I drove to Splendora to start today’s bike ride. The last time I biked some of the roads on this route was back in 2015 but not the same route. I parked the Jeep at the bank, got the Canyon Endurace bike out and started the bike ride at 11:02 AM. I headed north to Fostoria Road where I turned left. Several businesses and homes added since my last ride on Fostoria Road. More traffic on this road than I remember but everyone gave me room since there is no shoulder. This took me to SH 105 where I turned left. SH 105 runs to the west and my ride covered about 13 miles. The road surface was asphalt but the shoulder width varied from 8 feet to a little over 3 feet when a center lane cropped up. Until I reached Cut and Shoot the shoulder warning divots intruded in the shoulder narrowing the area but not enough to force me onto the main lane. Around Cut and Shoot the divots disappeared. There were a few hills on SH 105 with the biggest one taking us up over the BNSF railroad tracks around the 8.5 mile mark. I stopped at the Cut and Shoot City Hall and took these photos.

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Leaving City Hall I kept biking west to FM 1485. I think some development was added since my last ride through there with most of it commercial. I did see one home subdivision to the left that looked new and still under construction. I didn’t get enough warning of the FM 1485 turn so I pulled over to wait for an opening to ride over to the left turn lane. I didn’t wait long.

On FM 1485 the headwind began trying to slow my pace but the trees helped block it some. There was a 4 foot shoulder most of the way to FM 2090 except for a couple of spots where left turn lanes appeared. The asphalt surface was good and only a few rolling hills. As I approached FM 2090 I saw a road construction warning pointing in the direction I needed to bike. At the traffic light I saw the work zone and it looked like it was where two bridges crossed a low area. Traffic was light and I rode to and through the construction area with only one car passing me with plenty of room. On the other side of the construction 2 big dogs started barking and running parallel to me but in their yard. The fence was open enough for them to get through but they stayed in the yard, thank goodness.

More rolling hills as I rode to Splendora but the wind was now across me instead of a headwind. Across from Splendora High School the land had been cleared for something but no signs to explain it. A couple of new buildings on the way to Splendora from my memory. I rolled into the bank parking lot and finished the ride at 1:41 PM. The 38.55 miles almost matched the route I constructed in RideWithGPS.com last week at 38.6 miles. After putting the Canyon bike in the Jeep I ate two snacks before driving back to Kingwood.

Weather conditions for the bike ride: start 73 (71% humidity, 63 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 14 mph; finish 81 (54% humidity, 63 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 18 mph. No wonder I noticed the headwind on FM 1485 and FM 2090 at 18 mph. I dressed for 73 degrees wearing shorts, a long sleeve jersey, and a short sleeve jersey.

Next week I plan on another bike ride starting at a place I drive to.

Thanks to Strava awarding me 4 silver medals that helped me find the previous rides on SH 105 and FM 2090 back in March and April of 2015. Those were not the same whole route but segments on those roads.