Mudguards, rain and getting wet
I re-fitted my mudguards last week because the rain hasn't stopped for any more than 24 hours. In the past, I'd take off my 'guards in March and only replace them in October. Barring a long tour, they would gather dust in the workshop. The past couple of years have seen them being used for 10 or 11 months per year.
We seemed to have had no rain from late April, right through May and all of June. The grass on the lawn went brown, the flowers in the planters wilted and gasped, I turned a lovely brown and the summer seemed like it would last forever.
Then the rains came.
This now seems like a repeat of the last few years, a super early summer, then rain rain rain. I managed to cut the grass on Sunday, and even managed a short ride out yesterday, but I tried again this morning – yes, it was drizzling, but not a great deal. Hey! it won't hurt, just get out and enjoy.
It poured down. I was soaked, good job I had my Goretex with me! I came back like a drowned rat, Bike was manky from the road and the brake dust on the alu rims, so when I soggily made it home, I squelched round the back, took out the hose, and sprayed Bike nice and clean. It's standing in the hall drip-drying.
I lit the fire, washed my gear – and some other stuff – and here I am in front of a roaring fire listening to the pouring rain. The clothes horse is full of drying clothes and we have a cat asleep on the hearth rug! Bliss? Personally, I'd rather have the sunshine and balmy breezes with the washing on the line!
Is there no end to this? Should I be building an ark?
I blame the Northwest of England publicising their hose-pipe ban. If they'd have been quiet about it, I could have let them have as much water from my hose as they wanted (we're not on a meter!) and we wouldn't have got all this rain. Sod's Law prevails.
On my way home, I caught up with another "drowned rat", he was loaded down with panniers and as he stopped in Gunnislake village, we had a chat. He had come down to Exeter by train and spent the night in a tent – and wait for this – on Dartmoor!!!!! I let him know that I always tell cyclists NOT to go on Dartmoor if the weather is even the slightest bit iffy. It certainly was iffy last night! Poor chap!
He was making his way down to Falmouth, so I gave him a few pointers about the route and how to avoid the A38/A390 dual carriageway west of Liskeard. I couldn't do anything about the rain! Off he went up Gunnislake Hill, no doubt he is well on his way now, no drier, but well on his way.
Regards to all the drowned rats like me!
Mick.
The last significant rain we had was on the Isle of Wight Randonnee in early May. Still, its the CTC New Forest camping week next week so that should soon fill the water butts!
July 20th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Cycled across the Humber Bridge to the south bank on Sunday. It was an 8 o’clock start and I only just made it to the car park start after getting up later than planned. (I knew I should have packed and got my bike ready the night before.)
It started to spit as we set off and within a few miles it threw it down. So we got drenched with the rain in our faces and we headed for a truck stop before setting back for home as the north bank riders wanted to be home early anyway. The bad weather hastened our return and I got in a much shorter ride than I expected – although there was nothing to stop me from adding a few miles of my own. Of course, when we crossed the bridge again the weather improved and it was a lovely day after that.
On the way home I got myself the first cycling jersey I had bought in about twenty years and I’m looking forward to trying it out on Thursday. It will be the beginning of the holidays and I want to get in a cheeky ride when Mrs B is still at work
Fingers crossed that I don’t have to cover the new top with my rain gear.
July 20th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Its been pouring here ever since I got back too!
Funnily enough, when doing the Audax in Garboldisham, one of the other cyclists noted that I wasn't very brown and tanned considering I cycled so much. I had to explain to him that us 'Northern Cyclists' do it with coats on!
And mine has been on every day now for the past week.
Over trousers, over shoes etc. Oddly it has given the feel in the day a rather 'End of Summer' feel to it. So much so, I was sorting out my cycle kit drawer rummaging for warmer gear..... sad or what.
I usually find we have good summers, until the kids break up from school – ours get out for the Summer this Friday (23rd July). And as it happens Friday is forecast good, the rest of the weekend.... wet again.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hi Mary,
The kids here break up today. Their last day, and it's bucketing down out there!
I managed to get a bit of gardening done this morning – strimming and hedgecutting – and had to wear waterproofs as I was getting showered on occasionally. It thundered about an hour ago, and now it's stair-rods bouncing off the ground.
Tomorrow is forecast to be ok down here in the Southwest, and I'm desperate to continue my Century Rides. I have my Garmin programmed for a ride over the southern edge of Dartmoor and over to Paignton then turning south to Dartmouth, and coming home via Kingsbridge and Plymouth. 102 miles or so.
Looking outside at the moment doesn't fill me with confidence .........
Regards,
Mick.
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:01 pm