Even though it is supposed to be fall the temperature in southeast Texas (and other parts too) is in the high 90’s. I began my ride this afternoon at 12;44 and it was 90 degrees. By the time I finished at 2:38 the temperature was 98 degrees at my home weather station. The humidity dropped from 50% to 38% during the same time period. The light 5 mph westerly breeze did do much to cool things down either. Rain remains a distant memory. Along my route today I passed two ponds. One was down to just a small patch of water in the middle and the other looked to be about three feet or more below normal with some previously submerged areas well above the water line. While a promised cool front may arrive on Friday no rain is in the picture. My yard continues to dry out but I still know how to perspire while I am riding. The sweat must dry before it drip onto my bike though because I don’t have to wipe my bike off when I finish. Scattered clouds did not help block the sun and the trees are getting to be less shady as they lose their leaves from the drought. The best shade was when I stopped under an overpass with the light breeze flowing through and no sun.
I was getting tired of the same route so today I went a different direction. My goal was to get above the 15.0 mph average speed which I barely did at 15.1 mph. I was doing pretty good with about 7 miles to go but the route went through some residential areas where I have to slow down and my average speed was 14.2 mph. To go along with this my average cadence was 81.3 RPM, up from yesterday by 3.4 RPM. The route was 26.03 miles which was just slightly longer than yesterday. I am working my distance up after the three weeks off. I thought I might run into some school traffic due to the later start but that was not a problem. September miles are now 131.55 and year to date miles are 4188.36.
9-28-2011 Bicycle Ride Data and Route Map
9-28-2011 Home Weather Finish
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