Started the bike ride today at 11:55 on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman Extended” route. The weather changed some from yesterday to mostly cloudy, 90 degrees and a SSE wind at 12 mph. Cycling to the southeast put me into the wind for about 17 miles until I turned left onto FM2100 to go to Huffman. Earlier when I crossed FM1960 at Pinehurst Trail and the shoulder from Atascocita Shore Drive to the western edge of the Lake Houston causeway I biked through the rough asphalt where the old surface had been ground off. Crossing FM1960 wasn’t too bad but the shoulder going east from Atascocita Shore Drive was rough with lots of debris from the work. The return trip from the west end of the causeway to Atascocita Shore was rough as well but one good thing is the old concrete droppings that blocked the shoulder near the turn are now gone. No more edging into the lane of traffic to get around the concrete. With the grinding out of the way maybe the new asphalt will be put down soon.
With the extended route I ride north from the Huffman Chevron rather than west on FM1960. I don’t ride the extended portion of the route very often. Smith Road is where I turn west and it has some issues with the road surface. The asphalt has “slipped” toward the shoulder in places which leaves cracks in the road. For cars these are not a big deal but for the narrow bike tire it is a big deal so I have to pay close attention to avoid the cracks.
I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a break before riding north on FM2100. I was 18.9 miles into what ended up being a 32.33 mile long ride. Today when I got to the railroad crossing there was no train and I was first in line waiting for the traffic light to change. The ride data when I stopped at the Chevron station.
I forgot to take a screenshot of the weather while I was eating because I was talking with this man who rode into the station on a mountain bike with a lady also on a mountain bike. He asked me about my Stradalli and how fast I could ride on it. I told him the bike was much faster than I can ride it but I do ride 21 or 22 mph when the conditions are with me. He told me he had a 29″ Giant MTB (different from the one he was riding today) that one day when he was riding on FM2100 a policeman pulled up beside him and told him to slow down to 45 mph which was the speed limit. I don’t know where he was riding on FM2100, which is flat in most places, or if this was with a strong tailwind but I am not convinced he could ride a 29″ MTB 45 mph or more. I nodded and then the lady came out of the store and they went to the air station to air their tires up. I watched them ride south on FM2100.
Finishing my snack crackers I refilled my water bottle and got ready to leave the station. It was 1:47 when I clipped into the pedals for the 13+ miles to the end of the ride. I was slightly concerned the extended portion of the route might put me in the Kingwood High School traffic at Kingwood Drive but I got there at 2:32 and the traffic had not backed up. I stopped for a few seconds and then made my way across Kingwood Drive. From there it was about 2 miles to the end. I stopped the Elemnt at 2:42.
My ride progress for October:
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