06-29-2023 Ride

Solo ride over lunch, was planning to ride with Avi but couldn't get our schedules to match up.  So I went by myself, heading out of the back parking lot to Bernardo Center Dr and then to Camino del Norte.  Turned left and rode up to Twin Peaks Rd and then to Espola Rd.  It was a warm day and the sun was out for most of this ride.  Left turn there and up to High Valley Rd, where I turned right and started up the more serious grade.  This climb is only about a mile before it levels out, but it seems longer.  Most of it over 7%, some double digit sections.  But I was able to get up there in lowest gear without having to weave across the road.  Soon, I will explore just how far these roads go and whether they can connect me to the 67.  In the meantime, I followed it to Markar Rd and then to Eastvale Rd, not all the way to its end, but that's not the way to get through.  Then I turned around and rode the reverse route back to the starting point.  I was slow on the little climbs back, the heat and gradients had taken something out of me.

Avg speed = 14.5 mph. Total mileage = 16.7 mi

Avg power = 138 W. Weighted avg power = 174 W

Total elevation gain = 1540'

Avg heartrate = 127 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9358932173

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56861938651

06-25-2023 Ride

Sunday morning ride while staying at Pat's house in Irvine.  Down Summit Park Dr to Shady Canyon Trail, turning left and riding down to Bonita Canyon DR, turning left again and continuing on this road after it turned into Ford Rd.  Then we turned right onto Eastbluff Dr and took it over to the Back Bay Dr bike path.  Stayed on it until we got to Jamboree Rd, where we turned right and then left onto PCH.  Right on Avocado Ave, and then we took a bunch of surface streets through Corona del Mar, including a very steep, short section on Fernleaf Ave, to get to Ocean Blvd, following it over to Poppy Ave.  This road has a short, steep climb where some other riders passed us, so I kicked it into high effort and caught up with, and passed, them.  Right on 5th Ave, then left on Marguerite Ave before taking another right onto Sandcastle Dr.  This road has a couple of little climbs, which I did fine on. Left onto Catamaran Dr and then back to Marguerite Ave via Keel Dr and Inlet Dr.  Left on Pacific View Dr, taking over to San Miguel Dr, which had a nice slight downhill section before connecting to Bonita Canyon Dr, where we had a gradual climb all the way back into Pat's community, following the same roads back in that we took out.  This ride started out with a slow pace and got faster once we got onto the Back Bay Dr bike path.  Some nice little climbs, nothing major.

Avg speed = 15.7 mph. Total mileage = 18.5 mi

Avg power = 136 W. Weighted avg power = 172 W

Total elevation gain = 890'

Avg heartrate = 122 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9333390652

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56756314037

06-24-2023 Ride

Ride with Pat after driving up to his place in the morning, with Ann, to spend the day with him and Cooper.  We got something of a late start, and the sun was out by the time we left.  I forgot to put sunscreen on and got a little bit sunburned as a result.  Down Summit Park Dr to Shady Canyon Dr, where we turned right and rode over to where the Shady Canyon Trail started.  Stayed on it for a while, but there was a lot of walking traffic.  So we hopped on over to Shady Canyon Dr and took it until it turned into Sand Canyon Ave at a roundabout.  I think it was on this road that Pat hit a sharp piece of metal in the bike lane that flatted his rear tire.  He ended up having to put in a plug for the larger hole and pump it up a couple of times to get the smaller holes to seal partially.  From then on, he was riding with very low pressure in his rear tire, don't know how he did it.  Periodically, we would pull over and he'd put some air in it (later that evening I watched while he went through the whole process of replacing the rear tubeless tire, not an experience I'm ready to try any time soon).  Up to Great Park Blvd, with a gradual 1-2% grade in the road.  We turned right onto Ridge Valley and rode up past a couple of roundabouts, eventually turning on one to get into a neighborhood where Pat was trying to find a throughway to another road, not sure which one.  We rode around but didn't find it, eventually getting back to Ridge Valley, which we took to Portola Pkwy, turning right and getting onto a climb with a little steeper grade, 3-5%.  Up to the top, a quick break at the top, then we turned around and rode down to take a left onto Portola Springs.  Left onto Modjeska, where the nice downhill section ended.  Left onto Irvine Blvd, which turns into Trabuco Rd, heading to Lake Forest Dr, where we turned right and then took an immediate right onto Serrano Rd.  Nice side street that we took over to Toledo Way, turning right there and using it to get to Alton Pkwy.  Here, we started on a generally downhill section for a while, not all gliding down but helpful.  Right onto Barranca Pkwy, riding to Laguna Canyon Rd, where we turned left and the downhill ended.  We climbed up to Laguna Canyon Rd, turning right there and continuing the climb for a little while longer before the general downhill grade resumed.  This stretch was a workout due to a really stiff breeze coming up the canyon and right into our faces.  I led for much of the way, and it turns out that our pace was pretty high for these conditions.  We rode down into Laguna Beach and through some neighborhood sections, where Pat stopped to talk for a while with a friend, Jeff, who had just returned from a safari trip to Africa that sounded interesting.  We ended up at Wild Taco on PCH, where we met Ann and had lunch before walking back to where the car was to load up the bikes.  Felt good on this ride, but suffered from mild sunburn afterward.  Other than the stretch coming down Laguna Canyon Rd, I didn't really push the pace, keeping with Pat and concentrating on matching his pace.

