20161002 cycling

Four weeks of filling in the squares! Yay!

i stopped at a different spot for a change of scenery

Monday
76° humidity 95% wind 2 ESE
A bit muggy but cooler than sitting in the house. (AC is being replaced today.) I rode out to Union Park. Too much traffic this morning. 
Felt like I could keep riding. 
11.18 miles 13.70 mph

Tuesday
74° humidity 94% wind 2 SE changed to 2 SW Felt stronger
Rode out to Union Park. Up to 14.1 mph until I stopped. I forgot to hit pause and average rate dropped below 13 mph! Also headwind was bad. 
Sweaty ride. 
11.19 miles 13.41 mph (14.0 bike computer)

the wood bridge at union park is kind of cool but it is not built for pedestrians nor bicycles

Wednesday
73° humidity 93% wind 3 SE
Late start, short ride. 
The wind didn't bother me but the sun was right in my eyes. 
I rode out Mansfield to Hueland Pond to SR56. The fence at the construction site fell over onto the path. I had to slow down but stayed on the path. 
I pushed it trying to get to 14 mph. 
6.09 miles 14.24 mph

Thursday
76° humidity 90% wind 4 SSE-SSW
My body wanted to stay home. 
I had to stop for a school bus at Hillhurst and Beardsley. 
I stopped at Union Park. 
I stopped again at the high point north of The Ridge. There was a strong headwind on SR56. 
Construction worker walked right into my path without looking. I had to brake hard. 
Stopped the last time for the light at Mansfield. My legs were shaky. 
11.23 miles 13.31 mph

interesting clouds

Friday
75° humidity 94% wind 4 SSE
I forgot to look at the wind direction before I left. Headwind along Mansfield made me remember and I did a quick check whilst riding to make sure I was going in the right direction. 
I rode out to Union Park. I went opposite and found construction traffic blocking most of Watoga Loop. I stopped at the parking lot to get a different shot of the bridge. The sun was in my eyes and I didn't notice my finger blocking part of the lens. D'oh. 
Headwind on SR56. My legs just weren't into riding. I did my best to keep at a decent pace. 
11.24 miles 13.58 mph (13.7)

the clubhouse at union park looks fun

there is a splash pad and park that promotes gathering

Saturday
71° humidity 89% wind 4-5 NE
Cooler! And a bit windier. 
I went out to Union Park. I rode to the back and found a path behind the clubhouse. It is nice but not made for bikes. It puddles from early morning irrigation from the houses and the concrete was broken in one spot. The only creatures I saw were a dead(?) catfish, and three sand hill cranes which flew away once I was too close to them. The path ends at a dirt road. I won't ride it again. 
I lost some speed on the path and didn't feel like pushing it to gain it back. 
I stopped at Mansfield and waited for the light. Only I got impatient and thought I could go early only to see the light change and had to turn around. 
Headwind along Mansfield. 
12.03 miles 13.52 mph (13.6)

another year complete for national bike challenge

This week: 62.9 miles
This year: 1822 miles

20160925 cycling

It feels good to see those squares filled in even if the rides aren’t very long.

Monday
77° humidity 94% wind 1 SW
Late start and wind direction made me go out towards BBD. Even with the slight wind against me, I was at 14.3 by the time I got to BBD and 14.6 when I got to SR56. Some headwind caused me to slow down to 14.5 but I recovered on Mansfield. 
I ran into traffic at JLMS. 
7.13 miles 14.62 mph

Tuesday
76° humidity 95% wind 2 SE (felt stronger)
I tried to ride hard but my body wasn't having it. One loop. 
9.07 miles 13.66 mph

Wednesday
79° humidity 93% wind 3 NE (felt stronger)
Very late start. 
Rode one loop. Slowed down by bus on Beardsley. 
Barrels are blocking Hueland Pond at SR56. 
Headwind along Mansfield was strong. 
Stopped by light at WRHS. Forgot to hit resume and lost 1.25 miles. 
9 miles 13.32 mph

Thursday
73° humidity 94% wind 1 ENE
Sun not up yet, turned on my lights. 
I felt the wind but it didn't bother me. 
Bike computer showing average speed 2 mph faster than Wahoo app. 
Almost ran over a frog. It was lying in the bike path on Beardsley. I avoided it thinking it was a rock. I am glad it didn't get spooked and hop into my tire. 
9 miles 13.73 mph

