Riding in the Rain

I was going to call this “The Art of Riding in the Rain,” but the title is already taken. Perhaps that’s just as well because unlike the informative post in The Bike Whisperer’s blog, I don’t have any useful tips for cycling in cold wet weather. Basically I ride without raingear and get wet. If that makes other riders want to stay indoors, I don’t blame you for skipping this miserable ride.

Today’s forecast was for showers. The probability—90 percent. The actual weather—a steady rain all afternoon. Rain happens a lot in Western Washington this time of year. If you want to take a daily bike ride, you ride in it, although I often opt out during our two-inch days.

My only concessions to wet weather are a waterproof helmet cover, an extra layer of clothing under my sweatshirt, and cycling gloves. The helmet cover is a gaudy yellow color, as visible to drivers as it is embarrassing to wear. It keeps my head dry, but it also reinforces to passing motorists that a dummy is out riding in the rain. Still I have never had a close call while wearing it.

Within minutes of leaving home everything I’m wearing is thoroughly soaked—shoes, socks, shorts, sweatshirt, gloves. I don’t wear goggles so I don’t have to deal with fogged up lenses. But even that comes with a tradeoff, better vision vs. hard raindrops in the face when I hit a decent speed on a downhill stretch.

After a couple of miles the handlebar-mounted Cateye Enduro cyclometer quits displaying speed and distance ridden. Enduro? What an inappropriate name. I stop, dry the contacts, and start again. I might be out riding for exercise, but I want credit on the Cateye’s odometer for the miles I have ridden. It can be tough to get it to work consistently in wet weather.

On Rocky Point the roadside ditches are full of water. The county stormwater employees haven’t been out this year so the flow is sluggish, slowed by weeds, trash, and other debris. A Bremerton crew has just cleaned the city’s roadside ditches. Once I’m in the city limits, the stormwater flows swiftly through them. Traffic is light so I study the runoff patterns on the road and driveways, through ditches and culverts, and into storm drains, all of it headed for Puget Sound.

I cut through the Crown Hill Elementary School parking lot to avoid the Rocky Point Road-Marine Drive intersection. Despite the rain kids are at recess, playing under a covered area outside the gym.

At Kitsap Bank I ride past the covered drive-through window and wave to the teller. I have several other nearby spots where I can get out of the rain for a minute or two: the Spinnaker Building garage, the R&H Market, the Shell Station gas pumps.

Finally I head home. The mail isn’t here yet so I don’t stop and stuff it under my sweatshirt to keep it dry. I pedal down the steep driveway and coast into the garage. I’ve left it open just for that small convenience. I quickly change into dry clothes, toss everything into the dryer, heat water for tea, and try to warm up.

I won’t check tomorrow’s forecast until later.