The Sahara dust still hangs around casting the sky into a gray to gold haze but not lowering the heat any. Yesterday Texans set a new record for electricity used at 71,112 MW and today will probably go higher. I didn’t put out anywhere near that amount of power while I bicycled the “SR242 – Old Houston Rd – FM1314” route. According to the PowerPod and Elemnt computer my max watts was 502 and average was 133 watts. I biked 44.3 miles boosting July to 520.3 miles, only 280 miles to reach my goal for the month.

I saw another biker in the first few minutes of the ride on my street and later another one was in front of me by about a quarter of a mile as I biked through Woodridge Forest on the way to I-69/US59.

Wheels down at 9:51 am in an attempt to get started before the temperature ramped up. I left before stage 11 of the TdF finished so I will catch up after I take my shower. The race had about 25 miles to the finish. Weather during the bike ride: start 85 (73% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind W 9 mph. Finish 93 (56% humidity), a few clouds, wind W 9 mph.

Wind wasn’t much of an issue on the ride north to SH 242 but biking west on SH 242 required a lot more effort with some rolling inclines and the headwind. I was glad when I reached the Chevron station at FM 1485 and SH 242. I stopped long enough to refill my water bottle with ice and water. Then I was back on the Canyon heading west to Old Houston Road. There the wind moved to my right side and I picked my speed back up all the way to FM 1314. On FM 1314 I noticed all of the wildflowers blooming in the grass and stopped for these photos.

The recent rain keeps them blooming and the mowers at bay.

After stopping I resumed the ride east on FM 1314 until I got to the Circle K/Valero station at Sorters Road where I stopped for about 15 minutes to eat a Clif Bar and drink cold water. While I was sitting on the water bottle rack outside one came and asked how I rode in the heat. I said as long as I am moving it doesn’t feel that hot. He asked how far I was biking and where I rode. Then he asked how old I was. As he walked away he said he wished he would bicycle when he was that old. After reaching his pickup truck he walked back to tell me he was going to Humble if I wanted a lift. I told him no need for a lift. Several minutes later another man who had been sitting in his pickup truck in front of where I was sitting got out and walked to the trash can not far from me. He asked some of the same questions and wished me well. I went inside to refill my water bottle before leaving.

I made good time to Old Sorters Road where I turned right. Bicycling through Briar Tree and past the two schools on Briar Berry Lane I went through the W. Hammond Drive intersection where the street changes to W. Hammond Drive. I noticed the lot on my right with a mobile home back in the trees had some people in the driveway. Usually no one is there but cars sit but the grass was freshly mowed and a big black dog was with them. He spotted me and started running to the street barking. I didn’t hear anyone call the dog but I started pedaling faster but he was gaining on me. Then I pedaled harder and started to get some distance from him and after another hundred feet he gave up. It has been a long time since the last encounter with a dog at this spot but I watch as I ride past this spot. Today it paid off. At the top of the sprint I was going 21+ mph.

Riding through Oakhurst I slowed down some to regain my energy. From there to Northpark Drive I got back to speed and made my way through Kingwood Place back to I-69/US59 to begin the ride back into Kingwood. I finished the ride at 1:17 pm, in time to avoid the peak heat time of the day.

More heat in the weather forecast for the next several days. I will try to get started early tomorrow too.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary