11-29/2013 Ride

Ride up to Jim's house, where I met him and John for a ride.  We headed over to Cabela Dr, then onto Matinal Rd and up to RB Rd.  I started out at a steady pace and we rode together out to Camino del Sur, staying together until the little climb up to San Dieguito Rd, where there was some separation.  The roads were damp, but never really wet, and we only caught a few isolated drops of rain throughout the ride.  Down into Fairbanks Ranch, turning right on El Apajo/Via de Santa Fe and taking it over to Calzada del Bosque.  We then took Via de la Valle down to El Camino Real, staying on this road all the way to the 56 bike trail.  I kept it above 10.5 mph on the climb out of the flats, but it got my heartrate near 180 bpm for awhile.  We all generally stayed together going up the bike trail, with some separation before Carmel Valley Rd.  Regrouped, took a quick break, then rode the stretch to Camino del Sur.  I kept it dialed back, was still able to keep it above 16 mph throughout.  Back via Camino del Sur, then basically retracing our route to get back to Jim's house.  My legs felt tired at the start but just fine at the finish.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 35.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1310'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/439070765

11-28-2013 Ride and Hike

Solo ride in the morning to meet Ann for a hike at Iron Mountain.  I rode the short way over to Pomerado Rd, then to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  It was cold enough for me to wear my long tights.  I warmed up fairly quickly though and was never really cold.  There wasn't much traffic, and I only saw one other cyclist.  I took it fairly slow up Scripps-Poway Pkwy, not being in much of a hurry and feeling tired from the previous day's ride.  I felt pretty good on the final climb but not fast.  On the climb back to Poway Rd on the 67, I was able to keep it above 10 mph, with just a couple of brief lapses before I saw that my speed had decreased.  I got to the parking lot with plenty of time to spare, then Ann showed up and we hiked up to the Ramona Overlook.  It had a couple of steep sections, nothing major.  At the top, we had a little snack before heading back down.  It was a nice day, not too warm and just a little breezy.  With a 10-minute break at the top, it took us about 2.5 hrs for the round trip.

Total cycling mileage = 16.? mi  Avg speed = 14.1 mph
Total elevation gain = 1680'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/438616311

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/438616537

Toal hiking mileage = 4.4 mi
Total elevation gain = 670'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/438616801

11-27-2013 Ride

Solo ride initially over to Joe's house, taking BVP to Sunset Dr and up to Juniper.  It was cool at the start, enough to wear ear protectors and light full gloves.  Took Juniper to Valley Pkwy and then onto Broadway, which I rode to Country Club Ln.  Then to Joe's house, where we met up and headed north on Centre City Pkwy.  He was pretty slow on the uphills, and he picked a route without a lot of flat sections.  We rode out to the top of the bridge at Lilac Rd.  That stretch of road has some pretty steep sections in it, and it slowed me down quite a bit.  We rode back down into a headwind that slowed us down, and Joe fell back on the little uphills, so I waited for him to catch up.  On the climb back to Deer Springs, I kept it above 10 mph the whole way, but it was a challenge near the end when I was getting worn out.  We got back to his house, then I took Village to Iris Lane and onto Centre City Pkwy, staying on this road all through Escondido, then the normal route home.  I made good time and felt decent, legs held up okay although they were tiring at the end.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 43.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2110'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/437921157

11-24-2013 Ride

Ride on beach cruisers with Ann while we were staying in Venice Beach.  We rented them with a Groupon, then rode on the bike trail all the way up to Will Rogers State Beach.  It was a lovely day, and we took the pace nice and easy.  On the way back, we parked the bikes by the Santa Monica Pier and walked into town to look around and have lunch at the Superfood Express (excellent).  Then we walked back through the 3rd St Promenade, stopping for awhile to listen to a cool band from Ireland, Key West.  We walked on the pier, which was much more lively than the last time we had been on it.  Back on the bikes, we continued south to Washington, where the bike trail turned inland.  I rode a little bit to see if it quickly connected back to the beach, but it didn't, so we headed back, returned the bikes, and had a drink at Larry's.  Nice day.

Total mileage = 13.3 mi

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/437916373

11-16-2013 Ride

Solo ride, taking the normal route through the neighborhood to RB Rd and out to Camino del Sur, then to San Dieguito Rd and down to the turn at El Apajo/Via de Santa Fe.  I took it up to Via de la Valle, then headed all the way down to the coast.  Got on the coast highway, taking the road by the coast over to 15th St, then back up to the coast highway.  I wasn't pushing the pace hard on this day.  I did take the inside route up Torrey Pines, and that was a workout as always.  Turned left onto Genesee Ave, up and over to Eastgate Mall and then to Miramar Rd.  On this stretch, I started out strong but really lost my pace and didn't have a lot of strength to power through this weak stretch.  I rode up Pomerado Rd, struggling to keep it above 10 mph at the top but enjoying the ride down.  Then it was a routine slog all the way down to the freeway and back home the normal way.  Later that day, I helped Dave move, and that was a completely different workout, which wore me out the following day.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 48.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 1640'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/439073877

11-15-2013 Ride

Solo ride from work over lunch.  I headed down to RB Rd then east up to Espola Rd.  It was overcast, and there were a couple of very brief times when I felt a couple of raindrops.  I rode up past the high school and down, turning on High Valley Rd to see where this road goes.  It goes up, at a steady grade, for awhile.  I took it up for about a mile before stopping and turning around.  Headed back down and onto Espola Rd, turning right onto Twin Peaks Rd and following it all the way over to Bernardo Center Dr.  I was slow on the little climbs, even though it felt like the wind was helping me along.  No real drive on this day.  Back to work via the normal route.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 15.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 139 bpm
Total elevation gain = 760'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/431248627

