An overcast sky and 68 degrees greeted me as I begun today’s bike ride. I didn’t want to ride too far so I chose a route I haven’t done since October 25th, 2021, “Community Drive – Valley Ranch – Gene Campbell Blvd”. I guessed the distance would be 34 to 35 miles but it actually was 36.41 miles. This was a little less than the October 25th ride but about average for the other four rides prior to that date. A 200 mile week looks possible with my total at 176.41 miles and two biking days left. Right now this week is the highest mileage week in 2022. The last 200 mile week was the one ending December 5th, 2021 with 207.56 miles. Today I started at 11:26 AM and finished at 2:22 PM.

As I got ready to start today’s bike ride I got an email from Strava alerting me to losing the local legend on Gene Campbell Blvd. The other person rode 2 times versus my one time in the last 90 days. Maybe I will ride the route that goes on Gene Campbell blvd. from FM 1485 to FM 1314 next week to regain the local legend.

Watch the video to see two happy ladies out riding in Sherwood Trails. Later I saw another cyclist at Cumberland Blvd. on the way back home. As I was making the right turn into Kings Manor I spotted a silver pickup truck with a bike on the back. Other people are thinking about biking.

The make shift Tickr fit heart rate monitor sleeve out of a sock continues to work perfectly. The rash on my arm is almost gone. I don’t think I will use the original band and chance a return of the rash.

I’m getting used to no leg warmers though it took a couple of miles for my legs to get acclimated to no sun and 68 degrees. I lightened up on the long sleeve jersey under the wind jacket today and was comfortable. I want it too warm up so I can try wearing a performance fabric long sleeve t-shirt under a short sleeve jersey. I bought two from Walmart for $12.50 each, much less expensive than long sleeve jerseys. I figured the T-shirts wicking properties perform like the jerseys and I don’t use the pockets on the long sleeve jersey. The T-shirts don’t have pockets plus the sleeve lengths fit better. I envision wearing the short sleeve jersey and LS T-shirt combination when it gets to the upper 70’s to low 80’s and maybe in place of arm sleeves when it is hotter but no sun.

A couple of times I needed to shift gears and the eTap shifts easily with just one finger while the Ultegra gear required more effort. I shifted gears a little more today especially as I approached red traffic lights. This link shows the AXS.SRAM.com ride report with gear selections and other data.

Today’s weather: start 68 (humidity 84%, dew point 63), overcast, wind SE 8 mph; finish 73 (humidity 74%, dew point 64), overcast, wind SE 12 mph.

Thanks to help from the tailwind I used a larger gear on the ride to Gene Campbell Blvd. but riding into the headwind from there back home I shifted to an easier gear. I got my overall average speed up to 14.1 mph and maintained it at 14 or above until I made the right turn onto Old Sorters road. Slowing down for the turn and the headwind was enough for the Bolt computer to drop the average speed below 14 mph.