The ride started late again today with me rolling out the driveway at 11:16 AM. By that time the temperature rested at 91 degrees. When I finished at 2:35 PM my home weather station reported 99 degrees with 41% humidity. If Wichita Falls couldn’t produce the heat I guess Houston can. While on earlier rides I commented that the heat felt fall like that was not the case today. I welcomed the occasional cloud moving in front of the sun especially when I rode south on FM2100 to Stroker Road. This section through a headwind at me of 12 mph with gusts up to 17 mph. No wonder it seemed like it took a long time to get to the Shell station just before I turned east onto Stroker Road.

I stopped at that Shell station to find cover from the broiling sun. I could really feel the difference in the shade with the wind blowing through. While I was there the manager asked me how pleased I was with my Motobecane Le Champion CF bicycle. I told him I am very pleased with it. He said he plans on buying a bicycle soon and was wondering what owners said about this one. I left a Texbiker.net business card with him. After using some paper towels to soak up the sweat in my wrist bands and wiping my face I got back on the road. Once I turned east onto Stroker Road the headwind became a nice tailwind or side wind.

Heading to Huffman at FM2100 and FM1960 I battled that headwind again when I rode west on Old Atascocita Road. My speed slowed down. As I went on this road two Harris County Precinct 4 trucks came at me from the west. For some reason every time I am on this road and trucks come the opposite direction there is a strong wind current as they pass by. My bike moved to the edge of the road from the blast of wind. Once I got to the Chevron station in Huffman I took an extended break to cool off (if that is possible sitting in the shade with the breeze blowing) drinking a Diet Coke (no Diet Pepsi at the fountain dispenser). I wrung the sweat out my wrist bands creating a nice puddle on the concrete. I repeated this with my gloves. While I sat there I could feel the sweat dripping down my neck from my bandana. At the time I did not know it was 99 degrees.

Now that I cooled down I got back on the bike and tackled the remaining 11 miles. As I approached home my wife called my cell phone to check on my arrival; I was about 1/4 mile from home. I did not answer in time so I waited until I got home. My wife is going through some tests to determine what some suspicious spots are on an MRI and PET scan and the doctor wanted us in his office at 4:15. These calls are unsettling. I got home, ate and we went to see the doctor. The PET scan showed two spots; one new one and one we knew about from the MRI but no specific answer about the cause. So we are headed to the oncologist for more tests after Labor Day. The waiting can be hard.

Since this is the last day of August I thought a longer ride would be in order. the route today totaled 37.55 miles at an average speed of 15.2 mph but I only managed 19.6 mph max speed. The wind and sun probably slowed me down. I did increase my average cadence from yesterday to 78.4 RPM. Riding time came in at 2:28:21 plus 50:48 time stopped. Miles for the week total 157.66. August miles are 782.30 at an average speed of 15.0 mph. Total riding time for August: 52:08:19. Last year (2011) I rode 618.15 miles in August. YTD miles are now 4717.26. Link to RideWithGPS.com metrics and map for today.

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