My bike ride started at 10:52 AM which seems to be hard for me to do. Maybe I read the newspaper quicker than usual or not watching YouTube before starting helped. For a slight change in a route I chose what I label the “Atascocita South – Walden – Huffman” route. This took me on some different streets for a few miles from Kings Park Way to Aerobic Drive in Walden where I returned to the usual streets enroute to Huffman. These changes allowed me to bike 34.59 miles improving the week’s total to 142.79 miles and April to 287.83 miles, 45% of the way to my 600 mile goal. With 3 potential biking days left this week reaching 200+ miles looks realistic.

Weather continues to be warm which is what I prefer. Attire for today’s bike ride: shorts, short sleeve jersey, and gloves. I noticed on my left forearm a circle around it is beginning to show where my heart rate monitor strap blocks the sun. Sunscreen doesn’t stop that. What it was like while I rode: start 81 (82% humidity, 74.8 dew point), overcast, wind W 6 mph. Finish 86 (73% humidity, 76.7 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 6 mph. Today’s 80’s leave later when a front comes to Houston dropping tomorrow’s high to 70; not my favorite temperature but acceptable.

Several groups of “casual” bikers surprised me before I could capture them with the GoPro camera but I did record a few. When I came to FM 2100 on Old Atascocita Road a “serious” biker rode across FM 2100 towards me. I pushed the GoPro record button but nothing happened. I thought the battery was dead but when I got home it still had plenty of change left. I replaced the battery after riding across FM 2100 and recorded a clip but later I again pushed the record button and nothing happened. Checking the 2nd battery at home it too had plenty of charge left. At the time I blamed the microphone but now I think the GoPro was the problem. Before checking the batteries I removed the mic from my helmet but now I will put it back. The mic seems to help unless it is real windy. I moved the position slightly before today’s ride.