07-28-2013 Ride

Rode over to Dave's house for the time trial route.  Jim and John were supposed to ride, but Jim backed out. I tried to keep my pace the same as John's, not pushing the pace.  On the stretches with any significant grade, he slowed down, and I wasn't always aware of it until I had gotten out in front.  I would slow down and catch up with him.  On the little climb up to Poway Rd, I kept it mild in effort.  We generally stayed together for the rest of the ride, with me slowing down when I got out ahead.  I think John was tired from the previous day's ride.  Finished in 56:04.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 980'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/340249049

07-27-2013 Ride

Solo ride initially, getting some miles in before meeting up with John and Dave at his house.  My cyclocomputer was broken, so I had to keep my time using the elapsed time feature on my heartrate monitor.  I rode through the neighborhood and up RB Rd to Via del Campo, crossing over to W Bernardo Dr and taking it to Bernardo Center Dr.  Then I took Camino del Norte over to Pomerado Rd, headed north and turned right on Stone Canyon Rd.  This road has steep little sections at the beginning and end, and it's flat to slightly uphill in between.  Left on Martincoit Rd and down (pretty steep) to RB Rd, riding over to Dave's house.  John, Dave, and I took Pomerado Rd north down the freeway, then W Bernardo Dr up to RB Rd, continuing up and over to Dove Canyon Rd.  We took this road over to Carmel Valley Rd, up the little hills (I didn't really push the pace here) and staying on it to the 56 bike trail.  I started out at a moderate pace here, and John was hanging with me for most of the first little climbing section.  There was a rider ahead of us, and I picked up the pace to try and catch him.  He was going pretty good, so that although I was able to close the gap a fair amount by riding hard across the downhill section and up the second slight uphill, he was still ahead of me when we got to Camino del Sur, where he turned.  We kept on the 56 bike trail all the way to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  I dropped my pace and rode essentially at the same speed as John, getting out a little bit on the climb up to Black Mountain Rd and again on the little climb before the freeway.  By this time, Dave was slowing down.  I slowed down as well but still got out ahead of him.  We went down Sabre Springs Pkwy to Poway Rd, then up to Midland Rd, which we took to get over to Twin Peaks Rd. Over to Espola Rd, and up this gradual climb (this one seems steeper going down than it does riding up).  After we all got back together at the top, we rode pretty fast back to Dave's house, with each person taking a turn out in front and keeping it fast.  I headed home via RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and the normal route from there, feeling good at the end and throughout the day.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 48.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 140 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3150'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/339458959

07-26-2013 Ride

Stationary bike ride before work, listening to a This America Life podcast on my Touchpad.  Apparently, I was feeling the effects of reduced miles in the previous week plus, as I really struggled in the second half to keep any kind of pace when the resistance level was higher.

Total mileage = 22.0 mi
Avg heart rate = 153 bpm
Level = 14

07-25-2013 Ride

Solo ride after work, heading up Azucar Way and through the neighborhood to RB Rd, over to Via del Campo and connecting to W Bernardo Dr.  Over to Bernardo Center Dr and on to Camino del Norte, heading up to Carmel Mountain Rd, then onto Rancho Carmel Dr.  The wind was coming in pretty steadily from the southwest.  I made decent time on this section, turning onto Ted Williams Pkwy and benefiting from the tailwind.  Left on Pomerado Rd, which I took all the way down to the freeway, then heading home the normal way.  I felt pretty good on this short, relatively easy ride, although my heartrate was spiking in the little sections where I put out a sustained effort.  It recovered quickly, though.

Avg speed = 18.3 mph. Total mileage = 16.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1130'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/338080157

07-19-2013 Ride

Solo ride in the morning from Aunt Polly's house, heading over to Tooley Rd and up the 59 to Grand River Rd, this time heading east into Howell.  This road takes you through the old downtown, which is quaint.  There are a lot of lights on this road, and its looks like suburbia beyond the downtown section.  I kept going, riding past Lake Chemung and turning on Hughes Rd, starting to head back and riding around the lake.  The road eventually turned into an unpaved section, and I got a little worried that it wouldn't cross Highland Rd (Hwy 59) like I expected.  But I stuck it out and it did get to an intersection, which I took and headed west.  This road goes through the newer section of Howell, and it looks pretty nice as well.  I then rode back to Polly's house the same way I came out of her neighborhood.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 22.4 mi
Total elevation gain = 640'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/338077059

07-18-2013 Ride

Solo ride from Aunt Polly's house, 3440 Bowen Red in Howell, MI. I had rented a bike from a bike shop on the MSU campus. It was a mountain bike, so my pace wasn't as fast. I headed over to Tooley Red, then to Hwy 59 to get to Grand River Rd.  I headed west toward Fowlerville, riding through pretty farmland and nice little towns.  Fowlerville was gearing up for its annual fair, we missed it by a week.  I continued on Grand River Rd to Webberville, turning around at the stoplight and heading back by retracing my route.  I hadn't worn my sunglasses, so riding back east into the sun was a little uncomfortable.  My hands got a little numb from the unfamiliar pressure points on the mountain bike handlebars.