Avg speed = 15.4 mph. Total mileage = 34.2 mi

Avg power = 123 W. Weighted avg power = 152 W

Total elevation gain = 1530'

Avg heartrate = 115 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9334779590

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56725881109

06-22-2023 Ride

Ride after work with Blair initially, after having driven in to work.  Had a talk in the morning on Innovation that went well, so I was feeling good on this ride.  We headed over from the back parking lot to Camino del Norte via Bernardo Center Dr, taking it up and over to Carmel Mountain Rd.  Turned right on Rancho Carmel Dr and then into the Costco parking lot to wait for Justin and Rob to join us.  After they arrived, we got back onto Rancho Carmel Dr and rode down to Sabre Springs Pkwy, staying on it past Poway Rd and over to Springhurst Dr.  Then over to Poway Rd, riding to Oak Knoll Rd and using that road to get to Pomerado Rd.  Over to Metate Ln, turning left and riding up to Community Rd.  Rob and I were riding out front during this stretch, keeping a pretty good pace, which was putting some pressure on Blair and Justin who were following.  We rode over to Twin Peaks Rd and up to Espola Rd, waiting for everybody to be together before taking this gradual climb.  I felt good on the climb, and Robert was just behind me, impressive since he hadn't been riding in 6 weeks.  We stayed on Espola Rd and then RB Rd back down to Pomerado Rd.  The downhill was tempered by strong breezes coming from the southwest.  I was leading out for much of this stretch.  Left on Pomerado Rd, taking it up to Bernardo Heights Pkwy.  Justin was tiring out, he kept it going but slowed way down, so I rode with him for a good stretch of the gradual climb up to the turn.  Pushed it a little bit up to Paseo Lucido, where we turned left and dropped Rob off by the turnoff to his place.  Then we took it fairly easy back to the corner of Carmel Mountain Rd and Rancho Carmel Dr, where we turned around and Justin kept going.  He lives in the apartments behind Jalapeno's Mexican Restaurant.  Blair and I retraced our route back to the starting point, I made decent time up the little climb after turning onto Camino del Norte, and we rode together on the downhill section before the short climb to the turn onto Bernardo Center Dr.  He was feeling the effects of the exertion at the end, a good sign that he put a lot of effort into the ride.