Friday
73° humidity 94% wind 1 NNE
Late start, short ride. 
I went out Mansfield to Hueland Pond to SR56 to Mansfield. 
6.05 miles 13.84 mph (14)

Saturday
76° humidity 94% wind 2 NE
Later start. Not as cool. 
I had time so I rode out to Union Park. 
Then I rode up SR56 to Mansfield. 
Headwind along Mansfield slowed me down so and I tried to push. 
11.22 miles 13.81 mph (13.9)

This week 50.2 miles
This year 1759 miles

20160918 cycling

fewer grey blocks

Yay! Another week with 6 rides.

a newer view though not very interesting

Monday
78° humidity 94% wind 4 NE
Wasn't feeling it, late start. I chose to go out Mansfield and ride a short loop. My body just wasn't up for a workout. I kept trying to push but my legs gave out when I hit the wind on SR56. 
Construction had some of the path clear. The gates were opened inside the site and most of the cars parked half off the path. Though there is always one who feels they shouldn't have to park on the grass. Sigh. 
The guard at WES stopped a car for me to let me ride through. The guard at Wrencrest made me stop for two people. Ass. 
There was smoke in the air from brush clearing. 
Shaky all the way home. 
6 miles 13.6 mph

Tuesday
75° humidity 94% wind 5 NNE
Wind didn't bother me too much. Legs felt better. 
One loop. 
I noticed that Wiregrass Elementary is using the abbreviation WRES because Watergrass Elementary School is using WES. 
9.6 miles 14.13 mph

Wednesday
78° humidity 94% wind 6 SE
I felt good but not a lot of energy. Wind didn't help much though I did get up to 14 mph at about mile 6 and the same time my legs gave out. I could feel my insides melt. It took all I had to just to keep pedaling. I had nothing to push against the Headwind along Mansfield. 
9 miles 13.66 mph

Thursday
78° humidity 93% wind 2 SSE
Too warm. The wind felt stronger and was against me on SR56. 
I rode the MUP and was able to ride past the construction site without slowing down. 
Dirt haulers were driving through Hueland Pond and not stopping when they got to SR56. Luckily, I was far enough away not to be in their path. 
I couldn't get above 13.4 mph. 
9 miles 13.27 mph

few cows bothered to look at me

Friday
75° humidity 95% wind 2 NE
Bike computer shows higher speed than Wahoo so I thought I was riding better. Took shortcut on Hueland Pond. 
Headwind along Mansfield slowed me down some. 
8.58 miles 13.84 mph

Saturday
78° humidity 95% wind 4 NNE
I had the time to ride longer but not the energy to ride a lot longer. I went out to Union Park and back. It gave me two extra miles. The wind was annoying. 
11 miles 13.49 miles

This week 53.5
This year 1709

20160911 cycling

Yay! I rode six days this week. 

Monday
Labor Day but I scheduled myself to work. 
74° humidity 95% wind 4 NE
Late start = short ride. 
I went to Mansfield, turned on Hueland Pond Blvd. Turned north on SR56 and back on Mansfield. 
The wind was annoying. 
6.16 miles 13.93 mph

Tuesday
77° humidity 85% wind 5 NE
I got a late start and it was too windy. I rode my favorite loop and battled the wind most of the way. 
Construction crew working north of the mental health facility and blocking the path. 
9 miles 13.52 mph

Wednesday
73° humidity 94% wind 4 NE
It seemed windier. 
Construction crew north of mental health facility had fencing up around the site. But the gates open out and completely block the path. I rode in the street on the other side of SR56 as a precaution and I was right to do so. As I rode, I watched a jogger have to stop to squeeze through the opening. Why are they allowed to do that without providing a detour?
9.5 miles 13.75 mph

Thursday
72° humidity 93% wind 5 NE
Windier. I tried to push it harder. 
Construction north of mental health facility completely blocking path with gates and vehicles. Still no sidewalk closed signs. 
Rode path the closure signs on WRB. They are redoing the intersection and have their construction signs posted where the pavement ends. 
Crossing guard waved me through while kids were crossing service road at WES. 
9.9 miles 13.89 mph

Friday
79° humidity 89% wind 5 NE
Windy and warm. One loop. 
Headwind along Mansfield was fierce. I had no energy to push. 
9.63 miles 13.3 mph

