10-29-2022 Ride

Great Western Loop ride from Charlie Witherspoon's house in Rancho San Diego.  It was an eventful day.  We were supposed to start at 7:30, but several people arrived late, including Gideon, who rode down from his house!  On this ride, there were:  Ray, Cam, Gideon, Andy, Jed, Charlie, Eric, Robert, Nel, Gio, Al, Fritz, James, Percy, and Cory.  Charlie needed his rear derailleur adjusted, and I was able, with Perse's help, to get my front derailleur to shift up and down but with a fair amount of noise from it rubbing against the chain, particularly in the upper chainring.  You can see the route we took in the Strava map.  It took us downhill first to a shopping center, where Charlie announced that his chain had broken.  Amazingly, Gideon had a spare link and somebody else had the tool to repair it.  So we kept going on.  We headed up Willow Glen Rd, a very slight uphill pull that went okay, until turning right onto Dehesa Rd.  A break at a service station at the turn, then the grade increased and made it more challenging.  The leaders at the front thinned out until it was just me and Jed.  We traded leads until I just got in behind him and tried to match his pace.  Another break at the turn onto Japatul Rd while the others caught up, there was a slight downhill before we got onto the climbing section.  Then it was six miles grinding, almost matching Jed's pace all the way.  He was a little in front but couldn't separate.  We stopped for the others to catch up at the turn onto Lyons Valley Rd, which took us generally downhill, including a couple of periodic uphill sections.  I waited at the intersection with Skyline Truck Trail while the others continued on to a convenience store a couple of miles further, to direct everybody to the right route.  After the extended break, we continued, and it got steep and winding.  On one of the turns, I misjudged its radius and went into the dirt on the other side of the road, skinning my forearm and knocking my shoulder around.  A fair amount of blood until it stopped, got help from a lot of others to wash it off and check my bike out.  After about 5 minutes, we continued on, but I was still shaken and took the rest of the turns very slowly.  There were a couple of climbing sections in there, and I rode them with Fritz, who was really cool in hanging with me.  We caught up with the leading group at some point (intersection with Skyline Truck Trail, I think) and told them the story, then we continued on after everybody was with us.  I was back with the leaders then, mostly Ray and Gideon at times, and it was a nice downhill for a while, turning right onto Jamul Dr and then another right onto Steele Canyon Rd to get back to Willow Glen Dr.  I was feeling okay at this point, arm wasn't hurting but my shoulder and side were a little bit sore.  Back to the shopping center, where we stopped for some weird reason, maybe to let Charlie ride ahead and get the grill started.  Eric pointed us in the direction that we came, and we retraced our route back to Charlie's place.  There were two minor climbs to negotiate, including the last one up to Charlie's street.  It was me, Cam, and Fritz initially on these climbs, then just me and Fritz finishing it off.  A nice time at Charlie's afterward, everybody happy for this ride to be over.  I felt okay at the end, legs held out just fine, a little surprising since I had the adrenaline rush and worked pretty hard on all of the climbing sections as well as having to deal with a bike that didn't perform so well in the upper chainring.

Avg speed = 15.1 mph. Total mileage = 48.9 mi

Avg power = 151 W. Weighted avg power = 182 W

Total elevation gain = 4290'

Avg heartrate = 129 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8039307934

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51721671920

10-23-2022 Ride

Solo ride later in the afternoon, we had to get to church early, so I delayed riding.  Through the neighborhood to Matinal Rd, then over to W Bernardo Dr.  Left onto RB Rd, taking it onto the old time trial course and benefiting from a tailwind coming from the southwest.  Past the high school and, after starting downhill, I decided to turn onto High Valley Rd and go for about a mile up.  And up indeed it was, with several stretches over 10% grade.  Up to Markar Rd and then to Eastvale Rd, riding it for a bit before turning around as it started to descend.  When I look at the map, there appears to be a way to get over to the 67, and I will have to try it soon.  Back down to Espola Rd, taking it down to Twin Peaks Rd and then to Pomerado Rd.  Then it was back to RB Rd and home via Bernardo Center Dr and Duenda Rd route.  Legs felt a little tired on this ride, but I wasn't interested in pushing it.  They held up okay on the climbing portion.