Avg speed = 15.2 mph. Total mileage = 22.8 mi

Avg power = 132 W. Weighted avg power = 157 W

Total elevation gain = 1240'

Avg heartrate = 110 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9319659378

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56683084859

06-19-2023 Ride

Solo ride in the morning on Juneteenth holiday, getting started around 6:30.  Headed over to BVP via the pedestrian bridge and then up to Sunset Dr.  Took the pace easy on this ride.  Up and over to Escondido Blvd, then over to Centre City Pkwy via Felicita Ave.  From here, all the way to Deer Springs Rd, not going to fast on the gradual climbs.  Then it was the nice downhill, riding over to Sarver Ln and turning right there, riding up until I saw No Trespassing signs before turning around and riding back.  Then it was the fast, slightly downhill ride on Twin Oaks Valley Rd to Barham Dr, taking this over to Mission Ave.  At one point, I considered riding up E La Moree Rd but decided against it because of time.  Through Escondido to get over to Tulip St and then Valley Pkwy to Quince St and, finally, 13th Ave back to Centre City Pkwy.  Home the normal way across the freeway from there, finally getting some speed and doing okay on the last two little climbs.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 32.6 mi

Avg power = 131 W. Weighted avg power = 153 W

Total elevation gain = 1540'

Avg heartrate = 119 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9295292765

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56625234425

06-17-2023 Ride

Solo ride over to 4S Target, through the neighborhood and 4S Ranch neighborhood up to Ralphs Ranch Rd.  Met up with the Bisikleta group, and on this day the riders were: Jed, Ray, Fritz, Robert (the one with the e-bike), Kamal, Sassan, Nel, and Irwin.  This was a common route, over to San Dieguito Rd, down the hill, pace line through the flats to El Camino Real, then Via de la Valle to the coast.  I was in the lead group for this first part, although I couldn't keep up my effort on the last little race to the Coast Hwy.  There, we headed north to La Costa Ave.  Most of the group turned around here, but Jed and I, who had been out in front for much of the ride past Encinitas, decided to continue riding north to Poinsettia Ln before turning around and heading back to the break spot at Cancun.  It shortened the break for me, which was preferable.  We continued south, at a generally slower pace than normal, nice for a little breather.  Then it was up and into Del Mar, with me and Fritz getting out in front of the others and waiting for them to catch up.  To Carmel Valley Rd, where we turned and headed over to the 56 bike path.  From there, the route was as expected, back to Camino del Sur and returning to the starting point.  I was able to hold a position with or near the leaders until just before Camino del Sur, when I couldn't stay up with Robert, Fritz, and Jed. On the way back, Sassan, Jed, and Robert got out ahead when we got stuck at a light, and I rode for some of the way with Fritz and Ray.  Couldn't keep up with them on the climbing section starting before Paseo del Sur, just no push left in my legs.  So I made do and got back to the starting place okay, just tired and with sore leg muscles.  Slow ride back home via RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr.  No muscle pain like last week, but I was pretty close to cramping up near the end.  This was also the first ride in a while where the sun and temperature made its presence felt.  Last 40 minutes of the ride had some sun and temperatures in the 70s, and I was sweating pretty good.

Avg speed = 18.0 mph. Total mileage = 58.2 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 18.7 mph

Avg power = 157 W. Weighted avg power = 179 W

Total elevation gain = 2510'

Avg heartrate = 133 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9284323993

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56591836298

06-15-2023 Ride

Ride after work with Blair. heading over to Camino del Norte and taking it up to Pomerado Rd.  Turned right there and rode to Ted Williams Pkwy, turning right again and making the little climb up and over to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  There, we connected with the 56 bike path and took it down to Camino del Sur.  A headwind coming from the coast, but we benefited by the route being more down than up.  Took Camino del Sur all the way back to Camino del Norte and Bernardo Center Dr to get back to the starting point.  Felt decent on this ride, a couple of times pushing the pace but for the most part matching Blair's output with the exception of the gradual climb through Del Sur.  Rode home from there, having ridden in to work in the morning.

