Wet Riding

Stubborn. It’s not always a good trait. Nicer words describing this characteristic are persistent, determined heading down hill with terms such as strong-willed, single-minded idiot. Pick one for me, any will fit.

The weatherman was predicating a cold front to blow in tonight, bringing with it some nasty storms. Like a groundhog, I poked my nose out the door around 5 a.m. this morning. The ground was damp, the wind was whipping…But it was 70 degrees and didn’t seem like rain was imminent. I stuck with my plan, hopped in the shower. A bit later I was pedaling out the door in my 5K t-shirt shorts.

First I was simply dank. Too warm to wear the (not breathable) rain jacket, I was soon damp, wet splotches darkening the baby blue cloth. My clear glasses were spotted, then steaming. Water began dripping down the helmet in a lovely trickle into my sports bra. The tires were making a consistent srsssssssshhhh noise, like pedaling thru a shallow stream. To top this fun, wind was coming in gusts up to 30mph against me. Yanking the front tire sideways in my hands occasionally. Weirdly I wasn’t afraid of the wet pavement, as I had thought I would be. I was scared the wind would knock me and The Beast over. YUCK.

I pulled up to the back door of work affronted with the day. It didn’t feel like a good beginning to a Monday. A wonderful friendly early co-worker was outside placing recyclables away and offered up a ‘howdy’. I could barely grumble out anything remotely friendly aside from a ‘pfffstt’ I dried off fine, then had to endure the well-meant, yet seemingly pithy comments of my caring concerned coworkers… (“Why did I ride in.. did I ride in this.. How was I getting home…”)

Now I have ridden in a light mist to mild rain. ICK! I would prefer to never do this again! Ever. How do you guys out there do it? I know people in Portland, Seattle and other locations with higher precipitation annuals do it. What’s the trick?

I still have to get home and the temp has dropped to 42. It’s supposed to be raining. And the wind will flip to be against me going home between 25-30 mph. AND I didn’t bring my Arron sweater... just that non-breathable rain jacket…. You can’t say that daily bike commuting doesn’t add a taste of adventure to the day. Every time it’s a new event!