Somehow I started today’s bike ride at 7:54 AM, early for a Saturday bike ride. I chose the “Atascocita – Huffman – Walden” to position me to see other cyclists on the east side of Lake Houston. I saw about 20 other bikers along the route including 4 when I rode west on FM 1960 and came to Fairlake Drive. They were ahead of me and left me in the dust once they were over Lake Houston. An surprise happened on the west side of Lake Houston at the Mobil station when I pulled in to refill my water bottle. Two cyclists were there and I said hello and after leaning my bike against the store I walked over to chat with them. The younger man, with a better memory than me, remarked that he bought one of my previous bikes. He said he rode it for about a year before buying another bike. I think he bought my Motobecane Le Champion LTD.

The weather was windy today thanks to Hurricane Barry to the east near New Orleans. Weather during the bike ride: start 79 (87% humidity, 74.8 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 9 mph. Finish 85 (75% humidity, 76.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 21 mph.

My energy tank was drained starting when I rode through Walden and north. My speed dropped to 13 mph and below. I thought a rest stop would help so at Kings Harbor I stopped in the shade by Sharky’s restaurant where some people were working on furniture as part of the repairs from Hurricane Harvey. Another cyclist appeared and when I left we exchanged a few words about biking. From there my ride moved slowly as the wind made it hard. I stopped at McDonald’s in Town Center for more ice and water. I finished the ride at 10:45 AM. Maybe I bonked.

With today’s 32.83 miles the week totals 217.57 miles, the 9th week in a row of 200+ miles. July totals 431.25 miles , 54% of the way to my 800 mile goal.

Sunday, tomorrow, will be a rest day. I think I may be over training and a day off is in order.

Relive ‘Morning Jul 13th’