04-15-2023 Ride

Solo ride through the neighborhood and over to the 4S Ranch neighborhood, where I rode up to Ralphs Ranch Rd and then down to Albert Ave to get back on the normal route.  I did ride up to the top of Four Gee Rd before heading to the starting point at the 4S Target.  On this ride, there were: Ray, Rob, Perse, Arnold, Fritz, Jed, Nel, Charlie, Levi, Andy, and James.  We met the latter two on the way, by where Camino del Sur connects to the 56 bike path.  Headed down that way via Camino del Sur, and I was leading without trying super hard.  After getting onto the bike path, we headed down to Carmel Country Rd for the first climb of the day, taking it up to Carmel Mountain Rd.  Ray was definitely out on this ride to put pain into the others, and I couldn't match his pace throughout the day.  Rode down to the left turn to stay on Carmel Mountain Rd, taking it down to Sorrento Valley Rd and turning right.  We took this road and bike path over to Carmel Valley Rd, and then to the coast highway, heading down to ride the outside path up Torrey Pines.  Ray and Fritz got out ahead, and I was able to keep them in sight for over half the ride, then Ray rode away while I was able to catch up with Fritz near the top of the climb.  Then it was back down into Del Mar, where Jed and Fritz were pushing the pace and I was trying to stay in contact.  No luck with Jed.  Ray caught up as well, and he and I passed Jed at a light and rode together to Via de la Valle.  Pace on the flat section into Cardiff was fast but not hyper fast, and we stopped for a fairly long break at a 7-Eleven by Chesterfield Dr.  Then it was surface streets over to Birmingham Dr, where there was a steep little section to get up to I-5 and the bike path that runs along its west side.  Fast, and in the lead, on the downhill section of this bike path, which dumped us onto Manchester Ave.  Ray and I were out in the lead for much of this stretch, over to Encinitas Blvd, including the right turn to stay on Manchester Ave.  Then we turned right on Rancho Santa Fe Rd and left onto El Mirlo for another climbing section with some false flats and little downhills.  Left on Via de Fortuna and up a gradual slight climb to El Montevideo, turning right there and taking it to Paseo Delicias.  From there, we did the reverse Stud Loop, and this is where my energy levels dropped.  Couldn't keep up with the lead riders at all, and I struggled to get over to Via de la Valle.  Then it was down to Via de Santa Fe and El Apajo, and I led the whole way to the deli by San Dieguito Rd.  Another break, and I wanted to keep going, so Rob, Charlie, and I started up Three Witches ahead of the others.  This was a slow climb for me, low energy.  Jed passed me about halfway up, and Ray wasn't too far behind me when I got to the turn onto Camino del Sur.  From there, I just put my head down and tried to keep spinning, with Ray and Jed ahead and eventually Charlie and Arnold catching up and passing me.  Short break at the meeting spot before I headed home, blessed by a tailwind to help me over to RB Rd and down to W Bernardo Dr.  Legs gave me a scare on Camino del Sur, the backs of my thighs were warbling, but I was able to modify my pedaling pattern and cadence and keep it under control.  Really tired at the end.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 58.4 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 16.6 mph

Avg power = 154 W. Weighted avg power = 177 W

Total elevation gain = 3800'

Avg heartrate = 131 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8896779915

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/55104098105

04-13-2023 Ride

Ride from home after work with Blair, who drove over and met me there.  It was a cool late afternoon, overcast.  We headed over the pedestrian bridge to BVP and then rode up to Sunset Dr, turning left and riding up to Juniper St.  Took this all the way to Park Ave, turning left there and then right onto Broadway.  To Mission Ave, where we turned left and went down to Quince St.  Back to 9th Ave, turning right there and then left onto Redwood St.  This got us to Felicita Ave, where we turned right and stayed on it all the way to Via Rancho Pkwy.  Then it was back to the street by the driving range, retracing our route back to W Bernardo Dr and then home, with a little jog up to Nevoso Way and then Cabela Dr to make sure we finished at 17 mi.  Nice easy-paced ride with just a little elevation in it.

Avg speed = 14.7 mph. Total mileage = 17.1 mi

Avg power = 129 W. Weighted avg power = 164 W

Total elevation gain = 840'

Avg heartrate = 113 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8886769338

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/55042613858

04-10-2023 Virtual Ride

Trainer ride in the garage before work for an hour.  Rode using the Wahoo set at the 20% resistance level while watching a Star Trek Discovery episode, finished faster than I started.

