Today’s ride was a Houston Cycling Club group of 3, including myself. We met at Kingwood Park High School at 8:45 to set out around the north of Lake Houston. The group was Ronnie, Gilbert and myself. After pre-riding the route last Saturday I made a change to go through Roman Forest and avoid most of FM1485 because the should er is not wide enough. Riding out of Kingwood through Kings Manor we took Loop 494 to Roman Forest Blvd. Going through Roman Forest we moved on to Casey Ridge and back to FM1485. A quick stop at the convenience store for ice and water we took off on FM1485 east over the East San Jancinto River and back into Harris County. At that point the shoulder widened until we got to Huffman-Cleveland Road where the shoulder vanished.
We waited a couple of minutes at the intersection to allow some traffic to pass before setting off for 2 miles of no shoulder until we could turn on Blue Lake Drive and then ride through the Commons of Lake Houston.
The temperature was increasing and my perspiration was flowing heavily. Riding in shade was a blessing and the wind moving through my jersey produced a cooling effect. When I left home at 8:34 it was 77 degrees with 71% humidity. When I reached Kingwood Park High School I was standing there talking to Ronnie while Gilbert got his bike ready. My glasses fogged up from the humidity and my body heat. Getting back home at 12:12 it was 90 degrees and 41% humidity. The lower humidity helped to evaporate the sweat as long as I was moving. The partly cloudy sky allowed the sun shine down on us and the light breeze meant no real headwinds.
Today is the first day of summer. It should get hotter. Before I retired the day summer arrived was a letdown because this meant the daylight would get shorter and I would have to cut back biking in the evening after I got home from work. No more of that!!!
Exiting the Commons of Lake Houston we rode to Huffman and a stop at the Huffman Chevron. We took a break to refill water bottles, drink some energy drinks and eat a snack. I was pouring sweat and went through two piles of paper towels trying to dry off some. After 15 minutes or so it was back on the bikes for the final 11 or so miles.
The roads on this route vary from smooth asphalt to crumbling and rough. Roman Forest has nice smooth roads thanks to the new construction going on there. Casey Ridge has mostly rough roads. Commons of Lake Houston is about all concrete and smooth except for a short stretch as we exited on Vista Del Lago which was asphalt and in good condition. FM2100 has fresh asphalt and FM1960 is concrete all the way from Huffman to just before Atascocita Shores Dr.
I biked 44.9 miles averaging 16.0 mph. Thanks to the group and light wind I was able to keep a good pace. Since I was leading because I knew the route I wanted to set a good pace and my body cooperated. It was great biking with some other bikers.
The noisy chain went away thanks to No. 5 Chain-L lubrication I applied yesterday.
Tomorrow the weather forecast says 88 degrees, chance of afternoon thundershowers. I plan on riding after church in the morning so I might beat the rain.
Mileage:
- 186.3 miles this week
- 682.96 miles for June (202 miles left to reach my 885 mile goal for June)
- 3087 miles year to date
- Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS
[wppa type=”slide” album=”349″ size=”auto”][/wppa]
