20171008 cycling

20171001.jpg

This week was windy and I really hate wind. Some days I just didn’t have much energy to push and get to 12 mph. Still, I was happy with the miles I did do.

most of the week was overcast & windy while hurricane nate went through the gulf of mexico

most of the week was overcast & windy while hurricane nate went through the gulf of mexico

Monday
75° humidity 92% wind 6 ENE
Wind was a bitch. Thought my tire was tearing apart. I heard and saw som rubber flapping around. I didn’t want to stop until I had to. After a mile or so, it finally fell off.
Landscaping truck blocking path at The Ridge.
9.05 miles
12.29 mph

cows along sr56

cows along sr56

Tuesday
74° humidity 81% wind 8 NE
Ugh. The wind was bad. I couldn’t go any faster and I tried. And by the time I got to where the wind was behind me, I was too tired to really take advantage of it. 
13.28 miles
11.56 mph

clear skies by union park but the wind was still there

clear skies by union park but the wind was still there

Wednesday
72° humidity 83% wind 6NE
Another windy day. I worked late last night so I had no energy to push through it. Lower humidity makes it feel better. 
13.48 miles
11.19 mph

very gloomy and dark at sr56 and mansfield

very gloomy and dark at sr56 and mansfield

Thursday
73° humidity 87% wind 8 NE
More wind. There is a portion of fence out on SR56 MUP east of The Ridge. I think it happened Monday night. Today I noticed a floor mat that said Jagermeister. Can I assume this was a drunk driver crashing through the fence?
Headwind along Mansfield
9.47 miles
11.49 mph

Friday
76° humidity 95% wind 4 NE
I had to drive Andy to school so it had to be a short ride today. I was glad for a someone break in the wind. 
Ran into school traffic. I got around the cars driving in the bike lane only to find a car sitting in the bike lane just past the school entrance. His flashers were on and someone got out of the car. I called him an idiot and smacked the mirror. I realized I shouldn’t have don’t that and pedaled as fast as I could. He caught up to me two blocks later and slowed down and rolled his window. He wanted to know who said he was wrong. I said the law. He said “What law?” I said Florida law. “Florida law, eh.” Do you think you are too good for the law? And he drove away. Black Prius Florida Golf plate JCI 46P Though the I could be a 1. 
I wasn’t at 30 minutes so I drove around Deer Run until the exercise ring was closed. 
6.70 miles
12.62 mph

a car ran off sr56 through the fence and into the pond

a car ran off sr56 through the fence and into the pond

Saturday
79° humidity 91% wind 4-6 SE
Humid and windy. Not a pleasant ride. 
Stopped at the crash site on SR56. The Jagermeister floor mat is gone. There was part of the windshield and a purple EMT glove. The tracks go into the pond. 
Headwind along Mansfield was brutal. 
12.89 miles
11.46 mph

cows and whips clouds

cows and whips clouds

Sunday
79° humidity 91% wind 6 SE
More wind, less energy. I didn’t fight, just pedaled. Looks like the split up some of the angus heard in with the other herds. I only saw two angus in their field which had been mowed. 
Headwind along Mansfield was bad. 
13.52 miles
11.23 mph
This week 78.3
This year 2610
#Cycling

20171001 cycling

bus picking up kids at union park

bus picking up kids at union park

Still struggling to get any speed. At least I was (barely) over 12 mph this week.

construction outside of union park

construction outside of union park

2017.10.01
Monday
76° humidity 93% wind 3 NE
Windy, cloudy. 
Headwind along Mansfield was fierce. 
12.94 miles
12.14 mph

mum along sr56

mum along sr56

Tuesday
73° humidity 94% wind 1 ENE
More humid and less windy. Still, the effort I put in should have gotten me over 13 mph and even closer to 14 mph. 
9.03 miles
12.23 mph

clear skies at union park

clear skies at union park

Wednesday
74° humidity 93% wind 1 NE
A little better. I was able to get over 12 mph but I still had to work for it. 
12.91 miles
12.28 mph

waiting for the light at sr56 and mansfield

waiting for the light at sr56 and mansfield

Thursday
73° humidity 93% wind 1 ENE
Steamy ponds. Sunrise might have been nice if I had the time to stop. 
Seems easier to push. 
9.01 miles
12.50 mph