Avg speed = 19.9 mph

Total mileage = 20.2 mi

Avg power = 171 W. Weighted avg power = 172 W

Avg cadence = 86 rpm

04-08-2023 Ride

No Gideon on this day, so I rode through the neighborhood and then the extended tour through the 4S Ranch neighborhood to get to the starting point at the 4S Target.  On this ride, there were: Ray, Rob, Arnold, Perse, Andy, James, Audrey, Chris (Audrey's friend), Jed, Nel, Fritz, Levi, and Edson.  We headed down Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd, Audrey and I pushed the pace up the CdS bump but the others didn't follow.  Then it was down into Fairbanks Ranch, I was near the back because I waited and rode back to make sure James made the turn.  Pace line, fairly well organized, on the flats over to El Camino Real, where we turned right and then right again onto Via de la Valle.  I was out in the lead here and set the pace for a while before others (Arnold mainly) took over.  We rode up to Calzada del Bosque and turned left to ride up this short, sharp climb.  It was me and Jed in the lead, and I ended up putting some distance on him, which does not happen that much.  Gathered back together at the top, then we took Rambla de Las Flores, mostly downhill, over to La Bajada.  That stretch of road was sketchy, not in good shape and we were riding at speed and through shadows.  La Bajada had a short little climb after the turn, then it was downhill to Encinitas Blvd, which has a couple of climbs that I led before dropping down to the turn onto Quail Gardens Dr.  This was a gradual climb up to Leucadia Blvd, and we continued on as it dropped down pretty steeply to Saxony Rd.  Right here to get to La Costa Ave, where we turned and headed toward the coast.  Just past the freeway, Ray kicked it into high gear, and it was all I could do to keep up with him.  We stopped for a break at the 7-Eleven just after turning onto PCH.  Then we continued south toward Del Mar, I lagged behind getting out of the parking lot, so I had to work to catch up with the others.  It was mostly Ray, Jed, Arnold, and a little bit of me leading into Encinitas and then Cardiff, and I didn't have too much push on that last little climb up into Solana Beach, so Arnold and Perse were out in front.  A faster rider caught up with us around this point, and Jed got onto his wheel and rode away from the rest of us.  I tried to keep pace but no luck, although I too separated from the other riders.  We connected back up in Del Mar, except for Jed, and rode up and over to the turn onto Carmel Valley Rd.  By this time, I was feeling tired, but I kept trying to stay near the leaders and help with setting the pace.  Over to the 56 bike path, where our pace was fairly modest, only Arnold was pushing faster than I was riding.  On the stretch of the bike path past Carmel Valley Rd, I started with a modest pace, then Ray and Arnold passed me and started pushing the speed.  It got to a group of me, Ray, Arnold, Jed, and Rob, and I wasn't doing much leading, just trying to keep up with them.  Rob dropped back, then Arnold and Jed got out ahead a little until near the end, where I dug deep, rode up to where they were and passed them, with Jed matching my pace.  That push was all-out for me.  We turned onto Camino del Sur and rode up to Carmel Valley Rd, turning right.  Fritz had gotten out ahead, and Arnold and I rode together to catch up to him and go past.  Arnold was in front and I was having trouble staying connected, but we caught the light at Black Mountain Rd and I was able to recover enough to give him a breather by riding out front to the top of the climb.  Down to Dove Canyon Rd, turning right and waiting for the others to catch up.  The last little climb up to Camino San Bernardo was short but painful, we turned left there and rode over to Lone Quail Rd, where the riders ahead of me missed the turn and left me solo riding back to the starting point.  Left on Del Sur Ridge Rd and then right onto Paseo del Sur to get back.  After a short break, I rode home, slowly, taking RB Rd down to W Bernardo Dr.  I was close to 60 miles but couldn't gear myself to add any more distance to get to this mark.  Legs ended up okay, but this ride pushed me to the limit a couple of times.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 59.5 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 17.2 mph

Avg power = 149 W. Weighted avg power = 178 W

Total elevation gain = 3280'

Avg heartrate = 129 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8856021139

