First rain ride of the season

From today's entry in the almost-daily diary at
www.ChainReaction.com/diary.htm

10/19/04- STILL THERE'LL BE MORE. A great song from the way-back days by
Procol Harum. What made it appropriate today was the line "I'll bathe my
eyes in a river of salt" which was exactly what happened on this morning's
ride. Not because it was hot, but because it was raining. Really raining.
Absolutely dumping, in fact, for the first seriously wet ride of the
season... which means that all the salt in your helmet pads (which you
should have cleaned beforehand but never got around to) was liberated by the
stream of water pouring down through your helmet. Ouch!

In a peculiar way, the season's first rain ride is something I look forward
to. Rather than it being a hassle (getting out the rain bike and the piles
of rain-appropriate apparel), it's an adventure. The absurdity of going
riding when sane people stay home and drink coffee and wish for nicer
weather is somehow motivational. You even look forward, the night before, to
waking up and hearing the rain & wind pouring over the house.

But don't look to your family for sympathy or support. Not even the dog,
who, annoyed (or scared?) by all the noise outside, stood about six feet
from the door and barked at it. They don't get it (but at least the dog
pretends to want to fight it!).

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" wrote
in message news
From today's entry in the almost-daily diary at
www.ChainReaction.com/diary.htm

10/19/04- STILL THERE'LL BE MORE. A great song from the way-back days by
Procol Harum. What made it appropriate today was the line "I'll bathe my
eyes in a river of salt" which was exactly what happened on this morning's
ride. Not because it was hot, but because it was raining. Really raining.
Absolutely dumping, in fact, for the first seriously wet ride of the
season... which means that all the salt in your helmet pads (which you
should have cleaned beforehand but never got around to) was liberated by
the
stream of water pouring down through your helmet. Ouch!

In a peculiar way, the season's first rain ride is something I look
forward
to. Rather than it being a hassle (getting out the rain bike and the piles
of rain-appropriate apparel), it's an adventure. The absurdity of going
riding when sane people stay home and drink coffee and wish for nicer
weather is somehow motivational. You even look forward, the night before,
to
waking up and hearing the rain & wind pouring over the house.

But don't look to your family for sympathy or support. Not even the dog,
who, annoyed (or scared?) by all the noise outside, stood about six feet
from the door and barked at it. They don't get it (but at least the dog
pretends to want to fight it!).

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

So did you ride your Trek 5900 or your Vintage Cinelli in the rain?
I was thinking the other day, that would be an easy decision to make.
I would go with the 5900, since it can be replaced. How would one replace a
vintage Cinelli?
-tom

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" wrote
in message news
From today's entry in the almost-daily diary at
www.ChainReaction.com/diary.htm

10/19/04- STILL THERE'LL BE MORE. A great song from the way-back days by
Procol Harum. What made it appropriate today was the line "I'll bathe my
eyes in a river of salt" which was exactly what happened on this morning's
ride. Not because it was hot, but because it was raining. Really raining.
Absolutely dumping, in fact, for the first seriously wet ride of the
season... which means that all the salt in your helmet pads (which you
should have cleaned beforehand but never got around to) was liberated by
the
stream of water pouring down through your helmet. Ouch!

In a peculiar way, the season's first rain ride is something I look
forward
to. Rather than it being a hassle (getting out the rain bike and the piles
of rain-appropriate apparel), it's an adventure. The absurdity of going
riding when sane people stay home and drink coffee and wish for nicer
weather is somehow motivational. You even look forward, the night before,
to
waking up and hearing the rain & wind pouring over the house.

But don't look to your family for sympathy or support. Not even the dog,
who, annoyed (or scared?) by all the noise outside, stood about six feet
from the door and barked at it. They don't get it (but at least the dog
pretends to want to fight it!).

