I decided to ride the “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch” route today since I biked to the south on the last ride. I left home at 12:01 under an overcast sky and 75 degrees. I started to wear a short sleeve jersey over a long sleeve jersey and skip the jacket but at the last minute I skipped the short sleeve jersey and added the jacket. More about this choice later.

Not too long after I started I got the “phone disconnected” message on my Garmin Edge 520. I thought I had fixed this but I think the Connect app on my phone updated since my last ride. Then I noticed the odometer stopped at .49 miles as I rode. I stopped on the trail beside Northpark Drive to see if I could fix this. After a number of phone pairing attempts I powered off my phone and the 520. Then the phone and 520 paired and I resumed the ride. I think I was stopped about 10 minutes or more. This was worse than a flat tire.

With the Garmin functioning I rode through Sherwood Trails and Elmgrove on the way to Woodridge Forest and then US59. The sun popped out a couple of times on the way to Roman Forest. At the Roman Forest turn around I had to ride into the southwest wind. My speed dropped down to 15 mph compared to the 18 to 19 mph getting there. I stayed on the US59 southbound service road until I got to Valley Ranch Parkway. Turning onto the parkway I started feel a light rain. Now I was glad I made the jacket choice back at the start of the road. Even with the temperature in the 70’s the rain was cold. It stayed with me until I stopped under the Grand Parkway overpass where I stopped for a few minutes. Leaving the overpass shelter the rain stopped. I rode to FM1314 but I didn’t stop at the Stripes station for a change. I figured the rain might catch up with me.

It turned out the rain was waiting for me in Oakhurst but not as heavily and I quickly rode away from it. I made my way through Oakhurst and back to Kingwood getting home at 2:39.

I am up to 246 miles for January with only 13 miles left to reach my goal of 259 miles. Tomorrow’s weather forecast doesn’t look favorable for biking: rain and a high in the 50’s.

The weather when I got home.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/7664538/embed 45% 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/478410307/embed/cfa34b59889b818b8b6a43a5fbac5d20c07bf12c 45% 500px]