Frustration as I tried to start today’s ride. Attaching the PowerPod onto the outfront mount I dropped the tiny acorn nut that the bolt threads into. I felt it hit my shoe but where it went was the big question. The glasses I had on were my sunglasses with single vision prescription lenses which meant it was dark and I couldn’t see up close. I grabbed the whisk broom and swept under the shelves and around anything nearby. Moving the Stradalli outside I moved to another place under the shelves and wow! I found it. This took way longer than I wanted. I try to be very careful with this installation but today my hand hit the left brake lever which jarred the nut out of my fingers. A tighter grip next time and watch out for the brake lever.

Finally back on the Stradalli I rolled out the drive pressing the Elemnt start button at 12:20 pm but the PowerPod wouldn’t report any information to the Elemnt. As I rode I pressed the PowerPod start button several ways but nothing happened. On the greenbelt trail I stopped and tried several times. As I was standing there I heard “On your left” from behind and two guys on mountain bikes sped by. Back to the PowerPod it finally connected to the Elemnt and happily reported watts being exerted. I was happy too. It seems whenever I change bikes and from indoors to outdoors the PowerPod and Elemnt have issues. Hopefully the indoor workouts will diminish but not for a few more days.

Biking the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route I started seeing route marker signs in Walden for the Humble Lions Club Bike Ride tomorrow (Saturday). A few had fallen down for some reason. Also in Walden I waved at another cyclist who was standing in his garage at the Sprinters Drive and Cross Country across from the stop sign. He waved back. I don’t know if he was getting ready to ride or had finished.

Later at the Fairlake Drive and Old Atascocita Road intersection I caught up to the men putting out the route markers. I stopped to talk with them. We chatted about the 80% to 90% chance of rain Saturday morning around the start time and I told them about the fallen signs. The man with the hammer said TXDot required them to use signs with wood stakes when he asked about using stronger metal ones. I told him about the tape arrows that go on the road since the state wouldn’t let them paint arrows on the road either. He said they would look into the tape. I sad goodbye and headed to Huffman.

I overdressed for the ride. 64 degrees at the start and I was thought it would reach the 70 degree forecast so I loaded up on clothes: shorts, leg warmers, thermal long sleeve jersey, regular long sleeve jersey, wind breaker jacket, and full finger gloves. I wasn’t sweating for awhile but once I got to Walden I noticed how damp I was inside the jacket. I stuck with the wardrobe to the finish but when I took all of the layers off they were soaked. It was 72 at the 2:58 pm finish. I won’t complain, I have waiting for warmer weather. The wind was light at 4 mph from the southeast.

Probably no riding on Saturday with the rain likely. Sunday another cool front arrives and stays around through Monday. Tuesday looks like a bike ride kind of weather day.

Strava Ride Summary

SportTracks Ride Summary