08-31-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house, having to push it because I lost track of time and forgot that we were going to start at 6:30.  That was the fastest I rode over to his house in quite awhile.  The day was overcast and cloudy, with unusually high humidity.  We headed down Pomerado Rd and up Highland Valley Rd to Bandy Canyon Rd.  I struggled on this section, probably because of a combination of the weather and my not having ridden many steep climbs recently.  John and I stayed together after this, down into the San Pasqual Valley.  Dave eventually caught up.  I stretched it out after the turn, then slowed down for John to catch up.  Dave was lagging during much of the ride; he had been out in the previous afternoon (also hot and humid) trimming trees, so he was not at peak form.  We headed up the 78, and the others stayed with me until the climbing started in earnest.  I felt like I had a good ride here, keeping my pace above 8 mph for the whole time and above 10 mph for much of it.  I waited about 12 minutes at the light in Ramona before the others showed up, then we continued on the 67.  We all rode together until the little slope before Highland Valley Rd.  After the light, I waited for the others to pass, then we all rode together briefly before John and I got ahead.  He stayed with me for awhile and dropped back, but he still had a good ride up to the crest by Mt Woodson.  I was really sweating on this ride, much more so than I can recently remember.  We headed over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy and down, working against the wind coming from the west.  The sweat was dripping into my right eye on the downhill, so I kept my pace fairly slow.  We headed down to Pomerado Rd and turned right.  I kept a decent pace on this section, but I was definitely feeling the effects of the exertion and humidity.  After finishing at Dave's and having a quick soda, I headed home the normal route, very slowly.  After the ride, I was tired but not sore, and my legs felt okay throughout the day.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 48.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 147 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2400'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/371108377

08-30-2013 Ride

Stationary bike ride before work, listening to music on my phone. I felt better than the previous week, especially early in the workout.  I didn't get as tired at the end as the previous week, but it was still tough to finish things off.

Total mileage = 22.5 mi
Total calories = 790
Avg heart rate = 155 bpm
Level = 13

08-27-2013 Ride

Solo (for the most part) ride during lunch heading out Via del Campo to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur.  It was really hot in the middle of the day, and that affected how fast I was riding.  I kept it at a decent but not super-fast pace, heading over to Carmel Valley Rd.  I saw a rider waiting at the corner and wondered whether he was part of the HP lunch ride crew.  I kept riding, and sure enough around Del Mar Heights Rd here they came behind me in a pace line.  I hopped on and stayed with them as they got onto the 56 bike trail.  This group wasn't fooling around, and everybody but one rider stayed together in a pace line on the first gradual uphill section, then down to the beginning of the second uphill section.  At this point, the pace line fell apart as the riders generally broke down at the high pace.  I kept going and passed them, holding onto the lead for about 2/3 of the way before one of the riders sprinted past me and I couldn't match his pace.  I closed on him near the top and passed him as he slowed down to wait for the others.  That was probably the fastest I have ever ridden that section of the bike trail.  After that, the combination of the exertion and the heat caused me to slow down to about the same pace I had early in the ride.  I turned on Carmel Valley Rd and took it back to Dove Canyon Rd, then over to RB Rd, retracing my route from there.  It was a good workout for me, particularly given the high temperatures.

Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 23.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 940'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/371116739

08-25-2013 Ride

Time trial route, starting from home.  Dave and John rode, although John was not interested in setting a PR this time.  So I kept the pace a little more modest, riding with Dave, who is starting to round into cycling shape.  We rode up past Poway High School together, then all three downhill.  I didn't push super hard on the hill up to Poway Rd, and we rode together for most of the next section, separating from John near the turn onto Sabre Springs Pkwy.  We rested at the turn onto Ted Williams Pkwy, then rode together until John and I put some separation on Dave.  On Pomerado Rd, I pushed the pace about as hard as I could up to the hospital, then the three of us rode back at a pretty fast pace to Dave's house.  Dave set a season PR, and he's riding faster now.  I finished in 54:36.

