Last Saturday I made a route change on the road choosing to not ride the “Stroker Road – Huffman” route. Today I rode that route for a total of 42.1 miles. Saturday I made the change because it looked like rain over the route. Today the sky was overcast but not particularly threatening but I rode through some light rain on Old Atascocita Road west of FM2100. It didn’t last long time wise or distance. When I got to FM2100 to cross and continue on the route the sky had broken up some and there was patches of blue and the sun made an appearance.

Prior to reaching FM1960 to ride east I saw another biker on Pinewood Park Drive and we exchanged hellos. When I was on the causeway over Lake Houston still riding to the east another biker was riding the opposite direction. I don’t think he saw me because of the passing traffic but I waved anyway.

At the railroad crossing on Old Atascocita Road I stopped since it was about the same time I saw the Amtrak train the last time. AS i was waiting I started to feel some rain and decided not to wait any longer thinking I would get very wet. Actually I was wet already from all of the sweat. The temperature was in the mid 80’s and the humidity was 72% causing the evaporation of sweat to be almost non-existent.

It was when I crossed FM2100 riding on Old Atascocita Road that I hit the wind. It was from the SE at 14 mph. My riding speed slowed some but it really took a hit when I made the right turn onto Ramsey Road and the wind became a strong headwind. Thankfully It was “only” 3+ miles to Stroker Road where another right turn shifted the wind to my left rear quarter and I could up my speed. At FM2100 I moved to riding north to Huffman and now the wind was pushing me from the right rear quarter. This helped recover the lost speed from the headwind and I arrived at the Huffman Chevron at 2:08 pm at 30.12 miles into the ride. The Edge 520 screen when I arrived at the Chevron station and the weather after I sat down to take a break.

I ate a trail mix bar and a granola bar washing them down when some blue PowerAde. It is interesting to watch the traffic go by and see all of the various people. After about 30 minutes I got back on the bike after refilling my water bottle with ice and water to ride the 11+ miles home. Riding to the west on FM1960 I enjoyed the tailwind until I was on the Lake Houston causeway where the wind liked to whip around the traffic and try to push my front wheel around. I could some trash pushed against the concrete guardrail to my right. Sometimes when the wind was whipping through the trash would move out to where I was riding. A steady hand and quick movements avoiding the trash got me across the lake without any issues.

Expecting the Kingwood High School traffic to be heavy where I cross Kingwood Drive I was surprised when I rode across without any delays from traffic in either direction. From there it is about 2 miles home where I arrived at 3:36. I had started the ride at 11:57.

The weather forecast for Wednesday looks like a repeat of today so I should be on the bike after I watch the next Giro d’Italia stage in the morning.

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