I used RWGPS to plan today’s bike ride and I did better. I started the ride at 10:51 AM riding my Cervelo Caledonia bike. I used my CamelBak for hydration today and had cold water until the finish at 1:19 PM and 31.75 miles. The weather was cooler than yesterday ranging from 82 at the start to 87 at the finish. The wind was strong but not as much as yesterday from the south at 14 mph. I think tomorrow’s Jalapeno 100 ride will have stronger winds and I hope to be ready for that.

The route today followed the frontage road along US77/I-69E until I reached Rangerville Road where I turned left. This was the same as FM1479. I stayed on FM 1479 until I made the right turn onto FM 800. One dog sprint on FM 1479 into the wind put my legs to the test. Details are in the video. FM 800 went to the west with the wind hitting my left side not making pedaling that much easier. FM 800 went to the right but I continued straight on FM 3476 to the left turn onto another FM road that I don’t remember the number of. At Bluetown Military Highway ended the road and I turned left. Up to this point the road surfaces were chip and seal. When traffic allowed I rode in the main lane rather than the bumpy shoulder. Military Highway was smooth asphalt and the wind moved to my right side. About 4.1 miles was all of the Military Highway when I turned left onto FM 1479 and back to chip and seal roads. A little more traffic than the other FM roads. The next turn was onto FM 675 which took me to the road back to Harlingen. Another dog sprint just before I made the left turn. Thankfully the German Shepherd gave up before I had to slow and make the left turn. Back to an asphalt road surface until I reached the US77 underpass which went back to chip and seal. My butt hurt from all of the chip and seal vibrating. A short ride on Business US77 and some side streets took me to the end of the ride.

The only route planning issue was when I turned left from Military Highway onto FM 1479, the Bolt computer started beeping and giving u-turn directions but I stayed on FM 1479 and the beeping stopped. I think when I planned the route in RWGPS I entered duplicate points at that intersection.

Weather – start 82 degrees, 72% humidity, dew point 72, fair, wind S 14 mph; finish 87 degrees, 59% humidity, dew point 71, mostly cloudy, wind S 14 mph.