union park

union park

Friday
72° humidity 93% wind 5 E
Wind was annoying but I kept pushing. Finally caught up to 12 mph at mile 10 and almost lost my gain on Mansfield. Headwind along Mansfield. 
12.85 miles
12.06 mph

sunrise along mansfield and sr56

sunrise along mansfield and sr56

Saturday
74° humidity 95% wind 3 NW
I went out CLR to BBD then to SR56. 
8.58 miles
12.16 mph

another month of no missed rides

another month of no missed rides

September
480 km
298.26 miles

union park

union park

Sunday
78° humidity 92% wind 4+ ESE
Wind felt stronger than 4 mph. It was annoying as I kept losing speed. 
Gained some back going west but still had to push to stay at 12 mph. Headwind along Mansfield. 
13.23 miles
12.00 mph
This week 78.5 miles
This year 2532 miles 

20170924 cycling

union park splash pad

union park splash pad

Monday
72° humidity 91% wind 2 NNW
Legs felt a little better today. Schools are open again so many buses on the roads. There is too much construction starting in the back of Union Park. It is time for a new route
15.02 miles
12.29 mph

cloudy morning at union park

cloudy morning at union park

Tuesday
72° humidity 94% wind 1 N
Still no legs. 
Cars coming out of The Ridge and Behavioral Health almost didn't stop. Sigh. 
12.70 miles
11.85 mph

clear morning at union park

clear morning at union park

Wednesday
76° humidity 85% wind 3 NE
Late start due to backing up iPhone. Wind felt stronger. Somehow I managed to keep a decent pace but nowhere near where I would like to be. 
12.93 miles
12.27 mph

black angus cows at sr56

black angus cows at sr56

Thursday
71° humidity 95% wind 2 NE
Sunrise. I am not sure the sunglasses help when the sun is directly in my eyes. Struggle to get to 12mph. 
9.04 miles
12.07 mph

looking west on sr56 and mansfield

looking west on sr56 and mansfield

Friday
72° humidity 93% wind 3 NNE
Wind was annoying. I pushed it but could not get up to 12 mph. 
I saw one hot air balloon. I saw two yesterday. Too lazy to stop. 
9.48 miles
11.95 mph

looking west at sr56 and mansfield

looking west at sr56 and mansfield

Saturday
73° humidity 93% wind 4 NE
Is this the new norm? I just can’t seem to find any speed in my legs. Even when I push hard, I can’t get faster than 12mph. Sigh
9.00 miles
11.81 mph

small lots at union park

small lots at union park

Sunday
77° humidity 94% wind 6 NNE
Windy. I didn’t push too hard but tried not to go too slow. Getting old = getting slow. 
12.92 miles
11.38 mph
This week 81
This year 2453

20170917 cycling

Still riding everyday but miles and times are going down.

Still riding everyday but miles and times are going down.

Monday
74° wind 16 SW
Hurricane Irma is moving away but it is still very windy. Stayed in Deer Run and checked out the neighborhood. Small branches and dead palm fronds down. 
5.51 miles
10.55 mph

Tuesday
74° humidity 90% wind 4 SE
Short ride. Mostly leaves and small twigs. Some signs down. The Behavioral Health lost some vinyl siding. 
6.04 miles
12.17 mph

foggy morning at the pasture at sr56 and mansfield

foggy morning at the pasture at sr56 and mansfield

Wednesday
69° humidity 94% wind 1 SE
Cooler and foggy. 
I had to push hard just to get to average 12 mph. 
9.01 miles
12.11 mph

union park

union park

Thursday
75° humidity 95% wind 2 E
I think Irma took my legs because I can't seem to get any speed no matter how hard I push. Ugh. 
I accidentally hit end instead of pause on my Apple Watch and ended up with two short rides.
13.01 miles
12.19 mph

20170915-2.jpg

Friday
75° humidity 93% wind 2 NE
I don't know what have happened to my legs. They seem to have lost their power. I have to push it hard just to average 12 mph. 
12.96 miles
12.05 mph

