Yesterday was windy but today stepped it up even higher. 31 mph gusts from the south made it an interesting bike ride. Biking north was a breeze but when I made the turn around under US59 at Caney Creek riding up from under the overpass I knew the ride back to Kingwood into the headwind required extra leg power.
The bike ride began at 11:32 AM, a little earlier than yesterday. Since I rode a route to the south on Thursday I chose one going north today. Wanting a shorter route I selected what I label the “Kingwood – FM1485 – Kingwood” route. The distance today came in at 30.19 miles, about 2 miles less than yesterday. With today’s mileage the week totals 124.08 miles (road + virtual) and January totals 251.43 miles (road + virtual).
Overall the weather looked like this while I biked: start 72 (88% humidity, 68.0 dew point), overcast, wind S 18 mph gusts 27 mph. Finish 72 (89% humidity, 68.4 dew point), overcast and breezy, wind S 22 mph gusts 31 mph. I dressed for a little chill with shorts, long sleeve thermal jersey, and a new Pearl Izumi Elite Escape Barrier Convertible Jacket.
Unlike yesterday no power spikes up into the 600 watts range today. Instead I recorded three spikes above 300 watts. I breezed along getting to FM 1485 improving my average speed to 13.4 mph before turning south into the strong headwind. The route zigged some so I got a little wind relief on Valley Ranch Parkway from US59 to the Grand Parkway underpass. Once I rolled under the Grand Parkway the wind hit pretty hard reducing my speed up the short incline almost below 10 mph until I reached the top. Windbreaks gave me some recovery time among the trees. I rode back to US59 through Forest Colony with the houses on my right blocking a little of the wind. At the Kingwood Drive u-turn I changed from headwind to tailwind until I rode into Kings Manor where the winding streets began and the wind moved accordingly. In Kingwood I alternated between headwind and tailwind slowing for stops signs and street crossings to finish the ride at 2:04 PM. Fortunately no light rain today and no need to wash the bike which I did yesterday.
When I stopped at Rosewood Cemetery to visit my wife’s grave I leaned the Canyon against the curb like I usually do while I walked to the grave site. Once I got there I looked back at my bike and it lay on the concrete knocked over by the strong wind. No damage except my saddle turned some and a scuff on the side of the saddle. I moved the saddle back into position and got on the bike. Next time in the wind I will lay the bike down.
I switched the GoPro camera and PowerPod from one side to another on the shared mount. The camera is much easier to push the record/stop button with no obstruction. I don’t know if the PowerPod move caused the power readings to not hit 600+ with the wind stronger than Thursday’s ride.
With a projected rain storm around midnight Friday, Saturday biking may be indoors on Zwift.
