{"id":9484,"date":"2011-08-20T12:21:18","date_gmt":"2011-08-20T17:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=9484"},"modified":"2011-08-20T12:21:18","modified_gmt":"2011-08-20T17:21:18","slug":"i-improved-my-average-speed-but-not-compared-to-some-other-bikers-august-20th-bike-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2011\/08\/20\/i-improved-my-average-speed-but-not-compared-to-some-other-bikers-august-20th-bike-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"I Improved my Average Speed but Not Compared to Some Other Bikers – August 20th Bike Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

I got an earlier start today in the hope of beating some of the heat. I am not sure I accomplished that goal since it was 95 degrees by the time I got back home after a 41.82 mile<\/strong> ride. It was 82 degrees when I rode away at 7:59AM so over the 3 1\/2 hours the temperature went up 13 degrees. Yesterday my home weather station recorded 106+ degrees for a couple of hours. The sweat poured out of my body during the ride and drinking two water bottles plus a 44 oz. Diet Pepsi did not replace what I lost in fluid. My technique of dipping my head to the right produces a flood of water but it does seem to keep it out of my eyes. If I lower my chin enough to squeeze my helmet strap I get even more sweat to drop down on the road. I think my right shoe must get the brunt of the moisture but the wind appears to evaporate it.<\/p>\n

While I was stopped at the Chevron station in Splendora to dry off some and refill my water bottle 5 other bikers from Kingwood pulled in. They were talking about averaging 23.5 mph for the 65 miles they had rode up to that point. This made my 15.4 mph average speed<\/strong> seem like I was walking but then again these guys were probably half my age and riding in a group. They were riding some high end bikes as well: Trek Madone, Pinerallo and others. One biker took his bandana off and wrung it out over the concrete and a lot of water fell out. At least I wasn’t the only one sweating up a storm. My goal was to increase my average speed and this I accomplished. My max speed was 20.5 mph and my average cadence also increased to 80.2 RPM.<\/p>\n

Yesterday I received my Hotter’n Hell Hundred registration packet. I am rider #6669. Hopefully all of this hot weather practice riding will carry me on the 75 mile route. With the 6:15 AM start we will probably have low light and maybe a low temperature.<\/p>\n

August mileage update:<\/p>\n