What a ride, the temperature was an even 50 degrees when I hoped on the Surly for today's ride. There was a little wind and I am GLAD I did not look at the forecast or I would have chickened out of the ride altogether. The ride up highway 7 was particularly easy today, remarkably the best assent ever. I am sure I was over 10 MPH most all the way. When I turned South, I knew why, that wind was ferocious and unrelenting. The ride around the south side of Anthem was brutal, unable to get any kind of speed and by the time I was ready to turn south on Lowell I was beat up pretty good. Lowell is always an easy ride but today it was difficult and I stayed on the path. Going over the freeway was scary as the wind gusts were straight against me. I don't like the height anyway and having the wind blow me around did not help. Back at 7 I decided to climb back to Sheridan then coast home for the needed 11 miles today so I would make my century mark for February. The climb back up 7 was easier than the decent! I got home and the wind is 22 mph out of the west with gusts to 34 mph. No wonder I felt like a wet noodle when I got home. I did feel very good to have made the ride though!