09-28-2013 Ride

Ride over to John's house to meet up with him and Dave, taking the normal route.  I left around 6:17, and I didn't really need my headlight, although I kept it on for awhile and used by taillight to give me greater visibility.  I made pretty good time over there, keeping it above 11 mph on the climb up to his house but running my heartrate up pretty high (175 bpm).  We headed up to the top of Pomerado Rd, then down onto Miramar Rd and over to UTC.  The bike lane on this road is really awful, actually in both directions.  It was much better as we got into the UTC area, where we stayed on the road until climbing up to the left turn onto N Torrey Pines Rd.  Throughout this section, we traded leads among the three of us.  We headed into La Jolla via Torrey Pines Rd, all three riding together on this little climb.  Then we turned left on Girard Ave and then right on Pearl St, then took a left onto La Jolla Blvd.  This is a really nice road to ride, relatively flat and quite smooth, with traffic circles instead of lights.  We merged onto Mission Blvd, rode through Pacific Beach and took a left on Grand Ave, cutting over onto Balboa Ave.  There's a climb here of a little more than a mile, and I was able to keep it above 10 mph with a struggle.  Past Genesee, I stopped and waited for John and Dave, then we headed out riding together, with me and John trading leads.  We turned onto Kearny Villa Rd and took it back to Pomerado Rd, with the gradual climb back to the top.  Again, I kept it above 10 mph at the end with an effort, and John wasn't too far behind.  He's in good cycling shape.  We rode back to his house, where I had a soda and a short rest before retracing my route to get home.  I was okay on this part, tired but my legs were working and not feeling any tightness.  It was starting to warm up but the weather cooperated with us for the most part on this ride.

Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 58.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1920'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/395868147

09-27-2013 Ride

Early morning ride before work, leaving home a little before 6:30.  It was cold at the start, about 50 deg.  I rode by work, not much gas in the tank on this little climb.  Then over to Camino del Norte and connecting to Carmel Mountain Rd.  I went down to Poway Rd via Rancho Carmel Dr/Sabre Springs Pkwy, then back to Pomerado Rd via Oak Knoll Rd.  Around this time, I met up with a guy who was riding in to work from Chula Vista (!).  I led out for him for basically the entire stretch down to the freeway.  I would get away from him on any of the little uphill sections, then he would catch up at a light or on the downhills.  He was appreciative of the pulls I gave him, and his presence caused me to put more effort into this part of the ride than I would have otherwise.  I finished with a little bit of struggle on the last two little climbs, working myself back into decent cycling shape.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 20.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 600'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/395862087

09/22/2013 Ride

Time trial route, starting from home.  I rode with Dave and John, hadn't been riding much, just a mid-week ride since the ugly ride up to Julian.  I rode okay, keeping up with them and keeping it above 10 mph on the climb up to Poway Rd.  But I could tell that my cardio was out of shape.  On the last sprint stretch, I could keep up with Dave and John but couldn't pass them.  Finished in 56:10.

Total mileage = 23.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 151 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1040'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/395860615

09-18-2013 Ride

Solo ride on a Wednesday from home, before going to work.  I left a little after 6:00, and it was dark at the start, so I had my lights on.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur.  A little ways on this road, and I saw a couple of other cyclists ahead.  I tried but couldn't catch them, as they were really motoring.  I closed the gap on the little hill before San Dieguito Rd, but that's where they turned, so I lost them.  Stayed on Camino del Sur until the 56 bike trail, heading west.  I was able to keep my pace above 20 mph on the little uphill stretch between the two slight downhills.  Down to El Camino Real, where I felt like I had a decent ride up to Del Mar Heights Rd.  Down and around to San Dieguito Rd, heading back home via the Three Witches climb.  Here, I was able to keep my pace above 10 mph, mostly above 11 mph.  I retraced my outgoing route on the way back, not super strong or pushing the pace.  Finished in under 2 hrs.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 33.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1330'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/387567835

09-18-2013 Ride

Solo ride before work on a Wednesday, heading through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Camino del Sur.  It was dark when I started, so I had both lights on.  I took it over to San Dieguito Rd and down into Fairbanks Ranch, riding over to El Camino Real.  On the climb up toward Del Mar Heights, I was able to keep it above 10 mph (a little surprising).  Then it was down to connect with the 56 bike path, which I took up to Camino del Sur.  I did okay on this section, maintaining a pretty good pace.  Then I headed back the way I'd come.  It felt good to get out on the road in the early morning.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 34.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1330'
http://www.mapmyride.com/us/escondido-ca/09-18-2013-route-292713909

