I fixed the Lynskey Helix’s front flat tire yesterday afternoon so I rode it on today’s bike ride. I used a CO2 cartridge for the first time to air the tire up with a quick pop of the bead on the rim. I quickly turned the valve off leaving some amount of CO2 in the cartridge. Checking the tire before leaving on the ride it was firm, probably more than 80 psi that I am riding on my other bikes. This also is the first ride on a new Velo Senso TT+ saddle like the one on my Canyon Endurace but with tri-alloy rails instead of carbon. It was as comfortable as the one on the Canyon.

With all of that out of the way I rolled out at 8:52 AM beating 9 AM for the first time this week. The forecast called for a high of 105 and I wanted to get back home before that happened. I finished at 11:49 AM but it was heating up. Space City Weather thinks we are near the end of 100+ days. I like hot weather but 100+ is going overboard.

The ride went north through Kingwood, Woodridge Forest, Brooklyn Trails before reaching the US59 north frontage road. I was riding my Kingwood – FM1485 – Kingwood route. I stayed on the frontage road to TX 99 where I rode to Loop 494. Loop 494 is much quieter than US59. I glanced at the construction around the Loop 494 bridge over Caney Creek and there was a lot equipment activity. Payne Road took me back to the frontage road and over Caney Creek where I made a u-turn under US59 to begin the ride back to Kingwood. Going through Valley Ranch, Briar Tree, and Oakhurst brought me closer to Kingwood. Another u-turn under US59, a short stretch on Loop 494 and I entered Kings Manor. The end was 4 miles away. I stopped at my dentist’s office to make an appointment and rode home.

This wasn’t the fastest ride on this route. My legs felt tired and the wind from the west didn’t do any favors riding back. The 32.71 miles was about average for 2023 rides and pushed my week’s total to 179.99 miles and the month to 255.77 miles (36% of the way to my 720 mile goal). Tomorrow I’m riding the Rollin’ Pearland Ride which should add about 49 miles to those totals.

Today’s weather: Start 86 degrees, 76% humidity, dew point 78.0, a few clouds, wind W 6 mph; Finish 96 degrees, 51% humidity, dew point 75.1, a few clouds, wind W 9 mph.