I got up early this morning (5:40am) to get ready. Looking out the back door I could see the curtains on our patio cover moving around a lot. This meant it was windy and the temperature was 58 degrees. The sun wasn’t up yet so I couldn’t tell if the sky was overcast or what. I ate breakfast and put my bike clothes on. I dressed warm for a cool wind and temperatures: leg warmers, shorts, long sleeve jersey, short sleeve jersey, windbreaker jacket and full finger gloves. I held off on the jacket, wearing a sweat shirt to drive to the New Caney Stadium. I left home a few minutes after 7. Driving north on US59 I looked at the stadium driveway to see how the traffic was going; it was backed up. I made the u-turn at FM1485 and drove to the stadium entrance and sat in line as the traffic slowly moved into the parking lot. The lot looked full and the volunteer directed me to open spaces where the buses would normally park. It quickly filled up too.

Walking around the stadium to pickup my registration packet and t-shirt the stiff NW wind was chilling. It was a long walk from where I parked. I parked NE of the stadium and the registration was on the SW corner. As I walked from the Jeep to the registration area and back to my Jeep I took these pictures. (click on the image to enlarge it)

Unloading my bike I got ready to ride. I rode my bike back to the SW corner of the stadium to the port-a-potties for a visit before riding to the start line on the Grand Parkway west of Valley Ranch Blvd. (or Parkway depending on which sign you see). More pictures.

The ride from the stadium to the starting line was about a mile. Because I wasn’t at the start line I did not turn on my Garmin 520. I held off until the 50 mile group moved to the start line after the 75 mile group left. While I was waiting for the start I took these pictures.

I started the 520 at 8:20 but it was 3 or 4 minutes before we left the start line. The 75 mile (3 loops) group were given several minutes to spread the riders out. As I looked ahead and behind I guessed there were several thousand bikers. Once we left the start line by the time we got to the FM1314 overpass (riding over it instead of under it like I have been doing for many months) the riders were spreading out. The wind was strong. Later when I remembered to take screenshots it showed 14 mph from the NW. At home before I left, the airport reported 22 mph with 30+ mph gusts.

It was about 12.21 miles from the start line to the I-45 turnaround. Going this direction the wind was mostly at my right or right rear quarter which helped me set a good pace. Before the turnaround I built my average speed up to 15.6 mph. It near approached that again. Riding back to Valley Ranch blvd. the wind was coming at my left front quarter until the last 3 or 4 miles. This slowed me down quite a bit. After the I-45 turn I remembered to take the weather screenshots.

Not long after stopping to get the weather I took these pictures. (click on the image to enlarge it)

I stopped at the Valley Ranch Blvd. turnaround to eat a couple of granola bars and rink some water before starting on the second and last loop back to I-45. I wasn’t the only person there.

The man bent over in the second picture had taken off his jacket before leaving on his his next loop. As he left I wished him battling the wind. He said it would be tough for a 77 year old. The left picture looks north while the other looks south.

After eating and drinking I started out again. I didn’t stop or take any pictures but concentrated on pedaling. The wind was still hard and it hadn’t warmed up any. I did notice my jacket was damp at the end of the sleeves and lower back. I was sweating even though I didn’t feel it. I completed the last loop and rode back to the stadium. I stopped the Garmin 520 at 12:11 as I pulled up to the Jeep. I was tired. I rode 51.62 miles not counting riding from the Jeep to the start line. I remembered to take weather screenshots at the end.

My ride observations:

• this ride would be hard to get lost on.
• I think I used my brakes 2 or 3 times once we started until I got back at the Jeep.
• it will be a while before the parkway is ready to open from all the work left to be done
• the pavement showed lots of panels that were ground down to match the surrounding panels. I thought this was strange.
• riding without much traffic was nice. the SAG vehicles were spread out along the route. Calling the designated cell phone number would ring one to you.
• I didn’t see many people SAG.
• How many people rode here rather than other rides in the area?

Will the ride appear again when the next section of the Grand Parkway east of US59 nears completion in 2 to 3 years?

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