Leading into winter and it's always a tough time to get motivated to ride, play sport and get out and about with family......
Lying in bed and listening to the rain fall at night can be really off putting when you've got a ride scheduled the next morning. You wake up early, open the curtains it's still dark but the rain has stopped. It will be a good day once the sun is up to dry the roads but the chill in the air means you still need to wrap up warm to ride.
You look out to the sky and can see where the drizzle of rain is coming from and of course thats not the direction you ride. Best to cycle where there is little to no rain. You get changed, have a quick breakfast, coffee-do a last minute gear check, turn your lights on and your off taking that plunge into the chilly winter morning air.
Navigating the rain has an aura similar to our ancestors navigating the Pacific many moons ago in their waka using the telling signs of nature as their GPS. This time we are navigating the roads by bike. Your constantly scanning the skies for rain and feeling for the direction the wind is blowing. Your scanning the roads for traffic, hazards-glass!
You manage whatever mother nature has in stall for you- you choose the best and safest routes. Ultimately you will find your way home-sometimes damp from the rain, and sometime's basking in the warmth of the sun. The experience will add to your cycling wisdom about riding in a range of conditions and different approaches to take.
Some people will ask Why cycle in the rain?? Others will say-Why not?? Ultimately it's up to you, but whatever you choose to do-embrace it and enjoy.
The image above from our East Cape ride earlier this year at Tokomaru Bay is motivation to keep the wheels spinning during winter- can;t wait for Spring and Summer again! #uso4life
Lying in bed and listening to the rain fall at night can be really off putting when you've got a ride scheduled the next morning. You wake up early, open the curtains it's still dark but the rain has stopped. It will be a good day once the sun is up to dry the roads but the chill in the air means you still need to wrap up warm to ride.
You look out to the sky and can see where the drizzle of rain is coming from and of course thats not the direction you ride. Best to cycle where there is little to no rain. You get changed, have a quick breakfast, coffee-do a last minute gear check, turn your lights on and your off taking that plunge into the chilly winter morning air.
Navigating the rain has an aura similar to our ancestors navigating the Pacific many moons ago in their waka using the telling signs of nature as their GPS. This time we are navigating the roads by bike. Your constantly scanning the skies for rain and feeling for the direction the wind is blowing. Your scanning the roads for traffic, hazards-glass!
You manage whatever mother nature has in stall for you- you choose the best and safest routes. Ultimately you will find your way home-sometimes damp from the rain, and sometime's basking in the warmth of the sun. The experience will add to your cycling wisdom about riding in a range of conditions and different approaches to take.
Some people will ask Why cycle in the rain?? Others will say-Why not?? Ultimately it's up to you, but whatever you choose to do-embrace it and enjoy.
The image above from our East Cape ride earlier this year at Tokomaru Bay is motivation to keep the wheels spinning during winter- can;t wait for Spring and Summer again! #uso4life
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