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

So did you ride your Trek 5900 or your Vintage Cinelli in the rain?
I was thinking the other day, that would be an easy decision to make.
I would go with the 5900, since it can be replaced. How would one replace a
vintage Cinelli?
-tom

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" wrote
in message news
From today's entry in the almost-daily diary at
www.ChainReaction.com/diary.htm

10/19/04- STILL THERE'LL BE MORE. A great song from the way-back days by
Procol Harum. What made it appropriate today was the line "I'll bathe my
eyes in a river of salt" which was exactly what happened on this morning's
ride. Not because it was hot, but because it was raining. Really raining.
Absolutely dumping, in fact, for the first seriously wet ride of the
season... which means that all the salt in your helmet pads (which you
should have cleaned beforehand but never got around to) was liberated by
the
stream of water pouring down through your helmet. Ouch!

In a peculiar way, the season's first rain ride is something I look
forward
to. Rather than it being a hassle (getting out the rain bike and the piles
of rain-appropriate apparel), it's an adventure. The absurdity of going
riding when sane people stay home and drink coffee and wish for nicer
weather is somehow motivational. You even look forward, the night before,
to
waking up and hearing the rain & wind pouring over the house.

But don't look to your family for sympathy or support. Not even the dog,
who, annoyed (or scared?) by all the noise outside, stood about six feet
from the door and barked at it. They don't get it (but at least the dog
pretends to want to fight it!).

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

So did you ride your Trek 5900 or your Vintage Cinelli in the rain?
I was thinking the other day, that would be an easy decision to make.
I would go with the 5900, since it can be replaced. How would one replace a
vintage Cinelli?
-tom

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
writes:

10/19/04- STILL THERE'LL BE MORE. A great song from the way-back
days by Procol Harum. What made it appropriate today was the line
"I'll bathe my eyes in a river of salt" which was exactly what
happened on this morning's ride. Not because it was hot, but because
it was raining. Really raining. Absolutely dumping, in fact, for
the first seriously wet ride of the season... which means that all
the salt in your helmet pads (which you should have cleaned
beforehand but never got around to) was liberated by the stream of
water pouring down through your helmet. Ouch!

In a peculiar way, the season's first rain ride is something I look
forward to.

Wow, Mike, you live in an entirely different climate than I do. Here
in Minnesota, you'd have this opportunity a couple of times a week
about 35 weeks a year. The rest of the weeks are below freezing...

Wow, Mike, you live in an entirely different climate than I do. Here
in Minnesota, you'd have this opportunity a couple of times a week
about 35 weeks a year. The rest of the weeks are below freezing...

You bet I live in a different climate, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
However, that's not to say I haven't done my share of rides below freezing.
Coldest so far was 23 degrees, and we usually get about 10-15 rides at or
below freezing, and perhaps 4-5 in the upper-20s. Obviously nothing to
compare to your neck of the woods, but I do make it a point to ride in
whatever nature throws my way. Easier to do in Northern California than in
MN!

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
writes:

Wow, Mike, you live in an entirely different climate than I do.
Here in Minnesota, you'd have this opportunity a couple of times a
week about 35 weeks a year. The rest of the weeks are below
freezing...

You bet I live in a different climate, and I wouldn't trade it for
anything! However, that's not to say I haven't done my share of
rides below freezing. Coldest so far was 23 degrees, and we usually
get about 10-15 rides at or below freezing, and perhaps 4-5 in the
upper-20s. Obviously nothing to compare to your neck of the woods,
but I do make it a point to ride in whatever nature throws my way.
Easier to do in Northern California than in MN!

Safer, too! Freezing to death is an option here, as well as ending up
a hood ornament for some out-of-control SUV driver who doesn't realize
that 4WD doesn't stop or turn any better. Once it's icy out, the
bikes stay in the basement. Snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and
single malt are the winter activities around here.

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
writes:

Wow, Mike, you live in an entirely different climate than I do.
Here in Minnesota, you'd have this opportunity a couple of times a
week about 35 weeks a year. The rest of the weeks are below
freezing...

You bet I live in a different climate, and I wouldn't trade it for
anything! However, that's not to say I haven't done my share of
rides below freezing. Coldest so far was 23 degrees, and we usually
get about 10-15 rides at or below freezing, and perhaps 4-5 in the
upper-20s. Obviously nothing to compare to your neck of the woods,
but I do make it a point to ride in whatever nature throws my way.
Easier to do in Northern California than in MN!

