I continued my string of starting the bike ride before 9 AM today rolling out at 8:52 AM on my Lynskey Helix bike. I decided to ride my “Community Drive – Valley Ranch – Gene Campbell Blvd” route for some variety. The last time I rode the route was June 29th. That time I rode a loop through Riverwalk but today I didn’t do that. I did change some of the early streets in Kingwood. Not counting the June 29th ride today’s 37.25 miles was slightly more than the other 2 rides this year (a total of 4 rides this year). Now my week’s bike rides total 113.75 miles and I am over the halfway point to my 800 mile goal for July with 425.09 miles. Year to date I’ve rode 5,182 miles. I trail 2021 by 1 mile and 2020 by 120 miles. My route was flat while stage 11 of the Tour de France climbed 2,642 meters on one mountain. I’ll watch the replay after the ride.

Three other cyclists were out on the route: the first on Valley Ranch Parkway, the second I knew was Ronnie Clark in Oakhurst, and the last again in Oakhurst on Mills Branch Drive.

Weather conditions: start 84 (humidity 83%, dew point 78), partly cloudy, wind N 0 mph; finish 93 (humidity 57%, dew point 76), mostly clear, wind SW 6 mph. The forecast says another 100 degree day but I was back home at 11:48 AM avoiding that temperature. My CamelBak kept the water cool until I finished but all of the ice melted.

Stopping Oakhurst at Bentwood Oak Drive I took these photos. The plants are showing stress from the heat and lack of rain.

Some data from AXS.SRAM.com ride report. Moving time 2:41:20. 15 RD shifts, 1:54:32 pedaling in the 35×13 (28.2 miles). With the relatively light wind I was able to use the 35×13 gear in the headwind and my legs felt good.