I spent 3 hours in the saddle in rain and wind today. I’ll likely have a repeat tomorrow, though probably only 2 hours. Monday will probably be more or the same. An upper level low has settled over north Texas and I’m right in the middle of it. Days of rain ahead.
My wife says nothing, but I know she can’t comprehend how someone could resign themselves to spending that long training hard in the rain. On purpose. My friends, too; I don’t have any local cycling friends. Besides, in 3 hours of riding today I saw only one other rider. Folks here are a bunch of wussies. An internet friend of mine asked how I could do that to myself. My response was that no one else will do it for me. Might as well be me. I have training to do.
I don’t really sweat the rain. I don’t like the caked-on road grit that comes with it, but I actually enjoy riding in the rain. It’s far more comfortable than hot weather riding and I somehow seem to ride faster and longer without fatigue in the rain. Go figure. If only I could keep my feet dry. Now that’d make it just perfect.
#1 by Bartek at September 13th, 2009
That’s just heavy duty, hardcore training. It may be the case that people who don’t understand (and experience) it, can’t be good athletes.
No, I won’t ride my bike today because it’s raining. No, I won’t go to the gym because I’m tired. No, I won’t make the last 10 kilometers of my ride because it hurts.
Sure, there are times that you really can’t do what you planned before. But when someone finds excuses one day after another, they eventually just… quit.
You just spent 3 hours on a bike in a really crappy weather, hard conditions. You say that cycling in hot weather is even worse… but even then you just keep doing your training. Nothing will stop you. At least nothing unimportant.
Practising sports, and doing it properly, you can learn many things. One of them is not to give up, not to find excuses. How not to quit.
That’s quite cool actually, ain’t it?
#2 by Andy at September 13th, 2009
Thanks Bartek. Yes, it’s very cool.
Just back from another 2 hours in ugly, rainy, windy conditions. The ride is not so bad, but hobbling around in completely soaked kit after the ride is rather miserable. Hard to get out of …it’s all clingy like a wetsuit. fun. :-/
#3 by E. Tage Larsen at September 18th, 2009
getting hardcore, m’man. i don’t know anybody that actually likes riding in the rain but there is a class of people that excel in it. And yeah, riding in hot hot heat is probably worse. The problem with rain (and extreme cold, fwiw) is always the first 10 minutes and the last 5. Once you’re soaked on the bike you really don’t get “more wet”.
#4 by Andy at September 19th, 2009
Eh, getting to be old hat now; 8 straight days of rain so far. Too many hours of rainy riding. Do not like. It’s disappointing to wash the bike/drivetrain after a rainy ride only to get it filthy the next day. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Looks like this weekend’s riding may be dry. Can’t wait.
#5 by Bob Simonette at September 22nd, 2009
Of course we have been experiencing the same rainy weather here in Waco, and I have missed a couple of days of riding because of it. My concern is not so much about getting wet or being uncomfortable, it’s the safety issue. Low visibility, slick roads, wet brakes, how do you deal with all of that?
#6 by Andy at September 22nd, 2009
@Bob
I tend to keep to the low-traffic and easy-visibility areas on rainy rides. There are some rides where I’ll take off across several cities on a rainy ride, but again, mostly on low-traffice spots. I do take it easy around some sharp turns in the rain. I try to keep the rubber side down, but I guess the rest I leave in God’s hands.