A strange number showed up on my home weather station when I checked getting out of bed: 69 degrees. I can’ remember the last time that happened. The “cool” front I mentioned yesterday settled in during the night making for a pleasant day for a bike ride. Today’s bike ride headed north to Community Drive on what I call the Community Drive – Cumberland – Oakhurst route. The start was a few minutes later than yesterday at 9:13 AM. The temperature had not reached 80 yet, the humidity was 61% and the dew point was 64. This created a comfortable feeling as I rode through the light breeze. Much better than the high 80’s I’ve rode during August and July at the start of rides.

I planned to ride north along US59 to Eagle Drive, take Eagle Drive to Loop 494 and circle back on Community Drive to US59 frontage road to cross over to the south bound frontage road. But as I turned onto Eagle Drive a sign said it was closed from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM for through traffic. I turned into the Montgomery County Library parking lot to think of a way to get back to US59 south frontage road. I went behind the East Montgomery County Improvement building and up to the north bound frontage road and stopped to assess the options. Adding a touch of caution a Montgomery County Precinct 4 deputy was behind me waiting for his turn. I walked across the road to the grass when a break in the traffic came. I walked south to the overpass in the dead dry grass to the concrete barrier forced me on the road. Crossing the u-turn lane put me on the raised concrete barrier between the u-turn and overpass main lanes. I picked a time when traffic stopped and rode to the left turn traffic light and the south frontage road. Back on the route I biked to Valley Ranch and off the frontage road.

Riding south the light wind was from my left rear quarter helping me along. On FM 1314 heading NW the wind wasn’t strong enough to make the pedaling real hard. At Cumberland Blvd. I made the turn to go back to Old Sorters Road to the SE and the wind was from my left rear quarter again. I set a good pace with some help from the wind. The only stop during the ride was the Circle K at Sorters road for some ice and water. From there to the finish in Kingwood a tailwind assisted me. I figured it was hotter than it felt with the low humidity and dew point cooling effect. Finishing at 12:08 PM my home weather station showed 90 degrees, cooler than when I finished other August rides.

My Cervelo crossed over 9000 miles by the end of the ride and August total road miles stand at 928.7. One day left to increase that.

Two Strava awards on the bike ride: Local Legend on South Sprint to PHS and Local Legend on Kris Spraggins Memorial Route.