We just returned from a trip to Northern California, where we had the good fortune to ride bikes with our friend Tom. During our rides, he gave us a few tips for our upcoming cross-country ride, which is the least he could do since it’s his fault.
One of those tips was about rain gear. We’re 55 days from the start of the trip and since it was pouring rain all day, this seemed like the perfect time to test some items that I hope will keep me dry from Oregon to New Hampshire. None of this fine apparel has ever been actually been tested on a bicycle because a) it didn’t rain for about 15 years in California and, once it did, we were long gone; and b) I’m a fair weather cyclist. Rain? Staying home. Strong wind? Planting my butt on the couch. Below 50 degrees? You’re kidding, right?
The odds of encountering rain at some point on our trip are 100%. Hell, we’re starting in Oregon, where the motto is “No, the rain never ends but we can legally smoke weed and eat great donuts”. When we wake up in a hotel room to the sound of rain and realize that we have to get on our bikes and pedal them for 80 miles, it may not be the finest moment on our journey. But it’s what we signed up for and will make for great memories or, at least, that’s what we’ll tell ourselves when we’re putting all of this gear on.
Here I am “testing” my rain gear. Note that I’m not actually conducting the test on a bicycle because I’m at my house and nobody’s forcing me to ride 80 miles to the next town. Walking to the end of the street in the pouring rain would have to be a decent enough simulation even though we all know that’s absurd because rain will be hitting me much harder when I’m riding through it at 15 mph. Bev had a better idea but I thought that getting in the shower fully dressed would feel weird. Now that I’ve seen these photos, I’m certain that stepping outside in this outfit has cemented my reputation with the neighbors as a man of fashion.
Rain jacket by Mavic, rain pants by Cabellas, helmet cover by Hilton. The jacket and pants passed the test. The shower cap… not so much. Gore Tex helmet covers ordered on Amazon.
My fashion plate brother is ready to roll.
I think the red shoes set off the ensemble. Bev – if you and Greg try to “wimp out” on the same day, I’ll be there to prod you along (heh heh heh).
We drove to Solvang so that I could ride the double-century. I am up and ready to ride at 6am and I am looking out the hotel window at light rain. I am thinking maybe this is not my day to ride. Marilyn had an idea of what was going thru my mind as she tells me “we didn’t drive 300 miles so you could wimp out”. Wimp isn’t the word she used but I got the idea….Got soaked in the morning but the sun came out as we road on the coast, My cloths and shoes dried out and I had a great ride……..sometimes we just need a little push 🙂
Hopefully Greg and I don’t end up needing a push on the exact same day. Fingers crossed. 🙂
Don’t forget to think about keeping your socks dry. Your feet will feel absolutely miserable if they’re wet on a ride. You can probably order something expensive, or you can do what I do. I put plastic baggies over my socks (but inside my shoes and waterproof pants). Hey – it works! 🙂
Thanks Al! We’re also concerned about keeping the shoes dry since we’ll be in them day after day and may not dry overnight. Newspaper and hair dryers may not be enough!
Two pairs of shoes??
I’ve got a few extra swim caps you two can use on your upcoming trip……. will fit great beneath a helmet!
Yes but a swim cap is a trigger for me because of its association with, well, swimming.