![\"2-20-2016](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/2-20-2016-Waller-Weather-Start-1.png?ssl=1\" "\\"2-20-2016")
<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\nExpecting the weather to warm up I wore shorts, a short sleeve jersey over a heavy long sleeve jersey and half finger gloves. The SSW wind felt cool but I was comfortable. Here are some pictures around the start area before we left at 8:00.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\nLeaving the starting line the ride turned left. I rode the 50 mile route (turned out to be 51.0 mile route). The riding was fast once I warmed up by the 1 mile point. The wind was at our backs but the road was rough in places. Around 8.5 miles I passed rest stop #1 but did not stop. From there the route was on country roads with varying road surfaces. The pace was still good with the wind behind me most of the time. The Garmin Edge 520 worked perfectly during the ride without any “phone disconnected” messages. Live Track work too.<\/p>\n
I decided to stop at rest stop #2 to take some pictures, eat and drink. The sky was still overcast. The pictures at stop #2.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\nIt was important to reach rest stop #2 by 10:30 to avoid being routed to the 32 mile route instead of the 50 mile route. I was there at 9:05 as you can see in the Garmin 520 picture.<\/p>\n
After about 5 minutes or so I was back on the route. Now the roads turned into the wind and there were some small inclines but nothing approaching a hill to speak of. The road surface had segments of roughness but not too bad. At 26.96 miles I got to rest stop #3. Some pictures there.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\nThe people at each rest stop were super friendly and the food was easily reached. At this stop I had a Smuckers Crust Free PBJ sandwich. It was good. I was making good time as the Garmin photo shows. The wind was still with us. Back on the road I headed to rest stop #4. The wind was more of a problem because it was a headwind or from the side. Road surface was rough in places.<\/p>\n
I took a break at rest stop #4 for liquid more than food. This was the last stop before returning to the start. Some pictures.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\nThe rest stop was at 39.71 miles into the ride. I wasn’t sure if the 50 mile route was 50 miles or around that length. If it was 50 then it was 10.3 miles to the finish. This was the hardest part of the ride. Almost the entire distance was into the wind and to add to the misery the road surface got ugly and rough. At times I slowed to 12 mph as I battled the wind. I made it to the finish line at 11:31.The weather screenshots at the end. The wind must have been higher than what is shown.<\/p>\n
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