There’s a whole lota fixin goin on around my house. Way too much for me. Earlier this week my home weather station decided it was -40 degrees in Houston; broke and needed fiixin!. The hot water heater decided we were taking too hot showers and the pilot light wouldn’t stay lit; I think I got it fixed! Yesterday’s bike ride with two flats and tube blowout at home; more fixin!! I went to Bike Werks to buy two tubes and got the wrong valve stem length; more fixin!! I will exchange them for the correct valve stem length. This morning I walked across the kitchen floor and stepped in water. The ice maker control valve on the refrigerator has been leaking for some time and finally got my attention; more to fix! Upon inspection a plastic valve that controls the water to the ice maker and front water dispenser has a tiny pin hole spraying water out; time for the Flex Seal!!

Now for today’s bike ride. No fixing required as I rode the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route for 35.02 miles, bumping the week to 197.24 miles and the month to 369.38 miles. My goal for May is 660 miles. Over halfway there with 20 potential riding days left.

Leaving the refrigerator at home I started riding at 11:58 am and finished at 2:38 pm; the refrigerator was waiting for me!

Wind was strong today: start 86 (66% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 12 mph, gusts 22 mph. Finish 89 (64% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 15 mph. More clouds today but I was comfortable wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey.

On the way to Tavola the wind helped me but I knew the return trip might not be so easy. When I got to Tavola I took this photo of the flags and dust blowing to portend the ride back home.

Just before I took this picture the dust was in a much bigger cloud as the construction equipment rolled across the dirt. Riding on from there I stopped at the Tavola pool and park and took these photos. Notice the different tires: Continental 4000 II on the front with black sidewall and Continental GatorSkin on the rear with the brown; this is the replacement tire for the one with the slit in it from yesterday’s bike ride.

Some children were enjoying the playground equipment while I was there.

Leaving the park I decided to take one of the side streets where new houses are being built. I didn’t realize that many homes were there.

Before I left Tavola I made a quick stop at the Shell station on Roman Forest Blvd. for ice and water.

Back on Roman Forest Blvd. the ride west wasn’t too bad with the wind helping but making the left turn onto the I-69/US59 southbound service road made the point that I would have to work hard to get back to Kingwood. There were times when the wind let up but then it came back strong slowing me down. But I kept pedaling and made it past all of the schools before the parents and buses gathered for dismissal.

More hot and dry weather on Saturday and I plan on biking.

I did watch the Giro d’Italia before today’s bike ride. It was a sprint finish. Oh to be young again!

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary