12-31-2013 Ride

Ride in the morning, last one of the year, with Dave, who's been a real trooper over the holiday break.  It was as cold as the previous day, so I doubled up on gloves (it didn't really help).  We headed down to the pedestrian bridge and across Lake Hodges that way for a change, then headed on BVP to San Pasqual Rd, taking down into the valley.  My fingers and toes were numb and hurting here.  Over to the 78 via Old Milky Way.  Once we got out into the sun on the 78, my fingers started warming up and feeling better, but my toes stayed cold throughout the ride.  The cold was also holding Dave back, as he didn't have any real push in his legs until later.  We headed out to Bandy Canyon Rd, taking it over to Highland Valley Rd.  That climb was fine, no fast times but my endurance felt pretty good.  I was taking the pace easy for most of this ride, which was the general pattern of my riding over the holiday break.  Down the hill and over to Pomerado Rd, which we took up to Bernardo Heights Pkwy.  Over to Bernardo Center Dr and then up to W Bernardo Dr, following the normal route home from here.  It was a short ride, and my legs have been holding up just fine, although the rides have tired me out each day.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 29.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 129 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1780'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/453760379

12-30-2013 Ride

Ride from home with Dave on a cold morning, it said 36 degrees on my thermometer. My fingers were really cold at the start, and my toes were numb at the end. We did the new time trial route, which is a little under 18 miles starting from my house. I didn't push the pace much during this ride, preferring to ride with Dave during all of the flat and downhill sections.

 Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 17.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 134 bpm
Total elevation gain = 610'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/453162013

12-28-2013 Ride

Rode over to John's house from Carmel Mountain Rd on an overcast cool day. I kept my speed above 10 mph on all of the climbs on this day. Met up with him and Dave, and we rode up to Scripps-Poway Pkwy and down to Black Mountain Rd. Headed over to Mira Mesa Blvd, which we took to Camino Ruiz. We stayed on the course for the Fourth of July ride; John had a flat that slowed us down. I got behind them at the big downhill' and then I had to stop and adjust my cyclometer sensor unit. So I had to ride pretty hard to catch up with them. We turned right on El Camino Real and headed up hill, eventually turning on Carmel Canyon Rd and riding down to meet the 56 bike trail. I was slowing up here, so I dialed it back on this section. We took the rail all the way to Ted Williams Pkwy and then to Pomerado Rd. Back to John's house the. normal way, and I really had to work on the last climb. Then I headed back to the car, trying to ride fast enough to log a 17 mph average speed.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 42.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1920'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/452187273

12-27-2013 Ride

Ride from home with Dave. I had taken my bike to Bike Bling to have the gearing checked out, so I rode my old bike. We headed over the normal way toward Dave's old house and onto the original time trial route. Throughout this ride, I kept my pace matched with Dave except for the steeper sections. We rode together up to Twin Peaks Rd, then down to Community Rd, and over to Poway Rd. Then it was down to Springbrook Rd for the climb up to Scripps-Poway Pkwy. This climb is not too bad.  We then rode down to Black Mountain Rd, then right to head back.  I took it slow on this climb up to the 56.  Then we rode together, for the most part, over to Carmel Valley Rd, turning left and riding down to Camino del Sur.  The ride back was uneventful, separation occurring on the inclines as Dave was slowing down. Normal way back through the neighborhood, with a final push on the last little rise on Matinal Cir.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 31.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 131 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1410'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/451618497

12-26-2013 Ride

Ride over to Dave's house in the morning.  My bike had been making noise on the previous ride, so I had taken the rear derailleur apart as well as the gear cluster.  The rear free hub was really loose, and I couldn't figure out how to tighten it up, so I put everything back together and hoped for the best.  During the ride, the gear cluster came apart, which really made a mess of shifting and slowed me way down.  I got over to his house, about 5 miles, in something like 20 min of riding time.  We waited for Jim (he got lost on the way over) and just made the connection with him on our way out, so it was all four of us.  We headed out Brotherton Rd to Bernardo Ave, turning left and going over Felicita Ln to Via Loma Vista to get to Via Rancho Pkwy.  I was trailing the others for this section and most of the ride other than the climbing sections, where I was either able to catch up with them or get out ahead.  We rode over to Valley Pkwy and turned left on 11th Ave, then left on Hale Ave for a short jog to get on Harmony Grove Rd.  This is a really nice section of road, connecting with Elfin Forest Rd for the climb up to San Elijo Hills.  I did okay here, having to deal with a balky shifting bike.  We all gathered together at San Elijo Rd before heading over to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  This was the first time I had climbed this section of road, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Steep, but not too long, about 2 miles at 5% grade.  The ride down was thrilling, as I hit almost 50 mph.  We rode together on Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy until it started uphill, where John and I got ahead.  I was riding slow, and he was there with me.  I put a little bit of distance on him near the crest.  We headed back on Centre City Pkwy, where the bumps and rough road made it really difficult for me to keep any pace at all.  The others got ahead, and I couldn't catch up to them.  Thankfully, I caught them at the light by El Norte Pkwy and told John what was going on, so he rode with me the rest of the way, at a significantly reduced pace.  We rode back to Brotherton Rd and to Dave's place, where I caught a ride home with Jim rather than risk further damage to my rear wheel.  Took the bike in that afternoon to Bike Bling for repairs.

Avg speed = 14.7 mph. Total mileage = 38.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 137 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1820'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/451121985

12-24-2013 Ride

Ride from home with Dave.  Initially, I took a loop around south RB, heading over the normal way to Pomerado Rd, then taking it down to the freeway and back home the normal way.  My rear shifter was acting up through the early part of this day's ride but the noise cleared up.  Shifter needs some adjustment.  Back at home, I met up with Dave, and we headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd, taking it to Camino del Sur and over to the 56 bike trail.  I would get some separation from Dave on the inclines, but I wasn't pushing the pace.  We headed down to El Camino Real and then up and over to San Dieguito Rd.  Rode together on this stretch until the 3 Witches climb back to Camino del Sur.  Here, I was able to keep it above 10 mph, but it needed a pretty sustained effort.  After that, I waited for Dave and we finished up the ride basically riding together, with me dialing the exertion level back.  I would get a lead on him when the slope increased, waiting for him at appropriate points.

Avg speed = 14.7 mph. Total mileage = 41.2 mi
Total elevation gain = 2950'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/450414135

12-23-2013 Ride

Ride with John, Jim, and Dave from home.  It was the first time in quite a while that we had all ridden together.  We headed over the freeway and up BVP to Royal Crest Dr, which is a short, fairly steep climb that has a couple of lesser grade areas to reduce the exertion level.  My bike was occasionally making these weird squeaking noises, and I think there is something going on with my drivetrain.  We headed up Sunset Dr to Juniper St and into Escondido, taking it to Valley Pkwy and then to Broadway.  We took this street out to Jesmond Dene Rd, and I rode up to the top.  After waiting for a while, I rode back down to find that Jim had had a flat and was close to fixing it.  We continued on the route, heading up to Centre City Pkwy and over the freeway at Deer Springs Rd, shortening the route by taking the frontage road south and reconnecting to Centre City Pkwy.  We stayed on this road all the way through Escondido and then followed the normal route home.  Across the freeway, I was able to stay with John as he pushed the pace.  Other than that, we all stayed pretty much together, except for the usual separation at the small inclines.

Avg speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 29.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 140 bpm
Total elevation gain = 870'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/449986833

12-22-2013 Ride

Ride up to Jim's house for a modified time trial test route, heading up the normal way to Pomerado Rd, following it all the way to Poway Rd.  It was noticeably colder on this day than the previous day, although the outside temperature was only a couple of degrees cooler.  So we were pretty cold on the ride all the way to Sabre Springs Pkwy, where my fingers started to warm up.  Stayed on Rancho Carmel Rd up to Carmel Mountain Rd.  Jim and I rode together for the first part of this ride until we got onto Sabre Springs Pkwy, where I got some separation even though I was riding really slowly (I'm still in recovery mode).  From here to the end, he dropped back when we rode up the rises.  Back home via Camino del Norte to Bernardo Center Pkwy and W Bernardo Dr.  It looks like it's going to be a long week and a half of riding if my fitness doesn't recover pretty quickly.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 17.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 620'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/449542275

12-21-2013 Ride

Ride from home with Dave and Jim, both of whom hadn't been riding at all in awhile.  So we all took it easy, me included.  We headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and over to Dove Canyon Rd, taking it down to Carmel Valley Rd.  I kept it dialed back on the climb up to Black Mountain Rd.  The slower pace helped me too, as I was recovering from having given blood recently and not feeling very fit.  Then it was down to Del Mar Heights Rd, which we took to Carmel Canyon Rd and down to Carmel Country Rd for a jog over to the 56 bike trail.  I was riding at a pace that kept me close to the others.  On the bike trail, I got a little separation on the slight inclines, waiting for the others when the gap got too big.  We headed back on Camino del Sur, and the others slowed down more as the miles started to get to them.  I also slowed down, no real drive on this day.  Headed back home via RB Rd and into the neighborhood, back via Cabela Dr and Luz Pl to Duenda Rd and normal route from there.

Avg speed = 15.2 mph. Total mileage = 27.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 142 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1060'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/449780041

12-20-2013 Rides

Stationary bike ride at work in the morning before work.  I had donated blood two days before, and so I really felt wiped out in the second 30 min.  This workout was a struggle for me.

Total mileage = 21.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 158 bpm
Total calories burned = 740

After a short day at work, I went out for a quick ride in the afternoon, going down W Bernardo Dr to Pomerado Rd and up to Camino del Norte.  The weather looked a little dicey and was slightly cool but turned out okay. I did okay on this ride, although my heartrate was up (earlier blood donation) based on my exertion level.  Took Camino del Norte all the way to RB Rd, then back home the normal way through the neighborhood.

Avg speed = 17. mph. Total mileage = 15.1 mi
Avg heartrate = 146 bpm
Total elevation gain = 560'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/448906463

12/15/2013 Ride

Ride with John from home, heading up to and past the HP site. I was slower than I wanted to be on the last little climb. It was cool but not at all cold, warming up a bit during the ride. Headed over to Camino del Norte, where I had a good push up the little rise before Carmel Mountain Rd. We turned there and then onto Rancho Carmel Dr/Sabre Springs Pkwy.  This section was fast, and John was pushing the pace. We turned onto Poway Rd, a little slow not this rise, then faster. afterward. To Pomerado Rd via Oak Knoll Rd. I was a little slow getting going at the light by Poway Rd, and John got out ahead. It took me some time and effort to track him down. We then rode together, with some separation on any inclines, all the way down to the freeway. I kept my pace modest on the little climb up to the park, then we rode together to the turn. Good, not super fast, pace at the finish.

Time = 1:05:15
Total mileage = 20.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 600'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/446511667

12-14-2013 Ride

Solo ride (nobody else wanted to go) in the morning before Bethlehem Walk, cool but not cold at the start. Rode down to W Bernardo Dr and over to RB Rd, then up and over to Camino del Sur. Over to Carmel Valley Rd, where I had a good stretch riding over to Carmel Canyon Dr. Over to get to the 56 bike trail, which I took back to Camino del Sur. I didn't ride too fast on the rising stretches, but I did put in more effort on the second stretch. Back to Carmel Valley Rd, where I turned and headed back, taking Bernardo Center Dr to W Bernardo Dr. Home via the normal route. I was able to keep my pace above 10 mph for the whole ride, most challenging on the incline by Black Mountain Rd and on the last climb on Bernardo Center Dr.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph Total mileage = 28.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 141 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1130'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/446182441

12-12-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 60 min in the afternoon at work, listening to a TAL podcast on my iPod, which I had just gotten back from having the battery replaced. I rode at level 13 on the normal hill route.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 156 bpm
Total calories = 780
Distance = 22.2 mi

12-10-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 45 min in the morning at work, listening to music on my phone. I rode at level 13 on the normal hill route and gave it a pretty good effort for the shorter workout time.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 158 bpm
Distance = 17.1 mi

12-7-2013 Ride

Solo ride from home, heading through the neighborhood to RB Rd and Camino del Sur, out to the 56 bike trail.  I wanted to get out early (6:30 start), since I had to be at the SDA church later in the morning.  I wasn't trying to ride super fast, but I was intent on giving it a good effort.  On the bike trail, I had a little bit of a headwind, so I didn't ride as well as I intended.  Steady, not spectacular climb up El Camino Real, then dropping down into the flats and over to Via de la Valle.  Connected to Via de Santa Fe/El Apajo via Calzada del Bosque, then onto San Dieguito Rd.  I felt like I had a good climb here, keeping my pace above 11 mph over all of the three hills.  But it was a real struggle at the end to keep the pace.  Dialed it back after that, retracing my route back to RB Rd, but staying on it down to W Bernardo Dr and heading home that way.  I was disappointed in my average speed and heartrate, might be some stress from BW activities affecting my performance.

I think this was the first ride I tracked using MapMyRide on my new smartphone.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 35.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1150'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/443130945

12-3-2013 Ride

Stationary bike at work for 45 min in the afternoon at work, listening to music on my phone. I rode at level 13 on the normal hill route, pushing the pace since it was a shorter workout time.

Level = 13
Avg heartrate = 156 bpm
Distance = 16.8 mi