01-31-2023 Virtual Ride

Ride in the garage before work on a Friday morning.  I started Wahoo RGT and the Borrego route, but pretty quickly I wasn't paying much attention to it.  Watched Stephen Colbert on YouTube and then found a YT cycling route lasting about 30 min that wound through the European countryside, really beautiful and pretty well produced, giving it a feeling of authenticity.  Not sure what my Kickr resistance level was, but I was in the lower chainring for most of the ride and it was a chore to pedal.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph

Total mileage = 18.8 mi

Avg power = 152 W. Weighted avg power = 155 W

Avg cadence = 82 rpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8481956557

01-26-2023 Ride

Ride on a city bike while staying the week in New Orleans for our 40th wedding anniversary.  Ann and I took the streetcar to City Park, which is a large park in a kinda suburban area, away from downtown.  The bikes were supposed to be electric-assist, and mine was as we took off from the bike pickup location, but Ann's wasn't.  So we switched and rode around the lower portion of the park, not crossing the highway to get to the northern portion.  Lots of loops in and around the park on bike paths, sidewalks, and access roads.  Near the end, I felt one of my gloves come out of my hoodie pocket and discovered that I had lost the other one earlier.  So we retraced our route, slowly, until I found it.  Great!  Ann was ready to be done by that time.  With the electric assist, she was able to keep up pretty well, and when she went steadily in front of me, it was a workout on the non-assist bike to keep up with her.

Avg speed = 8.1 mph. Total mileage = 10.4 mi

Total elevation gain = 20'

https://www.strava.com/activities/8456133317

01-21-2023 Ride

Solo ride over to the 4S Target, going through the neighborhood and then through the 4S Ranch neighborhood, including the little climb up to the top of Four Gee Rd.  There was ice on the cars in my neighborhood, and it was chilly on my bare legs until I got up to RB Rd.  I headed across Camino del Sur and onto Paseo del Sur, taking it up to Del Sur Ridge Rd and then over to Garretson Rd to get to the parking lot.  On this ride, there were: Arnold, Ray, Perse, Eric, Darnell, Nel, Jed, Gio, Kamal, Jamil, Fritz, and Vic.  We headed down Camino del Sur to the 56 bike path, some people were pushing the pace, notably Jed, but nobody was really killing it.  We took the bike path down to El Camino Real, and I tried to stay near the front, mostly with success.  Then it was over to Carmel Valley Rd and to the coast.  Eric and I got out ahead of the others and waited for them after passing under the freeway.  On the climb up into Del Mar, it was me and Fritz out in the front.  We took the Coast Hwy down to La Costa Ave, and on the stretch between Solana Beach and Encinitas, Ray, Jed, and I were out in the front, generally trading leads until Jed got out ahead of us.  Then it was just me and Jed into Encinitas.  We gathered back together there and rode over to La Costa, taking La Costa Ave to El Camino Real and stopping at the convenience store in the corner shopping center.  Fairly long stop there, as we waited for Kamal and Jamil to show up, Kamal having had to change a flat tire.  It was up La Costa Ave to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, and this is where the bulk of the climbing started.  Left there, up to the top and then down to San Elijo Rd, turning right there and riding into San Elijo Hills.  On these climbs, I was in or near the front, with Jed and Fritz hanging around.  Eric was having a good day too, and he wasn't too far behind.  I was a little worried that we were going to climb out of San Elijo Hills, but the route took us onto Elfin Forest Rd.  We gathered at this turn, then continued on.  On this stretch, Arnold was really strong and got out ahead of the others.  Eventually, Jed and I caught him on Harmony Grove Rd, but I couldn't keep up with Jed, he was really moving.  So I settled for second to the next stopping point.  Over to Harmony Grove Village Pkwy, turning right there and then right onto Citracado Pkwy.  Up to Valley Pkwy, then we rode down Del Dios Hwy into Rancho Santa Fe.  I again had to lay on the brakes a couple of times during the faster parts of the descent, and a number of others got out ahead.  The next gathering spot was at the top of the gradual climb before dropping into Rancho Santa Fe, and there were some tired, sore folks.  We eventually got going again, with me leading out and heading down to Via de la Valle, turning left and taking it down to Via de Santa Fe and El Apajo.  It was Fritz and me in the front on this stretch, and eventually Jed and Arnold caught up, so that on the Three Witches climb the four of us started out about the same time.  Fritz went out ahead and I was too tired to follow, but Jed chased him down and passed him.  So I got up to the last gathering spot at the turn onto Camino del Sur third.  The final stretch had just me and Fritz pushing any kind of pace, and we hung together all the way back to the starting spot.  Short break there, then I headed home on tired legs, taking RB Rd down to W Bernardo Dr and home the normal way from there.  Surprisingly, my legs held up, no cramping or tightness, although it was a fairly rigorous ride.  I went back and calculated my average speed to be 17.4 mph during the group section of the ride.

Avg speed = 17.0 mph. Total mileage = 67.7 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 17.4 mph

Avg power = 159 W. Weighted avg power = 182 W

Total elevation gain = 4050'

Avg heartrate = 129 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8430037757

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/53277945083

01-16-2023 Virtual Ride

Ride in the garage on a rainy day.  Got 20 miles in, but there were a couple of interruptions, as my rear derailleur was not aligned very well.  I rode the free Borrego course on Wahoo RGT for most of the mileage.  It's fairly flat

Avg speed = 12.9 mph (Probably higher, I think the clock was running while I was adjusting my derailleur)

Total mileage = 20.0 mi

Avg power = 129 W. Weighted avg power = 178 W

Avg cadence = 81 rpm

01-15-2023 Ride

Solo ride in the morning during wet weather.  Dave has been staying at our house the last couple of days, but this one was just me.  Roads were pretty much uniformly wet, but I didn't run into any rain or even mist during the entire ride.  Headed down past the part and onto Pomerado Rd, taking it all the way up to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  Power output was decent, but my lower back was giving me a little grief, and I never really felt like I was riding smoothly.  Turned right on Scripps-Poway Pkwy and rode up to Springbrook Dr, taking it down to Sabre Springs Pkwy, turning left and heading back to Poway Rd.  From there, I stayed on the time trial route, not fast, more plodding.

Avg speed = 15.7 mph. Total mileage = 21.3 mi

Avg power = 159 W. Weighted avg power = 187 W

Total elevation gain = 1400'

Avg heartrate = 130 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8397296493

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/53114203079

01-12-2023 to 01-14-2023 Camping Trip

Camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park, using my retiree's park pass for the first time.  We stayed at the Jumbo Rocks campground, pretty nice there.  Our campsite, #38, was a little off the road and hidden from the road traffic, a little farther to carry the stuff but worth it.  We could have fires, so we used the Dutch oven to make an apple crumble dish, which we ate after having soup that we brought.  Crappy charcoal (always use Kingsford with the Dutch oven), so I had to fire the charcoal twice to get it hot, and even then it cooled off.  It ended up working out okay.  Thursday night, first night, was chilly in the evening and cold at night.  I slept okay, trying to keep my hands warm, Ann was restless and didn't sleep well.  Oatmeal and leftover apple crumble for breakfast in the morning.  Then, we hiked over to Skull Rock nearby.  Ann had dislocated her kneecap a week before, so she wasn't up for extended hiking.  She walked back from there, and I continued on the Discovery Trail on the other side of the road, pretty nice and not too many people (Skull Rock area was really crowded).  I got a little off trail at one point but followed paths back to Park Rd and used it to get back to Skull Rock.  Retraced my route back to camp from there.  Rest of the day was relaxed, had a little nap and read some, brought music and listened to it.  We had grilled steak, tofu, and vegetables for dinner, ate a little earlier so we could have a campfire and S'mores later.  They were tasty.  Packed up our stuff on Saturday after eggs and leftover grilled vegetables, and we were on the road around 10:30 or so.  It started sprinkling as we drove into Yucca Valley, and the weather got progressively worse.  Never really heavy rain, but the visibility was poor and it wasn't enjoyable to drive in.

01-12-2023 Ride

Morning ride after taking some work calls and before driving up to Joshua Tree to go camping.  Headed through the neighborhood up to RB Rd and then over to Alva Rd, where I turned right and took it all the way around to the water tower, climbing up this steep little section to the top before turning around and heading back via a different route.  Got to Albert Ave and then out of the 4S Ranch neighborhood, crossing over into the Del Sur neighborhood and taking Paseo del Sur down to Camino del Sur.  Over to Carmel Valley Rd, taking a right and riding down to Rancho Santa Fe Farms Rd.  Kept on this road past the 56, riding down into that neighborhood before turning around and riding back to get onto the 56 bike path.  Up to Camino del Sur, then a stop at the Peet's Coffee just past the highway to get a coffee and have a conversation with Dave Helfrick, who is having some difficulties.   After that, I rode straight back home via Camino del Sur, RB Rd, and through the neighborhood.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 29.7 mi

