What a difference a tailwind makes

Got up and got out riding before it got too hot on Saturday.  We decided it was a good day to attempt my first “long” ride. 

We had discovered the shoulders of Spring Valley Road are smooth (which is something you really notice on a bike) so we thought it would be a good route and our destination was Moody. 

I learned a little bit about drafting another rider.  There was a pretty stiff headwind the whole way there.  Even my son thought it was difficult.  So when it was level and downhill I tried to draft off of him.  It was great when I could keep up but whenever there was the slightest incline I would trail off.  He would ride ahead and then circle back around and meet up with me in a little while.  It worked pretty well.  It took an hour and a half to get to Moody (almost 18 miles, avg speed just under 13 mph).  But I was amazed how much easier the ride back was.  We covered it in just less than an hour. It felt like we were flying in comparison. So that part of the ride was about 18 mph.  The only problem was that you noticed the heat so much more. 

By the time we got home it was 95° already.  It had been 79° when we started out.  I felt pretty good for this ride.  I’m really happy about being able to do it. 

I feel like my goal of riding 50 miles in the Waco Wild West Century in September is possible.