Screws in my coffee

My ODO is 1627 at the start of this week. I rode 133 miles in week 33. I am riding in the Hotter Than Hell 100 on August 26, 2006 which is this Saturday so I am taking it easy this week and not riding any intense hills. I do not want to injure myself before the big ride.

The temperature that I was riding in during week 33 (last week) was 100+ degrees. Everyday last week was between 100 and 104 degrees except for Saturday which was 97 degrees. I’m pretty sure that I’m in good condition for the 100 mile ride in Wichita Falls Texas. I have been riding every day to work and back and some riding on weekends. I have also been working out at least twice a week and sometimes three times a week at 24 Hour Fitness.

So for my morning ride the weather at 7 am is 72 degrees 84% humidity with an expected high of 101 degrees and 34% humidity at 4 PM. The hills are calling my name.

I am starting the week with my ODO at 1494. I rode 113 miles during week 32. Riding up Red Bud Terrace is getting easier.

I am starting the week with my ODO at 1381. I rode 179 miles during week 31. I rode 61 miles on Saturday 8/5 from Mt. Gainer Inn to Wemberly, Texas and back. I got lost as it was a 41 mile ride.

I broke my streak of not driving my car to work and drove to work on Friday 8/4. I wanted to be in good shape for the ride that I did on Saturday with the Austin Cycling Association

I have mentioned in my writing about sweating when I cycle. I use the Gutr Sweatband.

I truly love this product and could not ride my bike more than a few minutes without it in the Austin summer weather.

Well, I finally decided to get Sylvia, my girlfriend to take pictures of me on my bike. I have been bike commuting to work for about 5 weeks this summmer. I average 20-30 miles a day and about 100-150 miles a week. I am preparing for a 100-mile ride at the end of August in Wichita Falls Texas called the Hotter ‘n Hell 100.
When I first got to Texas I could not ride 20 miles during the summer heat, but now I can do it just fine. I did have to make some adaptations to my paradigm for cycling in Oregon to cycling here in Austin.

• I added two water bottles to my bike. I put sports drink powder in them. I use them to hydrate in addition to using my water bladder on my back
• I had to give up on cloth headbands to prevent sweat from getting in my eyes. I purchased a gutter guard, which is a plastic headband with a gutter that allows the sweat to drip down the side of your face and not into your eyes.
• I have gotten use to really sweating when I ride. I use to hate head winds but now I love them because the wind helps evaporate the sweat off my skin and it feels cool.
• I replace my old aero bars for a new set that are a better fit. It gets windy here in Austin. Typically, there are 10-14 MPH winds so when you are riding hills and flats aero bars make riding easier.

I really like riding my bike to work. I will admit that there are days when I do not feel like getting on my bike, but after I get going and finish the 2-mile hill that I have to climb to get to Bee Caves road I feel great. Riding the rolling hills of west Austin can be fun or a real drag depending on my attitude. I will write more about riding hills later.