03-19-2020 Rides

Ride to and from work during early days of COVID-19 restrictions.  Ben Zvi and the 44 to the 412, then into Nes Ziona and to B15 by the normal back way.  Weather was windy and a little dodgy for rain, but I made it there dry.  On the way back, it was still windy, had rained during the afternoon, so the streets were treacherous with wind and slipperiness.  Not sure, if I have the option, how often I can use this way of getting to work on business days.  I got a little rain on me right as I was close to home, not too messy.

To work
Avg speed = 14.5 mph. Total mileage = 11.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Total elevation gain = 430'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4088669626
https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29759471787

To home
Avg speed = 14.5 mph. Total mileage = 12.2 mi
Avg heartrate = 140 bpm
Total elevation gain = 350'

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4089128263

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29794406793

03-14-2020 Ride

Solo ride from home, leaving later (a little after 11:00) because we walked the dogs earlier and I wasn't sure what the weather was going to be like.  Headed out Ben Zvi and the 44 to Hwy 40.  Wind was perhaps helping me a little at times, but it never felt like a big boost.  When I started heading south on the 40, it seemed like the wind was more in my face, kinda coming from the south-southwest.  So that was a challenge.  I turned onto Derekh Menachem Begin and rode toward work, and here the wind was even more in my face.  When I got to the 412, the weather started to look menacing, and I began feeling some light sprinkles.  Riding through Rishon LeTsiyon, it was drizzling and the roads were wet, so that wasn't so pleasant.  However, it let up as I got closer to the 44, and by the time I was heading back on this road, the rain had mostly stopped.  Wind still wasn't helping me, but it was manageable.  Back home, having to watch for more traffic due to the later start time.  For a short ride, this was more of a workout than I expected.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage =30.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 158 bpm
Total elevation gain = 980'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4079435596
https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29649180076

03-13-2020 Ride

Short ride with an early start, hoping to avoid getting rained on (I was successful).  Headed up the bike route along the beach toward Herzliya.  I wasn't pushing the pace at all, due in part to some slippery roads as well as the difficulty on this route of making much speed.  Followed the bike path up to Tel Baruch Beach, then switched to surface streets, turning east at one point to connect to Namir Rd.  Riding back, I was going into the wind, so it was pretty slow.  Back to Rokach, taking it west and getting back to the bike path.  Traced my route back until I turned toward the clock tower, then rode through the surface streets in the neighborhood to get back home.

Avg speed = 14.5 mph. Total mileage = 14.7 mi
Avg heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 350'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4077850864
https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29644115548

03-07-2020 Ride

Solo ride from home, Oren was laid up with a knee he damaged while skiing.  Out Ben Zvi and the 44 to the 424, continuing on that road until just before Mishmar Ayalon, where I turned around at mile 18 and basically retraced my route.  On the way out, I felt like I was riding into a slight headwind, but I didn't really feel any positive effects on the way back.  In fact, after I got close to Hwy 20, the wind was in my face.  I could really feel the effects of not having ridden in the last two weeks, not just from my struggling to keep a decent pace for any sustained time but also from the high average heartrate shown below.  Need more sunny days on weekends to put in miles and get back into shape.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 36.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 156 bpm
Total elevation gain = 940'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4067027818
https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29459161922

03-06-2020 Ride

Solo ride on quite a windy day, where the wind was coming from the WNW, unusual.  On the way out Ben Zvi, I was taking it easy.  Past Hwy 20 on the 44, the tailwind was great, but I started to get some spits of rain, and I knew that eventually I would have to ride back into that wind.  So I turned right and rode through the industrial area of Holon.  Eventually back to the 44, where I rode into that stiff headwind, and it was a workout.  On the way back, I turned right on Lavon St, then took Shalma to Herzl St, following it back toward Shouk HaCarmel.  By this time, it was raining, and the combination of wet streets and high winds made riding quite dicey.  I made it back home safely, but it wasn't a fun ride on this day.

Avg speed = 13 mph. Total mileage = 11.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 128 bpm
Total elevation gain = 390'
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/4065504121
https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/29460149969