Some Dark Clouds, Lots of Wind, A Race to Pat’s on Today’s Bike Ride
A few dark clouds hovered in the distance as I began today’s bike ride at 11:00 AM. A few light sprinkles fell on the handlebar as I rode away from the driveway to begin the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route. I wanted to ride enough miles to get closer to 200+ miles for the week and I believe today’s 37.36 miles favorably positioned me. The week totals 168.2 miles with 2 potential biking days left 200+ looks realistic. May now totals 264.62 miles, 40% of the way to my goal.
Today’s route appears 6 times so far this year in my ride history; 5 times on the Canyon Endurace CF SLX bike and once on the Lynskey R300 bike.
I mentioned sprinkles at the beginning of the ride but bigger raindrops came down as I rode through Woodridge Forest. I hoped to ride away from that and about 1/2 a mile later the rain stopped leaving damp streets which dried off quickly. While dark clouds moved around during the rest of the bike ride no rain fell where I rode. Weather during the bike ride: start 85 (72% humidity, 75.0 dew point), overcast, wind W 9 mph. Finish 87 (66% humidity, 74.1 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind W 12 mph gusts 22 mph. Humidity jumped up today as the wind pulled moisture from the gulf. The strong wind came into play as I rode west on Gene Campbell Blvd as a headwind causing my hard earned 14.0 mph average speed to drop a few tenths of a mph. Once I made it to FM 1314 the direction put the wind at my right rear quarter allowing me to improve to 14.2 mph average.
Up to the time I turned onto FM 1314 I didn’t know if I could get to Pat’s Donuts before the 1 PM close but thanks to the help from the wind as I biked SE on FM 1314 I got to the drive through window at 12:58 PM. Watch the video to see what happened.
I took a break at Pat’s to eat and rest. while I ate a few big rain drops hit the concrete and I thought I might be at Pat’s for awhile but the few drops was all that came down.
Back on the Canyon Endurace bike the wind helped get to Old Sorters Road. Biking through Briar Tree exposed me to the wind again until I rode into Oakhurst where the homes and trees interrupted the wind some. A short leg going west on Northpark Drive to Kingwood Place was the last major exposure to the wind. Biking through Kings Manor and into Kingwood didn’t take long. I finished the ride at 2:08 PM. Now the rain could fall but it didn’t.
