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I tried out a different head scarf today. This is a tube scarf and I used it like a pirate with a tail at the back. I did not get any sweat on my glasses and the sweat flowed down the side of my face dripping off my chin when I dipped my head. I am not real impressed with the scarf compared to the Headsweat bands. The wind cooling effect was not as apparent as the Headsweat band. When I stopped at the Huffman Chevron I did feel the moisture dripping from the tail of the scarf. I will probably use the scarf a couple more times to be sure. At least the money I paid was not so much, $7.62 for 2 of the scarfs.

The ride to Huffman began at 11:05 after I finished watching the Tdf. It was 86 degrees with a light 5 mph breeze and partly cloudy sky. The ride to Huffman went as usual without any problems. It was nice to ride in the sunshine and as long as I was moving I felt comfortable. Whenever I stopped it didn’t take long for the sweat to gather on my arms and face. I didn’t see another biker until I was on the way back home on Kings River Drive just before coming to W. Lake Houston Parkway. I got home at 1:54 with the temperature standing at 91 and the humidity a not so bad 55%. The wind was calm.

Today’s ride was 33.15 miles long at a 15.7 mph average speed. Other mile markers:

• 148.55 miles this week
• 642.14 miles for July (74 miles to reach July’s goal)
• 4017 miles for the year to date

It looks like I will reach July’s goal with miles to spare but as they say in the TdF, you haven’t won until you cross the finish line. I crossed the 4000 mile mark for the year. Before I retired this would mean I would ride about 1000 to 1200 more miles for the year. Now that I am retired I think I will ride a total of 6300 miles this year. Another milestone is the Stradalli RP-14 Carbon bike now has 3004 miles of riding on it. The original front Schwalbe tire is doing good and the replacement Continental Gatorskin has 2006 miles on it. I am beginning to see the tread flatten on the Gatorskin but I hope to get another 2000 miles out of it. Flats have not been a problem with a pinch flat and wire causing the few I have had.

Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.

Tomorrow the weather should be 93 degrees, clear with a 20% chance of rain. Not sure how the clear sky and 20% rain go together. I may not wait for the TdF to finish before I ride. It is a flat stage and the DVR will catch the action for me. I don’t expect many surprises in the standings.