It's a bit warmer and the wind has picked up. Winds were from the South East and a bit turbulent. I wore the standard summer kit with arms and a thick base layer. I made it to the top of the descent in good average time. I cruised the downhill erring on the side of caution due to the wind conditions. I put in two modest digs on the risers. The metrics show that I made it to the base in good time (thanks to the tailwind). After making it to the base, I headed back. I stopped at the local Chavez Center to remove my arm warmers, thus leaving my arm coolers remaining. The return trip was a game of patience due to the mostly headwind conditions. It took a while for my concentration to settle in. After making it past the gauntlet, I was feeling just a bit better in the morale. It got better with every passing landmark. I kept the tempo steady, no heroics. I was doing in and out of the saddle efforts to keep things as fresh as possible. After passing the second dip, my concentration got better. I kept my momentum going over the top without red-lining it too much. After cresting the summit, I took a few moments to recover on the bike. I headed to the mail locker and used the locker to fill my sport drink bottle with water that I stashed in my saddle bag. From there, I headed to OTR. There was a slight tailwind going up OTR, so that made it more enjoyable. After cresting the summit, I headed back and stopped under a tree in order to feed. I fed a Clif Bar with my sport (diluted) sport drink. After that, it was the fun part, the descent. I pushed over Mariposa and then to the top of Weston where I shut it down.

Concentration was good. I had some stuff to think about. I was a bit impatient going to Keene, but got better on the ascent. I had few lapses and no gremlins worth mentioning. Balance and form was good. Ailments were minimal. I think my new socks are a bit too compressive as I was experiencing slight numbness in the left foot. Other than that, just the usual hand soreness while digging out of the saddle. Nutrition was good. I drank a bottle of sport drink, half a bottle of diluted sport drink and some water. I fed a Clif Bar. Before the ride, I had a bowl of oatmeal, a portion of a banana and some grapes (I think). Gear worked flawlessly. But I have to shop for new socks. Other notes, there was one person at the Loop Monument when I was on my way back. I saw one cyclist that passed me as I was feeding at the top of OTR.