I have about an hour to ride. So, I load up my bike to "trip weight" and slide into my spandex super suit and hit the road. (I forget to put on my trip weight backpack. But I don't realize this until I am about a kilometer down the road, and I ain't going back for it.)
It is warm this morning. With the humidex it is 35 C (95 F). Another good morning for warm weather conditioning.
A hefty 26 kph (16 mph) wind from the south (Thank you Pennsylvania and Ohio for sharing your warmth with Ontario today) prevails. So I select a route that will take me 30 minutes east of my home, at which point I will turn around and head west back home. The theory being I will only have to deal with a crosswind, not a headwind.
As I pedal down the road, the crosswind shakes me a bit, but doesn't topple me (like the winds we experienced last April between Yuma, Arizona and Ocotillo, California which actually blew me off the road a few times).
The horseflies and Red Winged Blackbirds do their territorial obsessiveness. I would have never thought a Fly would be territorial. But they are. No joking. They (It) appears every ride at the same spot. The Black Birds do the same. They drive bomb at my head, but have not (yet) made contact with my helmet. It is entertaining to watch their shadow attack my shadow on the road as I ride. Ok. So I am easily amused.
When I get to my 30 minute turn around point, the wind shifts just enough to create a semi-headwind. But that actually feels kind of cool; a form of evaporation cooling. Sweating has to be good for something.
Arriving home I have pedaled 15.8 km (9.8 mi) in 53 minutes at an average speed of 17.9 kph (11 mph).
I'd better take my shower now and get to work.
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| These black strips are cracks in the pavement which has been filled with thick tar to retard road deterioration. It is so hot these last few days that I have to be careful as to how I interact with these tar strips. They are very soft and I can feel my tires sink into the grooves. |
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