Horribly Hot and Humid...alliteration is fun!

Wednesday morning I woke at 5, checked the forecast, then the radar.  Seemed I was clear for a ride!  About half way down County Road 8 the wind started going all crazy and I knew a front was moving in.

After seeing this I knew I was about to get wet.

Yep, I got wet...real wet.  I debated turning for home but I wasn't going to get anymore wet so onward I pushed into the rain.  Coming around Briggs Lake I noticed my pedal stroke on my right side was weird.  I thought my pedal was coming loose to I tried to tighten it.  Nope, the pedal insert was loose inside the crank itself.  Shit.  Oh well, onward.  A few miles later is fully ripped out!

No fixing that.  It's covered under warranty but carbon cranks...Why?! I should remember this!

I one leg pedaled a few miles, harder than I thought, before I texted Jen for a bailout. I made it a couple more miles before my rescue came.  I wanted 3 hours, which I came close to, so still good ride!

Thursday I headed up to my folks cabin, near Battle Lake.  I took my time getting ready as the rest of the family wouldn't be coming up till that evening.  Finally around 10 I was off on the Moots.

Almost instantly sweat started to bead up on my arms and drip from my forehead.  It was going to be a hot day.  I made my way North and West on familiar roads until I got far enough out that I could start taking "new to me" roads.  It was pavement to this point but mostly gravel after.  I found some great roads!  Despite moving up to a 100oz bladder and two water bottles I found myself running out of fluid earlier than anticipated. Not knowing exactly where I was I started to conserve a bit.  I came across Miltona and stopped for some cold fluids.  Amazing how that gets you going again!  I did stop prior to this in Upsala for a Coke. 

Onward.  Despite the heat and humidity I was feeling good.  I just really wanted to not have my helmet on but that was it.  Around mile 140 the the heat was starting to win.  I stopped in Ottertail for for cold fluids and salty chips.  Mile 149 I took a break in some shade.  My heart rate was pretty high on easy climbs and the nasty feeling of over heating was creeping in.  

At my stop around mile 149.  Sweat in the eyes and unzipped jersey...something I never do.  I hate bugs so zipped to the chin for this guy!

I was pretty close to the end so I soft pedaled it in. Some cold water and a jump in the lake brought me back. Even with the head and humidity I had a great time riding.  I hope to hit up some of those section again.  According to wandrer.earth I had 83 new miles.

The ride, sorry for the bad picture.

We are spending the rest of the weekend at the cabin.  I'll head on for a couple rides but much shorter.  Hoping for 40-50 today.

Happy 4th of July!