Today was one of those dog days of summer. Let me explain my version of this: 2 dog sprints with a total of 5 dogs. The first sprint was on FM1485 heading south around the 37 mile mark. I was riding along minding my own piece of the road shoulder when I started to hear some dog baking and off my right rear a mixed color dog is gaining on me to my right. In short order he passes me because I have not realized he was chasing until then. Fortunately this dog must not like running on the pavement so he does not come closer than where the grass ends. I speed up and out run him but I think it was more that the dog stopped chasing. The wind was coming toward me so the effort to get up to full speed took longer than I wanted. I have never encountered a dog along this road so I was not on the lookout.

Earlier I was on the lookout at the spot on FM2090 where I had an extreme dog sprint two weeks ago but that dog was no show today; I am not complaining. That dog was fast had a knack for geometry to work the right angle to catchup with me.

Dog sprint 2 was on Gene Campbell Road where I have never had a dog problem in the 3 or 4 years I have been riding there. Today was different with a pack of look alike dogs giving chase around the 39 mile mark. I think there were 4 of them but to be honest I was concentrating on pedaling and not counting. These dogs were mostly black with rust colored spots on their snouts and about the size of a big collie or retriever. Two of them were sprinting on my right side on the road and the other two were in the grass on my left. Barking and chasing, they lasted a long time (in my opinion) before they gave up and turned back. The two on my right were keeping up with me but not coming towards me. When the chase first began one dog entered the road in front of me but could not maintain his advantage so he fell behind and had to make up for lost ground. I don’t know what I maxed out my speed at but the pedals could not go any faster. Adrenaline was flowing like a river and I needed it.

Yesterday evening we went to the swimming pool and I did a lot of exercise on my arms and shoulders and as result they were feeling some muscle soreness today. I did not need these dog sprints to help stress my muscles any more.

Other than this the ride was a good fitness effort with 59.56 miles covered at an average speed of 15.1 mph and a cadence of 77.9 rpm. Max speed was 25.9 mph (probably during one or more of the dog sprints). My goal was to get to 100 miles for the week but I am .05 mile short. This week will be a low mileage one since I had one day off that I normally ride and another one with shorter mileage due to my tire cut. The temperature range was 78 at the start and 92 at the finish with 94% humidity at the start. I was sweating heavily for the first 18+ miles. This is when I wished I did not wear glasses. Mostly cloudy skies and a 10 mph or less wind round out the weather.

June mileage status:

• June miles 551.61
• This week’s miles 99.95
• Year to date miles 2729.32

6-25-2011 Bike Ride Data and Route Map

6-25-2011 Home Weather Finish

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