The Setup

We've had such lovely weather here in Oklahoma City for the past number of days.  No storms. Not much wind. Pleasant temperatures.  Things are changing.  As I write this the wind is blowing 24 mph out of the south, gusting to 44 mph.

For the past week I've eagerly waited for the long range weather forecast to emerge from the mists to become the near term forecast, so I know what to expect when I start my ride on Monday.  It has emerged. My sources concur that a front will come through Sunday night, and I will start out with a quartering headwind to headwind gusting to 35 mph as I head east and north. On Tuesday as the route becomes more consistently easterly, the wind will oblige by rotating more in that direction.  The good news: Temperatures will be nice with highs about 70 and lows in the 40s, no storms and only a slight chance of rain on Day Three. 

The Choice

The Weatherman shows that tomorrow, the day before I plan to start, there will be a stiff 15-20 mph WSW tailwind out in western Oklahoma.  The bad: temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

Hence the choice.  What if I left a day early to catch a day of tailwind before the wind turns on me, at the expense of brain-roasting temperatures? What if Carol drove me out to the Texas line Sunday afternoon, dropped me off, then retreated 25 miles or so to the motel where we plan to spend Sunday night anyway? I could get in a couple tens of miles of riding in the heat, have a nice place to stay,  then be able to cut 10-15 miles off of each of the next two days into the headwinds.

Day One of heavy headwinds and nice temperatures? Or Day One of tailwinds and heat? Man up or wimp out? And which is which?

The Decision

This is my first time beginning a tour when the start moved a day in either direction would make a difference weatherwise. Neither choice is appealing. I've had worse days of riding. Blast furnace heat and demonic headwinds simultaneously, for instance.  Why not just grit my teeth and stick with the plan?

OK, that settles it; besides, a bit of meteorological drama will give me something more to write about.