Ever so small the temperature of the wind as I rode on today’s bike ride felt cooler than the convection oven level from the last two days. I rode the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route with some added streets to lengthen it to 39.11 miles. The week stands at 109.8 miles and August is up to 421.96 miles, 53% of the goal for the month.

The ride started at 11:21 AM and finished at 2:53 PM.

Weather during the ride around Montgomery County: start 94 (63% humidity, 79.3 dew point), partly cloudy, wind W 8 mph. Finish 99 (51% humidity, 77.7 dew point), partly cloudy, wind NW 4 mph. There is a slight chance of rain this evening but I don’t think it will make it to my house.

I made a mistake not refilling my water bottle in New Caney before riding NW on FM 1485. The next place to refill was on FM 1314 at the Exxon station opposite Gene Campbell Road. I made it there but my bottle was almost empty. I refilled it with ice and water before biking SE on FM 1314. My plan was to stop at the Circle K at Sorters Road for a large PowerAde but when I got there that was out order. Topping off the bottle with ice I thought I would stay on FM 1314 to I-69/US59 to the Circle K there but I noticed a sign on the Stripes store at Valley Ranch Parkway for $.79 fountain drinks. I stopped there, went inside, got the 44 oz cup, filled it with Fruit Punch Gatorade. Walking to the cash register the clerk informed me the costs was $1.41. When I pointed out the $.79 price he said that was for medium size cups but the sign out on the front of the store didn’t mention a size. I told him I didn’t have $1.41 but I could pay $.86 which is the price plus sales tax. After looking at the register for a time he accepted the $.86 and I went outside to sit in the shade by the pumps. Looking at the sign again I still could find where it limited the price to a medium size but couldn’t see it. I thought about going back inside and inviting the clerk to look at the sign but decided not to. Sitting in the shade the cold drink tasted good and the breeze dried me off some.

Finishing the Gatorade I got back on the Canyon, waited for the traffic light to change before riding south on Old Sorters Road. The wind was mostly a tailwind or from my right side and I kept a steady pace. My average speed hovered around 13.6 mph and held there until I was back in Kingwood. Strava reported that the ride was consistent with my usual efforts.

Some highlights from today’s bike ride.