RSS See? Even riding in the rain can be fun
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For all that it was icy cold and stingingly wet, I had fun today.
Part One
The first ride I took was required–I signed up for a post office box and they send you a letter, giving you five days to claim it before they offer it to someone else. There wasn’t time on Saturday, the post office was closed on Sunday and Monday, which left…today. Never mind that it was forecast to rain all day. There was a short period when it stopped and I threw on my waterproofs and set on out, keeping my fingers crossed.
I had to fill up. The cheapest gas station in town is just round the corner, but may I suggest that if you empty your tank on the previous ride you fill it up before you get home? That way, when you’re dodging rain like this, you won’t need to stop and waste precious minutes which might make the difference between your getting damp and not getting damp.
On the other hand, I did have a quick chat with another lady who was an ex biker and thought it was way cool that I was out there riding in the rain. Was I okay? she asked, meaning, Did the rain trouble me? I said that this wasn’t my first choice, but there was something I had to do and was going to do it.
With grins we parted company, and I headed off downtown. A few mild sprinkles that may just have been spray did not dampen my spirits, and I did what I had to in the post office.
Looking at the gunpowder sky, I figured I had maybe fifteen minutes to get home before the next drenching. The rain is classic showers, but the showers are long and intense with only short breaks. I got on the road and almost all the way home before the skies opened and cold, stinging rain pounded me. My visor quickly steamed up–I have to retrieve my Zooke from the storage shed–and my glasses got covered in speckles. I cracked up when I saw my self-portrait tonight. ;)
I went in and hung up my stuff, glad that I do have waterproof stuff that is waterproof. I have a First Gear Kilimanjaro II jacket and some cheapo plastic pants that I can’t remember the name of, but they work.
Part Two
Later in the evening Don was going stir-crazy, and I allowed myself to be bribed with the thought of rotisserie chicken. It wasn’t raining when we set out into the cold, dark night, and then we pulled into the gas station so that Don could fill up (oh dear, I think we’re stuck in a time loop).
After I got back out of the store Don was chatting to someone about bikes and as a parting shot the guy delivered a cracking good joke that is probably best to pull off in person rather than writing, but if anyone, one single person, is interested, I will share it. ;)
The rain pretty much started then and I have to say that it was quite a miserable ride! I could not see through my visor and the icy rain was driving right into my face. It was painful and icy and reminded me of Scotland in February. ;)
But we got to the supermarket okay and went in only to find that there were no more chickens. Humph! I spotted some thin gloves for $1.30 and grabbed a pair, then we hopped across the street to Safeway. I didn’t like the price of their chicken, a good $2.50 over Food 4 Less, but I did spot some meatloaf and that was that. The thin gloves fit under my ailing motorcycle gloves and my hands, at least, were much warmer on the way back which was just as cold and obnoxious as the way there. ;)
I think it’s good to ride in adverse situations sometimes, especially when fully relaxed and not forced into them through tiredness or being a long way from home. Riding in the rain is a skill like all others, and I think that it’s typically not a good idea to avoid it. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so nasty out–it’s only a few degrees over freezing–but at least I know I can deal with it and got a timely reminder to pick up my Zooke. Cleaning one’s visor helps, too, but slow and steady and no sudden movements is the main rule of thumb for soggy riding.
And yes, the meat loaf was worth it.
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