I bought a bike last fall and have stored it for a time, unable to ride through the winter. This spring, I got it out and have ridden it to work and other places faithfully. Our summer was largely rainless, so the biggest challenge I faced was some dehydration because of the heat. I've continued on with biking, have come to love it, in spite of all of the *$&#( *$ #$&* !&&^&*# drivers that feel absolved from acknowledging non-cars on the road.
After we had a few chilly mornings, and, to be more realistic, after I survived biking to work through them, I made a goal for myself of biking until November. Now, with the swift change in hours of daylight, and with the swift change in the wetness of the road, I'm thinking that I won't be able to make it each day until November, but, after biking on a wet and chilly day like today, I realized a few things that may or may help me with this goal:
My brakes are worthless when their wet. I might as well drag my feet. (get some shoes with industrial soles?).
The helmet can only withstand about a 1/2 mile of rain before the water makes its way to my scalp. The visor on the helmet is a big freaking joke after 30 seconds of rain. (purchase shower cap, I am so jazzed about this idea).
While I have my back end covered by a basket, I have little protection for my legs and feet up front. (Get a fender).
My jacket is not waterproof.
But, thick winter gloves are excellent at keeping the water and cold out.
Cold water on one's ass, no matter the circumstances, is truly unfortunate.
Waiting for the rain to stop is like waiting for paint to dry. (Note: find some wet paint to watch dry instead. Much dryer).
Today, I had a hiatus just long enough to partially dry, catch a chill, and then have to face the sad, drippy music of getting back on the bike in the rain. I would have preferred just standing in the rain the whole time. (Plus, all I got for my drying time was a wet ass as soon as I got back on my bike - guess who forgot her plastic bag?)
Also, biking 9 miles ill-equipped in the rain, in my estimation, is roughly equivalent to being dropped fully clothed 30 ft. into a lake, and then being told to bike out.
On a happier note, when returning home from said journey, I came across another young woman on a bike. When we saw each other and realized the unnecessary, terrible ordeal that we were sharing, we both cracked up, and I'm pretty sure that no one who could see us missed our smiles or our laughter. It was fairly absurd to be on a bike today, and for whatever reason, seeing her made me realize that I am a complete nut job.
I bike in all kinds of weather too and it is a pain at times to stay dry. In the summer when it is warm I just don't care. Cling wrap on the top of your helmet is good to keep the head dry. May want to tape it on though as the wind can displace it or just take it away. Same is good for shoes up to around the ankles. May be re-used for coming home too. A front fender is a must. If your butt is getting wet the back basket isn't doing much.A rack for over the back tire works pretty well for blocking road water swept up your________. If the weather is really rainy and I need to "ride", I wear a poncho and tuck it under the backside to keep the seat dry. I like wearing a tight turtle neck to keep the wind and drizzle from getting in too. I have a compression top that works great for this in the touching color of black.It's also nice at warming me up.
The issue of knucklehead drivers and the way they treat us bike riders....well.....best I cannot catch them on my bike. Or they get their a____ kicked. I am lookin' for a shirt with a "bite me" logo on it for those guys.
And as a driver, with obvious biker sympathies, here are by bugaboos:
1. Wear your helmet!
2. OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS!!! Grrrr. If all bikers obeyed traffic laws, I think fewer drivers would be nasty to bikers. Maybe. Maybe? Okay, maybe not, but I am very afraid of bicyclists when I'm driving because I never know whether they plan on, oh say, stopping at the stop sign or stop light! Gah!
And I love you. I know full well you obey the laws! :-)
Mark just attended a very informative seminar on winter biking - much of which was taken from a guy in Chicago.
Do ten laps around Place de la Bastille, cobblestones slicked by the winter rain, on a rusty old three-speed, and then we'll talk about urban cyclisme...
There is nothing like strolling on a great bike on a mountain trail - especially in the spring time. I cannot think of anything at all I would rather do - well, maybe ONE thing .. ;-)
I'm sorry but I drew inspiration from you ;)
We were not allowed to bring guests to the movie and I will be more than happy to pay to sit through this one again with my wife when it is released to theaters.
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