12-31-2020 Ride

Afternoon ride that I had to talk myself into.  No energy on this ride.  Down by the park and up Pomerado Rd to RB Rd, taking a left and riding up Espola Rd to the top and slightly down before turning around and riding back.  The wind was coming from the west and it was breezy.  Stayed on RB Rd back to Pomerado Rd, turning left and riding up to Higa Pl.  Through this neighborhood, turning on Lomica Dr to get back to RB Rd.  Up to Via del Campo, turning left and riding by the Amazon distribution center.  Right on Via Esprillo, then another right onto Via Frontera to ride by the Petco headquarters.  Then to W Bernardo Dr, heading home the normal way from here, other than coming home via Azucar Way.  Just couldn't muster any push during this ride.

Avg speed = 15.1 mph. Total mileage = 20.4 mi

Avg heartrate = 140 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1130'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4546649253

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36602490146

12-30-2020 Ride

Solo ride over to Avinoam Halpern's house, he lives off Via Rancho Pkwy.  He wanted to meet at 10:00, so I got a later start for my ride than normal.  We met up and then headed down to Del Dios Hwy.  We were basically staying together, I wasn't pushing it as hard as I could.  Once we got to La Valley Plateada (there's a stop sign here, we turned left, then turned left again on El Vuelo, which eventually turns into Las Colinas.  This is the so-called Stud Loop that Kevin Miller had told me about in the past.  It goes through a really beautiful neighborhood of super-fancy houses before coming out onto Via de la Valle just before it tees into Paseo Delicias.  We turned right here, to make it a fairly short ride.  Back to Cielo, where we stopped for a coffee and conversation, really nice weather by then.  When we got ready to ride again, I found that I had a rear flat.  Repair went quickly, and we were riding in <10 min.  Back to Avi's house, where I pumped my tire up to full pressure before heading home.  On the Del Dios climb, I was able to keep it at 10 mph, a little above throughout the climb, felt decent, not killing myself with the effort to maintain this speed.  Took the normal way home, felt tired on the last two little climbs but kept the wheels spinning decently.  Average speed wasn't that great for this ride, but there were times when I felt pretty good pushing the pedals.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 31.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 136 bpm

Total elevation gain = 2490'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4541030237

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36572606752

12-29-2020 Ride

Solo ride from home, heading out to BVP and staying on it until Sunset Dr, turning left and staying above 10 mph on this little climb.  Right on Juniper St, taking it all the way to Washington St before turning left to get over to Broadway, where I turned right.  Stayed on this road until El Norte Pkwy, where I turned left and got over to Centre City Pkwy.  From there, it was out to Deer Springs Rd, taking it to N Twin Oaks Valley Rd, where I turned right and rode out for a couple of miles, generally uphill but not too steep.  Turned around and rode back, staying on Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy until I got to Barham Dr, turning left to get to Mission Ave, which I took to get back to Centre City Pkwy.  From there, it was the normal way back home.  Nice ride.

Later in the day, Ann and I took a long hike (>5 mi) at Daley Ranch, and my feet were feeling it afterwards.  I didn't turn my Fitbit on while riding, so it logged my effort as steps.  That made my daily step total the highest it's ever been on this app.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 36.1 mi

Total elevation gain = 1720'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4535326586

12-27-2020 Ride

Solo ride initially, getting some miles in since our ride on Saturday was abbreviated.  Headed out through the neighborhood to RB Rd and then up to Ralphs Ranch Rd, turning right and taking it to its dead end.  Then I rode back to RB Rd and stayed on it to Lone Quail Rd, riding up to the little shopping center at its end and around the center before getting onto Dove Canyon Rd.  There is a new donut shop there.  Right on Camino del Norte, taking it up to Camino San Bernardo and turning left.  Rode down the street where Hawthorne Equipment is located, then retraced back to CSB, turning right on RB Rd and taking it down the hill to W Bernardo Dr.  Over to Matinal Rd, then right on Matinal Cir to head over to Jim's place.  I met up with him and then we rode the time trial route, me taking it easy and staying with him, for the most part  He had a flat up on Pomerado Rd, a large brad had gotten stuck in his rear tire.  Other than that, it was uneventful.

