Yesterday’s bike ride was slow on purpose but today’s wasn’t supposed to be. Biking the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route went north with the wind to Tavola but the return leg wasn’t so easy. Weather during the bike ride: start 86 (58% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 20 mph, gusts 24 mph. Finish 91 (49% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 13 mph, gusts 21 mph. I really could feel the gusts when they hit.

At the new entrance to Tavola I stopped and took these photos after crossing the railroad tracks.

The dirt is where the sediment barriers were in place. On my previous bike ride to Tavola a company was removing them. The first photo gives a hint of how the land looked before Tavola came into being.

Making my way to Roman Forest Blvd. through Tavola I stopped at the Shell station to refill my water bottle with ice and water. The wind wasn’t too bad riding west on Roman Forest Blvd. but I knew the headwind was waiting for me atI-69/US59 as the route turns to the south. I managed to maintain my speed at 16 mph biking south with the wind held in check by trees and the roadway but once I was south of Walmart the trees went away and I-69/US59 didn’t offer much blocking as it got flatter. Thankfully I made the right turn onto Valley Ranch Parkway and the wind now was from my left side. This lasted until the Grand Parkway overpass with the road going south.

From there to the finish the wind was always in my face slowing me down.

The Hunters Ridge Village pool opened today and they were having a pool party with free Kona ice cones. I was looking forward to the ice and stopped to get one. This photo shows the pool crowd as I sat on a bench outside the pool area.

After eating most of the ice I was back on the bike to finish the ride about half a mile away at 2:30 pm. The ride began at 11:32 am.

With today’s bike ride I rode 224.25 miles this week and 626.67 miles for May. Fourth week in a row with over 200 miles biked.

I may take a rest day on Sunday.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary