The weather reverted back to summer today. No rain but perspiration made up for it. Yesterday I rode in the rain but today full sunshine with scattered clouds and 90 degrees. This could be the last 90 degree day for the year but I hope there are more. Wind kicked up to 13.8 mph with 21.9 mph gusts all from the southwest which probably explains the 90 degrees. Humidity registered 48% making for a drying wind. My wrist bands absorbed what little perspiration my arms generated.

I chose a northerly route going up US59 to New Caney and then turning back south to home. Riding north I flew hitting my max speed of 22.1 mph with the helping tailwind. Once I got to FM1485 and make the turn underneath US59 I hit the headwind. My speed dropped from 20+ to 13 mph or so as I battled the wind. Some stretches where the tree cover came up closer to the service road I managed a burst of speed. My overall averaged speed was 15.1 mph with 75.9 RPM average cadence. The south service road took me to the Valley Ranch entrance and I got some relief going west and then north for about a mile. Some trees broke the wind until I turned left onto Valley Ranch Parkway. With a slight uphill grade and the wind I slowed way down. Going south on Valley Ranch Parkway was like a wind tunnel with the high trees on each side of the road set back enough to provide a path for the wind come at me.

After crossing over FM1314 I was back amidst the trees close to the road but once I got to the two schools on Briar Tree I was back out in the open struggling against the wind. Leaving the open spaces and back amongst the trees the wind diminished until I got back on the US59 south service road to Kingwood Drive. Another U-turn under US59 and I had a tailwind for about a mile and a half taking me into Kings Manor and more houses and trees to break the wind up. From there on speed drops due to the residential and trails slowing me down. I got home at 4:04, riding 2:02:04 plus 10:20 time stopped. I started rather late at 1:51 for various reasons mostly waiting for the sun to burn off some of the clouds left over from yesterday’s rain front.

The mileage standings after today’s ride: 100.02 for the week, 449.13 for October and 5745.98 YTD. I washed the bike and waxed the chain before I started the ride which also contributed to the later start. Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com.

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