Enough Already With the Rain!
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Enough Already With the Rain!
Have not been out on the road in 4 days. Did not think I would be forced to use my trainer this early in the season. In any case, I am using it and hopefully will not be too out of shape if the sun comes out again before the snow flies. Below, sunnier days.
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I can understand your frustration. Why not just do what I do...put on your waterproof helmet cover, old shoes, short pants, keep your ears and hands warm, and go ride in the rain. After all, it's only water.
In reality gentle showers or an 'all day rain' are not that much of a problem for cycling, its the downpours that are nasty.
In reality gentle showers or an 'all day rain' are not that much of a problem for cycling, its the downpours that are nasty.
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This week and summer broke in the UK. Plenty of flooding up North but just plenty of rain down here. Settled down to just showers now but 1/2" of rain in 20 minutes said that I am not going out if there is the slightest hint of rain.
Last few winters over here have been dry- Cold came in just a couple of spells but wind has been the main problem. Horizontal rain is not that exciting to me anymore.
Last few winters over here have been dry- Cold came in just a couple of spells but wind has been the main problem. Horizontal rain is not that exciting to me anymore.
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Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
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I was quite pleased riding in the rain today:
I had been riding a road bike but, riding it on limestone rails-to-trails in the rain was very wet, and VERY messy -- plus the bike didn't like to stop when it got wet.
So, for that (and other reasons) I invested in a Trek DS 8.5 with hydraulic disk brakes and loaded it down with full fenders, a rack and a trunk big enough to carry some rain gear. My goal wasn't to explicitly do rain rides -- but at least not be hesitant to go out if rain was forecast. But, since I got it a month ago, I hadn't had a chance to test it in the rain -- either it rained continuously all day, or the rain only came down at night.
But, today, I was out in the rain and the full fenders and a Gore-Tex rain jacket kept me nice and dry. Plus I was even able to stop when I wanted to!
... I love it when a plan comes together!
I had been riding a road bike but, riding it on limestone rails-to-trails in the rain was very wet, and VERY messy -- plus the bike didn't like to stop when it got wet.
So, for that (and other reasons) I invested in a Trek DS 8.5 with hydraulic disk brakes and loaded it down with full fenders, a rack and a trunk big enough to carry some rain gear. My goal wasn't to explicitly do rain rides -- but at least not be hesitant to go out if rain was forecast. But, since I got it a month ago, I hadn't had a chance to test it in the rain -- either it rained continuously all day, or the rain only came down at night.
But, today, I was out in the rain and the full fenders and a Gore-Tex rain jacket kept me nice and dry. Plus I was even able to stop when I wanted to!
... I love it when a plan comes together!
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I was quite pleased riding in the rain today:
I had been riding a road bike but, riding it on limestone rails-to-trails in the rain was very wet, and VERY messy -- plus the bike didn't like to stop when it got wet.
So, for that (and other reasons) I invested in a Trek DS 8.5 with hydraulic disk brakes and loaded it down with full fenders, a rack and a trunk big enough to carry some rain gear. My goal wasn't to explicitly do rain rides -- but at least not be hesitant to go out if rain was forecast. But, since I got it a month ago, I hadn't had a chance to test it in the rain -- either it rained continuously all day, or the rain only came down at night.
But, today, I was out in the rain and the full fenders and a Gore-Tex rain jacket kept me nice and dry. Plus I was even able to stop when I wanted to!
... I love it when a plan comes together!
I had been riding a road bike but, riding it on limestone rails-to-trails in the rain was very wet, and VERY messy -- plus the bike didn't like to stop when it got wet.
So, for that (and other reasons) I invested in a Trek DS 8.5 with hydraulic disk brakes and loaded it down with full fenders, a rack and a trunk big enough to carry some rain gear. My goal wasn't to explicitly do rain rides -- but at least not be hesitant to go out if rain was forecast. But, since I got it a month ago, I hadn't had a chance to test it in the rain -- either it rained continuously all day, or the rain only came down at night.
But, today, I was out in the rain and the full fenders and a Gore-Tex rain jacket kept me nice and dry. Plus I was even able to stop when I wanted to!
... I love it when a plan comes together!
#7
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Rode between showers today, really soaking wet out on the roads. Lost yesterday to the thunderstorms, watched feetsball games with my son and his friends from his church, great group of young adults to be with. Looking for a rain jacket, gilet and shoe covers right now at Ribble and Wiggle. Cannot stand to loose a day's riding to some showers, no riding in lightning, however.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Last edited by qcpmsame; 09-30-12 at 05:25 PM.
