More warm weather. The temperature bumped again a few degrees from yesterday. The ride began at 12:20 with my home weather station showing 80 degrees. The partly cloudy sky held the sun’s warmth back in places but the stiff wind (S at 12 mph, gusts 18 mph) had a faint chill to it. As a result the wardrobe for today: shorts, long sleeve jersey, short sleeve jersey and regular gloves.

“Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” was the route for today. The wind was punishing when I rode into it and quite helpful when it was a tailwind. The only place it really nailed me was riding west over Lake Houston on FM1960. Without any windbreak except for the occasional car or truck I had the full brunt and it was cool too thanks to the lower water temperature off the lake. For the 1 3/4 mile west bound ride across the lake I wished for the windbreaker at home in my closet. Once I got the to shore the wind warmed up.

I made a rest stop at 19.96 miles into the ride at the Huffman Chevron. Granola bars and some Powerade helped my legs to get ready to battle the wind on the ride back home. While I was resting one of the ladies at the Chevron (Johnny) told me she was retiring on March 10th. She said she was looking forward to it. The weather screenshots while I was resting.

I planned to ride FM2100 north to Smith Road when I left the Chevron station but the traffic signal workers closed the driveway out of the station to FM2100 and I would have to ride across FM1960 and make a left turn. With all of the traffic I changed my mind and took FM1960 west. I got back home at 3:07 to find the wind stronger than when I started: south 13 mph with 23 mph gusts. No wonder it was hard to ride into it.

With today’s 32. 28 miles I am only 58 miles away from my February goal of 346 miles. I am still planning on riding the Bulldog Bike Ride in Waller tomorrow. The 50 mile route will be my choice. The weather should repeat today’s though with 8:00AM start I will need to dress warmer.

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