Avg speed = 14.9 mph. Total mileage = 19.1 mi

Avg power = 149 W. Weighted avg power = 179 W

Total elevation gain = 1560'

Heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8010016801

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51589777787

10-22-2022 Ride

 Ride over, the normal way, to Robert's house, where I met up with him and Gideon.  We rode together to the 4S Target by taking the route through 4S Ranch.  On the ride this day were:  Ray, Robert, Cam, Gideon, Gio, Eric, Charlie, and Nelson (Nel for short, a new rider).  We rode down Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd, then down to El Apajo and over Via de Santa Fe to get to Via de la Valle.  Up to Stud Loop start, where we gathered up before continuing.  I led out and tried to set a decent but not scorching pace, kept it up until, on a climb, Robert pushed out ahead and increased our speed.  I followed his wheel for a while and then passed him on a climb and kept pushing to the end, apparently setting a PR without really feeling I was going hard.  We headed down Paseo Delicias to El Camino del Norte, turning there and taking it to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  Ray and I set a good pace on that stretch.  We turned right and rode for a short while before turning right onto Lone Jack Rd.  Followed it to Fortuna Ranch Rd, which had a 10% grade right at the start, followed by generally uphill riding until we got to a water tower.  At this point, we had to walk our bikes down a stone and dirt trail to get to paved road, Latigo Row.  We rode over to Lone Hill Ln and took it down to Lone Jack Rd, following that route back to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, where we headed south to get to a 7-Eleven at the corner of Encinitas Blvd.  Met up with Audrey and took an extended break before continuing up to Willowspring Dr, turning left there.  Another little climb and a trek to get to El Camino Real, and Audrey was pushing hard on the climbs.  Left on El Camino Real and then right onto Santa Fe Dr, taking it down to the coast highway at the level of Swami's Beach.  Moderately fast pace through Cardiff and into Solana Beach, then a left on Via de la Valle.  Ray set the pace up and over to El Camino Real, and I sat on his wheel, passing there and riding over to San Dieguito Rd.  We were all riding together, so we formed up a pace line and held it together all the way to that gas station before Three Witches.  Short break there before continuing on.  Audrey was intent on setting a PR on the climb, so she rode fast, while I tried to match Ray's pace.  We hung together up into the second climbing section, when I passed him and had enough, this time, to keep a decent pace all the way through the third little climb and into Camino del Sur, where Audrey was waiting.  I set a PR on this climb, 8:29, and wouldn't have thought it while I was riding, again didn't feel like a fast pace to me.  Back to the starting point, good legs left and I pushed the pace among the lead riders.  Then back home through the neighborhood, not pushing so hard here and finishing feeling tired but not damaged.  Weather cooperated very well on this day, with cloud cover for most of the time.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 51.8 mi

Avg power = 153 W. Weighted avg power = 190 W

Total elevation gain = 3350'

Avg heartrate = 132 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8003535122

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51582570200

10-20-2022 Ride

Ride after work with Blair from back parking lot, heading out to RB Rd the normal way, where we met up with Robert.  I had taken my aero bars off and put my cyclometer back on (old habits hard to break).  Through the 4S Ranch and Del Sur neighborhoods, including a little loop off Babcock St where I missed a turn and ended up looping back to Paseo del Sur.  Down to Camino del Sur, taking it over to that neighborhood just beyond San Dieguito Rd, where we rode through this area until we got back onto Camino del Sur.  Down to the 56 bike path, where we headed east up to Black Mountain Rd, turning to head back toward Carmel Valley Rd.  On the stretch just before Stargaze, I pushed my pace to air it out up to the turn.  Then we rode over to Dove Canyon Rd and took it back to RB Rd.  To Via del Campo, where I talked briefly with a guy, Dana, who expressed some interest in riding with us or Bisikleta in the future.  Didn't generally push the pace consistently, would go hard in some areas for a while and then let up to not get too far ahead of the others.  Back to the starting point, where I headed home as it was starting to get dark.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 24.2 mi

