15 riding days in a row. Today the route was “FM1960 to FM686 – Back” for a total of 41.59 miles. I got started at 10:24, early for a week day and I was back home at 2:06. The weather was hot, the humidity around 50% (low for Houston) and the wind was calm. The route has long stretches of uninterrupted pavement though a 1 mile section is the rough chip’n seal on FM1960 west of the railroad overpass. I ride that both directions and with the tires at 110 psi it can be rough. Riding east the traffic let up and I rode in a somewhat smooth section just left of the shoulder white line mark moving onto the shoulder whenever traffic came up. Riding back to the west I stopped at the top of the railroad overpass to watch a Kansas City Southern train of hopper cars pass underneath. Interesting since the tracks are owned by Union Pacific.

Once I reached the Dayton Food & Fuel Shell station at FM686 I stopped and went inside to refill my water bottle with ice and water for the return leg to Huffman where I took a rest break. The Wahoo Elemnt screens when I arrived at the Huffman Chevron.

It took several paper towels to stop the sweat running down my arms and around my face. I thought about rinsing out the wrist bands and gloves but didn’t do it. I went inside to buy a 32 oz. PowerAde to go with my snack bars and sat down in the shade to cool off and rest up for the remainder of the ride (11+ miles). I wasn’t in a big hurry to leave and stayed around until about 1:15 before clipping back in and riding onto FM1960. The weather before I left.

From Huffman the ride was at a good pace and I improved my average speed to 15.0 mph. I decided to stay follow W. lake Houston to Kingwood Drive rather than riding through Kingwood Greens. This takes less effort getting across traffic and does not shorten the ride that much, maybe 3/10 of a mile.

I thought today’s miles would be put me at 4000 for the year but I was wrong. I need 39 miles to reach that number. Last year on this day I was at 3110 miles for the year. A big increase this year.

The weather forecast for Tuesday calls for rain starting around noon but maybe it will not be around here. As hot as it is I could ride in the rain and not get any wetter than I am from sweating. If it wasn’t for the grit and dirt from riding in the rain I wouldn’t mind it.

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