Saturday
76° humidity 94% wind 3 ENE
Late start so I shortened the ride through Hueland Pond. I saw two hot air balloons but they never got close enough to photograph. The wind seemed to shift so it was always in front of me. Headwind along Mansfield was tough to overcome. 
8.5 miles 14.11 mph

This week 52.8 miles
This year 1655 miles

20160904 cycling

I blame #hermine for the grey blocks this week

Monday
78° humidity 93% wind 5 NE
I probably should have pumped up my tires. It was that and the wind that seemed to hold me back. Oh, and my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about work and the moves that will have to be made. 
9.5 miles 13.73 mph

Tuesday
76° humidity 94% wind 4 ENE
Pumped up tires. Maybe it helped. I pushed it as much as I could. Wind was a problem. 
I rode the path along SR56. It has been repaired. Dirt hauler coming out of the The Ridge didn't stopped but I was prepared. Ass. 
Another project starting up just north of the mental health facility. Ugh. 
Headwind along Mansfield was bad but I kept up. 
9.08 miles 14.08 mph

the MUP is usable so new perspective when i stop

Wednesday
No ride. Rain from #Hermine

view from hue land pond blvd looking towards the wrks entrance

Thursday
76° humidity 94% wind 10 ESE
Ugh. I almost didn't go looking at that wind. I pumped up the back tire. 
The wind was annoying but not too bad. The signs blocking the path on SR56 at MPB are gone. I didn't see if the ones at Mansfield are gone because I decided to try Hueland Pond. I assumed it would be empty because of #Hermine. I was right. There are no bike lanes but there are decent sidewalks on both sides. With the open field, it was very windy. I pushed but didn't think I would get to 14 mph. 
Headwind along Mansfield dropped my average as well. But I was surprised when I finished that Wahoo said my average was 14.01!
8.5 miles 14.01 mph

the lettering on this sign is awful

Friday
Rain. No ride. 

pitted mirror

Saturday
76° humidity 95% wind 3 SSE
I changed my bike mirror. The old one was so pitted to be useless. 
I didn't have much time to ride. I chose to go out Mansfield and ride a loop. 
I went around Hueland Pond to SR56 back to Mansfield. Headwind along Mansfield was really strong. I didn't have the energy to push. 
6 miles 13.65 mph

new mirror

This week 33.2 miles
This year 1602 miles

20160828 cycling

so many grey blocks

Monday
75° humidity 94% wind 1 NW
Late start. I took advantage of the change of wind and went out CLR to BBD. I was up to 14.3 mph by the time I got to BBD. Kept up the pace. No breaks. 
7 miles 14.7 mph

the only clouds were behind me

Tuesday
80° humidity 92% wind 2 NNE
Too warm. Too windy. I couldn't get any energy to push. 
Pick up truck driving on path along MPB. Ass. 
Two dead armadillos on Mansfield. 
Had to slow down for WES traffic. 
9 miles 13.7 mph

Wednesday
78° humidity 95% wind 5 NE
The humidity is awful. It really saps the life out of me. I pushed through and had a decent ride. 
The wind didn't seem to bother me nor did it help. 
9 miles 14.07 mph

Thursday
Drove the boys to school, no ride. 

Friday
80° humidity 87% wind 7 NE
Too warm. Too windy. 
I just couldn't push any harder. My max average was 13.2. Headwind along Mansfield big time. 
9 miles 13.09 mph

i don't usually stop during short rides but i liked the sky

Saturday
77° humidity 89% wind 6 NE
Futzing with computer and left late. Short ride with headwind. Tried to push it. Almost made it to 14 mph
7 miles 13.94 mph

This week 43 miles
This year 1569 miles

20160821 cycling

still so much room for improvement

Monday
First day of school. 
Drove the boys to school. 
OK, fine. I procrastinated until it was too hot to ride. 

clear morning

Tuesday
76° humidity 94% wind 3 NE
Pumped up my tires. 
Some wind. Traffic a little heavier because of school. 
No traffic at JLMS. 
9 miles 14.3 mph

Wednesday
76° humidity 94% wind 5 ENE
Not feeling it. Decided not to push it. Wind was annoying. Mind was elsewhere. 
Rode one block on WRB just to avoid the extra bumpy crosswalk. 
Headwind along Mansfield and didn't have anything to push back with. 
9 miles 13.8 mph