Avg speed = 15.8 mph. Total mileage = 29.2 mi

Avg heartrate = 136 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1870'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4526041560

12-26-2020 Ride

 Ride up to Jim's house via Azucar Way, meeting him and heading over to W Bernardo Dr for the downhill and across the freeway to get to BVP.  We rode up to Sunset Dr, then took it (staying over 10 mph on this little climb) to Juniper St and then to Felicita Rd, to get over to Centre City Pkwy.  All going well at this time, slow pace but nice riding weather after starting out a little bit cool.  We got just past the 78, and I noticed that my rear tire was going flat.  When I got off and looked at it, the tire was worn through to the under-tread in several places, so I decided to cut the ride short and head back toward home after fixing the flat.  To El Norte Pkwy, then over to Broadway to head back  Just past the 78 going the other way, Jim had to stop a flat caused by stickers that he got in his tire when we stopped to fix my flat.  Bummer.  After the repair we continued on into downtown Escondido, turning right onto Grand Ave and riding back to Centre City Pkwy.  We stayed on this road until turning left onto Citracado Pkwy and then using the back way, via Kit Carson Park, to get to BVP.  Took the pedestrian bridge route back across Lake Hodges, then the steady climb back to Duenda Rd on W Bernardo Dr back to Jim's house.  A shortened little ride.

Avg speed = 14.6 mph. Total mileage = 20.4 mi

Avg heartrate = 136 bpm

Total elevation gain = 980'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4521152293

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36515680486

12-25-2020 Ride

Christmas morning ride after beignets and coffee and cleaning up the back porch for lunch with Emily and Caleb, so a little bit of a late start.  Headed through the neighborhood to Poblado Rd and then to W Bernardo Dr to get to RB Rd.  Stayed on this road to Espola Rd, riding steady but not really pushing it.  Up to the top and then the nice downhill.  I talked myself into continuing on to Poway Rd, then enjoyed the faster downhill.  Right on Community Rd, again using a steady but not pushy pace.  To Pomerado Rd, then back home from there the normal way by the library.  Nice little exercise break in the late morning.

Avg speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 21.0 mi

Avg heartrate = 142 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1440'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4516786632

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36486520090

12-24-2020 Ride

 Solo ride on Christmas Eve morning, getting a little bit of a late start.  It was overcast and at times I felt a droplet or two, but in general weather was good for riding.  I headed over the freeway and up BVP, not fully committed to where I was going.  Headed out to E Valley Pkwy and toward Valley Center, thinking I would turn around before the climb.  But I talked myself into it and made it up the 3 mi steady incline, slow but not struggling that much.  Out past Lilac Rd turnoff for another mile or so before turning around and heading back.  On the little climb back up to the top of the VC grade, I kept it above 10 mph, a decent little effort.  The ride down was fast, almost 50 mph at max.  And even beyond, maybe due to a little bit of a tailwind, I made good time all the way back, retracing my route.  This was a nice little ride.

Avg speed = 16.7 mph. Total mileage = 30.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 147 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1900'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4513457480

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36489389877

12-23-2020 Rides

 First ride was over to North Park Produce, heading through the neighborhood to Matinal Rd and then to W Bernardo Dr to get to RB Rd.  I turned onto Bernardo Center Dr and rode up to Bernardo Heights Pkwy, turning left and heading over to Pomerado Rd.  Up to this point, the ride was cool and foggy, but the fog broke up once I got onto Pomerado Rd.  I was keeping my pace easy, not pushing it at all.  Got some stocking stuffers at the store, then headed back home via Pomerado Rd to RB Rd and then to W Bernardo Dr.  On the way back, it seemed colder than when I headed out, and I was a little chilled when I got home.  Was there for about a half hour, then I rode up to meet Jim for another short ride.  We took his preferred loop, up by work, then down Bernardo Center Dr to Carmel Valley Rd.  I was pushing myself harder on the climbs, kept it above 10 mph all the way to the top of Carmel Valley Rd, including the little climb up to work.  Turned right on Camino del Sur and rode back to RB Rd.  Here, I slowed down a little and rode with Jim before picking it up prior to the downhill toward W Bernardo Dr.  We rode together the rest of the way back to his house.

Avg speed = 15.6 mph. Total mileage = 15.8 and 16.5 mi

Avg heartrate = 133 bpm

Total elevation gain = 880' & 1210'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4508927823

https://www.strava.com/activities/4509292354

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36457306105

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36456086302

12-20-2020 Ride

Time trial ride with Jim and John, John met me at my house.  On this one, I tried to push the pace fairly consistently but didn't have a lot of enduring power in my legs.  Felt it on all of the climbing sections, so I never really got a sustained momentum going.  Finished in 1:01:10, wished it could have been better.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 17.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 149 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1090'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4497003788

