I rode the “SR242 – FM1314” route for the second time this year. I have avoided this route due to the Grand Parkway overpass construction on FM1314. I rode through the work zone again today without any problem. The 2/10’s of a mile biking in the work zone with a concrete barrier on the right doesn’t allow any movement for traffic to pass but today not one car or truck was in sight behind me. The opposite direction traffic was light and did not cause any concern. The workers attached forms to the west side of the overpass for the sides and may pour some concrete soon.
Cutting short watching stage 13 of the Tour (it was hot there too) I left home at 10:07 in a bid to avoid some of the heat. There were some clouds but the sun dominated the sky most of the ride. The weather conditions when I stopped at Stripes 34.8 miles into the 44.3 mile long ride.
Before reaching Stripes I passed the site of Grand Texas and was surprised to see construction activity. On the south side of SH 242 land has been cleared for what will be the entrance to the motor racing track. On the north side of SH 242 at the corner of US59 a new Valero station is being built. From there to Grand Texas trees have been cleared expanding the open area from the road to the tree line. Once upon a time this land was a tree farm for Champion Paper. To the north of the Valero spot more land is being cleared by the southbound service road. I am not sure what that is for. The next ride is this area I will go by to see if any signs are up.
I made a quick stop at the Chevron station at FM1485 and SH 242 for ice and water. That was at 19.6 miles into the ride. I planned on stopping longer at the Stripes store and wanted to be sure my water lasted the 15 miles.
With the light wind and lower humidity I did not have much trouble with excess sweat running until I stopped for traffic lights. I got the average speed up 15.2 mph while I was on SH 242 and after the stop at the Chevron I increased it to 15.3 mph. I held this until the stop at Stripes where it fell to 15.2 mph and then riding home through Kingwood it dropped down to 14.7 mph as I slowed for stop signs and residential street turns. I got back home at 1:53. My home weather station then.
The shade at the Stripes store is getting narrower as summer heads to fall. I will need to move my resting spot to the pump canopy. This might allow the breeze to get to me better while I sit. One lady asked if I thought it was too hot and I said no, it is just right. As long as I am moving the heat doesn’t seem that bad. It’s when I stop and the sweat has a chance to collect that I feel hot. It took 8 paper towels plus a Greensheet newspaper at Stripes to soak up all the sweat I had. By the time I finished I was not sweating. I was there about 35 to 40 minutes.
I am hoping to ride over 200 miles this week and with today’s ride I am at 153.45 miles leaving 47 miles and two biking days. If I ride 30+ miles tomorrow (Saturday) Sunday can be an easy day to set up next week’s biking. The weather forecast looks dry for the next week or more.
A summary comparison of the two rides on this route this year.
[iframe https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/836132949 465px 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/348163457/embed/b191f138f0a0c82618cdd66947156e2152c4a09f 590px 500px]
