Categories: Accessories and GearEtiquetteLa Vie VelominatusLook ProMusings from the V-BunkerThe Rules

The Nine Kit

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.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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frank says:

Oct 15 2015 at 11:57 am

@scaler911

Fall is officially here in the PNW, but you wouldn’t know it. It was 25.5 here FFS. Not that any of that should matter to me at all, I haven’t swung a leg over the TT in far too long. Missed you fuckers…… I’m back.

FFS. I've had three rides since coming back from South Africa after starting a new job. Cogal Saturday will get the engine humming again, I'm hoping. It's always tough getting back into it.
Mikael Liddy says:

Oct 15 2015 at 4:11 pm

@mouse

@frank

Orange Velotoze.

Get on it. Forget about Slipstreams as nice as they are, your feet will still be wet.

Velotoze; toasty dry.

Well, dry in the sense that no rain gets in.

As soon as you work hard or the temp gets above 10 degrees, the swamp foot that comes from your sweat kinda negates the benefits...
Mikael Liddy says:

Oct 15 2015 at 4:14 pm

@Barracuda

@universo

@Mikael Liddy

Oooo, thought the Barbie (Ken) image had been eradicated!

You can also tell that it’s a photo from last year, as Im willing to punt that with the arrival of twin Velonippers the eyes would be looking alot darker from the sleep deprivation.

Congrats @Mikael Liddy on the arrival if not already stated somewhere in the depths of another post somewhere.

Pretty sure both photos are from the same day in about May or June this year, but you're not wrong in saying the Redback hasn't seen much action recently. Thankfully the "blimping" isn't in full effect just yet.
Chipomarc says:

Oct 15 2015 at 9:23 pm

CAAD3 all ready for another west coast rain season.
Oli says:

Oct 16 2015 at 2:44 am

Love the mudflap.
Sparty says:

Oct 17 2015 at 5:36 pm

Our six man group rolled out at 9AM today in 3 degrees C and a slight cross wind. The route was to include two Cat 3 climbs and a total of 112 km. I thought I was kitted up appropriately, we all did. Forecast called for 30% chance of showers, but they were to be north of us. An hour into it and we were hit with sleet and then a sideways rain as we were midway through the first climb. The descent was sketchy to say the least. Espresso stop was much needed at 52 km to ring out the kits and try to get feeling back into our fingers. The rest of the ride was a mix of stinging sleet, pelting rain, crosswinds, headwinds and some sunshine. Crazy weather mix. When I was able to see out of my Rudy Projects, the fall colors were amazing. We even managed a nice photo during one of the few breaks in the rain. Poor kit selection for me today. Was soaked to the bone and well chilled.
velonail says:

Oct 19 2015 at 8:44 am

@frank

Glad to hear the Lezyne lights are proving a worthy companion. These are their new "Strip" lights. Fix them to the fork leg and seat stay and the reflected light from the spokes makes for much increased side visibility.
nobby says:

Oct 21 2015 at 12:34 pm

Merckx damn it!! My VKit arrived this evening!! Can't wait to try it out. I feel the mighty power of the V coursing through my veins!!
PeakInTwoYears says:

Oct 21 2015 at 12:48 pm

@nobby

Merckx damn it!! My VKit arrived this evening!! Can’t wait to try it out. I feel the mighty power of the V coursing through my veins!!

WHUT??

Please tell me this was part of the recent pre-order. I thought I had another two weeks to wait, at least.
nobby says:

Oct 21 2015 at 12:50 pm

@PeakInTwoYears

Oh yes my friend. 2 pieces of black and orange awesomeness!!!