Today was supposed to be in the upper 90’s. So, I got up a couple hours early. I ended up doing a park and ride. I shoved off before 12pm. I headed out to Keene first. There was a slight tailwind as I was making my way to the top of the descent. As I was making my way down, I noticed that the wind had shifted to a headwind. So, I lucked out and had a tailwind on the way back. I was a bit worried how hot it was going to get. After reaching the base of the climb I spared no time to commence the climb. My legs felt good. It was hot, but not so bearing. There was a guy ahead of me by about one or two minutes. He had a backpack, and looked to be a bit labored. I had a feeling he already had some miles in the leg before the climb. Nevertheless, he was my carrot. I ended up bridging before I made it out of the gauntlet. I kept the tempo on the high side through the first checkpoint, slowing a bit before the monument and pushing over it. The remainder was mostly steady tempo. Letting up here and there to keep the legs from burning and save matches for later. After reaching the summit, I took a few moments rest and hydration and then headed back to the car. Once there, I swapped bottles, adding a third, and took on some water from a spare bottle. Refreshing as it was chilled in the cooler that I brought. The weather continued to be on the warm side, but tolerable. After reaching Route 202, I headed up Banducci. I don’t think I took another break at this point. Banuducci felt good. I stayed within myself and used the 32T, ticking over the pedals over the summit. There as traffic behind me so, a bit of a push over the summit was made. Alpine Forest was good. For the first mile, I was a bit exhausted, and anxious to make it to the start of the bumps. From that point, it was mostly counting off the bumps as I went along. It definitely helps. Again, I used the 32T to get through Lemans and Alps. When I reached the summit of Banducci, I took a few minutes break. Fed, hydrated, assessed my provisions and then headed down to Highline. At this point, the wind was going west. So, I had a headwind on the way out to WS. This was in my favor. I was constantly reminding myself that the return trip was going to be fast. By the time I reached WS, my legs felt more exhausted, to be expected. The return trip was fast and it felt like I was being rewarded by the tailwind. I was low on fluids, so I was somewhat rationing. I knew that if I could make it back to OTR that I would be ok. I made one last push over the kickers on Highline and then finished the ride. Concentration felt good, the morale felt good. Ailments consisted of some right calf soreness in the last 7 miles or so. It never escalated and I adjusted my pedaling technique and let up from time to time. I had some right hand numbness. Balance and form felt good. Gear is working well. I forgot to bring the headlight, but fortunately it wasn’t lost. Some time in the first hour or two of the ride, I noticed that my RoadID was missing from my wrist. I don’t remember if I put it on, or perhaps it fell off. If it doesn’t turn up, I’ll have to purchase a new one. Other notes, I saw a massive dust devil as I was making my way back from WS. There were 2 or 3 cyclists today.