General Cycling Discussion - My first (accidental) ride in the pouring rain.

Hello Everyone,
I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I went for a 30-minute ride this evening. I was out for 15 minutes, and wanted to see what was just ahead. Soon I had gone 4.33 miles, and I didn't want to push myself too hard and become discouraged, so, I turned around and headed back.

It has been a very cloudy afternoon, with severe thunderstorm warnings a few miles away, where I work. Then it happened, suddenly, and without warning. The bottom fell out of the sky. Cats……..dogs…….little green men and frogs……I was under Niagara Falls. My shoes filled with water, and raindrops were hitting me hard in the face. But, I didn't seem to really mind it. It lasted about 5 or 6 minutes, and then it was over. My first workout in the rain. It was not as bad as I had thought, and I kind of enjoyed riding in the rain, didn't even slow me down really.

Even after a few rides, I am starting to recognize some of the other cyclists, and they are starting to recognize me.

One thing about me is that I have always been an absolute perfectionist at everything I have wanted to do, to a great fault. I have never halfway gone into anything; I have always gone into a new hobby or activity as hard and fast as I could, except for golf, which I never could enjoy. This cycling thing is no exception to the way that I do things. I made myself a deal, that if I lose 25 pounds, whenever that may be, I will by myself as nice a road bike as I can afford, I kind of feel that I am earning it that way. - Ted

Originally posted by The Terminator
It was not as bad as I had thought...

See? Rain ain't so bad, it's just water! As far as wet feet and back, fenders work like a charm.

Do it again!

Originally posted by The Terminator
I guess it had to happen sooner or later.

...suddenly, and without warning. The bottom fell out of the sky. Cats……..dogs…….little green men and frogs……I was under Niagara Falls. My shoes filled with water, and raindrops were hitting me hard in the face. But, I didn't seem to really mind it.

...I kind of enjoyed riding in the rain...
It's a threshold of pleasure...

;) :D

Well I agree a thundershower can be fun to ride in. However, around here we get rain mixed with freezing rain or wet snow a lot. This stuff isn't very much fun, and it's usually like two days at a time, not five or six minutes. So, riding in the rain has a somewhat 'jaded' meaning to me...LOL. Btw, as stated above, fenders and mudguards are a must for serious foul weather riding.:)

Originally posted by The Terminator
I have always gone into a new hobby or activity as hard and fast as I could, except for golf, which I never could enjoy. This cycling thing is no exception to the way that I do things. I made myself a deal, that if I lose 25 pounds, whenever that may be, I will by myself as nice a road bike as I can afford, I kind of feel that I am earning it that way. - Ted

Well I agree that you should set challenging but acheivable goals to work towards, but the idea of riding as hard and fast as you can sounds kinda foolish.... good endurance training comes from long easy rides to establish your "base". a good base is essential because it helps your body get accilmated to whatever activity you're doing, so that you can later intensify your workout wihtout fear of injury. the way you describe your training sounds like you're setting yourself up for injury in the not too distant future.

i'm not trying to put you down, i am speaking from personal experience.... 2 years in a row i tried to do a marathon, and had to pull out cuz of knee injuries. february i did a hard run after work to "make up for lost time" and hurt my knee again. i had to limp home, but instead of limping... i "run-limped" on the other foot, and then ended up injuring my ankle for a month. then 3 weeks ago i was on a ride with two friends and we decided to race up a hill. i won, but i injured my achilles in the process. my achilles is still swollen (but fortunately not painful), and i have two races this weekend :(.

so yeah that's a long winded way of saying.... be careful of starting too hard too fast into cycling.

I heard about the storms up north of Atlanta on WSB 750 while driving home today. They said they were hard and fast as you described.

Just watch out for turns and forget about having good braking power in rain.

Originally posted by The Terminator
Then it happened, suddenly, and without warning. The bottom fell out of the sky. Cats……..dogs…….little green men and frogs……I was under Niagara Falls.

Nice turn of phrase! :D

I, too, got rained on tonight, but the livestock stayed where they belong...

Originally posted by Erick L
See? Raiyn ain't so bad, ....snip....Do it again! I keep telling people this but...... :D

Originally posted by Waxbytes
Well I agree a thundershower can be fun to ride in. However, around here we get rain mixed with freezing rain or wet snow a lot. This stuff isn't very much fun, and it's usually like two days at a time, not five or six minutes.
We's in the South.

:fun:

Can't say that I've intentionally set out to ride in the rain but it has happened to me a few times! Turns out, I loved it!

Glad your experience was as good!

When I lived in New Zealand, I LOVED riding in the rain. This was offroad. Lots of mud, head to toe. (maintained trails - not tearing up nature) You can burn up a set of brake pads in two or three good rides.

I haven't tried it on the road.

Originally posted by deliriou5

so yeah that's a long winded way of saying.... be careful of starting too hard too fast into cycling.

Oh, I agree with everything that you said, right down the line. Today, I only rode around with my son for about 45 minutes before dark. Up and down hills and through grassy fields on the mountain bike. A light workout. I am making it a point of holding back from what I think is 100 % or so. It is hard to go slow.

I use to be riding a motorcycle in the rain. All day, on the Interstate. The problem is getting cold, and feeling wet clothes on you for a long time. What you have experienced is just unplanned shower... ;)
How old are you that you never been in the rain...
Americans... ;)

Originally posted by Avalanche325
When I lived in New Zealand, I LOVED riding in the rain. This was offroad. Lots of mud, head to toe. (maintained trails - not tearing up nature) You can burn up a set of brake pads in two or three good rides.

I haven't tried it on the road. I'm in New Zealand, and I went for an intentional road ride in the raintoday.....mainly because I have no car. Boy was it slick! I was sooo scared of sliding out on some of the back roads. :p braking is affected alot too. Avoid paint and metal plates/grates too. Dont accelerate hard in a low gear, especially at intersections with gravel/debri/paint because you'll just spin. I was taking off everywhere in a 39/19 gear :p

Brendon
:beer:

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin

How old are you that you never been in the rain...
Americans... ;)

Old enought to be your Dad. ;) - Ted

Originally posted by The Terminator
Hello Everyone,
I made myself a deal, that if I lose 25 pounds, whenever that may be, I will by myself as nice a road bike as I can afford, I kind of feel that I am earning it that way. - Ted

A great way to reward your hard work. I did exactly that and now ride a really trick bike, IMHO. Now I am only 15 pounds away from a new set of Neutron wheels. The first 30 pounds was easy. Now comes the hard part. Definitely worth the effort. And a great way to become a healtier individual. Good luck!!