Frankly, I haven't biked in the rain -- a steady, measurable rain -- for many years. So this afternoon, as I watched from my office window bits of our planet's fresh water pour down upon a large swath of our macadamized soil, I saw an opportunity rising. Some coworkers advised against my returning in rain; another offered me a ride home. I checked the radar and the window a few times and waited for an opportunity. Fortunately, just at quittin' time the rain tapered off from a downpour into a steady, light patter. I grabbed helmet and panniers and headed out the door.
I hadn't checked the weather this morning, so I wasn't entirely ready for this rainy return trip. Mainly, I didn't have a waterproof shell. This didn't seem to matter, for as soon as I hit the pedals I was enjoying myself, despite a steady soaking of my clothes. And for some reason my bike seat was not soaked with water (perhaps a benefit of locking to a tree). Balancing my ill-equipped-ness were front and rear blinkers, and snap-on fenders. The kid in me loved watching them block so much water that the tires lifted toward me.
The last bit of my ride home is a quarter mile hill that terminates at our driveway. Perhaps this was the riskiest portion of the trip, with my wet rims treating my brake pads as is they were skis. No consequences, though -- not even a slip.
Notes and Views on Commuting by Bicycle.
4 comments:
I've had days like this as well. I actually went out looking for rain when I first fitted my mudflap because it was such a novelty not to get sprayed when I rode through a puddle.
It doesn't take much to make me happy.
If you would like to have practise riding in the rain, a week in Vancouver will sure do the trick! You'll be an expert for sure by the time you return home. :)
Living in the Pacific Northwest the rain is a common companion during the fall, winter, and spring. I never look forward to starting out in it, but always end up enjoying the in the end. It must be the kid in me.
This week I started using my winter panniers and inside them I have stocked them with arm and leg warmers, along with a rain jacket, rain pants, and a helmet cover.
Thanks all for the comments! Here's to communing with nature!
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