Rain is upon us. Joe has hung up his bicycle for the season.
Here in Portland it is wet (see showers and cold and scattered showers) and by wet I mean people at work (long time North Westerners) were shocked when I put on a rain jacket to spend my afternoon break taking a walk (“…but, it’s raining!”). My neighbor and I talked after our rides home about clothes that didn’t dry, but how even a wet, cold bike ride beats driving. And I think it’s true. I feel pretty good on my bike in the rain. Better, actually, in the cold and very rainy than in warmer, lighter showers, because my bicycle rain jacket doesn’t breathe well (do any, really? If I didn’t have to ride over a bridge in the wind, I think I’d try a rain cape.).
Before moving to Portland, I’ll admit, I was worried about the rain and bicycling. I read a lot of opinions and fretted over several products. But it’s not so bad, actually, so long as you can change clothes at your destination; being wet isn’t so bad when your body is generating heat. So I wear a long sleeve wool jersey, bike shorts under silk tights and 3/4 length cut off corduroys, and a rain jacket. And I have come to really appreciate my full fenders!
