Longer Ride On An Infrequent Route
The last time I rode today’s route it was just over 40 miles so I was somewhat surprised when I started to realize today was going to be further coming in at 44.19 miles. The previous ride on the “SR242 – Firetower Rd – FM1314″ route was April 29th, 2013. When I ride on SR242 I sometimes think I should turn onto Firetower Road but don’t for some reason. Many, many years ago there used to be a firetower at the corner of FM2090 and Firetower Road but it is long gone.
I started out of Kingwood on Adams St. and then parallel to US59 on Loop 494 to Roman Forest Blvd where 494 merges with the service road. At Woodbranch I turned left onto SR242 (State Highway 242 is the official designation. Where i grew up we always called them state routes.) and headed west. I passed the Grand Texas site with still no working taking place but there was a surveyor with a transit by the fence. Maybe this is a sign something is going to happen. SR242 is kinda of rolling in places but I managed to keep my speed up and build my average speed close to 16 mph. Sometimes I dipped back to 15.8 or 15.9 mph. Firewtower Road is a bout a mile long from SR242 to FM1485 and mostly smooth asphalt. I made good time staying at 18+ mph mostly. AT FM1485 I turned left to ride to Gene Campbell Road. This is a road I know well from all the rides and nothing changed today. The traffic was light on Gene Campbell and I arrived at FM1314 hot and with my water bottle needing a refill. The Texaco station just east of Gene Campbell was a quick stop to refill and wipe some sweat off. Then I resumed riding with the next stop being Stripes for a longer break with food and PowerAde. I was close to bonking but the ice water from the Texaco held it off. As I coasted across FM1314 into the Stripes gas pumps I was glad I made it.
After yesterday’s late afternoon rain of 1.1” the temperature today was down about 5 degrees to 89. I could feel the difference at the start of the ride but by the time I stopped at Stripes the sweat was pouring. I used a bunch of paper towels to soak it up while I ate and drank in the shade. At first the wind was moving but after a few minutes the large flag started to move and the breeze helped cool me off. As I was resting I remembered the schools in Briar Tree end at 2:45 which is earlier than last year. I was concerned about getting caught in the traffic so I left Stripes at 2:29. I made it to the schools where the buses were lined up in the school parking lot and parents were starting to gather in another area but the street was open. I made it past in good shape and rode through Auburn Trails to the US59 service road.
Thanks to the northerly breeze riding south on the service road was fast hitting 20 to 21 mph most of the way to Kingwood Drive to u-turn. I had my average speed up to 16.4 mph. I made the u-turn onto the north service road, cut through Kingwood Parc to Loop 494. Loop 494 to Kings manor my average speed feel to 16.3 at 39+ miles into the ride. When I turned into Kings Manor I was stopped by the school traffic and slowly made my way past. From there to home I slowed some and my average speed dropped to 15.9 as I pulled into the driveway.
Great ride on a route that was a little longer than I planned. Weather was very nice with a hint of fall, partly cloudy sky and a light 4 mph north breeze. Tomorrow the weather is forecast to warm up to 93. I got a late start today because I was watching stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana. I left at 11:45 and got back at 3:14.
Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.