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... Yeh, lightening loves that Cannondale aluminum. Sounds like a good excuse to start looking at some CF's-- Maybe a SuperSix? You know, just for days when it might start lightening? After all, we gotta be safe!
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#10
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Yep, a semiconductor in as good a conductor as any in a lightning storm. Between the SR300, R500 and CAAD 10 it is a wonder I haven't been zapped on one. Got struck on the phone in 1984, though.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#11
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Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my babe a little frisky.
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Momento mori, amor fati.
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Yeah, it's been so long since we had any real rain I've almost forgotten what it is like. I'm sure I'll have many vivid reminders within a month or two as we enter our seven month wet season. As has been said many times, in the PNW, if you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride.
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...looked online last week and saw One Lone Cabin unreserved at Hodges Gardens State Park (Hornbeck, LA), so it didn't take much prompting for us to go over for the weekend (about 75 miles). We all needed a break.
We took all three bikes, but the rain set in and my daughter and I ended up doing a massive 3 miles between us late Saturday afternoon. That was it. The rest of the time we were either watching the rain, driving, sleeping, watching football, walking the gardens, eating or some other sort of family stuff. I guess that's good, too, but I was looking forward to riding the little short but hilly 5.x mile loop at the park (despite the old worn pavement being far worse than the worst chip seal I've ever seen).
We took all three bikes, but the rain set in and my daughter and I ended up doing a massive 3 miles between us late Saturday afternoon. That was it. The rest of the time we were either watching the rain, driving, sleeping, watching football, walking the gardens, eating or some other sort of family stuff. I guess that's good, too, but I was looking forward to riding the little short but hilly 5.x mile loop at the park (despite the old worn pavement being far worse than the worst chip seal I've ever seen).
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Thanks, all you dudes in New England, for taking the hit for us here in the Pac NW.
Vancouver, BC set a record for the driest September since 1896! I think I put the race blades on once (and for just a couple of days) during all of latter July, August, and September. This is pretty much unheard of here. I am getting quite used to riding without fenders. I think it's payback for the wet winter that's been lasting longer into the wet spring lately. Normally, if you want to ride a bike in the Pac NW, you've gotta ENJOY riding in the rain.
The dry weather has also extended the life of brake blocks and chains, too. Might as well get what you can out of global warming.
Luis
Vancouver, BC set a record for the driest September since 1896! I think I put the race blades on once (and for just a couple of days) during all of latter July, August, and September. This is pretty much unheard of here. I am getting quite used to riding without fenders. I think it's payback for the wet winter that's been lasting longer into the wet spring lately. Normally, if you want to ride a bike in the Pac NW, you've gotta ENJOY riding in the rain.
The dry weather has also extended the life of brake blocks and chains, too. Might as well get what you can out of global warming.
Luis
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Garden dried out this morning so was thinking of an Evening ride. Little rain was forecast but 5pm and it has started. I'll need waterwings to go out in that lot. Rain forecast till saturday so may have to take a bike down to Brighton Saturday and while the rest look at the VW RV's- I go for a ride---If it is not raining.
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Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
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I feel the same way Sculptor7. The many rainy days has reduced mileage these past few weeks. I don't mind riding in a bit of rain but the cleanup job on the bike afterwards is a drag. I may look into some sort of temporary fender/mud guard for this season. Today at least, I got in a short ride before the rain began.
This autumn is wet just like last year and that resulted in a ski season that was not. It seems that all the precip fell before temperatures dropped below freezing and it never got consistantly cold anyway. I've more or less decided to skip buying a season ski pass again. Last year I rode the bike quite a bit during the winter months because the roads were snowless and temperatures mild. Have we now devolved to complaining about weather, a favorite New England topic?
This autumn is wet just like last year and that resulted in a ski season that was not. It seems that all the precip fell before temperatures dropped below freezing and it never got consistantly cold anyway. I've more or less decided to skip buying a season ski pass again. Last year I rode the bike quite a bit during the winter months because the roads were snowless and temperatures mild. Have we now devolved to complaining about weather, a favorite New England topic?
#20
Beicwyr Hapus
4 days Try moving to the UK, it seems to be raining 4/5 days every week here I think I'll have to take up rowing to get fit.