand, which was closed off as they were getting the tents set up.  Back to Centre City Pkwy, then home via the normal route.  I think I had a little bit of a tailwind on this section, as I made good time all the way through the city and across the bridge (not super fast here).  Felt good all the way on this ride, although I could tell that my cardio fitness has dropped quite a bit from its peak for the BP MS150.

Avg speed = 19.0 mph. Total mileage = 36.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1560'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/277158913

05-05-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min on a Sunday morning before church, listening to music. I bumped up the resistance level by 1, but it seemed like I handled it okay.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Calories burned = 750
Distance = 20.8 mi

05-03-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning before work, listening to music. I didn't push it as hard as the previous day.

Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Calories burned = 700
Distance = 20.8 mi

05-02-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning before work, listening to music. I was staying off the road bike after surgery on my left wrist to remove a small skin cancer spot.

Level = 12
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Calories burned = 750
Distance = 22.0 mi