An overcast sky helped to hold in the humidity as I left at 10:50 on today’s ride. The humidity was not as high as yesterday standing at 63%. The 8 mph SW wind usually brings drier air and by the finish of the ride at 1:38 the sky was partly cloudy to the north and overcast to the south. Humidity dropped to 44% and the temperature was 94.8, 7 degrees up from the start.<\/p>\n
Riding to the north to New Caney I took the “back” way out of Kingwood on Mills Branch Drive and then Ford Road to get to Loop 494. Except for the portion of Ford Road where I rode west the wind helped me keep a good starting average speed. I was only 6 seconds over at the 5 mile point to get a 15 mph average speed. Riding on Loop 494 north it did not take long to make up those 6 seconds and more. I expected some wind resistance riding on FM1485 to Gene Campbell Road and at first there was but a slight dogleg to the right was just enough to get some help from the breeze.<\/p>\n
Once I was on Gene Campbell Road the breeze was not holding me back too much but when I took the side street square I experienced the wind’s power with each change in direction. Back on Gene Campbell I rode to FM1314 to begin the trip towards Porter. With a SW breeze this section does not ride into the wind and it can even switch to a tailwind at times. Approaching the Stripes station is one of those where the road bends to the left and the SW becomes a true tailwind.<\/p>\n
Stopping at Stripes I enjoyed the shade and rested for the final 11 miles or so back home. A package of Nature Valley granola bars replenished my sugar and I washed them down with my usual Diet Pepsi. Back on my bike after 20 or 25 minutes I rode home through Briar Tree, Oakhurst and Kingwood. The route mileage came in at 34.59 miles<\/strong> bringing the week to 74.75 miles<\/strong>, July to 670.18 miles<\/strong> and year to date up to 3996 miles<\/strong>. Tomorrow I should get over the 4000 mile point for the year.<\/p>\n [iframe http:\/\/connect.garmin.com:80\/activity\/embed\/347175942 470px 570px]<\/p>\n [wppa type=”slideonlyf” album=”200″ size=”auto”][\/wppa]<\/p>\n [iframe http:\/\/ridewithgps.com\/trips\/1525634\/embed 95% 700px]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"