Before starting today’s bike ride I waxed the chain on the Canyon Endurace bike. The last time I did that was at 19,000 miles and it has 21, 298 miles now. Surprised it was that many miles. Stage 5 of the Itzulia Basque Country race kept me occupied while I ate breakfast.

With those finished I got ready and started today’s bike ride at 11:28 AM. I put together a route of streets and roads I bike on but in an order that I can’t remember riding in a long time. Headed north from Kingwood I turned to the northwest in Porter on FM 1314. My plan was to ride to SH 242 or about 18 miles, whichever came first. When I reached about 15.5 miles the construction work area began reducing lanes with barrels in the shoulder lane on the opposite side of FM 1314. Rather than ride into the unknown work zone I made the u-turn to go back. Up to that point I enjoyed a stiff tailwind helping my average speed hit 15.0 mph. Now riding to the SE the tailwind became a strong headwind.

Passing Pat’s Donuts biking NW I thought there was enough time at the u-turn to make it back there before they closed at 1 PM. The headwind had other ideas fighting me all the way. Pedaling hard I made it to Pat’s with a couple of minutes to spare. I asked for an apple fritter but they were out. Sadly I asked what was left and opted for a glazed donut. The lady handed me a bag with 3 donuts and didn’t charge me, probably because the cash register was already closed out. I walked the Lynskey R300 around to the front porch to the tall table and chairs. I ate 2 1/2 donuts to replenish the energy used getting there and to power me the remaining 12 miles to the finish at 2:07 PM.

Weather conditions for the bike ride: start 77 (81% humidity, 70.3 dew point), overcast, wind S 16 mph gusts 22 mph; finish 80 (75% humidity, 71.7 dew point), overcast, wind S 16 mph. Warm enough to wear shorts and a short sleeve jersey. The wind was a killer on the return leg but a mighty good friend on the way to McQueen Road on FM 1314.