09-13-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home up to Julian, during a Fellowship Camp weekend.  When I left the house at 12:45, it was about 90 deg.  I hadn't thought it would be that hot.  Headed over the freeway and up BVP to the road by San Pasqual High School, taking it down into the valley.  Got onto the 78 via Milky Way.  As I was heading west, I had a tailwind.  Made it up to Ramona okay, although I could feel the heat, and I might have overdone it a little.  I chose not to stop at the corner AM/PM and refuel, which turned out to be a big mistake.  Instead, I rode over to the Old Julian Highway and stopped for a bit to have a gel pack and some water.  For whatever reason, this section of the ride was just awful.  I had no drive in my legs, and my back was acting up.  I gritted it out all the way to Santa Ysabel, going super slow up all of the climbs and not even being able to keep a decent pace on the flats.  At that point, I stopped at a convenience store and got a large Gatorade, then sat out on the seats outside, refilling one of my water bottles and drinking the rest.  I was thinking about stopping there, it had been that bad.  Instead, I decided to try the first climb out of Santa Ysabel and see how it went.  It was a little slow, but I was steady in my pace and not feeling so bad.  Legs had recovered, I was probably quite a bit dehydrated, and my back felt okay.  I made it up to Wynola, struggling a little on the last climb into that town, and recovered pretty well on the flats and downhill sections through and past town.  Then it was another slog up into Julian.  This second climb didn't seem as bad as I had remembered it, and it's only a mile after the turnoff to the scout camps into town.  Not overly steep, but I was really glad to come around the last bend and see the stop sign up ahead.  Ann had driven up, and she passed me when I still had about 3 miles to go.  I'm glad she didn't stop because I probably would have put my bike in the car and called it a day.  As it was, I finished reasonably well, legs holding out great, no cramping and just a little quivering in my calves.  Finished in about 3:10, which was slower than the last time I'd ridden up there.  Next time, I'll take more breaks and feel better in the middle section.

Avg speed = 12.7 mph. Total mileage = 40.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 1?? bpm
Total elevation gain = 4160'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/385698757

09-08-2013 Rides

Ride from home over to W Bernardo Dr, heading to Dave's house via the normal route, when I realized I'd forgotten my helmet.  So I raced back home, got it, and raced over to his house.  Got there a couple of minutes late, and we started off, all four present.  Jim started out fast, but I was trying to keep my pace down.  Still throughout the ride, various guys would lead out and I was foolish enough to stay with them.  We all rode together to the base of the little climb up to Poway Rd.  John was riding fast at the beginning of this climb, so I stayed with him until he slowed down, then I kept the pace up to finish by keeping my speed above 10 mph.  We gathered back up at the top and rode together down Poway Rd until Jim started to drop back.  We waited for him just past Pomerado Rd, then rode together until John and I split away.  He and I rode until beyond the turn at Sabre Springs Pkwy, when he fell back on the incline section.  I stayed with John and Dave on Ted Williams Pkwy, and on Pomerado Rd Dave led out with me following.  I took the lead and kept the pace going.  As Dave started to fade a little bit, I sensed John coming on the left, so I let it all hang out and led to the turn at Rios Rd (I paid for this effort later).  Finished in 56:10.  On the ride home, my legs were really tired, so I took RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and basically coasted home.

Total mileage = 24.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1010'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/378332455

Second ride in the middle of the afternoon, riding from home to church via the Juniper route.  It was pretty warm, windy from the west, and my legs were completely worn out.  I met up with Joe at church, and we headed over Broadway to Mission Ave and out, right into the wind.  It was particularly bad on the stretch between the I-15 and Nordahl Ave.  I was really struggling, and Joe wasn't far behind in the suffering.  We settled into something of a rhythm, and I found some strength reserves to keep going out to Palomar College, where we turned around and had the benefit of a tailwind all the way back into Escondido.  It was nice, although my legs wouldn't allow me to take full advantage of the push.  We cut through using the Hale Ave route over to Valley Pkwy and back to church.  On the way home, I took Centre City Pkwy and just ground it out, with no drive left in my legs.  The wind worked against me on the stretch over Lake Hodges, and it was pretty slow.  I was really slow going up the hill toward the park, the slowest I've been there in a long time.  In hindsight, this was a ride that I wasn't ready for.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 28.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm
Total elevation gain = 700'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/378610193

