February 15 -- cool and cloudy

Well, my ride started out cool -- low 50's -- and cloudy and ended the same. There was a sunny break in the middle but it didn't last long. The winds were moderate, seeming from the north at about 7 mph.

I rode north, turning around at Ormond beach, the 25 mile point. Traffic is always fairly heavy on this route, but after the adventure on SR44 the day before it didn't seem as bad.

I had a slow leak in my rear tire that I stopped and topped up twice. That was annoying because I seemed to spend as much time looking down checking the tire as looking forward -- not really of course but you end up checking it at every bump, not sure if you are feeling the road too much. I'll have to fix that before going out again -- perhaps it's time to rotate the tires -- swap front and back -- since the backs wear more quickly.

For some reason I did not have a lot of energy today even though I went out after lunch. Perhaps I should have had more carbos at lunch -- I had my usual salmon sandwich and veggies but nothing else, i.e. no juice or ice cream. I felt better after the cliff bar during the ride.

Sandy went into Orlando today to visit Whole Foods and Williams Sonoma in the Winter Park area to pick up some things -- noteably flatbread and a special grilling paste -- for her planned menus for the next couple of days. The Bekeris's and the Rapers arrive on the 16th mid-afternoon -- they'll be here for the weekend and the Daytona 500.

Nutrition -- 1.5 water bottles; cliff bar at 17 miles, gel at 30 miles.

Ride stats -- 50 miles @ 16.8 mph