Today’s bike ride is the longest one so far this young year at 34.42 miles. I rode what I label the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route going north from Kingwood. After today my January total stands 135.63 miles headed towards my 300 mile goal.

Setting out at 11:53 am the weather was sunny but chilly. I bundled up wearing shorts, leg warmers, short sleeve jersey over a long sleeve thermal jersey topped with a windbreaker jacket. I decided to wear half finger gloves but as I circled back close to home I stopped and switched to full finger gloves. Between the chilly wind and shade my fingers got cold.

Weather during the bike ride: start 63 (57% humidity), a few clouds, wind SE 13 mph. Finish 67 (58% humidity), a few clouds, wind SE 17 mph. The wind amplified the coolness and I was glad I chose the wardrobe.

I stopped in Woodridge Forest where I saw five or six homes under various stages of construction and remembered a few months ago there was grass and weed on those lots. Photos show the work going on.

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Riding north the wind was helping me set a nice pace. At times when I turned into the wind I knew the ride back south could be harder. I want to get miles in to build my base fitness after being off the bike so long. Average power was 131 watts with the max coming in at 448 watts. Average heart rate 138 bpm and a max of 165 bpm. When I finished both jerseys were soaked from the work.

In Tavola a new area opened since my last ride there so I went to see where the streets were. One model home is near completion and dump trucks are hauling dirt in to raise the lots. One was stuck in the mud and a bulldozer hitched on to pull him free.

The biking back home to from Tavola wasn’t quite as tough as I expected with the wind direction coming from my left shoulder rather than straight on. I finished the ride at 2:40 pm before schools let out.

Later tonight a front will arrive with some rain so I don’t know what Saturday will hold but if it clears like the forecast says I may be able to ride around noon.