Today’s bike ride went to the north along US59/I-69 through Porter, New Caney, and a short side loop through Tavola before riding to SH 242 where I crossed over and headed south through Valley Ranch and a sliver of Oakhurst popping back to US59 going through Peppervine. I call this my Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood route. The start time was later than I prefer at 10:31 AM but I wanted the temperature to get to 70. I changed my wardrobe a little wearing shorts, a long sleeve poly T-shirt, and a short sleeve jersey on top. No arm sleeves today. I finished the bike ride at 1:29 PM biking 37.19 miles. This marked the 8th time riding this route. The last 4 rides have been 37+ miles and 1 at 39.42 miles. I’ve used three different bikes over the 8 rides. Today’s average speed was the 2nd fastest at 14.0 mph.

I rode by a carnival along the frontage road on the way back to Kingwood. In Briar Tree a big black dog waited to give me “get off my yard” warning barking and chasing me for about 100 feet on Briar Berry Lane. Fortunately he lost interest quickly and I was riding about 18 mph when I spotted him coming from a yard. A slight tailwind helped me. I could hear his claws clicking on the asphalt which might have slowed him a little if he thought he might slide. Lots of orange barrels on Loop 494 just north of FM 1485 at the railroad tracks. Traffic was light allowing me to get past them without any problems.

A Strava top result 3rd fastest time on Kris Spraggins Memorial Route (2:35).

Weather conditions: start 71 (humidity 66%, dew point 59), mostly cloudy, wind NE 7 mph; finish 82 (humidity 43%, dew point 57), mostly cloudy, wind E 5 mph. The clouds didn’t let much sun through to warm me up too much. After I warmed up I wondered if the long sleeve T-short was too much but it turned out to be just right. I’m not ready for fall like temperatures yet.