Safer, too! Freezing to death is an option here, as well as ending up
a hood ornament for some out-of-control SUV driver who doesn't realize
that 4WD doesn't stop or turn any better. Once it's icy out, the
bikes stay in the basement. Snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and
single malt are the winter activities around here.

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
writes:

Wow, Mike, you live in an entirely different climate than I do.
Here in Minnesota, you'd have this opportunity a couple of times a
week about 35 weeks a year. The rest of the weeks are below
freezing...

You bet I live in a different climate, and I wouldn't trade it for
anything! However, that's not to say I haven't done my share of
rides below freezing. Coldest so far was 23 degrees, and we usually
get about 10-15 rides at or below freezing, and perhaps 4-5 in the
upper-20s. Obviously nothing to compare to your neck of the woods,
but I do make it a point to ride in whatever nature throws my way.
Easier to do in Northern California than in MN!

Safer, too! Freezing to death is an option here, as well as ending up
a hood ornament for some out-of-control SUV driver who doesn't realize
that 4WD doesn't stop or turn any better. Once it's icy out, the
bikes stay in the basement. Snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and
single malt are the winter activities around here.

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles"
wrote let it be known in
om:

However, that's not to say I haven't done my share of rides
below freezing. Coldest so far was 23 degrees, and we
usually get about 10-15 rides at or below freezing, and
perhaps 4-5 in the upper-20s.

A walk in the park!

December throuh February last year, the group I rode with was
determined to ride as often as possible (to lessen the pain of
starting from scratch in the Spring!)

This translated into a LOT of cold mountain bike night rides.
I'd say our average night ride in December/January was 8
degrees or less. Our 'record' night in Western Mass was 10
BELOW zero, with a windchill of -45. We enjoyed (?) an hour
and a half night ride which was then given front page coverage
by two local newspapers:

Group likes the 'tour de freezing'
01/17/2004
By DAVID A. VALLETTE Staff writer
Springfield Republican

GREENFIELD - Bundled at home, most people found little problem
dealing with the below-zero temperatures and wind chills of
about 40 below Thursday night.

*** There is one group, however, that, by choice, met the
cold, the wind and the dark head on, almost as a welcome ally
in pursuit of winter activity.

*** Members of this impromptu group took to the wilds of
Conway that night on one of several trailed areas where
elevation and snow add up to a good mountain bike experience,
even in the dark.

*** "When you live in New England you have to make that great
decision of how you are going to live your life," said Liam
O'Brien of Deerfield. He has decided, he said, that he will
not let winter, with its short days and long, cold nights, get
in the way of enjoying the environment. "The days are short in
winter, so it is either do it in the dark when the workday is
over, or do nothing," said O'Brien.

*** Leader of the night bikers is Robert G. Perry, owner of
Bicycles Unlimited on High Street, who has been making the
hills a frequent winter nighttime haunt for more than 10
years. It was sometime in the mid-1980s that he did it for the
first time. An amateur bike racer, he was looking for a way to
keep biking in the winter, and found his racing bike couldn't
handle wintered trails, so he took up mountain biking on
snowmobile trails. "People think you are making it up" when he
tells them he went out riding the night before, he said. "I
have to show them photographic proof," he said. He and the
other participants, a group that includes Chad and Stephanie
Castonguay of South Hadley, Jack Rice of Erving, Walter
Goodridge of Conway, Michelle Hurley of Northfield, Shawn
LeBlanc of Petersham, and Curt Bousquet of Putney, Vt., along
with O'Brien, use lights, proper garments and other equipment
to deal with the cold and stay safe. "We are very well
prepared," said Perry, who is known in the group as "Bicycle
Bob." The equipment includes a global positioning system that
uses satellites to be sure of location and avoid getting lost.
Perry said participants can't expect, however, not to feel the
temperatures. "No matter what you do, you are going to be
cold," he said. That is nothing to be alarmed about, he
contends, because it is little different than in summer when,
no matter what you do when you go outside, "you're going to be
hot." His cardinal rule is to "always feel your fingers, toes
and ear lobes to make sure you always have sensation." The
winter night bikers have become experienced in what to wear
while out riding to avoid problem cold, and often, said
O'Brien, the real problem is sweating. When you are sweating,
and you stop biking, that is when you are the most cold, he
said.