Avg power = 127 W. Weighted avg power = 171 W

Total elevation gain = 1420'

Avg heartrate = 119 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7995056898

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51531351844

10-16-2022 Ride

This turned out to be a good day.  Time trial down at Fiesta Island with a bunch of other Bisikleta riders and over 80 total riders.  I caught a ride with Jhonar and his wife Pam and kids Kaitlyn and ??, riding over to his house on Poblado Rd.  On the way down there, the pads for my tri bars flew off, so I ended up riding without the foam pads, it was a little bit uncomfortable but not unbearable.  We got there really early, then others started showing up.  Plenty of time for me to get ready and take a couple of runs to get my leg muscles ready.  I was #80 to start, and Andy and Al started not so far ahead of me.  It was fun cheering the Bisikleta riders on at the start and after their first lap before I took off.  I got off a little too fast at the start but realized I couldn't hold that pace and slowed up a little, aiming for around 200-210 W.  First and second laps went by fairly quickly, and the third lap was a chore, particularly toward the end, when I was starting to tire and realizing I needed to push just a little longer.  According to the timer, I finished in 32:02.7, which was good enough to place me second-fastest in the 60+ men's category, with Andy coming in third-fastest.  Robert finished third-fastest in 55+, Audrey was the fastest woman overall, Fritz was third-fastest in Men 35+, and Zac was second-fastest in Men 19+.  Fastest overall time was 26:24.  I was third-fastest in the Bisikleta riders, about a second faster than Audrey and behind Zac and Fritz.  That was the biggest short-term effort I've ever put out on a bike, definitely felt good to be done and to celebrate and tell stories with the others afterward.  Forgot to turn my Fitbit on, but it recognized the ride and reported my heartrate for it.

Avg speed = 22.9 mph. Total mileage = 12.3 mi

Avg power = 224 W. Weighted avg power = 223 W

Total elevation gain = 0'

Avg heartrate = 132 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7973098443

10-15-2022 Ride

Ride over to Gideon's house, arriving a little late because one of the pads from my aero bars fell off and I had to go back and get it.  Met up with him and Robert, and we rode to the 4S Target the normal way via RB Rd.  This was a smaller turnout, due to the time trial planned for the following day, and here were the riders:  Robert, Gideon, Cheng, Gio, Kamal (we met him on the way, at the 56 bike path), Jhonar, and Jed.  Out Camino del Sur to the 56 bike path, Jed was pushing the pace harder, so I did my best to match his speed.  Dialed it back somewhat once we got to the bike path, taking it all the way down to El Camino Real.  Rode over to the coffee shop by Roberto's Taco Shop on Carmel Valley Rd for a really long break, including a 20+ minute wait for our coffee orders to be filled.  From there, we started back the same way,  again taking a slower than normal pace.  Turned left at Carmel Valley Rd off the bike path and took it back to Camino del Sur.  On the last stretch back to the starting point, Kamal got ahead and pushed the pace, so I got out of the saddle and worked to catch up with him and match his speed back to the start.  Rob, Gideon, and I rode back after a brief break, no high effort for me on this section, and I followed them down to Gideon's house and on to Poblado Rd, taking it over to W Bernardo Rd and riding home the normal way from there.  Felt good on the ride, maybe a little too much effort in advance of the Sunday time trial.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 38.7 mi

Avg power = 138 W. Weighted avg power = 166 W

Total elevation gain = 1970'

Avg heartrate = 108 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7968073433