Avg power = 151 W. Weighted avg power = 183 W

Total elevation gain = 2050'

Avg heartrate = 126 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8381038935

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/53059654956

01-08-2023 Ride

Solo ride in the afternoon, after another minor tuning of my front and rear derailleurs.  Headed through the neighborhood to Matinal Rd, taking it up to W Bernardo Dr.  Then to RB Rd, taking it down to Pomerado Rd.  Rode up to Poway Rd, turning left and taking it up to Midland Rd.  Through old Poway and over to Twin Peaks Rd, turning right and heading up to Espola Rd.  Then it was up that modest climb and back  onto RB Rd, a fairly fast downhill into something of a coastal breeze.  At Pomerado Rd, I turned right and took it to Greens E Rd.  Up to the Rancho Bernardo CC, then back to RB Rd via Bernardo Oaks Dr.  Then it was home via Bernardo Center Dr and Duenda Rd to Aguamiel Rd.  Was a nice day for a ride, didn't push the pace consistently.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 20.7 mi

Avg power = 148 W. Weighted avg power = 165 W

Total elevation gain = 1050'

Avg heartrate = 130 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8361308773

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/53020394541

01-07-2023 Ride

Filling this in long after the actual ride. Solo ride through the neighborhood to RB Rd, then through the 4S Ranch neighborhood to Four Gee Rd, where I rode up to the top before turning around and meeting the others at the 4S Target.  Based on pictures and WhatsApp messages, here is who I think rode on this day: Ray, Perse, Rob, Jed, Cam, Arnold, Zac, Joey (Zac's girlfriend), Nel, Fritz, Eric, and Cheng (I think he turned back fairly early in the ride.  Down Camino del Sur to El Apajo, then up Via de Santa Fe to Via de la Valle, taking it up to Stud Loop and then over to Paseo Delicias.  To El Camino del Norte, following it down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd, where we turned right and then left onto Olivenhain Rd to get to El Camino Real.  We stopped for a break at the convenience store at the corner of La Costa Ave before taking that road down to the Coast Hwy.  At this point, there was some confusion, the group got a little separated.  I stayed with riders who rode up to Avenida Encinas before turning around and heading back to the 7-Eleven/Cancun stop.  I think at this point, Kamal was able to catch up with us.  After another break here, we continued south all the way through Del Mar to Carmel Valley Rd, using it to head over to the 56 bike path via El Camino Real.  Took it all the way up to Camino del Sur, and from there it was a straight shot back to the 4S Target.  Home the normal way back through the neighborhood.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 58.8 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 17.4 mph

Avg power = 155 W. Weighted avg power = 183 W

Total elevation gain = 3140'

Avg heartrate = 123 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8354690146

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/52963812749

01-02-2023 Ride

First ride of the new year, a solo one.  Headed through the neighborhood to Poblado Rd, took it over to W Bernardo Dr and then up to Bernardo Center Dr.  Right on Camino del Sur, taking it down to Artesian Rd and turning there.  This time, I rode all the way to the bottom, where due to the recent rains the road was completely flooded over.  Turned around and rode back up, there are some short, steep sections.  Back to Camino del Sur, taking it to San Dieguito Rd, then down Three Witches and right onto El Apajo.  I was literally deciding on the fly where to go.  Up to Via de la Valle, turning left and taking it all the way down to the coast, getting on the Coast Hwy and taking a short break before climbing into Del Mar.  The wind was coming from the south along the coast, so it was a little more challenging than normal.  Over to Carmel Valley Rd, turning right and heading to the 56 bike path via El Camino Real.  Took the bike path up to Carmel Valley Rd, turning left and riding back to Dove Canyon Rd, another left and over to RB Rd.  Down to W Bernardo Dr, taking it to Duenda Rd and turning left.  On a whim, I turned right onto Cabela Dr and rode down to Aguamiel Rd, then up the hill, turning right on Aguacate Way and left on Creciente Way to get some last little elevation in.  Need longer rides to start building up endurance for the upcoming century in mid-February.

Avg speed = 15.3 mph. Total mileage = 43.1 mi

Avg power = 145 W. Weighted avg power = 180 W

Total elevation gain = 2880'

Avg heartrate = 118 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8327314559

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/52858641572