Total mileage = 23.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 990'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/365684981

08-24-2013 Ride

Ride from the parking lot by the Olive Garden in CMR over to John's house.  I'd originally planned on riding all the way over from home but had a flat I needed to fix.  I was concerned I was going to be late, so I kept a pretty fast pace over to his place, riding through fairly heavy fog and mist.  Kept a good pace up the last little hill.  At his house, met up with him and Dave, who was a little late (he rode over from his house).  We headed back downhill, then up Poway Rd all the way to the 67.  This climb is somewhat steep at the start but doesn't have any sustained steeper sections after that.  I was able to keep my pace above 8 mph the whole way, faster at the beginning when I was riding on fresh legs.  Still, I felt pretty good on this climb, considering I hadn't climbed much in quite awhile.  We took the 67 into Ramona, trading leads after regrouping at the crest in the road by Mt Woodson.  We followed the Tour de Poway route through Ramona, again staying together for the most part, I dialed my effort level back a bit.  John was riding strong and generally keeping up on the flats and slight uphills.  Over to the 78, where we turned back toward Ramona.  As we got there, a couple of riders on tri-bikes passed by, so I hoofed it and caught up with them, passing them on the slight uphill, then riding with them at a fast pace back into town.  I waited for John and Dave at the corner by the 67, then we headed back south.  We all stayed together until the road started grading up.  At this point, I saw another rider a fair distance ahead, so I set out to catch up with him.  I did, but it took me until the road grade increased by the Mt Woodson trailhead.  I passed him on the climb and led out, but he wasn't too far behind.  Stopped at the crest to wait for John and Dave, and we all rode back to Poway Rd and down.  This is a sketchy route on a bike, with a couple of sections where there isn't much of a shoulder and close traffic to deal with.  Took it down to Pomerado Rd, where Dave split off and headed home.  John and I continued back to his house the normal way, and he really set a brisk pace on Poway Rd back to Springhurst Dr.  He started up this hill fast but faded pretty quickly.  I was able to keep it above 11 mph the whole way, winding it out on the exertion scale.  Back to the car the normal way, keeping a pretty good pace and feeling in decent shape.  I was a little slow on the small climb on Sabre Springs Pkwy but reasonably fast the rest of the way.

Avg speed = 18.1 mph. Total mileage = 51.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2780'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/364759559

08-23/2013 Ride

Stationary bike ride before work, listening to music on my phone. It was a workout for me, even at the lower level, since I hadn't been on the stationary bike for about a month.  I was pretty well drenched with sweat at the end.

Total mileage = 22.0 mi
Avg heart rate = 154 bpm
Level = 13

08-22-2013 Ride

Solo ride after work and a big lunch at Souplantation with Yi.  Headed through the neighborhood, keeping a modest pace but not pushing it throughout the ride.  Out RB Rd to Dove Canyon Rd, then up Carmel Valley Rd (kinda slow), turning on Black Mountain Rd and taking it over to the 56 bike trail.  Headed east and continued onto Ted Williams Pkwy, going up to Pomerado Rd.  I had a favorable wind during this portion of the ride.  All the way down Pomerado to the freeway, then home the normal way.  It felt good to get out in the afternoon and exercise rather than sit around the house and snack.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 20.6 mi
Total elevation gain = 720'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/364758559

08-20-2013 Ride

Ride from Jesco to work after dropping my car off in the morning (it needed a new radiator).  I had my bag packed with my work clothes and computer, but it didn't seem to be much of a burden on the way there. The pace was fast until I got into RB and had to climb the little hills.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 7.5 mi
Total elevation gain = 510'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/364754711

Rode home the normal route in the afternoon after work.

Avg speed = 19.3 mph. Total mileage = 2.4 mi
Total elevation gain = 40'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/364757871

08-18-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for the time trial route with the other three.  At the beginning, I asked John if he was ready to break his PR, and he said he was willing to try.  So we headed out fast, with me leading the way up RB Rd to Espola, waiting at the high point past the high school for Jim and Dave.  I was giving it pretty close to my max effort, based on my heartrate.  On the climb up to Poway Rd, I was well over 180 bpm as I kept my pace close to 11 mph for the entire small stretch.  On Poway Rd, John and I traded leads, with me leading out more and pushing the pace.  I spread it out a little bit on Sabre Springs Pkwy, again going at a high pace for me.  Same thing on Ted Williams Pkwy, slowing down at several points for John to catch up.  By the time we got onto Pomerado Rd, I was starting to feel the effects of the high output.  I led on the slight uphill section to the hospital, and we waited for the others to catch up before finishing.  Dave led out after I started ahead, and we bracketed John.  As Dave slowed, I passed them both and pushed it to the turn, where John gave it a final push to the finish.  He finished in 53:26, shattering his old PR.  I finished in 52:20, nearly as fast as I could have ridden on this day.