11-14-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the morning at work, watching an Alias episode and listening to music on my Touchpad. I rode at level 13 on the random hill route, which isn't as strenuous as the normal program I ride, but it was still a workout.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 153 bpm
Calories burned = 750
Distance = 22.0 mi

11-10-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home to church, taking the normal short route via BVP and Sunset Dr.  I was feeling good, and the weather was moderate, so I made pretty good time getting over there.  I met up with Andy Sweet, and we headed over Kalmia St to 2nd Ave and then onto Grand Ave, heading over to BVP.  We were riding a steady but not super-fast pace, spending some time chatting.  Over BVP to Valley Pkwy, taking it all the way up the grade and to Woods Valley Rd.  I started up the grade at a good pace and kept it pretty easily above 10 mph all the way to past the turn and getting into the final steeper section, where I just couldn't keep it going.  With a lot of effort, I kept it above 8 mph all the way to the top.  MapMyRide says that I got up this grade 3 sec faster than my previous time, which was when I was training for the BP MS150 and was in really good shape.  That's a pretty good accomplishment.  Waited at the light for Andy for catch up, then we rode together on a fairly leisurely pace up to Lake Wohlford Rd.  This was a really nice section of the ride, tree-lined and perfect temperature.  Then we took Lake Wohlford Rd back to Valley Pkwy.  On the downhill section, I did okay, only braking a little into the left curves, still not feeling fully comfortable with these turns and having to deal with a sketchy road, torn up pavement in a number of places.  We headed back to church via Valley Pkwy to Juniper St, hitting lots of lights along the way.  I took the normal fast way back home via Centre City Pkwy, again feeling pretty good and keeping up a good pace.  Across the freeway, where the wind started to work against me, so I didn't roll out too fast here.  Steady climbs to finish the ride off.  It was pretty warm at the finish, still felt decent although a little dehydrated.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 36.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1610'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/428110735

11-9-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home.  I had gotten home late from Corvallis early Saturday morning, so I started at 7:45.  I had to fix a flat (slow leak) on my rear tire before beginning.  Headed out to Escondido on BVP, taking it all the way to Citrus Ave.  Throughout the ride, I took a steady pace but never really pushed it.  Over to El Norte Pkwy, which I took down to Ash St, deciding to take this road over to Rincon Ave.  By this time, it was beginning to warm up.  Down to Centre City Pkwy, then up to Deer Springs Rd, again taking it steady.  Down to Buena Creek Rd, where I turned right and took this nice route.  I stopped by the octagonal building to switch gloves and have a small energy bar.  The downhill was nice here, although my cyclometer quit registering a couple of times until I tightened up the magnet on the front spoke.  Over to Santa Fe Ave, riding until turning onto Las Posas Rd.  Again, keeping the pace steady but not overly fast.  Took San Marcos Blvd over to Discovery St, getting over to Craven Rd and riding by the university.  Normal route from here back to Mission Rd, and into Escondido with an eventual turn onto Centre City Pkwy.  Other than hitting a fair amount of lights here, I made decent time, legs felt just fine.  Home the normal way, with enough juice to motor up the last two little climbs.

Avg speed = 17.4 mph. Total mileage = 41.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1310'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/427415817

2013 Tour de Julian

Met John at his house and loaded up his bike, hit the road at 6:30.  The start was in that field just outside of downtown, and we got there about 7:30, a little early but now I know how long it takes to get there from John's place.  The weather was clear at the start and a little chilly, but not enough to wear full protective gloves and tights.  I had ear warmers on and my light full-finger gloves and was just fine.  Headed through town to the 78 and down to Pine Hills Rd.  I got off to a somewhat slow start, so the lead riders had enough distance on me that I couldn't catch them.  It took me awhile to catch John, who started with them.  We rode on Eagle Peak Rd, Boulder Creek Rd, and Engineers Rd.  Starting near the end of Boulder Creek Rd, the first significant climb began.  It continued for much of the route on Engineers Rd, about 5 mi at 5% average grade.  There is only one nasty section, the rest is quite manageable.  Not too many riders, so I didn't see very many people on this section.  I felt really good at the top, no lower back pain.  I had stretched quite a bit before the start of the ride, so maybe that helped out.  Stopped at the sag stop, refilled my bottle and waited for John.  Then we headed over to Sunrise Hwy for the long trek up to the top.  It starts at 4650' and ends at 5950', and there really aren't any steep parts, just some long stretches of climbing. Again, I felt good on this section, keeping a decent pace but not killing it.  Waited at the top for John and had a PB&J sandwich and banana, again refilling my bottle.  On the downhill, John and I rode together, I waited for him after the only minor climb and again at the turn back onto the 79.  This last stretch has a little climbing, nothing major, then a nice steady downhill into Julian.  The route then took us for a couple of miles down the Banner Grade before turning onto Wynola Rd and climbing back to the start, via Farmers Rd.  The route took me by Camp Winacka, Camp Julian Oaks (formerly Camp Virginia), and Camp Stevens, and by the turnoff to Camp Cedar Glen.  The last climbing section was bad but not as bad as I had feared.  My legs held up really well throughout the ride, cardio could have been in better shape.  At the end, we had apple pie and ice cream, it was pretty good.  Then we drove back home.  All in all, a good day and a good ride!

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 54.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 152 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3680'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/422635227