Saturday
75° humidity 94% wind 2 NE
Short ride because I wasted time on the computer. 
Rode hard but still didn't go that fast. 
6.49 miles
12.30 mph

early morning ride along southbound wiregrass ranch boulevard

early morning ride along southbound wiregrass ranch boulevard

Sunday
74° humidity 94% wind 1 N
I went out to BBD because of the wind. Some areas of CLR were dark because of the trees or the lights being out. I thought the lights were out on BBD but realized that there aren't any north of CLR! It wasn't too bad because there were lights from cars and businesses. But after the hospital, there is nothing! I just kept my eye on the faint line between the car lane and the bike lane. If there was any debris I couldn't see it to avoid it. 
It was dark along Chancey but I could see lights in the distance. There are streetlights in the area where there is no development! They end after the third roundabout but dawn was approaching. 
I didn't even try to get to 12 mph. It was stressful enough just seeing enough of the road to keep riding. 
9.47 miles
11.37 mph
This week 62.4 miles
This year 2373 miles 

20170910 cycling

flat.

flat.

Monday
75° humidity 91% wind 4 ESE
Flat tire before I even started. I spent half my ride time changing the tire. Changed the tire and tube.
Turned onto MPB and tachycardia started and didn't stop.
Cut the ride short and came back through The Ridge. The pedestrian gates were closed but the auto gates were open.
7.43 miles
12.10 mph

waiting for the light to change at hueland pond and mansfield

waiting for the light to change at hueland pond and mansfield

Tuesday
75° humidity 97%
Short ride because I drove Andy to school. Ankle hurt most of the ride. 
School traffic. 
6.41 miles
12.21 mph

too many clouds these days

too many clouds these days

Wednesday
73° humidity 91% wind 3 SE
No power in my legs and my ankle hurt. I pushed but never got about 12 mph average speed. 
Drizzle started at Union Park and got heavier and I rode on SR56. 
Slow, wet ride. 
12.97 miles
11.78 mph

looking at storms form off the coast

looking at storms form off the coast

Thursday
74° humidity 98% wind 3 NE
Better ride today. Short ride so I can get to work early. 
8.42 miles
12.47 mph

hurricane irma is coming

hurricane irma is coming

Friday
79° humidity 88% wind 5 NE
Muggy and windy. I could get the energy to go to Union Park even though I had the time. 
9.03 miles
11.47 mph

i had to ride to keep my streak of riding everyday and filling in the exercise ring

i had to ride to keep my streak of riding everyday and filling in the exercise ring

Saturday
77° humidity 90% wind 8 NE
Hurricane Irma is coming. First just trying to keep my streak and ride at least one mile. Kept going until I got in 30 minutes. Very windy. 
5.83 miles
11.26 mph

the winds were strong and it is easier to fight the strong wind if i can turn after a block

the winds were strong and it is easier to fight the strong wind if i can turn after a block

Sunday
76° wind 13 NE
Hurricane Irma is coming. Another ride around Deer Run. The wind was strong so it was nice being able to turn away from it and only have to ride into the wind for a block at a time. 
5.42 miles
10.12 mph
This week 55.4 miles
This year 2310 miles

20170903 cycling

all the blocks are filled

all the blocks are filled

Monday
76° humidity 98% wind 4 SW
Short so I can go into work early. Ugh. 
Overcast and gloomy. 
7.37 miles
13.19 mph

Tuesday
75° humidity 97% wind 4 S
I went out to BBD. It is slightly downhill so I can build up a good average speed. 
Light rain started on Mansfield. 
7.35 miles
13.13 mph

asshole

asshole

Wednesday
73° humidity 95% wind 2 SE
It felt cooler. Maybe it was just the fog. Glasses fogged up a little but I left them on. Truck blocking sidewalk at Union Park. He was still there, with it running, when I went out again. 
12.98 miles
12.73 mph 

rest stop

rest stop

Thursday
75° humidity 95% wind 4 SE
Union Park. Had to ride the last loop trying to avoid a sweeper. He turned around and had to stop for me anyway. Oops. 
Pushed it but lost some speed because of headwind along Mansfield
13.25 miles
13.04 mph
This month 545 km (339 miles)

looking southwest along sr56 mup

looking southwest along sr56 mup

Friday
74° humidity 99% wind 5 SE
No energy to push. Sunny and keeping my head down almost ran into a jogger who was running in the street. Sigh. 
8.42 miles
12.84 mph

the black angus cows rarely come this close to the mup. they prefer people not to stop and moo at me.

the black angus cows rarely come this close to the mup. they prefer people not to stop and moo at me.