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/54939240876

04-06-2023 Ride

This was a strange day.  Planned to ride after work after riding my bike into work in the morning, but I found out that I had inadvertently packed a black jersey instead of my cycling shorts.  So James, Blair, and I rode over to Rob's place, where I borrowed a pair of his shorts and changed in the garage.  We rode over via Camino del Norte to Paseo Lucido.  Then we rode from his place back to Paseo Lucido and turned right to get over to Carmel Mountain Rd.  Right on Rancho Carmel Dr, then another right onto Innovation Dr to take that loop back to Rancho Carmel Dr, where we turned right and continued on.  Down to Sabre Springs Pkwy, then taking a right on Evening Creek Dr to do another jog before getting back to Sabre Springs Pkwy again.  We stayed on it through the light and took it all the way to Springhurst Dr, turning left there to get to Poway Rd.  Wind helped us on this stretch up to Pomerado Rd, where we turned left.  At this point, I slowed down and rode with James while Blair and Rob rode ahead.  We rode back to Camino del Norte and then back to work via Bernardo Center Dr.  I then rode home from there the normal way.  Had forgotten my gloves at work, no big deal, had to go back to my desk to get my helmet before riding, it just seemed like I was not all there in the prep leading up to the actual ride.

Avg speed = 13.7 mph. Total mileage = 18.5 mi (+2.5 mi riding in to work in the morning)

Avg power = 108 W. Weighted avg power = 142 W

Total elevation gain = 920'

Avg heartrate = 110 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8845342917

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/54934118174

04-05-2023 Ride

Time trial route in the morning from home, riding solo before work on Passover Eve, thus no Indigo meetings.  Felt kinda sluggish for much of the ride after the first quarter or so.  Other than that, it was chilly at the start, and my toes were cold throughout the ride.

Avg speed = 16.2 mph. Total mileage = 17.6 mi

Avg power = 179 W. Weighted avg power = 199 W

Total elevation gain = 1070'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8837135379

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/54876393730

04-01-2023 Ride

Ride through the neighborhood over to Gideon's house, where I met him and picked up a pair of white Bisikleta socks as well, and retrieved my insulating sleeve for the CO2 inflator cartridges.  We rode over to the 4S Target starting point through the 4S Ranch neighborhood, and it was a late start on this ride.  At the beginning, we had: Ray, Perse, Gideon, Andy, Rob, Audrey (first time back riding with us in a while), Charlie, Ogie, Arnold, Fritz (first time riding after the crash), Jed, and Gio.  We headed out Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd, and the pace was more moderate than normal.  Down to El Apajo, a little faster on the descent, then over to Via de la Valle, where I hung back and rode up with Andy.  To Paseo Delicias, turning right and riding up to El Camino del Norte, where we turned and rode over to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  Downhill section was also fast, with a couple of attacks near the end.  Arnold was riding a test Canyon bike, and it really looks and rides smooth.  At the turn, Andy, Audrey, and Gideon peeled off and headed back while the rest of us continued on, staying on Rancho Santa Fe Rd through the turn and up the gentle climb toward San Elijo Hills.  Down to San Elijo Rd, where we turned right and rode up into the village, stopping for a break at the gas station in town.  From there, we continued up the climb, which was tough as usual.  I couldn't match Jed's pace but was able to get to the top of the climb second, with Ray not too far behind.  On the downhill, I was cautious, braking occasionally to keep my speed under control.  I had swapped out my Camph wheel for my Reynolds wheel, knowing that we were going to ride this downhill.  We gathered up at the bottom of the hill and continued on Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy in a loose pace line, with Ray pushing the pace.  Then he dropped back, and it was Jed and Arnold who got out in front on the climb up to the freeway, with me trailing them and catching up to Arnold near the end.  Then I led for a while, taking Centre City Pkwy over to Jesmond Dene Rd and then to Broadway.  We turned right and then took another right on Country Club Ln to get back to Centre City Pkwy.  Arnold and I led much of the way through downtown Escondido, I was helped by stoplights to regain my wind.  We took the back way into the back side of the mall and then rode through the mall parking lot to get to the Shell station on BVP by the freeway.  After a relatively short break, we rode over Lake Hodges using the pedestrian bridge, then it was up W Bernardo Dr.  I was okay on the first little climb but started running out of gas on the gradual climb up to Duenda Rd, where Ray, Arnold, and Jed were ahead.  We rode together to RB Rd, then they passed me again and I was done with pushing hard, working to get up to Matinal Rd, where I turned and rode back home through the neighborhood.  Felt better on this ride than I thought I would, although my right quad was a little balky for the latter half or so.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 51.7 mi

Avg power = 153 W. Weighted avg power = 178 W

Total elevation gain = 3490'

Avg heartrate = 130 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/8815011983

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/54808040213