Thursday
Work early, no ride. 

three hot air balloons in the distance

Friday
75° humidity 94% wind 2 ENE
I think I should have pumped up my tires. I pushed it as much as I could. 
Headwind along Mansfield but kept my speed up. 
9 miles 14.24 mph

hot air balloon landed on the service road

Saturday
75° humidity 94% wind 2 SSE
Pumped up the tires. It helped some. 
Saw three balloons. Saw one land on the service road between the schools. 
9 miles 14.05 mph

This week 37.9 miles
This year 1526 miles

20160814 cycling

Monday
Rain

Tuesday
Rain and orientation. Ryan had said he wanted to go at 9:00 so I skipped my ride. Then he went out riding and didn't get back until 9:40! I could have ridden. 

the problem with short rides is that i don't stop until i get home and take no photos. this is from saturday.

Wednesday
75° humidity 93% wind 4 E
Late start. I almost didn't go. 
I could feel the wind but pushed through. 
Sod project on Beardsley made the bike lane muddy. 
Stomach pains on the way back. 
7 miles 13.8 mph

Thursday
75° humidity 95% win 3 NE (felt like SE)
Another late start. Tired. 
Sod project done but bike lane still muddy. 
Car transport truck blocking Beardsley on the way back. 
Pushed it. 
7.1 miles 14 mph

seems like it is one extreme of another, overcast and rain or clear, blue skies. both are boring.

Friday
75° humidity 95% wind 3 NE felt more like SSE
Late start. Short ride. No legs. 
School buses doing practice runs. 
7.25 miles 13.6 mph

Saturday
75° humidity 94% wind 3 E (felt like SE)
No energy today. I just couldn't push it anymore. 
Headwind along Mansfield made me lose some speed. 
9 miles 13.92 mph

This week 30.6 miles
This year 1488 miles

20160807 cycling

Still too many grey blocks.

Monday
No ride. Waiting for repairman to call. 

enough signs?

Tuesday
76° humidity 91% wind 2 NE
Felt OK. Headwind along Mansfield.  
9 miles 14.1 mph

Wednesday
74° humidity 93% wind 2 SE
Pumped up tires. Had to come back to take out recycling. 
Went one loop. Got stopped at light at MPB & SR56. Stopped again at SR56 & Mansfield. 
Headwind along Mansfield. 
Felt good. 
9 miles 14.5 mph

Thursday
No ride, rain. 

Friday
Late start. 
77° humidity 92% wind 4 SE
Sod project blocking bike lanes on Beardsley. 
Wind was annoying. It was strong enough to move the Verizon flags a bit. 
One loop. 
Headwind along Mansfield made me lose much of my speed. I was at 14.5 mph then dropped to 14.1. I saw that and pushed it home. 
9 miles 14.2 mph

Saturday
76° humidity 94% wind 4 SE
Didn't feel the power today. I had to keep reminding myself to push. 
Headwind along Mansfield
9 miles 14.1 mph

This week 36.7
This year 1457

20160731 cycling

Monday
72° humidity 94% wind 3 ESE
I was ready before Ryan but let him go first. 
Felt good. Wind was annoying. I pushed through it and was up to 14.1 when I got to SR56. 
I maxed at 14.5 mph until I hit the Headwind along Mansfield. 
10 miles 14.1 mph

storms forming along the west coast

Tuesday
78° humidity 91% wind 4 ESE
The wind was stronger and I tried to fight it. The wind helped me to get to 14 mph on SR56. 
Headwind along Mansfield killed any momentum. I really had to put it to keep my pace above 14. 
10 miles 14.14 mph

Wednesday
78° humidity 92% wind 4 ESE
Late start. I decided on a short ride to Oldwoods and back. Rode hard and got my pace up. Pushed it and kept it up. 
7 miles 14.2 mph

Thursday
77° humidity 92% wind 1 ENE
Really muggy. 
Another short ride. I pushed it as much as I could. Stomach ache. 
7 miles 14.1 mph

Friday
80° humidity 91% wind 1 ESE
I forgot my water but didn't want to turn around. 
My mind was elsewhere. 
No wind to hurt not help. 
WRB is being torn up at Chancey. No more extra mile for a while. 
9.8 miles 14.09 mph

Saturday
No ride. Washing machine leaked and I had to clean up the flood. 

This week: 44 miles
This year: 1420 miles