Saturday
73° humidity 98% wind?? Felt like 5 NE
Legs were not on this ride. I couldn't push if I wanted to. 
Wet roads from overnight rains. 
12.94 miles
12.28 mph

these cows seem friendlier but i don't go closer.

these cows seem friendlier but i don't go closer.

Sunday
75° humidity 93% wind 4 ESE
Still tired. It took 30 minutes to get to 12 mph average speed. 
Montgomery Bell still flooded in the south end of Union Park. 
13.2 miles
12.52 mph
This week 75.4
This year 2254

20170827 cycling

construction at sr56 and meadow pointe blvd

construction at sr56 and meadow pointe blvd

Monday
77° humidity 90% wind 5 ENE
Wind. Traffic.
9.04 miles
12.90 mph

clear day at union park

clear day at union park

Tuesday
76° humidity 91% wind 5 ENE
Windy. Sunny. 
12.97 miles
12.58 mph

puffy clouds at sr56 and mansfield blvd

puffy clouds at sr56 and mansfield blvd

Wednesday
78° humidity 94% wind 4 NE
Warm and windy. 
Late start and school buses. 
Bobcat idling on MUP at Behavioral Health blocking most of the path. 
Headwind along Mansfield
13.17 miles
12.5 mph

driver backed up and stopped and then looked at his phone. he was blocking the only entry and exit to union park and was oblivious.

driver backed up and stopped and then looked at his phone. he was blocking the only entry and exit to union park and was oblivious.

Thursday
78° humidity 98% wind 4 E
Sunny and windy. 
Flat bed semi blocking road at entrance to Union Park. Nine cars backed up on bridge and he was in no hurry to move. 
Must have hit resume instead of pause because my average speed dropped from 12.6 to 12.3. Huh?
12.89 miles
12.34 mph (Apple Watch registered 12.6 mph and it is always lower.)

gloomy day. looking west on sr56 at mansfield blvd.

gloomy day. looking west on sr56 at mansfield blvd.

Friday
74° humidity 99% wind 4 E
Dark and overcast. Some school traffic. Some mist. 
9.01 miles
12.72 mph

another gloomy day

another gloomy day

Saturday
75° humidity 94% wind 1 SE-NE
Overcast with light wind. Kept trying to push myself faster. 
9 miles
12.82 mph

i miss the sun

i miss the sun

Sunday
77° humidity 96% wind 6 SE
Gloomy, wet and windy. 
12.91 miles
12.78 mph
This week 79 miles
This year 2179 miles 

20170820 cycling

union park

union park

Monday
76° humidity 94% wind 3 SE
First day of school, lots of traffic. 
Now there are two containment bubbles at the Union Park leak. Is it a water main or a spring? Seems like too much flow to be natural. Does Florida have geysers?
12.94 miles
12.95 mph

wiregrass ranch corral

wiregrass ranch corral

Tuesday
76° humidity 98% wind 3 SSW
I went out to BBD north to Chancey. I made all the lights with only having to slow down some. 
I stopped at one of the corrals and the cows were gathered and making a lot of noise. I wanted to get closer but stayed back not wanting to spook the cattle. 
13.57 miles
12.97 mph

Wednesday
78° humidity 89% wind 1 SSW
Short ride. I went west to BBD to SR56. Ran into school traffic at JLMS. SUV nearly took me out
7.19 miles
13.53 mph

storms forming north of tampa bay

storms forming north of tampa bay

Thursday
78° humidity 91% wind 2 SE
Not much energy. School traffic and buses. Foot hurt. 
12.93 miles
12.70 mph

thunderhead off the coast

thunderhead off the coast

Friday
76° humidity 95% wind 2 SE
Glasses slip some. 
Tachycardia after mile 5. I took it easy the rest of the ride. 
8.42 miles
12.44 mph

storms forming off the gulf coast

storms forming off the gulf coast

Saturday
74° humidity 96% wind 2 SE
Ankle still hurts. 
Clear skies. 
People walking in bike lane along Mansfield. 
9.01 miles
12.79 mph

looking west on SR56 

looking west on SR56 

Sunday
79° humidity 87% wind 4 ENE
Warm and windy. Flooding at Union Park is gone but draining continues. 
Heard, then saw, a drone as I was leaving Union Park. 
Headwind along Mansfield. 
13.2 miles
12.57 mph

