With about a third of fall in the records you would expect the weather to act like it but during today’s bike ride 91 degrees accompanied me all of the 32.27 miles. No complaints because it will get cooler soon enough, like Tuesday. Today’s miles wrap up the week with 103.25 miles, ending my three week string of 200+ mile weeks. Thank you, stomach virus. For the month, I am up to 492.18 miles, 208 miles needed to reach my goal. 4 days off the bike hurt my progress.

The 12:27 PM start after church caused my exposure to the heat. Weather during the mid-afternoon bike ride: start 91 (66% humidity, 77.9 dew point), partly cloudy, wind S 12 mph gusts 20 mph. Finish 90 (65% humidity, 76.9 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind S 10 mph gusts 21 mph. Notice the wind! 20+ mph gusts was okay getting to Cumberland which is NW of Porter on FM 1314. The return to Kingwood meant a strong headwind. The worst segment happened on the southbound I-69/US59 frontage road from Azalea Blvd exiting Valley Ranch to the u-turn at Northpark Drive. Anytime I got out from behind a windbreak the gust reminded me the legs lose against the wind.

Near the end of the bike ride as I left I-69/US59 I bonked. The lone apple fritter I ate before starting left the engine room and the legs’ battle into the wind slowed from 15 to 16 mph down to 13 mph and less. Around 5 miles to finish the ride I rode through Woodridge Forest back into Kingwood and finished the biking for today.

The Relive animation shows my movement along the “Oakhurst – Cumberland – Valley Ranch” bike route.

Relive ‘Mid-afternoon Bike Ride to Cumberland’

Monday morning weather looks like rain. Zwifting will take place. I think I have learned more on Zwifting. I now have a holder for my phone and know it has to be on the same network. As long as the internet stays online I will do it. I have the potential to reach my “virtual riding” mileage goal for October; need 16 more miles.