09-07-2013 Ride

Ride, starting in the dark, over to John's house.  I had the front and back lights on and kept the front light on for about half of the ride over there.  It worked okay.  I kept my pace down, knowing I was going to be putting in a lot of miles.  Standard way over there, decent effort up the last little hill to his place.  At his house, I met up with him, Dave, and Jim, and we headed over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  I set a fairly good pace on the initial climbs and waited for the others to gather before heading down and back up for the last climb.  I kept my pace above 9 mph for the entire climb up, which I don't remember being able to do anytime in the past.  It was an all-out effort toward the end.  Then we headed up the 67 into Ramona, with John and me riding ahead and waiting for the others at the tops of the little climbs.  We basically stayed together after Mt Woodson down into Ramona, going through town and turning onto the 78.  I got some separation from the others on the little climbs before the long downhill.  I kept it dialed back on the downhill section, as there's generally not a lot of road to work with.  We were riding into a little bit of a headwind, which slowed me down some.  We regrouped at the base by the turn onto Bandy Canyon Rd and took it over to Highland Valley Rd.  The climb there went okay, but I slowed down on the latter portion as the effort and heat started to take their toll.  From the top, we basically rode together to Pomerado Rd, with me and John getting out in front toward the end.  My cycle computer lost about 10 minutes of riding time during this section.  We took Pomerado Rd back up to Poway Rd.  I was riding with a dialed back pace when a fit looking guy passed me, so he and I traded leads for awhile until he dropped back when the road inclined before Bernardo Heights Pkwy.  The others had slowed down quite a bit, so I waited by the hospital for several minutes for them.  Then we generally rode together, with Jim lagging a bit, until the turn onto Poway Rd.  Jim fell back, so the three of us rode to Springhurst Dr.  On this last climb, John kept up a very good pace for about 2/3 of the way up, and I was wondering if he was going to crack before the top.  He did slow down, and I finished at a decent pace but put in a significant effort to do so.  I had a soda at his house and refilled one water bottle for the ride home.  This last section was slow, as the temperature was in the 90s and I was worn out.  I took Poway Rd down to Sabre Springs Pkwy and back via Carmel Mountain Rd and Camino del Norte.  Nothing of note in the last part, other than it felt good riding when I had a tailwind or was going downhill, not so good otherwise.  Definitely glad to be done when I got home.  My legs held out well, but I was really tired out by the effort.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 64.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3080'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/377506085

09-06-2013 Ride

Stationary bike ride before work, listening to music on my phone. I got off to a good start but didn't finish as strongly as I would have liked.

Total mileage = 22.75 mi
Total calories = 800
Avg heart rate = 156 bpm
Level = 13

09-04-2013 Ride

Solo ride over lunchtime from work, down by the park and up Pomerado Rd  The wind was pretty steady from the west, and the temperature was probably in the low 90's.  I didn't feel all that strong, so I kept plodding along, not feeling inclined to push the pace at all.  Over to Poway Rd, then heading west down to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  This stretch into the wind was a workout, but it was easier after the turn, particularly past Ted Williams Pkwy.  I turned on Carmel Mountain Rd and took it over to Camino del Norte.  This section was slow, uphill and into the wind.  After that, I basically coasted back to work, not pushing the pace and glad to be done because of the heat.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 19.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 690'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/375052439

09-02-2013 Ride

I originally planned on a different ride with John, but he had called the night before to let me know that May's health wasn't good and he needed to stay with her.  So I set up a last-minute ride with Joe, meeting him at the Park 'n Ride by the mall.  I rode over there, and then we took Beethoven Dr to BVP, heading up to the 78.  On the flats, Joe was riding with me, as I dialed my normal pace back just a bit.  I got out ahead of him on the climbs, but he was riding well.  We took the 78 then, once it turned into Ash St, over to Mission Ave, then followed this road all the way to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  On this relatively flat stretch of the ride, I was leading out and pushing the pace, and Joe was keeping up well.  We rode over to Palomar Airport Rd, again staying pretty well together except for one little uphill section.  The ride after that, down to El Camino Real, was nice.  Then we headed south, where there is a short gradual incline followed by a nice gradual downhill.  We turned on Olivenhain Rd and took it over to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, using that to connect to El Camino del Norte.  This road has a gradual climb of about 1.3 mi, not bad, then an easy ride over to Del Dios Hwy.  At this point, we stopped and I handed some of my water over to Joe to tide him over on the last climb.  The wind was generally behind us, so it seemed like an easy climb back up.  I was able to keep my pace above 11 mph for all of the climb, waiting at the first top for Joe, then riding back just a little bit to where he was, not all that far behind.  We rode together for awhile, then I pushed the pace on the last uphill sections to keep it above 11 mph.  This last section really isn't that bad when you're in shape, and I just powered through, waiting for Joe after the turn onto Via Rancho Pkwy.  He kept going, still riding strong.  I finished strongly as well, getting to the top of the ride and going fast down the last hill.  We stopped at the McDonalds for a cold drink before splitting up, and I headed home into a fairly steady breeze.  I was pretty well done by this time, with tired legs but no pain.  I was a little slow going up the hill before the park, but I was able to save some energy for the final climb back to the house.  All through the ride, I kept my pace above 11 mph. which I felt was a decent accomplishment.  I felt tired at the end but recovered pretty quickly.  It wasn't as humid as the ride on Saturday, but the latter part, after the sun came out, was hotter.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 47.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1600'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/372603837