For a change the back part of a bike ride enjoyed a tailwind. This happened on today’s bike ride on my “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route. Typically when the ride moves to FM 1314 the wind is out of the SE requiring extra effort from there all the way to the finish. Thanks to an August “cool front” moving through today the wind is out of the NW and W during the ride. This route produced a 36.43 mile long ride helping me close in on my goal for the month with 685.18 miles so far towards the 800 miles I set.

I planned to start earlier today but missed that by a few minutes rolling the wheels at 9:56 am. The weather was great during the ride: start 86 (72% humidity), partly cloudy, wind NW 8 mph. Finish 94 (50% humidity), a few clouds, wind W 6 mph. There was a hint of coolness but later this afternoon the high should be near or at 100 degrees. According to SpaceCity Weather the clear sky and low humidity will encourage the heat. Since I am finished biking today that’s okay.

Cycling NW on FM 1485 to Gene Campbell Road I was surprised when I reached the turn and saw new asphalt, turn arrows on the lanes and fresh lines in the middle and shoulders. This work had to be recent because the asphalt look new. I stopped and took these two photos. The first photo looks back to FM 1485 while the second points to the west. As I looked to the west I saw the road surface change from black to gray in the distance.

Way out there at Nichols Lane the new surface ends but the new asphalt covers the worst part of the road. This section lasted about 1 1/2 miles. Smooth biking even when the trucks passed. Maybe the new pavement will be extended to FM 1314. Whoever resurfaced the road chose wisely to not put chip seal down and ruin a good cycling road.

Once I made it to FM 1314 the wind switched from my right front to a tailwind enabling me to ride easily to the Circle K/Valero at Sorters Road where I stopped to refill my water bottle. At this point abut 12 miles remained to the finish. Staying only long enough to walk inside and back out I got back on the Canyon and pedaled on. Making the turn onto Old Sorters Road put me back to riding into the wind whenever I broke out of the trees. This continued off and on until I was back to the I-69/US59 frontage road for the short hop to Kingwood Drive to u-turn north into Kings Manor and Kingwood. I finished the ride at 12:38 pm.

More great bicycling weather on Thursday when I should get below 100 miles left to my August goal.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary