Based on my checking the weather at the beginning of today’s bike ride I figured it would be tough riding at the turn around point on Ramsey Road back to Kingwood but I didn’t know it was going to be that hard.

I started the ride at 11:51 AM following the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route.

Below is the weather at the finish of the ride at 2:51 PM. Notice the NW wind at 28 mph with 32 mph gusts.

It was a little chilly (for me anyway) so I decided to wear a thermal long sleeve jersey under a wind jacket with shorts but no leg warmers. The wardrobe choice kept me comfortable during the ride even with the very strong wind. Weather during the bike ride: start 70 (43% humidity), fair, wind N 15 mph. Finish 72 (33% humidity), a few clouds, wind NW 28 mph gusts 32 mph

Generally the wind didn’t pose much of a problem on the way to Ramsey Road. Over Lake Houston on FM 1960 biking to the east and out in the open I felt the wind as the gusts would push the Canyon to the right and I would make a steering correction without too much effort. On the return trip riding to the west it was a whole different situation.

On the ride to the east the wind blew across five lanes without much in its way and on the ride to the west I thought being close to the concrete guard rail I could expect some shielding but that didn’t happen because the wind was so strong. Not long after starting across the lake a gust of wind caught me and pushed me toward the traffic lane from the shoulder but I was able to get back about two feet right of the white line. The wind didn’t let up and several times it was so strong I thought about getting off the bike and walking but instead I crouched lower over the bike and pedaled on. I think my speed over the lake was 8 to 11 mph with more 8 than 11. The lake had whitecaps in the water to my right. A lone boat was anchored with a man fishing but the boat was moving around quite a bit. Once I was on the west shore among trees and houses the wind could not buffet me and I sped up some but my legs were wore out and I slowly made my way back to Kingwood hitting open spots where the wind hit me again with force.

On Old Atascocita Road the north side has places with a thin line of trees lining the road. The wind was so strong that I felt the difference when only a scrawny tree provided a little wind break. Around the 23 mile point riding west I remembered seeing some cows in a pasture laying down so I stopped and took these photos as an excuse to take a break from the wind.

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I rode hard back to FM 2100 and then north to Huffman. Riding west on FM 1960 there were trees and building that blocked some of the wind until I reached Lake Houston. I savored each time the wind dropped and I could pedal easier.

Saturday the wind should lessen and the temperature probably will get o 80 degrees. I plan on biking with renewed vigor.

2019 miles leads 2016 and 2018 but trails 2017 by 105 miles. I was putting on the miles in 2017.