After watching stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana this morning I got ready for today’s bike ride. I rode to the south yesterday so today I chose a northerly route, “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch”. I thought the distance would be 34 miles but turned out to be 35.32 miles, increasing November’s total to 99.91 miles. I should’ve went a tenth of a mile farther but I didn’t know that until after the 1:59 PM finish. Today was the 25th time biking this route in 2020, 21 times on my Canyon Endurace and 4 times on my Lynskey R300.

As I got ready for the departure I check my GoPro Hero 7 Black battery and it was a good thing I did because it was dead for some reason. I charged it after yesterday’s ride. I removed the camera from my helmet mount, pealed the foam windshield off and but another battery in. Now I had a full battery. I all of this without removing my helmet and when I remounted the camera to the helmet mount I thought the holes aligned and I tightened the bolt. It wasn’t until after the ride when I started to remove the camera that I discovered the camera frame didn’t line up and the bolt just squeezed the tabs. If I shook my head or hit a hard bump the camera might have fallen. Maybe the foam windshield would’ve absorbed the hit. Next time I will remove my helmet and not rely on feeling the attaching action.

With the battery changed I rolled out the driveway on my Canyon Endurace at 11:18 AM. The temperature encouraged me to change my kit. I wore shorts, a short sleeve jersey, and a windbreaker jacket. Just a few clouds meant the sunshine warmed me as I rode and the shade didn’t chill me like yesterday. Weather: start 74 (57% humidity, 58.3 dew point), a few clouds, wind E 8 mph; finish 77 (53% humidity, 58.7 dew point), partly cloudy, wind SE 13 mph. The humidity and dew point increased significantly from yesterday’s unusually low numbers.

Riding north the wind helped me keep my speed in the 17 to 19 mph range but the return trip to Kingwood was into the 13 mph headwind. When I made the turn to the south at Roman Forest Blvd. I expected the headwind to exact a toll on my 14.4 mph average speed but I added to it and upped it to 14.6 mph which I held until entering Kingwood where I slowed for stops and greenbelt surfaces. Strava reported today’s ride was harder than my usual efforts which I agreed with after battling the headwind.

Last evening I noticed a Koozie sitting on the counter and wondered if it would be a windshield for my Hero 7 Silver camera. I went to my stock of Koozie’s and found one that was snug around the camera. I cut it to size and used it on the ride today. The beginning of the video was shot with the Hero 7 Silver and Koozie. Later in the ride I tried to record a clip in the wind to test the Koozie but the camera wouldn’t turn on but after the ride it turned on. Not sure what the problem was but I will test the Koozie tomorrow.

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Power output during the ride according to Golden Cheetah bike ride data summary shows 54% of the riding time I was in zones 3 through 7, and increase over yesterday.

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After 4 days in November how I stand on reaching my goals for the month.