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51468604944

10-12-2022 Ride

Ride, on a Wednesday after work, with Blair heading over Via del Campo to RB Rd, where we met Robert.  Both he and I had aero bars on and used this ride to get more comfortable riding with them in preparation for the upcoming time trial at Fiesta Island.  Headed to Camino del Sur and then down to the 56 bike path.  On this section of the ride, I kept up a pretty high pace and got out ahead of the others, waited for them at Carmel Valley Rd intersection.  Focused on trying to maintain high output consistently, it's not an easy thing to do.  On the bike path, we were headed downhill and there were a number of runners coming the other way.  One idiot was running on our side of the path, and he didn't see me until almost too late.  I didn't hit him but I locked my brakes up to avoid it.  Down to Carmel Valley Rd, where we turned and headed back to Camino del Sur, still riding in aero position but not quite as high output for me.  Good little push up the hill to the turn, where we retraced our route back, dropping Robert off at the same point we met him.  It was a gray day to begin with, and by the time we got back onto Camino del Sur, most cars had their lights on.  Was definitely getting dark at the end.  My legs felt the effects of the high impact on this ride, not sore or cramping but definitely tired.\

Avg speed = 17.6 mph. Total mileage = 25.1 mi

Avg power = 156 W. Weighted avg power = 180 W

Total elevation gain = 1280'

Avg heartrate = 121 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7955061180

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51413356507

10-09-2022 Ride

Met John over a Lake Miramar to try out my new aero bars on the loop around the lake.  It was a foggy day with mist in the air, so I didn't use my sunglasses.  We rode clockwise, and at first the feeling was really unsettling and unstable.  On the initial loop, I braked a lot (there were many walkers and runners) and took my time practicing getting into aero position.  The second loop was the fastest, and then I slowed it down somewhat on the final loop.  Was feeling it in my legs near the end.

Avg speed = 18.6 mph. Total mileage = 14.8 mi

Avg power = 172 W. Weighted avg power = 180 W

Total elevation gain = 30'

Avg heartrate = 120-125 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7937403064

10-08-2022 Ride

Ride over to Robert's house and then to the 4S Target starting point.  On this day, there were the following riders: Fritz, his friend Sokha, Andy, Tony, Robert, Zac, Cheng, Gio, Jhonar, Kamal, Jed, Charlie, and Al.  Later on, Levi met us at one of our stopping points.  Common route, down Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd, and over El Apajo to Via de la Valle.  Tony missed the El Apajo turn, so we ended up meeting him in Leucadia.  Up Paseo Delicias to El Montevideo, then Lago Lindo to El Camino del Sur to get down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  I got up to the turn onto Paseo Delicias first, by trailing Jed until I put a burst of speed on at the end.  On the downhill on El Camino del Sur, I was trying to chase Zac down, and at the end several others - Jhonar, Kamal, and Jed - got past me and I didn't have any response left.  Kamal was riding well on all the flats and short uphill segments, his IronMan is coming up in two weeks.  Over to El Camino Real, heading north to La Costa Ave, where a lead group stopped at a convenience store briefly before we met up with the others and continued down to the coast.  Fairly fast stretch of the ride.  On the coast highway, we stopped at Cancun and gathered everybody up before continuing south at a fairly fast pace.  Zac was riding especially fast, and I did everything I could to stay with him, successfully until the flats before Solana Beach.  I did close the gap and catch him on the little uphill into SB, then a group of us rode together until the turn onto Via de la Valle, where we waited for the others to catch up.  I led the group over to San Dieguito Rd, pretty well stayed together, then we had a decent pace line to the gas station before Three Witches.  After the short break there, we headed on, and Zac kicked it into high gear.  No way I could even think about catching him, and Fritz was trying to do the same.  I held onto Fritz's back wheel as long as I could, going really fast up the first two climbs.  But I ran out of gas in the middle of the third climb and had to slow down before recovering somewhat and finishing better.  Ended up with a PR of 8:42, can be faster if I pace myself a little more earlier and then push harder at the end.  Ride back to the start was uneventful, with Zac, Fritz, and Kamal getting out ahead but within sight.  Legs were starting to feel it, but they held out until the end.  A fairly relaxed ride for me and Robert heading back, and I took the RB to W Bernardo Dr route.

Avg speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 48.8 mi

Avg power = 159 W. Avg weighted power = 181 W

Total elevation gain = 2120'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7932257532

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51271325943

10-06-2022 Ride

Ride after work with Blair, heading out Bernardo Center Dr and turning right onto Camino del Norte.  Took it out to Artesian Rd, where we turned and rode for about a mile and a half before turning around and heading back.  Continued on Camino del Sur to the 56 bike path, heading east to Salmon River Rd and then taking it over to Paseo Montalban to get to Black Mountain Rd.  Over to Carmel Valley Rd, then back via Dove Canyon Rd to RB Rd and Via del Campo.  It was a fairly tame ride, nice weather though.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 22.4 mi

Avg power = 137 W. Weighted avg power = 178 W

Total elevation gain = 1530'

Avg heartrate = 123 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7923419405

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51270297693

10-02-2022 Ride

Solo ride initially, heading through the neighborhood to Poblado Rd, turning left and then right onto W Bernardo Dr.  Up to RB Rd, where I turned right and rode up that little climb.  Then it was through the 4S Ranch neighborhood the normal way and through the Del Sur neighborhood as well.  There was a festival set up in the park, and I hit the guard protecting an electrical line to a booth that surprised me.  But I kept it upright and continued down to Camino del Sur.  From there, it was back the normal way to the neighborhood, taking Cabela Dr to Duenda Rd and then up to the end of Corazon Pl before turning back, getting to Duenda Rd and then to Jim's house via Aguamiel Rd.  Met up with him and Dave and reset my handlebars after the bump.  Time trial route from there, and both Dave and Jim were riding faster than usual.  My legs were feeling it from the previous day's ride, so I didn't have much inclination to ride too hard.  Fig smoothies at Jim's house after the ride, which tasted pretty good.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 31.0 mi

Avg power = 150 W. Avg weighted power = 171 W

Total elevation gain = 1820'

Avg heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7900976921

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51125700404

10-01-2022 Ride

Bisikleta ride, starting from home and riding by Robert's to pick him up.  Through the 4S Ranch neighborhood to the starting point.  On this ride, there were: Ray, Arnold, Andy (met us on the way), Perse, Eric, Charlie, Jed, Fritz, James, Robert, Gio, Jhonar, Nestor, Tony, David (new rider) and Levi.  Fairly simple ride, down to San Dieguito Rd, where I was first up the CdS bump (I think Perse let me be first).  A decent pace line on the flats before we got to El Camino Real.  Over to Via de la Valle, taking it down to the coast.  Then we headed north to the Carlsbad Starbuck's, pretty fast pace including a sprint section just before La Costa Ave.  Turned around there and rode back, with a little bit of a headwind to deal with.  I tried to stay near the front most of the time, including one stretch where I got behind Arnold and Jed around Cardiff and had to work really hard to catch up to them.  Was successful eventually but it was an effort.  On the return stretch, we recreated our route, and I led the group all the way from Via de la Valle back to San Dieguito Rd.  Another well organized pace line back to the gas station in Fairbanks Ranch, not everybody was there but we kept together.  On the Three Witches climb, I sat on Ray's wheel for most of it and then passed him on the third climb to finish pretty well, at 8:59, a new PR that was just one second faster than my previous PR.  Finished strong on Camino del Sur, where Jed was the only one who kept up with me, and I was able to do a little speed increase at the end and put some distance between us near the finish.  The ride home was okay, not super fast.  My right knee, back side, was feeling a little stiff, but not painful.  It held out okay.  Took RB Rd down to W Bernardo Dr and then home the normal way from there.

Avg speed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage 60.4 mi

Avg power = 164 W. Avg weighted power = 189 W

Total elevation gain = 2080'

Avg heartrate = 127 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/7896269747

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/51120649494