I was trying to think of a different route to ride today. Maybe south to Balmoral? North to SH 242? I decided to ride the New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch route to the north expecting the railroad crossing construction at Roman Forest Blvd. to be finished; it was. The Canyon Endurace bike was the bike for today. The last time on this route, June 5th, I rode my Lynskey Helix bike. I changed some of the roads today starting at the first mile but the 36.63 miles was average for the five previous 2023 rides. I’ve biked 185.65 miles so far this week making a 200+ mile week looming with tomorrow’s bike ride. I’m 57% of the way to my 800 mile goal for July with 452.56 miles. The ride began at 8:36 AM and ended at 11:38 AM.

Riding in Tavola I rearranged some of the streets but nothing new. I didn’t ride Aregosta Parkway to Roman Forest Blvd. to avoid the little uphill on Roman Forest Blvd. to US59. On Briar Berry Lane the route turned left into Auburn Trails to get to US59. The frontage road took me to Bentwood Oaks Drive to enter Oakhurst and onto Northpark Drive. Earlier when I exited Woodridge Forest on Adams Street I earned the Strava Local Legend on Adams St. Westbound with my 11th ride in the last 90 days. My Strava PR puts me at 44/114 for the segment. I didn’t know that many people rode it.

Excessive heat warning motivated me to get started and finish before the hottest time of the day. Weather for the ride: Start 83 degrees, 84% humidity, dew point 77.9, mostly cloudy, wind SW 8 mph; Finish 94 degrees, 60% humidity, dew point 77.9, a few clouds, wind variable 7 mph. The ride south from Roman Forest Blvd. into a headwind was hard using the 35×15 gears most of the way to Valley Ranch Parkway. I think the wind was stronger than 7 mph. I stopped at the 7 Eleven to refill my water bottle with ice and water. Link to AXS.SRAM.com ride report.