On Getting The Weather Right

Lately it has done a lot of raining, now this is not to say I cannot handle the rain but to be entirely honest riding in the rain sucks. For one thing the ride gets filthy, one evening after work I was about to ride home when the sky opened up. Now the predicted weather was much nicer than what I got nailed with, so while I don't mind getting wet, my bike wasn't the Coppi (which I allow to get exceedingly dirty) rather it was a just washed Erin. In the 8km ride from the office home Erin got caked with an unbelievable amount of dirt. I must have gone through some brackish puddle as well because the wheels smelt foul from a distance. Ultimately I had deflate the tyres and run a rag between the rim and tyre to clear whatever had caused the smell.

Now a week ago it was predicted that it would rain on Sunday (August 2). So based largely on the expectation of rain, I went out on August 1 and saw a movie, Hurt Locker, with my brother. I did not get to bed until 2am, I did not bother to set the alarm, whatever for? There wouldn't be a group ride, except, August 2 was a beautiful day. One of the few people who did show made fun of me for not coming out.

So this past Sunday (August 9) was one of my favourite routes, to Lake Simcoe and back. The weather forecast was looking rather scary by Saturday night, hail, tornadoes, thunderstorms, something for everyone! But I figured the forecasted weather was pretty bad on August 2 as well. Only this time the various weather reports I checked were right, or at least close to the mark. The day started cloudy and humid but at least there was no rain.

As for the ride itself, there really is something to be said for McCowan road up northbound from about Mt. Albert Road to Ravenshoe Road (about 10km). I was completely zoned out, in the drops pulling at a steady 38~42km/h. At Ravenshoe I stopped prior to crossing the road, of the eight people in our Pelaton I had accidentally dropped all but two others. I could have kept going but I figured I better stop to let everyone catch up. Those 10km were just about the greatest 10K I have ever done, not just the speed or the pull, but the feeling, the wind, the scenery, everything just felt right. Actually I have to admit the scenery up there is just remarkable. I would ride up there any day of the week it is so pleasant in that area.

Shortly after we regrouped it started to rain. At first it was just a shower, that lasted perhaps a minute or two and then stopped. We made it to the coffee stop where I refilled my bottle with water and a bag of Perpetium I brought from home. We proceeded along Lake Road and ultimately looped back via Warden towards the city, but then things got ugly around Boyer's Road. The rain started coming down with a vengeance. Drops that must have been the size of golf balls were hammering my helmet so hard I couldn't tell if it was rain or hail. When the drops contracted to a more normal size the number of drops picked up so that it became a more traditional summer storm. The rain persisted all the way back, occasionally being punctuated with a bolt of lightening.

Ultimately I bumed a ride home from Woodbine and 16 from Dan. Of course the rain stopped and the sky cleared just as we pulled into the parking lot where Dan had parked his car. (Couldn't see that coming.)

Erin did not do so well. She went through so much water the gap created by the aero part of the rim (between the tube and the spoke) filled with water. After I removed the tyre and tube (wanted to rotate my tyres) I had a mini flood in the basement. Erin was also caked in mud from top cap to deraileur hanger. But I am pleased to say she took her knocks well, a very through cleaning later and she looks good as new.

Anyway below are some pictures from our journey to Lake Simcoe.