Springtime in New England is a wonderful time filled with the promise and rebirth of spring. The fragrant aroma of freshly mown lawns and flowering daffodils permeates the air. Cyclists like myself also face the near daily conundrum of what's the weather going to have on offer today? This question also opens the door to a whole other set of problems in what exactly to wear?
Now having to decide what to wear for most folks can be a rather sticky dilema. For a cyclist in the springtime there are a whole slew of variables to consider. What is the weather for that day and what is the temperature forecasted to be? What time are you rolling out? How long will you be out? See it isn't quite as simple as, is this a family style restaurant or a classy restaurant, which would entail casual or slightly more dressy apparel. The problem is that cyclists have a limited amount of carrying capacity. Our jersey pockets are often filled with mobiles, food, identification & money and for some tubes, co2 and tire wrenches. So having an over abundance of clothing that needs to be stripped off means stuffing it into a limited space. If only our jersey pockets were like Hermione's bag in the Deathly Hallows or the Doctor's TARDIS.
Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about having to work out complex formulas and become an amateur meteorologist, which is something most cyclists are based on the observation of cloud cover on overcast days. In fact, the weather this spring in particular has been quite nice if you don't mind getting wet, really, really soaking wet. A little rain never hurt anyone if they are properly equipped that is.
There is something about riding in the rain, on a regular basis that hardens a person I think in much the same way that riding through the winter does. Moreover you appreciate the sunshine that much more. Rain much like the cold is not a cyclists adversary, it is more like the friend who needles you, which is their way of showing they care about you and like you, i.e. it makes you stronger and more resilient.
Last year I was on daycare duty for most of the spring and thus do not recall if it was as wet as this spring has been. Nor do I recall the year before that either. I do remember the spring of the year I got married was very wet and I rode a lot of miles that year in the rain.
Finally, one thing to note on a personal level is that after the accident last July, I'll take any day on the bike even in the rain and cold. They truly make the days where the skies are blue, the air warm and the wind at your back that much more enjoyable, knowing that that is your reward for suffering in what you enjoy.
