The Difference of Cold and Wet

Some of my friends don't understand the allure of riding and questions arise about riding in the cold and the rain. Well, as my friend David puts it "It's all about the right gear". He is SOOOOO right.

This morning, I set off to meet up with the Long Riders in Brooksville for a ride to Daytona and Bike Week. I geared up with all my rain gear: rain suit, rain gators (booties that keep the boots totally dry), helmet, gloves and headed out.

As I rode down to the meet spot I hit some light drizzle and then some heavier rain. Now at this point you are asking yourself "so what? You are totally covered for rain, so it couldn't be that big of a deal?" Well wait a minute there my friend. I forgot to add it was about 41 degrees. So now the picture is fully explained.

When riding in the rain, about the only thing that really gets wet on your body through your gear is your hands. No glove known to man...except rubber gloves, will keep the water out of your gloves, just ask most riders. So here I am, riding down the road with wet hands in the wind, 41 degrees and I'm feeling miserable about riding. I don't ever feel miserable riding my bike, never, ever...today was a different story.

So this afternoon we went shopping for replacement gloves, searching for something that may keep my hands dry and warm for the coming Legends Ride. I hope I found that magic glove that will do the job. Keeping my fingers crossed that they work and I don't end up with icicle hands next time.

The moral to the story: Riding in cold is ok, layering is your friend; riding in the rain is ok, just have your rain suit; riding in the cold AND rain, you best have all the right gear cause this is the most miserable of all conditions you can ride in...period.