Keep oriented with this StemCAPtain compass!

I first got one some years ago, so I could watch my direction. If I could know my bearing, I’d know when I was about to turn into a headwind; and be ready to increase my effort level. But I don’t need a compass to tell me that I usually have headwinds on the way home!

Over the  years, I’ve gone through three or four of these compasses. Once the thing somehow detached from my handlebars when I hit a bump; and I didn’t notice it right away. Of course I couldn’t find the compass; and had to buy another one.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that the clear housing yellows over time. Then the compass is hard to read when I’m riding in the dark; even with my headlight. The liquid (water?) inside also seems to evaporate eventually.

I’m so used to having that compass there that I want to have it; even though I don’t always look at it. My Garmin‘s screen gets a lot more of my attention these days! It sure did during today’s ride.

My planned 40 miles became 42.8 because I was forced to add detours to both ends of it. There was a long string of railroad cars blocking my crossing; and I had to make quite a detour to get to the bike path. Some four hours later, those cars were still sitting there! I had to make another detour to get back home.

Today I was lucky with the wind. It was calm for most of my ride! I watched the sky go from mostly clear to thin, high clouds; and then to big cumulus clouds. By the time I got home, the clouds looked like there might be a T-storm in the making.

All the same, I rode over to the neighborhood Chinese restaurant to get take-out for lunch. Do you think that will help me to stay oriented?