Two days before Christmas and it is 80 degrees but definitely warm enough for a bike ride. Rolling out at 11:21 AM under an overcast sky the wind was stiff. I found out at the end of the bike ride why it felt that way: 12 mph from the south with 28 mph gusts. Not much of an issue riding north on the “Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch” route but the stretch back to the south at the Community Drive u-turn was tough. I rode my Blue Norcross AL bike some variety which rode nice and smooth with the wider tires but the extra weight became apparent pedaling into the wind. I had a chance to rest some while I rode west from Loop 494 on Community Drive to I-69/US59 with traffic backed up about 1/2 mile from the traffic light. It moved slowly but once I got to the incline up to the traffic light I rode on the shoulder to the light where I waited for it to change. When it changed I rode slowly waiting for an opening to move to the left to make the turn south on the service road. The car behind me was kind enough to let me over and make the turn.

Riding downhill from the Grand Parkway intersection should have been easy but the headwind made me pedal. Traffic was more than usual on the road before I turned into Valley Ranch at the Texaco station, probably due to the holiday. I was surprised to see the New Caney ISD schools were still in session and letting out in Valley Ranch and later in Briar Tree as I rode by. Humble ISD schools closed after last Friday classes.

While biking through Woodridge Forest early in the ride I stopped to take this two photo to show the wind blowing strong.

The cold front is on the way and at the time I finished the ride (1:24 PM) it was around Navasota. From the 80 degree temperature during the bike ride it will drop into the 40’s on Saturday. No more biking until after Christmas I suspect.

SportTracks Ride Summary