Riding...in the rain, in the dark, in late October, in Rochester


Tonight I rode my bike in the rain, in the dark. It was amazing!

I can't believe I did it.

Tonight I rode my bike in the rain, in the dark. Up to Cobbs Hill Park. Skipped the reservoir because it's closed to traffic after 7 p.m. from Oct. 15-April 15 (I think it's April anyway). Went up Cobbs Hill Drive instead (behind the park), around to Hillside, to Norris, to the pond. Spent a few minutes with the geese. And on home again. About 75 minutes altogether.

I had to skip the ride yesterday (too many things to do) and today I was running around shopping...mostly for gear to wear on the bike in the cold and damp. I did pretty well. Adidas water-resistant windbreaker pants at Kohl's, on sale about $25. A little too long, and a little too tight in the hips to wear my sweatpants underneath, but I got a nice pair of lightweight long underwear, and that will do just fine. Bought some new shoes, too -- black Skecher work sneakers that are slip-resistant, $54. Boy, they are comfy! And nicer looking than clodhopper white sneaks.

Also stopped at Linens & Things and bought a "fiber bed" -- similar to a feather bed but hypoallergenic (I'm allergic to feathers). You put it on top of your mattress, and ohhh, is it soft and comfy and warm. Went home and tried it out. Wonderful! And then, oooops! I realized I had left one of my orthotics in one of the shoes I had tried on (of course, the right -- which is the one I need the most!), so I had to dash back. Those things cost about $300, and though Medicaid paid for them, I wouldn't be able to replace them for a while unless I paid myself.

So as long as I was down there I decided to do some more shopping. I was looking in particular for a waterproof poncho, like the one I used to have that I got when Bob M. & I did all that backpacking in the Sierras. It rains, you just toss it on & it covers not only you but your backpack and all your gear as well. And it works as a ground cover to use under your sleeping bag. Not that I'm going to be sleeping on the ground anymore...gimme that fiber bed on top of a real bed. No way to haul that on a backpack!

Finally I found one at Target. Not quite what I wanted. I wanted a bright orange one -- easier to see you in gray light or the dark. This is light olive drab. At least it's not black. I also found a flashing red light I could put on the back of my bike. And a small flashlight I could attach to my bike helmet.

I hadn't planned to go riding in the dark. But I so much wanted to get that ride in. Two days without riding. Couldn't stand the thought. So I got everything attached, got decked out in the gear, jerry-rigged another light to my bike...a standard flashlight I put inside a widemouth water bottle (I have a bottle holder attached to the bike already)...and took off. The flashlights aren't so much about my being able to see in the dark, since I keep to well-lighted streets, but so people can see ME.

It was amazing. I was plenty warm (it was only 43!) -- a little too, after some riding -- and ended up about 98 percent dry. Feet are a little damp (waterproof boots will fix that) & so is my hair. Will have to work out the head covering a little. The poncho hood did cover my helmet, but the helmet visor has breeze holes in it, and I needed to leave a little space open for the flashlight.

I have worked out a route that keeps me on well-lighted, well-populated but (mostly) not-too-busy streets in good neighbhorhoods. (And on the busy streets, I ride, illegally, on the sidewalk. Not many pedestrians out at night in the rain anyway.) And I figure with that shapeless poncho no one's going to be able to figure out the rider is female. Could be a short guy. And what woman would be nutty enough to be riding a bike at night in the rain in Rochester?

I felt absolutely ingenious. And powerful!

Next necessary purchase: a side mirror to attach to my helmet so I can see those right-turners who can't accept the fact I have the right-of-way. Had a close call with one while I was watching out for a left-turner tonight while crossing Culver at Monroe. I did look carefully behind me first, but this one came up on me fast.

And some reflective tape for that poncho to make me even more visible. And a real headlight for my handlebars. I'll still wear the helmet light. Can't have too many lights in the dark on a bike!

Now, if only I can find a horn that is loud enough (not a kid bike horn) to get drivers' attention!

Not much can stop me now, except ice and snow, just because I don't trust the bike to stop on cue (it's bad enough in a car!). I'm addicted to that ride. If there's any way I can do it, I will.

Posted: Sat - October 22, 2005 at 10:30 PM          

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