Clouds hang heavy in the sky, plump with a rain which contemplates the opportunity to hurl itself towards the Earth below. I get the sense that we wait for each other, the Rain and I; the rain relishes the opportunity to soak my clothes and skin, seeking to corrode my resolve while I cherish the opportunity to prove to myself that it will not be shaped by such things.
As a kid, I had an illustrated book of Aesop’s Fables. This time of year, I’m often reminded of one fable in particular, that of the Wind and the Sun. As the tale goes, the two are in the midst of an argument over which is the stronger when they spot a traveller on the road below. The Sun suggests that whichever of them can cause the traveller to take off his cloak will be declared the winner. The Wind blows and blows with all its might but the traveller only pulls his cloak closer. The Sun, on the other hand, beams with all its yellow glory, and the traveller soon finds it too hot for his cloak and discards it.
Aesop’s moral was that kindness is more effective than severity, but that sounds a lot like it would require introspection to really digest. Instead, I like to think of myself as the traveller and my resolve as the cloak; the worse the weather, the closer I pull it to me and the more determined I am to hold my course. In fact, this concept extends to any hardship in life; the greater the challenge, the stronger my determination.
So there we are, the Rain and I, waiting for each other; me with my cloak and the Rain with its severity. At this time of year, when the skies have turned grey but the chill hasn’t yet arrived to keep it company, I enjoy waiting for the rain to fall before embarking on my rides. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the questioning looks from the neighbors who descend from their homes in coats and hiding beneath their umbrellas for the journey from front door to automobile; they serve as further evidence that the public still has some distance yet to cover before understanding the Velominatus.
The rain pours down and in minutes soaks my clothes. Rain drops drip from the brim of my cycling cap; when I clench my fist, water steams from the fingers of my gloves. The roads are soaked; both the rain and traffic cast debris towards the gutters. My path crosses between the two and the grit and dirt afloat in the rain water are flung onto my machine and body.
When I return home from the ride, the evidence of my journey is carried in my clothing which is heavy with water and debris. Overshoes and knee warmers, once removed, reveal my Flemish Tan Lines via the clean skin beneath.
Perhaps Flanders is a place not defined by the borders between people, but between wool and flesh. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@Deakus
It'll all come off with a good clean which is essential in the pursuit of the principle of silence.
@mcsqueak
Check out the serfas "true" series, pretty impressive light power, tiny, light, and usb chargeable.
also, testosterone, other uses... kiddin...
@mcsqueak
The issue of stashing stuff is a real problem. I've been fortunate that so far hasn't been any complaining, and there are showers. drape all my gross crap over the bike, amazing how much detritus is sitting beneath it at the end of the day. had a rain commuter created from the repaired/broken waterford; I put a rack on it, guess one could stash the wet stuff in a bag in the pannier (not that you would ever rack your rig...), but boy that might not work out so well when you go to wash it later...
@mcsqueak
When is the second show?
I have a Serfas 1 led headlight that I picked up on sale for $8. It's an amazing little light, plugs right into your computer, puts out plenty of light for "be seen" purposes and around the city it's actually okay to see as well. In the winter I strap mine on my helmet so I can turn and look and POINT it at drivers who refuse to slow down or give me right. Weighs next to nothing. The only problem is that the strap is so short it's not happy on modern bars. I contacted them and told them roadies would buy the heck out of them, if the strap was longer. They were noncommital about working on this.
Also recently picked up a Blackburn Flea, on sale for $9 in Giro pink. Light and bright and also USB chargeable, though not as well designed in that department as the Serfas. A bit finicky and run time seems so-so, but maybe that's why it was on sale...
Anyway, if you haven't done so definitely pick up one of the newer usb headlights. Light, easily switched from bike to bike, or helmet, and very nice that you can recharge them at work or office, etc.
@Deakus
Quite right Deakus - they were mandatory on many audax rides until recently for exactly that reason and it is still regarded as extremely poor form to turn up to a winter ride without them.
A winter / rain bike should be distinguished by its mudguards, and they should be full versions not those half-arsed race blades. The crowning glory of course is an extra mudflap at the bottom of the front mudguard made from a Fairy liquid bottle.
@ChrisO
I found that a 1 litre bottle of engine oil has the perfect width edge to add extensions to both the front and rear of my SKS crud catchers......
@ChrisO @Deakus SKS now make "Longboard" fenders that extend further down, so no need for a dork flap like I run on mine. Everyone sniggered on group rides here, but then they chat to you when you are hanging with the group. It's all in the legs...
@Beers
1. They will have grudging respect knowing that you installed those bad boys yourself...
2. They will be fighting like sprinters to get on your wheel during group rides so they don't swallow half the countryside and go home with dengue feaver or parvo virus!
I bet the worse the weather, the more popular you are on group rides!
@gaswepass
Yeah, no showers at my office, no place for towels or anything like that, and no real place to drape stuff to dry. I just hide my bike in our manufacturing area and hope no one fucks with it. I have a little locker for clothing, but I have to keep my clean stuff in it as well so it wouldn't be a good place to stash wet stuff.
Overall my work gets a D- for cycling friendliness due to sheer indifference to it, even though 2/16 of us ride in during the spring/summer.