Row, Row, Row Your Scull Bike Ride
The plan was to intercept the Bike Barn cyclists around FM 1960 on Lake Houston as I biked the “Atascocita – Huffman – Walden” route. The start at 8:27 am should have been earlier to aid in the plan but I rode at a good pace and saw the first bikers on the causeway. As I was waiting for the traffic light to change at FM 1960 and Astascocita Shores another cyclist pulled up behind me and then moved to the top of the short incline to turn left. That was risky with two vehicles in front of meeting waiting to make the turn too. Earlier in the ride I saw several recreational bikers in Kingwood.
With the early start the humidity was high but began to go down as the sun went higher. Weather during the bike ride: start 76 (99% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind calm. Finish 89 (62% Humidity), mostly cloudy, wind W 5 mph.
Now that I was on FM 1960 riding east a few bikers rode west on the other side. I didn’t stop to take photos because of the traffic and timing. Looking to my right on the lake I spotted a rowing scull accompanied by a small powered boat. Since I haven’t seen them on the lake before I stopped and took these photos. They originate behind the Cedar Landing restaurant on the east side of the lake. I saw their sign in the past but never any body rowing.
Not long after I took the rowing photos more bicyclists arrived heading west on the other side of the road. Traffic got in the way of a couple photos.
Back on the Canyon bike I continued riding east to Fairlake Drive. A few more cyclists passed headed west before I made the turn. On Fairlake Drive more cyclists made their way towards where i stopped to take photos. One rider pealed off and circled behind and stopped. We talked while he waited to go back south on the road and ride more miles before returning to Kingwood. Later I saw him again as I stopped for the traffic light at Atascocita Shores Drive and FM 1960. He turned right while I went left. Photos from Fairlake Drive.
Now that those bikers passed there was a lull and I resumed biking. When I rode east on Old Atascocita more bikers arrived and I took these photos.
To add some distance to the ride i crossed FM 2100 and rode about 3/10’s of a mile where I took the last two photos above. Turning around I headed back to FM 2100. As I approached the stop sign I saw a biker on the other side walking his bike. I t looked like he was talking on his phone. I rode across and pulled up to him to see if he needed any help. He said he had a flat tire and someone was on the way to pick him up. I said okay and returned to FM 2100 to ride to the Huffman Chevron where I stopped long enough to refill my water bottle before riding west on FM 1960.
By now the wind was from the west at 5 mph so there was resistance as I pedaled but I still managed to keep my overall average speed at 14.0 mph. Since I rode through Atascocita earlier in the ride to be able to see other cyclists I made the turn left on the west side of the lake and went through Walden to not shorten the ride. Once I was riding north again the wind wasn’t much of a problem and I finished the bike ride at 11:15 am.
Sunday will be a rest day as my wife and I watch the Texans football game and then the Astros.