07-28-2018 Ride

Solo ride, thinking that I might ride with Zvika and/or Nir A.  I didn't hear any details on Friday, so I planned my own route, leaving from the Nachson Junction and heading on the 44 toward Bet Shemesh.  Headed south on Hwy 3 before turning onto the 3855 and following it all the way up to Nes Harim and beyond, finally turning around at the intersection with the 375.  The steady grade of the worst part of the Nes Harim climb was grueling, I struggled more here than in the previous times I'd ridden it, but I made it to the top feeling pretty good, legs weren't toasted.  Nice stretch after that to the 375, and then I enjoyed the general downhill back to the 44 before suffering, just a little, on that 1 mile climb just after the turn.  I tried to ride with a large group that caught me at the top of that hill, but they lost me about 1.5 miles later.  Still, I found that my legs were responsive, just not enough depth in my cadence.  More climbing and/or longer distances needed.

Avg speed = 14.6 mph. Total mileage = 34.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 3650'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3045261565

07-27-2018 Ride

Posted much later than the ride.  Probably a solo ride, starting by heading south on Yerushalaim into Bat Yam, following city streets to get over to the 441, then heading east into Rishon LeTsion until merging with the 412, taking it until turning into the technology park at HaMada St, which turns into Derech Menachem Begin.  Through the suburbs of Rehovot until I got to the 40, where I turned right and headed south until reaching the 412 again, where I turned right.  Took it through downtown Rehovot and Rishon LeTsion, continuing until I got to the 44.  Then it was all the way back to the neighborhood near home, using surface streets to get back to the starting point.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 33.4 mi

Total elevation gain = 1130'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3043314031

07-21-2018 Ride

Well, some days are high energy days.  This one wasn't.  Simple enough route, heading out Ben Zvi and the 44 to the 38 and then back.I had a good stretch before coming to Ramla, when I caught on with a group of triathlon riders going at a fast pace.  I was able to keep up with the back half of the riders, even outpace them when there was a minor incline.  After that, I passed some other riders on the gradual incline past the 431, but they were going slow.  I had the benefit of a tailwind for a small portion of the return ride, until I got back to around Lod, and from there the wind worked much more against me, especially as I got closer to home.  Was glad to be done with this workout.

Avg speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 40.2 mi
Total elevation gain = 1410'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3030525364

07-20-2018 Ride

Solo ride, getting on the road around 6:00, heading out Ben Zvi and the 44 to the 412, then turning right and riding through Rishon LeTzion.  I turned right on the 4311 and used it to ride to Palmahim, never been there before.  At the end of the road there is a nice state park beach.  I stopped for a couple of minutes before heading back, where it was a slight uphill and rough roads in the process of being repaved.  Retraced my route and benefited from downhill after Rishon as well as a tailwind.  Felt good, but this wasn't a heavy workout.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 32.3 mi
Total elevation gain = 1210'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3028681228

07-07-2018 Ride

Ride with Oren and, later, Rotem, starting from usual spot in Netanya.  Oren wasn't feeling great, so we scaled back the ride and his effort.  We rode following the normal route, to a coffee shop in Mishmar HaSharon, met Rotem, then doubled back on Hwy 4 to the 5711, following it to Haniel and then through some surface streets to the 57, which we took east until we turned onto the 5714.  I had been on these roads before, going the other direction.  We got to the 5803 and used it to get to the 581 to ride back to Hwy 4.  From there, it was back to the coffee shop for a break and then back to the starting point following the usual route.  Ride was fairly tame.  While I was riding with the others, I pushed my pace a couple of times to stretch out and get more of a workout.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 34.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 960'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3000231100

07-06-2018 Ride

Ride in the morning, getting out around 6:30, an hour later than I had hoped for.  Headed out Kibbutz Galuyot to the 461, riding it to the 40 and heading north.  At this stage, I had a good stretch, benefiting from a helping wind and a slight downward pitch.  Out to Kefar Sava, getting to the 55 and riding to the 444.  I headed south into a steady headwind, hoping at some point to find a good place to connect back to my original route.  No luck.  After getting to a place where the road was feeding onto Hwy 6, I had to turn around, heading back to the 531, riding on this highway to the 40, where I started heading back.  Heading south, I expected more difficulties with the wind, which was working against me but not terribly so.  I was feeling good enough to turn left onto the 412 and ride it back to the 44.  On this last stretch I was helped by the wind, which was good, since my legs were pretty tired.  Back home, where I had a nap in the afternoon that felt pretty good.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 52.5 mi
Total elevation gain = 990'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2998370500