Avg speed = 17 mph. Total mileage = 26.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 370'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/330913151

07-13-2013 Ride

Ride over to John's house, following the normal way to Pomerado Rd and then the usual way to his place.  I kept my pace steady but not all-out, although I did ride fast up the last little hill.  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, then down to Kearny Villa Rd, where we traded leads and rode fast.  Over to Balboa Rd, and more of the same all the way to the bottom of Soledad Mountain Rd.  I took it pretty easy on this climb, which really isn't all that bad.  Except for a couple of short steeper sections, it's very manageable.  Stopped and had an energy bar up by the cross while I waited for John to show up.  He wasn't too far behind me.  We headed down Via Capri, and I'm really not liking that way of coming down.  Riding the brakes the whole way, it's just not that fun or safe.  We headed over Hidden Valley Rd to N Torrey Pines Rd and took this gradual climb, staying on the road by the golf course and down to the highway by the beach.  We then rode over to the 56 bike trail and took it to Rancho Penasquitos Blvd, keeping a fast pace on all of this section.  Poway Rd back to that same hill, then back to his house.  I rested a bit, as it was very humid on this morning and I was sweating quite a bit.  On the way home, I retraced my path, but I didn't have any energy left.  Legs were fine, just tired.  I should have eaten more before the ride.  Home via RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr, coasting whenever I could.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 62.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 4010'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/326905905

07-12-2013 Ride

Stationary bike ride before work, no music because I didn't connect to CloudMusik. I inadvertently chose Level 13, and I rode it pretty fast throughout the hour.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heart rate = 152 bpm
Level = 13

07-07-2013 Ride

Solo time trial route, starting from home.  I thought that John might meet me at Dave's house, but he didn't show.  I was a little tired from the previous day, and my lower back was bothering me when I straightened up.  I started off at a good, but not blistering, pace.  Good pace at the turn and up to the top of the little climb by the high school.  I also felt really good and had a fast ride up to Poway Rd.  The section on Poway Rd was okay but not as fast as when I could trade leads with others.  Pretty good speed up Sabre Springs Pkwy, but it wasn't an all-out effort.  I didn't stop and kept onto Ted Williams Pkwy, with a decent stretch.  On the ride to the hospital on Pomerado Rd, I again could have benefited from others riding with me to set the pace and give a draft.  Good finish, not a blistering pace but still okay.  Finished in 52:25, the fastest I've ridden this route in quite a while.

Total mileage = 23.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 150 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1440'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/323669877

07-06-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home, leaving a little before 6:30.  I had to convince myself to get out on the bike, because my lower back is sore.  As a result, I took a moderate pace, not too slow but not burning it either.  Headed over the freeway and onto BVP, taking it to the 78 and then getting onto Citrus Ave.  Over to El Norte Pkwy, then down to Broadway.  Over to Country Club Ln, then onto Centre City Pkwy.  This little climb was slow for me.  I turned left on Mesa Ridge Rd, and the piece under the freeway was really slow.  Over to Deer Springs Rd and down to Buena Creek Rd.  I stopped for a snack break by the octagonal building, then headed over to Santa Fe Ave, which turns into Mission Rd.  Left onto Pico Ave, then right on Richmar Ave to get to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  I got onto Barham Dr and took it to Meyers Ave to connect to Auto Park Way.  Then I took Country Club Dr, where the amount of land they are clearing out for the new neighborhood of houses is pretty incredible.  Over to Harmony Grove Rd, taking this back to Hale Ave and 9th Ave to get to Valley Pkwy.  Over to Quince St and eventually back onto Centre City Pkwy, taking the normal route home from here.  Near the end of the ride, my back was giving me trouble whenever I had to stop and start pedaling again.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 43.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 132 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2270'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/320619165

2013 Scripps Ranch Old Pros Ride

Scripps Ranch Old Pros ride with John.  It was foggy and misty on the drive over, and the weather stayed overcast for me in the first half of the ride.  We got up near the front of the group for the start, but I wasn't clipped in at the beginning and that slowed me down.  Once I got into rhythm, John and I were able to ride with a large group of riders who were all at the front.  I wasn't having to work too hard, but it was necessary to keep alert in the pack, as a lot of the riders were moving around quite a bit.  After we turned off Sorrento Valley Rd onto Vista Sorrento Pkwy, the pace slowed down.  I pushed it and got up to the front of the pack, helping set the pace up this gradual uphill to Carmel Mountain Rd.  I kept with the lead group up El Camino Real and down the hill toward San Dieguito Rd, staying with them all the way over to Del Dios Hwy.  Once I turned right here, I slowed down somewhat, but the leaders started to put some distance on me.  I stayed loosely connected to them over to the climb and had a good climb, keeping it over 11 mph all the way.  We turned right on Rancho Dr, by which time the pack had spread out too much to be a group.  I stopped at the SAG stop on this road and waited for John.  Once he got there, we had some fruit and a short break.  I didn't see him when he left and started back on the route, so he probably had 3-5 min on me before I got going again.  There's a short, steep little climb to get back to Via Rancho Pkwy, and I was feeling good on the climbs.  Good time on this section, moderate pace across the freeway, then I kept a fast pace on Pomerado Rd, trying to catch up with John.  I saw him in the distance, but it was a chore to ride up to him, since there weren't many little uphill sections where I could close the gap.  I finally caught him at the light at RB Rd.  Just beyond, we stopped for another short break to say hi to Dave and Rachel.  Then John and I rode together over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, trading leads and benefiting from the draft, including some other riders at times.  I felt reasonably good going up the hill to the top of Pomerado Rd, keeping my pace above 9 mph the whole way and feeling like I gave it a good effort.  At the top, my average speed was reading 19.9 mph, so I knew I had a chance for a good ride.  I pushed the pace on the downhill section, again trading leads with John.  Once we turned onto Willow Ranch Rd, I kicked it up a notch and powered up the uphill sections to get to the finish at Hoyt Park.  There was one brief time on Carroll Canyon Rd when I felt a little tightness in my left quad, but it wasn't a problem.  My legs and cardio held up well throughout the ride, and I finished in record time, managing to average 20 mph and not overdriving my heartrate.  I felt good about this accomplishment.

Avg speed = 20.0 mph. Total mileage = 48.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3220'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/319369859