February Warmth and Fog Bike Ride
Today’s bike ride made up for yesterday when the weather was too dreary to entice me outside. I set out at 12:26 PM after waiting for the fog to lift higher biking the “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch” route 42.56 miles increasing February riding to 78.98 miles or 23% of my 345 mile February goal.
Finally the weather warmed up so I dressed lighter: shorts, long sleeve jersey, windbreaker jacket, and half finger gloves. It felt nice to finally bike with less clothing. Weather during the bike ride: start 74 (83% humidity), overcast, wind SW 7 mph. Finish 76 (78% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind 6 mph. Wind wasn’t much a factor.
Biking through Woodridge Forest one of the streets caught my attention with numerous houses under construction. I took these photos.
Not too many months ago the land was covered with grass and now workers nail lumber and smooth concrete.
The last time I rode this route was September 17, 2018. I use the same streets for other rides but only bike into Roman Forest on this route. There are a few changes but nothing as drastic as Woodridge Forest.
On the way back from Roman Forest the timing was going to put in the Briar Tree school zone with all of the traffic so I went back to the south bound I-69/US59 service road in Valley Ranch rather than go to Fm 1314. This left two other school zones: Kings Manor and Bear Branch. Both of those the traffic was largely gone by the time I got there. I finished the ride at 3:39 PM.
Average heart rate was 135 (77%) and max was 160 (91%). Power readings: 166 average, 400 max. I built up the overall average speed to 14.1 mph and kept there until the 38 mile point when I started back into Kingwood.
More warm weather on Tuesday and maybe less fog. I plan on riding.
SportTracks Bike Ride Summary
Strava Year Progressions Graph
2019 mileage is second only to 2017. I must’ve been riding like crazy in 2017. 2019 is setting a good pace to reach my goals.