Avg speed = 15.7 mph. Total mileage = 21.2 mi

Avg power = 131 W. Weighted avg power = 170 W

Total elevation gain = 1300'

Avg heartrate = 111 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9273843712

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56557405517

06-10-2023 Ride

Solo ride over to the 4S Target, riding through the neighborhood and then the 4S Ranch neighborhood up to Ralphs Ranch Rd.  When I got there, Charlie showed me his front tire, which had blown out on the ride up.  So he and I drove back to my place to get a spare tire, which he put on.  That gave us a late start.  It was Audrey's last ride with us, and it turned out to be a challenging one.  On this ride, there were:  Ray, Perse, Jed, Charlie, Audrey, Chris, Kamal, Gio, Fritz, Arnold, Sassan, Aaron, and Cam.  We headed out to San Dieguito Rd, everybody riding slower than usual, then down to El Apajo.  Over to Via de la Valle and then Stud Loop, where I started near the back and never caught up with the leaders.  Before that, I was up in front most of the time, similarly after that, as we rode over to El Camino del Norte and then up and down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  A short pause here, where Perse turned back and the rest of us kept going.  We stayed on this road through the turn and over to San Elijo Rd, where I led out up into the village, stopping there at a gas station for a more extended break.  Then it was the slow slog up San Elijo Rd to the turn onto Double Peak Dr for the real challenge.  My right thigh muscles were starting to feel sore, probably from me pushing too hard on the climbing sections before they got really difficult.  There are two little stretches on this climb that are really, really hard, and I was zig-zagging on those parts but able to keep moving and get up to the top, slower than I would have liked.  Took several pictures up there, it was the first time for Audrey, Gio, and Sassan.  Throughout this ride, and particularly on the climb up and descent down, we rode through these little sections of mist that only lasted a minute or two before clearing up.  I was cold on the ride down but kept a pretty good speed, having changed out my front wheel for the shallower rim wheel.  We turned onto Elfin Forest Rd, and I got out ahead again but ended up waiting for the others to catch up before trying to stay with the leaders.  This lasted until the turn onto Harmony Grove Rd, when many others passed me and I couldn't respond, no drive left in my legs.  I rode this section, slowly, over to Citracado Pkwy, where we gathered up and kept going up to and past Del Dios Hwy.  We intended to get over to Gamble Ln but missed the turn and I was too tired to call everybody back and get to where we intended.  Instead, we took another couple of roads over to Avenida del Diablo and then to Valley Pkwy, where I was turned around and didn't know which way to go.  Kamal set us right, and we headed down Valley Pkwy into Escondido, turning right onto Quince St and taking it over to 13th Ave to get to Centre City Pkwy.  I was leading out for most of this section, since only a couple of people knew the route and how to get back on track.  We rode down to Citracado Pkwy and then on the roads and paths to get over to the back side of the mall, from there to the paths across the pedestrian bridge.  I was really done by this time, very slow on the last part of the little climb before the park, and I turned off at Aguamiel Rd to head home while the others rode back to the starting point.  My right thigh muscles hurt for the rest of the day, but it was a nice farewell party at Andy's house for Audrey.

Avg speed = 15.1 mph. Total mileage = 49.4 mi

Avg power = 145 W. Weighted avg power = 169 W

Total elevation gain = 3930'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9240910701

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56432242287

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56424171732

06-09-2023 Ride

Solo ride before heading in to work for the first time in two weeks.  Over to W Bernardo Dr and then right to get to RB Rd.  Took it up to Espola Rd, feeling decent on the gradual climb.  Downhill was fun, then right onto Twin Peaks Rd to get over to Community Rd, which I took over to Poway Rd and down to Pomerado Rd.  Again, felt pretty good on the gradual slight uphill back toward Ted Williams Pkwy, only slowing down near the end.  Back to RB Rd, then home via Bernardo Center Dr and Duenda Rd to Azucar Way.  Near the end, I rode up to the top of Creciente way to get over 1000' elevation for the ride.  It was the first time in a while that I averaged near 17 mph.

Avg speed = 16.9 mph. Total mileage = 19.1 mi

Avg power = 146 W. Weighted avg power = 170 W

Total elevation gain = 1010'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9233455030

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56405616715

06-08-2023 Ride

Solo ride from home through the neighborhood to the corner of RB Rd and Via del Campo, where I met up with Blair and headed out RB Rd.  Turned on Alva Rd and took it up by the water tower and then back to Albert Ave to get over to Four Gee Rd and then Paseo del Sur.  Rode through the Del Sur neighborhood to get to Camino del Sur, where we turned left and took it all the way to the 56 bike path.  Turned left here and had the benefit of a tailwind pushing us up to Black Mountain Rd, where we turned left and went up to Carmel Valley Rd.  A right here, then a left onto Dove Canyon Rd after a fast downhill with the tailwind.  Over to RB Rd, then back home for me via W Bernardo Dr and the normal route from there.  Newly repaved streets on Aguamiel Rd and Azucar Way are really nice to ride on.  Kept my pace down for most of this ride, not wanting to push it too much during my recovery from COVID.