This week 77.2 miles
This year 2100 miles 

20170813 cycling

union park

union park

Monday
78° humidity 93% wind 7 SE
Hot and windy. 
Headwind along Mansfield really killed my speed. 
12.94 miles
12.44 mph

new flowers for union park

new flowers for union park

Tuesday
77° humidity 93% wind 4 SE
Hot and windy. Adding air to my tires seemed little. 
Heavier traffic because of school orientation. 
12.94 miles
12.39 mph

cattle trailer at wiregrass pasture

cattle trailer at wiregrass pasture

Wednesday
75° humidity 95% wind 3 SE
Felt better today. Shorter ride because of work. Hueland Pond is now open to traffic. 
8.41 miles
12.91 mph

wiregrass

wiregrass

Thursday
76° humidity 93% wind ? NE-SE
Conflicting reports of wind speed and direction.
Rode out to Union Park. Road in back is still flooding. 
More traffic today and crossing guard on Mansfield. 
12.94 miles
12.77 mph

pasco hernando state college porter campus

pasco hernando state college porter campus

Friday
74° humidity 98% wind 1 NNW
I saw the wind direction but went right at CLR. The wind was negligible and always felt against me. 
Tried to ride hard. Ankle pain. 
9.05 miles
12.75 mph

morning storms coming in from the gulf

morning storms coming in from the gulf

Saturday
76° humidity 95% wind 3 SSE
Saw some hot air balloons. I wanted to get closer before I stopped but then I lost them. Oh well. 
Good pace. I was at 13.2 then Headwind along Mansfield dropped me to 13.1 despite my efforts. 
9.03 miles
13.18 mph

storms forming in the gulf

storms forming in the gulf

Sunday
79° humidity 97% wind 4 SSE
Warm and windy. 
Asshole on motorcycle racing through Wiregrass and Meadow Pointe and doing wheelies. 
13.11 miles
12.99 mph

This week 78.3
This year 2022

20170806 cycling

Monday
74° humidity 95% wind 7 ENE
Light rain for most of the ride. The rain picked up when I turned onto Mansfield or maybe it was just the headwind. Soaked by the time I got home. 
8.41 miles
12.31 mph

the rear of the townhouse are painted a drab olive yet have brick paved driveways. it seems like mixed signals.

the rear of the townhouse are painted a drab olive yet have brick paved driveways. it seems like mixed signals.

Tuesday
72° humidity 94% wind 4 NE
Back sore so I took it easy. 
I rode through The Arbors off of Chancey. They are narrow homes on narrow lots. There are townhomes with alleys and one car garages. It is an odd neighborhood. 
10.51 miles
12.25 mph

Wednesday
78° humidity 98% wind 4 SE
Back still hurts. Took it easy until I warmed up. Pedaling is fine but deep breaths hurt. 
8:45 miles
12.25 mph

the cows were gathered in the part of the pasture, sheltered from the coming rain.

the cows were gathered in the part of the pasture, sheltered from the coming rain.

Thursday
78° humidity 98% wind 4 SE
Back still sore but getting better. 
Kept it easy for the first half. 
Union Park was muddy and flooded in parts. 
Prisoner work group blocking most of the path west of The Ridge. Landscape crew blocking path at Behavior Health. Sigh. 
13.26 miles
11.87 mph

most of the time, these black angus are too far away to photograph with my iPhone.

most of the time, these black angus are too far away to photograph with my iPhone.

Friday
74° humidity 94% wind 4 ESE
Back is almost better but today I had a stomachache. 
I had to ride down to Forest Glen because there was too much traffic to turn left at Stetson. 
9.49 miles
12.29 mph

hueland pond looking south to wiregrass ranch high school

hueland pond looking south to wiregrass ranch high school

Saturday
77° humidity 95% wind 0
Back feels 95% better. 
Pushing it a little more but not crazy. 
8.42 miles
12.79mph

someday we will be able to ride farther east along sr56

someday we will be able to ride farther east along sr56

Sunday
78° humidity 92% wind 5 SE
Windy. Back feels fine. 
13.42 miles
12.31 mph

This week 71.9
This year 1944