The weather was hotter today. The air, sun and wind all together. I wore the standard kit, with 1 base layer and arm coolers. I felt sluggish today. In the mind and body. But I got through it...

It took a while to get warmed up. I made it to the summit of OTR in average time. My legs continued to feel sluggish. I approached the Banducci wall modest, then bumped it up where needed. I was close to my limit over the top. The remainder was mostly moderate tempo and traffic mitigation. I took a moments rest at the summit. Then the descent. Mostly fun, practicing my tuck. I wasn't going for time today, so I was focusing on other aspects like form. It seemed to help the miles go faster. I cruised my way to SS in moderate tempo, again mitigating traffic from behind. I made my way to the top of SS in moderate tempo, no real digs over the summit. The descent was fun and games and then the push through SS. Banducci was mostly traffic mitigation, keeping spacial awareness, and focusing on form all the while. The trip through the farmlands was mostly a reprieve. I didn't check the time at Boss Hogs. I know I was well behind average. I think that's why I didn't check, no point. The last climb felt comfortable at moderate tempo, bumping to good tempo where needed. I made a push over the summit. The false flat was a recovery zone. I swapped bottles out and put some water on my arm coolers and shorts. The cooling affect was immediate. I stopped for traffic at the top of Route 202. There was little traffic to negotiate on the way to OTR. I did the usual push over Mariposa and headed back. Concentration was the lesser of things. I was having to be active the entire time. At the beginning of the ride, my mind just wasn't there. My body not so much either, but more in the mind. I knew it was going to take a while to get in the zone. I was there a few times and that kept me going. Ok, so there were gremlins, but on a day like this, I kind of knew it was going to be a challenge. Was today a worse case scenario? Maybe. Wrong things at the wrong time, perhaps. Either way, I was trying to stay active in the mind to keep that focus going. Ailments were probably the better of things. Few ailments, sore hands and heat exhaustion. Balance and form felt pretty good. The cleat adjustment remains where I adjusted them the previous few days. So, this ride is a confirmation that the wider stance helps. Gear is working well. No issues there that I can think of. Other notes, I saw one or two other cyclists.