I try not to lead off with the weather when I write about my bike rides but it is hard to hold back when it is 82 degrees and clear on December 23rd. I probably dressed warmer than I needed to wearing a long sleeve jersey but when I was getting ready to leave the sky was cloudy but as I finished eating a pre-ride snack I saw the blue sky to the north was moving in. I started the ride at 11:41 and as I rolled out the driveway I knew this was going to be a great ride.

The route I chose, “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch, is one I rode many times before the Grand Parkway construction began but checking my records this is the first time riding this route in 2015. The main reason I could ride was the new streets by the New Caney ISD stadium let me get around the construction area. As I was riding to Roman Forest Blvd. the wind helped me along and I figured when I turned back to the south there the wind would be a problem but it must have slowed down some from the 24 mph gusts I saw before I left home. I had to pedal hard but I was able to keep my speed at 17 mph or above. Riding west around the stadium the wind was stronger but I stopped twice to take some pictures and this broke up the hard pedaling enough.

Riding south on Valley Ranch Parkway I stopped at the Stripes station at FM1314. At that point I was 21.52 miles into the ride. I took a 30 minute break eating two trail mix bars and drinking some Gatorade. I stood under the pump canopy and was comfortable since it was so warm. From there I rode south through Briar Tree and Oakhurst before getting back to the US59 southbound service road just north of Kingwood Drive. This is where I make my way back into Kingwood on side streets. When I started the ride I took the new street I found on another ride through Woodridge Forest.

Woodland Hills Drive leaving Kingwood

Tavola Lake at Roman Forest Blvd

New Caney ISD Stadium looking west

New Caney ISD Stadium scoreboard looking north

Weather at the Stripes rest stop.

I got home at 2:37 feeling great to be able to ride in this weather on December 23rd. Thursday and Friday are forecast to be as warm but Christmas may be wet as well. No matter, no bike ride on Christmas.

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