I skipped biking yesterday to allow the weather warm up some. It could’ve worked on it today with the temperature at 73 when I started the ride at 12:37. The sky was overcast but the real problem was the wind. It was from the SSW at 12 mph with 20 mph gusts. I dressed with what I hoped would keep me warm but I might’ve been a little light with shorts, long sleeve jersey and a windbreaker jacket. The wind cut through the wind breaker at times and I felt chilled.

The route was the longer version of the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route coming in at 33.43 miles. I battled the wind most of the way to Huffman where I stopped at the Chevron station for a break.

The weather just before I left to head back home.

The wind does not show as high as the airport. I wanted to think it would not be a problem on the way home and it wasn’t until I started to cross Lake Houston on FM1960. Normally the traffic going the same direction breaks the wind when it comes from my left but the traffic was light. The traffic going east caused the wind to whip at me each time there was a break. I fought the wind all the way until I turned right on Atascocita Shores Drive and was among the house and riding to the northwest. The wide cross section rims caught the wind and sometimes I leaned into the wind to counter the push to the right over the lake.

Reaching home at 3:20 I checked the airport weather: wind from the SSE 15 mph and 23 mph gusts, even stronger than the beginning. March winds are here.

March miles are up to 508 and my goal of 631 miles looks doable. Wednesday it should warm up some, Thursday cools to the 60’s and Friday creeps back in the 70’s.

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Comparison of the last 4 rides on the same named route.