Now that we are in the middle of August, the days are getting hot.  To try and avoid the heat of the day, I’ll be leaving early for my long ride tomorrow morning.

I want to leave on my ride as soon as it gets light.  Therefore, to help me with an early getaway, I have prepared everything I need, this evening.  It is all nicely laid out in the kitchen, ready to go.  The items in the photo are:

• My bike helmet and sunglasses.
• My heart rate monitor.
• Front and rear lights for my bike, so that I am visible on the road.
• My bike computer to track my ride and so that my wife can also track me (I’ll also be carrying my phone, so she can do this).
• Two bottles of concentrated Infinit nutrition (enough calories for four hours).
• Three bottles of water.  I only have room for one on my bike, but I will swing by home after two hours, to switch out bottles and get fresh water.
• My X-Lab Torpedo Between The Arms bottle, which I will also fill with water.
• Two packets of Honey Stinger Performance Chews.  These are the remaining calories I need for my ride.

All I need to do tomorrow, is drink some coffee, grab a bite to eat for breakfast, put on sunblock, load my bike and go.  By leaving early, I will hopefully be done riding by about lunchtime and will be inside, when the afternoon heat arrives.