Stage 17 - Rain, Rain Go Away

Fun!

As the rain pounded my office windows I looked at the open checkbox for today's Stage; 59 miles. I had waited as long as I could for the rain to let up but it was time to don the cycling gear, get on the bike and head into the weather. It was too warm for the plastic bag-like rain poncho so I wore the usual gear and hoped for the best. Sayings like, "Attitude is everything" and, "Life is what you make it" all come to mind as you roll out into a downpour. If a young boy with a dream didn't believe in those things he'd stay home.

The worst part of any ride in the rain is the first twenty minutes. It takes those twenty minutes to get used to squishy socks, squishy seat shamy, squishy gloves, looking over the tops of your glasses since you can't see straight through them, long braking distances, slow (very slow) corners and the few unnerving seconds as each car or truck passes by - spraying you unmercilessly.

After those first twenty minutes though, you begin to enjoy it. Cycling is as sport of youth and splashing around in puddles is fun. Really, try it sometime. Instead of avoiding the puddles you aim for them. The bigger the splash, the better. And what can be more fun than standing at a stop-sign, noticing the driver in the car next to you looking at you incredulously as you turn your head to look back while the rain water is literally running off of your helmet, glasses arms and face? They don't get it - but you do.


Some cycling friends and I went to the Superweek 2007 pro bicycle race in Cedarburg, WI and I took some pictures. To view them go HERE.