riding in rain
Posted on January 10, 2005
Filed Under bikes, environment
I don’t normally mountain bike in the rain. Riding when it’s wet is not good for singletrack, and I respect the fact that I’m sharing the trail with others including my future self. But what can you do when the weather report isn’t calling for any rain, it doesn’t look like it’s going to rain when you hit the trail, but the sky opens up anyway midway through your ride? I did the only thing I could think of – I kept riding but was very careful not to lock my brakes.
It started as a torrential mist. The air changed from just humid to a thick cloud, as though colloidal water droplets particularized in mid-air. We’re having such unusually warm weather that I have to say it felt nice. I stopped just to enjoy it. It’s just the deer and me in this part of the park; I stood there looking upward, letting the soon-to-be raindrops hit my face and arms. The trail feels like it’s lined with those really fine misting soaker hoses.
Once my soul is as refreshed as my face, I start riding again. A few minutes and it starts to rain. The trail is turning darker, the roots are getting slicker, my tires sound like suction cups pulling up from the dirt, and when used my brakes screech horribly.
Before the trail is wet in all spots, long before the first puddles start to form, the rain stops. The wet roots are still reason to be cautious, but the trail is dry enough to ride without hurting it.
I’ll take 70 degree weather whenever I can get it, but I love it in January.
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