Before today’s bike ride I checked the battery on my GoPro and it wouldn’t turn on. I plugged it into the charger and after a few seconds the screen came on showing 1% battery level. My first thought was no video on today’s ride but I put the extra battery on the charger and by the time I dressed, ate a snack, applied sunscreen the extra battery was fully charged. I replaced the other battery and got ready to go. Good thing I checked the GoPro before leaving.

I decided I would ride the same route as last Thursday, “Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden” but alter a few streets. I wanted to avoid W. Lake Houston Parkway from Madera Run Parkway north to Aerobic Drive because of the heavy traffic. I also rode through Woodridge Forest which I didn’t do last week. Today’s ride covered 34.71 miles, a little longer than last week at an average speed of 14 mph also higher than last week.

Rolling out of the driveway at 11:39 AM on my Cervelo Caledonia sunshine felt good. This was the first ride outside since last Sunday due to chilly weather. While I stayed inside I rode Zwift to keep my biking streak since February 17th. By the 2:21 PM finish the sunshine lasted and the temperature warmed up from 64 at the start to 72. Wind was light coming from the E at 6 mph when I finished. The Cervelo moved nicely through the wind. I enjoy Zwifting but I prefer the outside riding. Today felt good. My legs felt good and powered up when I called on them. The link to the SRAM AXS ride report. Once I got up to speed not much shifting during the mostly flat ride.

I dressed for the 64 degrees with shorts, leg warmers, a long sleeve thermal jersey, wind jacket, but half finger gloves. I counted on the sun to keep my fingers warm. I looked at the black jacket after finishing the ride and saw numerous salt stains from sweating. Weather conditions: start 64 (humidity 52%, dew point 46), a few clouds, wind NE 4 mph; finish 71 (humidity 38%, dew point 44), a few clouds, wind E 6 mph.

The route passed through the road construction at FM 1960 on the west side of Lake Houston as you can see in the video. A little progress but no concrete poured yet. Maybe by the end of March? I rode closer to the railroad overpass construction on Timber Forest to check the progress. This is in the video. No big changes but some movement.

I claimed the Local Legend in Strava on Timber Forest Crosses 1960. Set a personal record PR on Balmoral Greens eastbound (4:34).