{"id":47407,"date":"2019-02-11T16:19:53","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T22:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=47407"},"modified":"2019-02-11T16:25:31","modified_gmt":"2019-02-11T22:25:31","slug":"almost-made-it-bike-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2019\/02\/11\/almost-made-it-bike-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Almost Made It Bike Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After the early morning rain ended around 9:30 AM I waited for the streets to drive off some before beginning the bike ride today. According to the weather forecast rain probability increased to round 80% around 3PM. I chose the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route avoiding the extra side streets to keep the miles around 32 and get back home by 3 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got dressed and started the ride at 12:12 PM. By then the streets dried off except for the part by the curb. The sun even made a few appearances giving me confidence in my plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riding north the wind helped get me to Tavola and once I rode through to Roman Forest Blvd. I thought I made good time and positioned to get back home by 3 PM. The SW 12 mph wind slowed my progress down on the ride south on the I-69\/US59 service road until I made the right turn onto Valley Ranch Parkway. The wind got in the way once I reached the Grand Parkway. I then noticed the sky darkening to my right ahead but thought my dark sunglasses made it seem darker than it really was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fighting the wind to FM 1314 and then on to Briar Tree I began to be concerned about those dark clouds ahead. I even dipped my glasses down a little to check them out. Yep! the dark clouds were real. I rode into Oakhurst and decided to take a shorter route on Belvon Valley Drive when the light rain began. I sped up thinking the rain was isolated to a small patch but it increased. I thought of the closest place for shelter and decided to stop at the Oakhurst Pool and Community Center building on Rock Creek Drive. Trying to stay somewhat dry I moved to the trail beside Rock Creek Drive under the trees. This help a little as I raced to the shelter getting wetter as I rode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I arrived at the shelter a few minutes before 2 PM. The rain came sooner than expected. I checked the weather radar on my phone and it showed rain covering a wide area so I called for a ride home. My wife saind she would come and get me. As I waited the rain continued and I got chilly from the wet clothes and breeze blowing. I took these photos while I waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n