Misty Mountain Hop
Riding in bad weather is an incredible experience assuming you don’t fall off and break your hip, or you don’t get hit by a car. Those realities aside, the weather adds a dimension to the ride that you simply don’t have on a sunny day, lovely as they are. The other day I was riding early on a cool morning with a light mist. The humidity in the air seemed to dampen the sounds of the city a bit, and the warm moist air wrapped about me like a cloak. At sea level, it was raining, but the clouds were low enough that as I climbed up away from the coast, I rose out of the rain and into the clouds which seemed to cling to the treetops as they clawed their way along the hillside. The early rays of the sun were trying to penetrate the clouds, and in some spots where the could cover was thinner, the rays burst forth with stunning clarity.
I was in another world entirely.
I keep wearing my S-Works Evade helmet when the weather gets bad outside. And every time, it’s a fresh disappointment that I don’t look like Boonen or Lizzie, who both look amazing in that festering turd of a helmet. But I don’t. I blame my grapefruit-shaped head and the vaguely bewildered look on my face. I’ve thought about ways to make my head look less like a fruit of a popular primary color, but everything I try leaves me with this same stupid round head. If you can’t choose your parents, you should at least be allowed to choose your face; it seems like a basic humanitarian issue.
Ugly as it is, however, it is very warm and keeps the wind off my wet, flowing locks, and it also has enough surface area that I have added various strips of black reflective tape to help make me more visible in order to satisfy to my lingering desire not to end up on a texting-driver’s bumper. (I’ve also covered bits of my Nine Bike with the same tape, and it is awesome.) The Castelli Gabba jersey is the go-to wet weather riding jersey, also with some reflective materials on it, and in Spinal Tap Black it matches the V-Bibs perfectly. This is a jersey that will make even the most stubborn fair-weather rider get excited about rain.
Finally, I’ve been wearing DeFeet’s orange Cyclismo socks in bad weather along with the Orange Damsels, but with the mercury dropping, I’m going to switch over to the orange Slipstreams to keep my feet toasty in the coming cool rain. And, I’m considering designing an all-orange V-Jersey. You heard me.
There is a fine line between being safely visible and looking like a bicycling traffic cone, but the best rides are the rides we come home from. Indulge in the magic that only a Rule #9 ride can bring you, but make sure you stay safe, and keep your Nine Kit in good taste.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@MangoDave
I hear you. Since I'm no longer racing and just riding to ride, the vast majority of my rides are solo. Any group riding is usually a small group (maybe a half dozen folks) and most everyone has some sort of blinky light. One of the things I like about the Flare R is that it has hi (daylight) and low (nighttime) settings, the latter to avoid blinding drivers and others at night. The nighttime setting is also good for group rides so as to not sear anyone retinas. :-) Or you could just HTFU and ride at the front so as not to have to stare at the blinky light. :-)
@Heusdens
Half Dutch and lives in Seattle? PM me; lets set up a ride. And are you coming to the Whidbey Island Cogal on Saturday?
As far as fenders go, you can go ride on the front if you don't want to chew on my rooster tail.
Have to confess: wore the YVA the other week on a very foggy morning; the thing hangs right by the bike, and it just did not seem to make sense not to wear it in those conditions; I'm not proud of it--though I'm not going to apologize either--it only happens once or twice a year.
Please note that all YJA and YVA confessions fall squarely under the Masturbation Principle, people!
@frank
A rule Nine article in anticipation of VVhidbey this Saturday?
Friday Harbor is looking like three for Saturday. We're old guys, as in I may leave my fenders on even though it's a Velominati ride, but we do stick with it, will finish rain or shine and enjoy a day dedicated to a good tough ride. The bike demands it!
Hopefully see you Saturday.
A reader emailed me wondering about my lights, and while I use the Eye of Sauron along with a Lezyne Super Drive on my helmet for my real nightime ride lighting needs, these are the standard-issue lights on my Nine Bike. (Fuck me if I know why the latest iOS on the newest iPhone 6s connected to a WiFi network won't let me upload a video in HD.)
I'll have to look up the flashers in order to recall which they are exactly, but they are rechargeable and I saw a rider in the rain one day and actually stopped him to ask which lights they were; the effect of the strobe on the spokes is virtually um-missable, even by the most staunch texter. I have heard, however, that drunk drivers get a bit fixated on the flashers and they may actually cause them to hit you when they would otherwise have benignly hit a tree and killed only themselves.
@frank
I can confirm that no YJA to be found round these parts.
Long sleeve black Castelli Gabba and black Castelli Nanoflex bibs all the way here ! Both awesomely comfortable and functional in all weather. " Jack of all trades " kit.
Both have enough reflective elements to not need additional colour.
An orange V-Jersey, I can support that idea without any reservations.
@Heusdens
Orange is always appropriate, except maybe when bright yellow is available.