{"id":27541,"date":"2014-10-10T16:07:54","date_gmt":"2014-10-10T21:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=27541"},"modified":"2014-10-10T16:07:54","modified_gmt":"2014-10-10T21:07:54","slug":"perfect-timing-to-not-get-soaked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2014\/10\/10\/perfect-timing-to-not-get-soaked\/","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Timing to Not Get Soaked"},"content":{"rendered":"

I delayed the start today because there was scattered rain showing on the weather radar. The sun kept shining over our house and no rain came so I rolled out the driveway at 11:26. As I exited Kingwood on Adams St. I encountered the first wet street but it didn’t last long. By the time I reached Loop 494 the streets were dry. They stayed that way until FM1485 and Gene Campbell Road. These roads were damp but I still had not been rained on. The sky had some dark clouds but not directly over me. I did get a few stray sprinkles from time to time.<\/p>\n

FM1314 had places that were damp on the shoulder as I rode towards Porter. I wasn’t thinking it would rain as I was riding to the Stripes station. I was not able to use the “big ring” because the wind and my legs were not cooperating.<\/p>\n

As I neared Stripes I had to stop on the shoulder to wait for the east bound traffic to pass. When a break came I moved to the center turn lane and then into Stripes. I rode to the paper towel dispenser to dry off some and all of a sudden the rain came down heavy. My timing was pretty good and I did not get wet. I waited for the rain to stop and went inside to refill my water bottle and get a Gatorade drink. I went back to the pump canopy to eat and allow the streets to dry off some before riding toward home. Stripes was 26.8 miles into what turned out to be a 37.71 mile<\/strong> ride. My average speed was 15.4 mph for most of the ride until I got into Kingwood when it dropped to 15.1 mph overall.<\/p>\n

Leaving Stripes and going to Briar Tree the streets were damp until I got to Oakhurst. From there to home the sun was out and the streets dry. The temperature at home was 90 degrees. Summer is hanging on but supposedly a cold front moves in on Monday.<\/p>\n

I am waiting for a new rear cassette to arrive. It could be Tuesday with Monday being Columbus Day and the USPS not delivering. I also ordered a new 34 tooth front chain ring, the one I use almost all the time. Today since I didn’t use the big front ring my legs were spinning madly to get the speed up to 18+ mph. Fortunately the 9 mph south wind didn’t hold me back too much.<\/p>\n

At home I washed the Stradalli down. A clean bike looks great. Maybe I can go faster now.<\/p>\n

Mileage markers:<\/p>\n