Total mileage = 23.3 mi.
Avg heartrate = 158 bpm
Total elevation gain = 850'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/260549847

08-17-2013 Ride

Ride with Jim, John, and Dave from Jim's house, after having not ridden for over a week (in Israel).  We headed out through the neighborhood via Poblado Rd to Matinal Rd, then on to RB Rd and out to Camino del Sur.  Took this to Carmel Valley Rd, getting ahead of the others on the climbs and staying with them on the flats.  Over to Del Mar Heights Rd and then to El Camino Real.  That little climbing section before the high school is short but fairly steep.  Down to the 56 bike trail, which we took back to Camino del Sur.  On the section from Carmel Valley Rd, John and I stayed together for a little while on the first part, but he could stay with me when I kicked it into a higher gear.  I felt decent on this section, not super strong.  Back to Carmel Valley Rd, then a relatively slow ride up to Black Mountain Rd and beyond.  Down to Dove Canyon Rd, which we took over to RB Rd and back to Matinal Rd.  From there, normal route back to Jim's house, then home.  I had to get back early to go to LAX and pick up Ann from her trip to China.

Avg. speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 32.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1290'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/358736537

08-04-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house for a time trial route with him, Jim, and John.  Jim was late because he had to repair several inner tube blowouts before he found the problem with his rear tire and replaced it.  We all kept a fairly modest pace at the start, staying together until the turn south on Espola, where Jim fell back.  We waited for him at the light, and I tried to keep everybody together.  On the climb up to Poway Rd, I kept it in my large chainring and did okay, not going all out.  We gathered at the top and stayed pretty much together on Poway Rd, with Jim lagging behind on the last little hill before the turn.  I stayed back with him, and we caught up with Dave and John who waited for us after the turn.  Slow and steady on Sabre Springs Pkwy, riding with Dave, similar on Ted Williams Pkwy, riding with Dave and John.  We gathered together and started out that way on Pomerado Rd but split when John kept a fairly fast pace.  He and I rode together past the hospital, then paused briefly for the others to join us.  On the last downhill, I started out in the lead and kept it until John and Dave passed me in a fast sprint.  I pumped up to their speed, then put it into high gear and passed them in a near all-out effort for me.  The last sprint felt pretty good.  Finished in 59:20.

Total mileage = 23.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1000'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/346485665

08-03-2013 Rides

Ride in the morning with Jim, John, and Dave, the first time in a long time that we had all ridden together.We left from home, my intention being to take it easy.  Headed over the freeway to BVP, taking it up to the 78.  I chased down a guy who was out in front of us on the freeway, but I didn't really try to catch him until we got past the high school..  I waited at the top of that little hill for everybody to gather up.  We got onto Citrus Ave by the 78, and it was John and I riding together on this section, with Dave and Jim trailing.  Took this road all the way to El Norte Pkwy, and we all rode together here down to Centre City Pkwy.  I was trying to ride slow, but Dave and Jim were riding behind, Jim being out of cycling shape.  John and I ended up riding ahead on Centre City out to Deer Springs Rd, and we stayed generally together, although I got out a little bit ahead on the second gradual climb.  On Deer Springs Rd and Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, we stayed pretty much together, keeping our pace very modest.  We got onto Mission Ave via Richmar Ave and Firebird Ln, then took it all the way to Centre City Pkwy, with Jim in particular lagging back.  On Centre City Pkwy around 13th Ave, Jim got a flat, so we helped him fix it before continuing on.  On the stretch over the freeway, John pushed the pace, but I was able to pass him about halfway across the bridge while going close to all out.  I finished strong, not really feeling like I had stretched it out for any extended period during this ride.

Avg speed = 17 mph. Total mileage = 34.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1060'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/345788261

Solo ride in the afternoon, nothing better to do since Ann was in China.  I intentionally kept the pace low, intending to have a nice ride.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Dove Canyon Rd.  It was breezy but nice and cool, almost an ideal temperature for riding.  On the climb up Carmel Valley Rd, I took it easy but steady.  Coasted down to Camino del Sur and took it to its end, then turned around and headed back, staying on this road all the way to RB Rd.  Again, I took it easy on the little climbs, enjoying the evening and the ride.  Followed RB Rd down to W Bernardo Dr, hoping that they finish paving that downhill section, which is really awful in the bike lane.  Home the normal way, feeling good at the end.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 19.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 131 bpm
Total elevation gain = 820'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/345790295

08-01-2013 Ride

Solo ride over lunch from work, following the extended short loop.  It was a little breezy and warm but not hot.  I felt decent on the ride, although I was really slow on the little climbs on Twin Peaks Rd and Camino del Norte.  I really need to work toward attacking these little climbs and powering through them.

Avg speed = 18.4 mph. Total mileage = 16.5 mi
Total elevation gain = 640'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/345787729