Normally on the first Saturday of October I ride the Pineywoods Purgatory but since I biked once since we returned from vacation I did go to Lufkin this year. Instead I waited for it to warm up some (it was 52 degrees at 7 AM) and rode the “Walden – Stroker Road – Huffman” route for 41.96 miles. I left home at 12:26 with a clear blue sky and 75 degrees. The wind was brisk and cool in the shade but in the sun I felt just right. I wore a short sleeve jersey. Celebrating the University of Cincinnati’s football win over the University of Miami Hurricanes I wore my UC Bearcat jersey.

I was sore from yesterday’s ride but once I warmed up the soreness disappeared. I suspect it will take a few days to get accustomed to riding from the layoff. During our vacation I walked some days but that isn’t the same as biking.

As long as I was riding east, south or west the wind wasn’t a problem but going north was like hitting a wall. Going south on Ramsey Road I hit 20+ mph with the help of the wind. This enabled me to get my average speed up to 15.5 mph. I kept it there until I was riding west on FM1960 where I nudged it up 15.6 mph. I was inspired going over Lake Houston when two bikers whizzed past me while I was riding 18 to 19 mph. I sped up some but they left me behind. I caught up with them at the Atascocita Shores Drive traffic light where they waited to turn left. I turned right there. It was a young man and woman wearing Richardson BikeMart shorts but I did figure out which jerseys they had on.

Earlier I saw two other bikers on Old Atascocita Road east of FM2100. We exchanged waves as we passed going the opposite direction.

Since I was close to Crosby I took the weather screenshots at Stroker Road and FM2100.

In the sun it felt warmer than 77 degrees. Later when I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a break I sat in the shade and was comfortable so I think it was warmer. At that point I biked 30.29 miles with 11+ to reach home. Sitting under the pump canopy my legs needed the rest from riding the 4+ miles into the wind from Stroker Road. I ate some powered donuts for some extra fuel to power back home thinking the wind would be tough once I reached Atascocita Shores Drive and turned north and northwest. It was. Riding in and out of the shade I still felt comfortable. When I got home at 3:53 it was 83 degrees with the same brilliant blue sky. It is supposed to be like this for several days warming up some each day.

This was the 4th time biking this route this year. I added Walden streets to the “Stroker Road – Huffman” route which pushed the total miles to 41.96. I if ride 24 miles or more I will pass 100 miles for the week with 3 days biking.

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Summary of the rides on this route during 2015.