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36421070119

12/19/2020 Ride

Ride from home with John, no Jim, who had a water leak in his home overnight.  It was clear and a little below 40 at the start, but it warmed up to a bearable temperature fairly soon.  We rode over to Via Rancho Pkwy, up that sharp little climb (slower but not too bad) and then over to Del Dios Hwy.  Down the hill into Rancho Santa Fe, then through to the S8, it had been a while since I rode on this road.  We took it down to El Camino Real, turning left to take a nice downhill to Via de la Valle.  Short jog to stay on El Camino Real, taking it over to San Dieguito Rd.  It was cooler here, maybe because of the flats.  We traded leads until we got to the climb.  I was able to keep it above 11 mph for most of the climb, just a short stretch near the top where I was putting all the effort into it that I had.  We connected back at Camino del Sur, taking it to Paseo del Sur and turning right here.  John was slowing down, so I dialed my speed way back as well and rode closer to where he was riding.  Over to Potomac Ridge Rd, turning right to get to Nighthawk Ln.  Right here, riding over to Camino San Bernardo.  I kept my pace dialed back until we crossed Dove Canyon Rd and it got steeper.  Over to RB Rd, taking it up and down to W Bernardo Dr.  John stayed on this road past the normal turn, so we finished by coming up Aguamiel Rd.  Felt fine on this ride, just a little tired at the end.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 32.9 mi

Avg heartrate = 139 bpm

Total elevation gain = 2250'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4492393944

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36378643036

12/13/2020 Ride

Normal time trial route with John and Jim.  While it started out about as cold as the previous day, the sun was out and it warmed up much faster, was quite pleasant in the second half.  Although I pushed a faster pace, I really couldn't sustain any momentum.  Finished in 1:02:15, not so bad but longer than what I had been aiming for.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 17.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 139 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1090'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4468211303

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36266182205

12/12/2020 Ride

Ride up to Jim's house for a two-person ride, no John.  It was an overcast day, mid-40s at the start.  We headed via the normal way to Pomerado Rd and then up to Twin Peaks Rd, turning left and riding over to Community Rd.  We took this road up to Stowe Dr.  It was slightly downhill and fast up to Poway Rd, then it got pretty steep.  After getting onto Stowe Dr, it leveled somewhat, and it was a nice gradual grade up to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  The climb up to the 67 was more of a challenge this time, not sure why.  The weather was staying cool but I was warming up, so I took off my full-fingered gloves and headband.  We rode up to the top of the grade by Mt Woodson, then down to Highland Valley Rd.  I pushed the pace pretty hard all the way down, no relief from Jim, who stayed in my draft for most of it.  I slowed down to match his pace more on Highland Valley until we got to Archie Moore Rd.  It was a decent stretch for me, kept it above 10 mph with some effort.  Got to the top, normal waiting spot, but no Jim.  After a while, I started back down to find him walking his bike up the last stretch - leg cramps.  We waited for a bit, then took off again on the downhill segment, fun as always.  On the flats past the downhill, we were quite slow, and even then Jim had more cramping just before Pomerado Rd.  He decided to try and get to RB Community Park, but he ended up walking his bike up that little hill.  So I rode back home and got the car to meet him and drop him off at his house.  I felt fine on the ride, although it stayed cool and even a little chilly for the entire time.

Avg speed = 15.6 mph. Total mileage = 37.3 mi

Avg heartrate = 141 bpm

Total elevation gain = 2890'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4463732386

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36237701179

12/06/2020 Ride

Time trial ride with Jim and John, dealing a little bit with the cold at the start, but it wasn't super bad.  No attempts to push the pace much during this ride, just a steady cadence for the most part.  Finished in 1:04:40.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 17.8 mi

Avg heartrate = 141 bpm

Total elevation gain = 1090'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4438620574

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36124609804

12-05-2020 Ride

Solo ride over to John's house, it was pretty cold at the start, about 6:45.  Used RB Rd route and didn't push the pace too much because of the cold.  On the little climb up to his house, I turned on Alpine to get a break.  Jim met us, but he had a flat that he had to fix before we could start.  We headed up toward the top of Pomerado Rd, but just past Scripps-Poway Pkwy Jim's rear tire blew out, so he turned around.  John and I continued on, up to the top and then down to Kearny Villa Rd.  Left here, down to Ruffin Rd and then left onto Clairemont Mesa Blvd to get to Murphy Canyon Rd.  Then left on Aero Dr, taking a little climb up to Santo Rd and then turning left again.  We rode over to Tierrasanta Blvd and turned right to get over to that steep 1-mile climb on Colina Dorado Dr.  I got to the top and rode back down to meet John and ride up part of it again.  Back over to Clairemont Mesa Blvd via Rueda Dr, then we rode back across I-15, turning right on Chesapeake Dr to get back to Kearny Villa Rd.  From there, we retraced our route.  The gradual climb up Pomerado Rd wasn't so bad, but I was slow at the top.  I had a Gatorade at John's, then retraced my route to get back home.  It seemed like the wind was helping me along, which was good, since I hadn't ridden this long in a while.  Felt okay at the end but was worn out during the day.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 51.0 mi

Avg heartrate = 143 bpm

Total elevation gain = 3140'

https://www.strava.com/activities/4434096882

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/36083698717