my fellow cyclists,
a little bit 'o water should never get in the way of a veteran tourer. with the right equipment and environmental awareness, there's no reason a day in the rain shouldn't be anything less than what gene kelly says it should be. for taking on the elements, here are a few of my favorite things ....
1. ortliebs - ortliebs, ortliebs, ORTLIEBS! if there's one area of cross-continental touring you don't want to skimp on, it's what you'll be storing all your gear in. rain or shine, your panniers will be exposed to it all for as many as 8-10 hours each day. I'll say it again in case you missed it - ortliebs :)
2. lights - might be daytime, but most rainy days I've rode in are always a bit dark & gloomy. best to be safe and keep those lights blinking bright.
3. gear - booties, coat & gloves, in that order. no one likes walking around in wet socks/shoes, and it stands to reason that not many like biking in the same conditions. warm, dry feet will be happy peddlers, I assure you. for your coat, ventilation is a feature that might not come to mind to the novice cycler. aside from keeping water out, a good jacket will let air in (or keep it out, based on your preference. I recommend a coat with pit zips) and keeps those climbs from getting too sweaty. lastly, gloves are excellent for those cold november rains. you can spend a fortune on a super warm/waterproof pair, but I don't think it's necessary; I'd look for warmth over waterproofedness.
4. bandana - listed separately from the rest of your rain gear due to its importance. unless you have some space-age style helmet, your head gear has holes in it. doesn't take a genius to realize that, if it's raining, water is going to get through. a bandana works wonders in keeping the rain off your face and out of your eyes (and just for free, you can use that same bandana during the high heats to wick away sweat in the same manner).
5. um .... not fenders - unless you're touring Ireland, my opinion on fenders is that they're just extra pounds that you'll regret having on all those sunny days. if you're touring with a rear rack and any sort of trunk bag, that will act as a natural rear rain guard anyway.
6. bathrooms - no sense in stealthing after a day of cold rains, find some civilization! state parks, churches and other people's houses typically have excellent washroom facilities. look for hot air dryers (for shoes, socks and anything else that needs drying), fans (same reason), stalls (to hang up wet clothes, tents & gear) and of course, a hot shower to wash away the filth of the day and to warm up the extremities.
7. sweets! hopefully you'll have a great momma like mine, and consequently great snacks and treats to look forward to at the end of the day. whenever you're in inclement weather for any amount of time, don't discount the power of sugars and chocolates and candies - just a little bit can go a long way in cheering your body back up from the chill of rainy riding.
until next time,
may the rains fall soft upon your fields
josh & mark
the lifecycle team
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