Avg speed = 15.4 mph. Total mileage = 23.0 mi

Avg power = 133 W. Weighted avg power = 169 W

Total elevation gain = 1630'

Avg heartrate = 120 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9229971945

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56366593602

06-04-2023 Ride

Solo ride on a Sunday morning, headed out by the park and across the pedestrian bridge to get over to BVP, then I rode up to Valley Pkwy and turned right.  Headed up to Hidden Trails Rd and took it up to the circle turnaround.  This road has a steep little section in it than made for a challenge, but I did okay.  Exhilarating ride back down to Valley Pkwy, crossing it and getting onto El Norte Pkwy, which I stayed on for a while, all the way over to Nordahl Rd.  Turned left there and rode up and over the steep little section by Knob Hill Rd, staying on Nordahl Rd until it turned into Auto Pkwy.  Turned right onto Country Club Dr and took it to Harmony Grove Village Pkwy, this is a generally nice stretch of road, but it needs some repaving in places.  Over to Citracado Pkwy, then up and over to Valley Pkwy, taking it to Del Dios Hwy and then turning left onto Via Rancho Pkwy.  From here, it was the normal way back toward home across the freeway.  Stayed on W Bernardo Pkwy until turning onto Nevoso Way and trying the climb on Cabela Dr.  Steep at the start but it leveled out and wasn't too bad after that.  Stayed on this road over to Matinal Rd, then right and another right onto Matinal Cir.  Took this all the way to Duenda Rd, turning right there and trying to get past 2000' of elevation gain.  Up to Aguamiel Rd, then home from there.  Felt better on this ride, just need more miles as I start to regain my fitness level.

Avg speed = 15.5 mph. Total mileage = 29.8 mi

Avg power = 134 W. Weighted avg power = 166 W

Total elevation gain = 2030'

Avg heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9202262349

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56247771295

06-03-2023 Ride

Solo ride while still recovering from COVID, so no max effort on this day.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and then up to Camino San Bernardo, turning left there and taking it over to Dove Canyon Rd.  Down to Carmel Valley Rd, then up the two little climbs (slow going) to get to Black Mountain Rd.  Turned here and took it into Mira Mesa and beyond until it turned into Kearny Villa Rd.  I stayed on this road, benefiting from a tailwind for a while.  To Ruffin Rd, taking it down to Aero Dr, where I turned right and rode back to Kearny Villa Rd.  Back to Pomerado Rd, this time much slower due to tired legs and something of a headwind.  Up to the top of Pomerado Rd, slow but not painfully so on the last little climb.  Ride down was fast and exhilarating, then I stayed on this road back to RB Rd, slow and steady on pace.  Home the normal way from there, via Duenda Rd.  Ride went okay, I would have liked to have maintained a little faster average speed, but it will take time to work back into cardio shape.

Avg speed = 15.2 mph. Total mileage = 41.2 mi

Avg power = 130 W. Weighted avg power = 157 W

Total elevation gain = 2300'

Avg heartrate = 122 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9195675976

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56247532560

06-02-2023 Ride

First ride after suffering through three days of fever, the first one a particularly tough day, and two more days of recovery with cold-like symptoms.  I took an easy pace for the most part, riding down by the park and then up Pomerado Rd in the early morning.  Up to RB Rd, where I joined the normal time trial route and followed it all the way back home.  Steady pace on this ride, slower than normal but not giving up either.  Felt fine, no wheezing, legs seemed to be in good shape but am guessing that I lost some cardio fitness from the last week.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 19.6 mi

Avg power = 137 W. Weighted avg power = 166 W

Total elevation gain = 1140'

Avg heartrate = 123 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/9188420303

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/56242597940