Tuesday, August 14, 2007

This Time Last Year

Temperature at departure = 77° F (25° C)

It was nice getting back on the bike yesterday. When I got into the office I did my normal hot weather routine of filling my water bottle most of the way and putting it in the freezer. Last year, when the temperatures for my afternoon departure were in the low 100's for several weeks, I'd stop for a drink around half way home and the water would be cool but the ice would have already melted. When I left the office yesterday the temperature was 93° F (34° C) and the bottle was still mostly filled with ice when I got home.

There are a few differences that might explain why I'm only filling the water bottle half way before freezing today:
  • A 10 degree difference in temperatures.
  • Last year my route was mostly in traffic -- this year it is primarily on the bike path which runs next to a creek and provides lots of shade.
  • My route home is only 2/3 what it was last year.

Don't misinterpret what I'm saying, it was still oppressively hot and breathing seemed a bit labored at times. So, for now, I'm not going to worry about my average MPH. I'll slow down a bit and stay on the lookout for misaimed sprinklers that are misting over into the road.

2 comments:

Noah said...

The link to yes.com for your post from last year is pure ownage. Thanks :)

It's been quite roasty this summer so far, but considerably cooler than last year around the same time. The fresh, dark black asphalt on Merriam Lane is pure death in this sunlight.

Yokota Fritz said...

I love those misaimed sprinklers in the summer time ;-)