Rain O'er Me
It’s been a few weeks since my last post, and while I had legitimate reasons to be distracted, I have discovered how difficult it can be to flip the writing switch on after some time off. I apologize in advance if my rust shows. During my blogging respite, fall arrived here with a fury. The changing of the leaves and drop in temperatures are only incidental diversions to us. What really matters is when the rains start and this year they started early. The arrival of rainy season transforms our carefree biking lifestyle into a strategic battle against the elements. The gear is piled high next to the door and every day typically finds one of us without some necessary piece of equipment for biking in the rain. I have to admit that going into Year 2 of our carfree lifestyle, I find myself less excited than last year about the upcoming seven months of biking in inclement weather. Last year, the combination of ignorance and bravado led me to severely underestimate the challenges of biking daily in the rain. Before I had the chance to contemplate winter cycling, we had experienced the worst torrential rain in years. After that initiation, the rest of the winter was a piece of cake. Unfortunately this year, I know what’s ahead, and these first few weeks of rain reminded me why suicide rates are higher here in the Northwest than the rest of the country.
Winter weather is, of course, what separates the truly committed carless from the fair weather folks. This is where our personal battles with the car are won or lost. Mastering the cold or wet commute is about more than just mustering the courage to ride or walk in the rain. It’s the repetition that wears on you; the constant feeling of being cold or wet. And even though I could make a strong argument that staying indoors during the long dark winter is worse for your mental and physical health than biking in the rain, the car holds the appeal of a roaring fireplace when you are faced with another trek in the cold outdoors. I succumbed to this temptation this past weekend, when I chose to drive a half mile rather than ride with my kids to a soccer game in a downpour.
The saving grace is that you can buy all the gear you need to stay warm and dry during the winter. Aside from my stubborn refusal to spring for waterproof solutions for my hands and feet, I am completely insulated from the rain. This season, my entire family is insulated as well. That’s a good thing, because everyone in the family rides on their own now. Last year, my daughter rode in a child seat during the heaviest rains, so she didn’t have to find the will to pedal on with rain pelting her face. She learned to ride on her own this past spring and, a few weeks ago, upgraded to larger bike with more horsepower. She heads off to school every morning in Gore-Tex head to toe, far more oblivious to the weather than those of us with long histories of running from the cold rather than riding through it. Even if we can't help but succumb to the weather, it's comforting to know there is hope for her generation.