For the last ride of June I wanted to go on a longer than usual ride. I picked the Splendora – FM2090 – FM1314 route. The last time I rode this route was April 19th of this year. The distance today was 49.26 miles averaging 16.1 mph. The weather conditions have improved from last week with the rain probability dropping to zero and the humidity let up some to: 93 degrees at the end, 42% humidity, partly cloudy sky and wind from the SW at 9 mph. When the wind comes from the southwest the weather tends to dry out and heat up.

I saw one other biker today. I was riding west on FM2090 and he was going east. We passed about 5 miles west of US59 at Splendora. He was tucked down on aero bars. I waved but got no response from him.

The ride went at a good pace until I turned onto Old Houston road where the wind became a headwind. My legs are still a little tired from my Saturday repair work at home. Exiting Kingwood via Adams St. I rode Loop 494 to Roman Forest where I moved to the US59 service road. I was riding at a good pace and began to be around 19 to 20 mph which is not bad for an old guy. The service road traffic is almost non-existent from Roman Forest to Splendora and FM2090 is not much different. The wide shoulder on FM2090 is smooth and free of debris. The only pinch point is the two bridges just before the FM1485 traffic light.

I turned left at FM1485 and rode to the traffic light at FM1485 and FM3083. Usually I stop at the Valero station there but today I kept riding on Old Houston Road. I had a supply of water in my bottle and I did not want to add time to the ride. I planned on stopping at the Texaco station at FM1314 and Gene Campbell Road which I did. I got some ice and water to carry me to the Stripes station about 5 miles away.

Stopping at the Stripes station I ate some cookies and a trailmix bar with Fruit Punch Gatorade. Sitting in the shade was pleasant as the wind blew and my sweat dried up. From there it was through Briar Tree, Oakhurst and Kingwood Place before riding on the south US59 service road to Kingwood Drive. The wind was slowing me down now and my pedaling effort was high. Biking through Kingwood is slow with intersections and stop signs. I arrived home at 1:13.

Some statistics for the month of June:

• biked 27 of 30 days
• 971.12 miles (last month I biked over 900 miles was July 2013: 925 miles)
• 62 hours and 43 minutes riding time, 84 hours and 19 minutes total time
• 8289 ft. elevation gain (hard to get much around flat Houston)
• 15.5 mph average speed
• average ride distance was 35.96 miles
• shortest ride: 27.53 miles (6/29), longest ride: 51.81 miles (6/7)
• 86 miles over my goal of 885 miles

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