Bring it on

After a winter spoiled by sunshine and decently warm afternoons, the weather forecasters are now becoming excited about a change in our weather, rain is now expected and it may last for the duration of the winter season, but that does not mean we have to change the amount of weekly riding that we do here in the golden state.

We take a lot for granted here in California, mild winters, lots of sunshine and the lack of snow throughout most of our state, however, we do pay for the privilege of this lifestyle, water rationing, air rationing, and a deteriorating infrastructure.  But fortunately for us who live in this grand state, when the rains do come, all it takes is a well made cycling slicker, and some wool socks to make it all manageable and comfortable enough for us to ride.  In fact as we all have seen, when the rains do not come as expected, we all have to deal with blistering cold temperatures that dip into the thirties, requiring us to layer clothing that can cause one to closely resemble Cartman, so what I am saying  is; “Bring on the rain, I’m ready”.

Riding in the rain is nothing more than a psychological block that can easily be overcome with a little preparedness and good clothing, I mean come on, we don't live in Minnesota, and those folks ride year round.

One - Get yourself a great cycling rain slicker.  Depending on the maker you should expect to pay anywhere from $100.00 to $300.00 for a well made one, look for underarm vent zippers, a water resistant chest pocket and rear pocket, top and bottom pull zippers on the front, and a shoulder blade vent flap.  Colors of Hi-Vis yellow or red with white reflective piping make you easily spotted in wet and dark situations, keeping you safer.  We keep two styles of slicker her at the shop, the Endura slicker at $99.00 and the Sugoi slicker at $180.00.

Two - Never underestimate the power of wool.  Socks made of wool will keep your feet happy and warm and for the most part dry, even with wet shoes.  A base layer made of wool will keep you warm and comfortable as you ride by helping to regulate your body heat while riding.   Of course you can take it a step further by including a wool jersey which will repel a light misting and fog.  Today’s wool products are not those scratchy and itchy garments of the past, Smartwool takes wool to a whole new level of comfort and ease of care.

Wool will cost you about $14.00 for socks from DeFeet, and $40.00 – $60.00 for base layers from Sugoi.  Wool jerseys run anywhere from $120.00 - $180.00 depending which manufacturer you go to but are easily found online for less.

Three – Get some fleece lined bib-tights or pants.  Not only will these garments keep you warm on those sub thirty degree days, they will also keep you warm on wet rides. 

 Most tights repel water that is splashed up from you front tire and on to your shins and keeping your body heat inside where it belongs.  We carry the Sugoi Pro Tights at $110.00 and the Sugoi Mid-Zero Bib-Tights at $140.00, here at Carmichael Cycles.

Yup, I am ready, because riding in the rain is a great way to stay on your bike.  Me? I prefer the wind in my face and the sound of the wheels as I glide into the turn, not the whirr of a trainer that goes nowhere.