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Driving home from work this evening my windshield collected about two dozen raindrops at one point north of downtown Houston. The clouds overhead did not say rain but I thought it might happen. Within 3 or 4 blocks the raindrops were dried up and I thought no need to worry about not being able to ride this evening. When I got home my weather station temperature was near 100 degrees and the Weather Undergound website was showing a heat index of 106 degrees. Even now as I write this the heat index is 100 degrees with the sunset.

Earlier today I copied the NWS alert for today:

Heat Advisory – Harris (Texas)
from Texas – (Harris/TXZ213) – Current Watches, Warnings and Advisori
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS…

TXZ163-164-179-213-235>237-091630-
/O.CON.KHGX.HT.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-100810T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-MATAGORDA-POLK-TRINITY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ALVIN…ANGLETON…BAY CITY…
CORRIGAN…CROCKETT…EDNA…FREEPORT…GROVETON…HOUSTON…
HUMBLE…KATY…LAKE JACKSON…LIVINGSTON…ONALASKA…PALACIOS…
PASADENA…PEARLAND…TOMBALL…TRINITY
325 AM CDT MON AUG 9 2010

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING…

HEAT INDEX READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB ABOVE 105 AGAIN TODAY AS
SURFACE TEMPERATURES REACH THE MID AND UPPER 90S AND DEWPOINTS
REMAIN IN THE MID 70S..

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE…AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR STRENUOUS
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN
HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID
DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE
RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY…INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT
EXHAUSTION OR STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT…LIGHT-COLORED…LOOSE-
FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN…
AND USE A SUNSCREEN TO REDUCE POSSIBLE SUNBURN.

I did not have any problems riding in the heat this evening. In fact it reminds me of the weather at Wichita Falls in late August for the Hotter’n Hell Hundred. A strong 18 mph wind kicked up at times while I rode and the partly cloudy skies did not offer much relief from the slowly setting sun. I am beginning to see extra light from daylight savings time starting fade away earlier. I will miss the extra daylight.

Today’s ride statistics:

• miles =24.11
• riding time = 1:40:51
• average pace = 4:11 min/mile
• average speed 14.3 mph
• max speed = 20.6 mph
• average cadence = 75.9 rpm
• max cadence = 104 rpm
• climb 202 ft., descend 188 ft., max elevation 107 ft.
• August miles 149.59
• YTD miles 3258.06

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