I watched stage 18 of the Tour before starting today’s bike ride at 11:00 AM. They climbed mountains while my ride was pancake flat. Riding my Canyon Endurace bike I followed the “May Park Community Center – Huffman” route covering 39.32 miles. This was the 6th time on this route in 2021. The miles today was typical. My week now totals 156.72 miles getting closer to a 200 mile week. July is looking good at 498.21 miles, 62% of the way to my 800 mile goal.

Rain was possible during the afternoon. I thought I was going to avoid it but as I rode to the May Park Community Center on Scott Road I heard thunder. Turning left onto Wolf Road I could see the dark clouds to the south where not too long ago white fluffy clouds filled the sky. Once I was biking south on FM 2100 the dark clouds looked threatening and I rode faster but towards them. My goal was Smith Road to the west where I hoped to stay ahead of the rain. Thunder roared a few times in the distance. I made it across Lake Houston but the strong wind gusts over the lake pushed my front wheel around almost the whole time. On Atascocita Shores Drive I thought I was staying ahead of the rain until I wasn’t. Light rain followed by strong rain on Kings River Drive and I looked for a place to get out of it. I found a portico at Kings Crown Ct. and stopped for about 8 minutes until the rain stopped.

Back biking the streets were wet until I reached W. Lake Houston Parkway about 1/2 mile away from where I took shelter. The rain clouds were behind me but I still rode quickly and finished at 1:57 PM. A short spray wash of the Canyon Endurace to get the grit off and I went inside.

Overall weather conditions: start 84 (78% humidity, 76.7 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind S 10 mph; finish 86 (70% humidity, 75 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind S 8 mph.