Karma
We had a real thrasher yesterday. It was the first big storm of the season and they’re saying it dumped more rain than any storm going all the way back to the 1960s. It wasn’t the rain so much as the wind that made a mess in our area. Someone said over 200 trees were toppled within the city limits; I didn’t bother to confirm the number, but that sounds about right considering what I saw. I have to admit, I chickened out on riding my bike, but it was probably not a bad decision considering the amount of debris I saw strewn through the bike lanes all over town. Karma got the best of me though; as I was walking to the bus, a gust of wind blew about 5 gallons of water off the top of a building right down onto me like a wave. I ended up completely soaked and much wetter than if I’d been on my bike… :-)
(Our thoughts go out to the people dealing with more serious results of the storm. —ed.)
8 Responses to “Karma”
It was nuts here in Santa Cruz. I couldn’t even walk outside without being beaten around by the wind and rain. Some days just won’t let you get on the saddle, no doubt about it.
Alan,
I’m glad to read that sometimes even you take a day out of the saddle. I was beating myself up the other day because I didn’t prep enough over the weekend for the first truly cold day of the midwest fall season. I went out, mounted up, and quickly realized that I was facing a 15MPH headwind and 38 degrees F for my 7 mile commute. I bailed on the ride for a day, to give the wind a chance to die down, and for me to dig out my winter gear when I got home from work.
Thanks for keeping it real! It makes me feel less guilty about my day off, too.
I went ahead and rode to work on October 13, and it wasn’t wet at all in the morning, but it rained constantly on the way home in the afternoon, with noticable wind.
Today, on the 14th, I thought I would let my bike dry out and ride the bus, but the bus didn’t show up due to a mechanical problem. Back to the bike.
I did not ride the bike yesterday either. As I was laying in bed that morning, listening to the wind howl outside and rattle the windows, I chickened out. I can take the rain but not both. Today I rode and it was a real obstacle course. In most cases you could not ride in the bike lane and had to pull out and take the traffic lane. Lots of branches and leaf piles to maneuver around and over. Kind of felt like mountain biking rather than street riding.
Donald
Sacramento
@Donald
“Lots of branches and leaf piles to maneuver around and over. Kind of felt like mountain biking rather than street riding.”
We just returned from a trip to the grocery store and there was debris everywhere. It’s going to take a few days (at least) to get things cleaned up.
@Tom
Regarding commuting in the rain, I don’t do a lot of it anymore (I’m not nearly as “hardcore” as many people might think). Oh, I’ve done plenty of it (lived in Seattle for 10 years), but now that I’m in California, I can choose whether or not to commute in the rain and mostly I don’t. As an alternative, I can take a different bus route that gets me within walking distance of the house on those 20 or so stormy days a year that fall on work days. In a way it’s a blessing in disguise because it gets me off the bike and rests my bad knee; without a break now and then my knee is likely to go out on me anyway, and the extra walking seems to do it good.
Alan
The wind here in Chico was also horrendous. Trees down everywhere and the power was out in various parts of town.
Having lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life, the rain isn’t the problem, it’s the wind. Here with so many enormous oaks, walnuts, sycamores and ash trees, flying branches can be fatal.
How’s the saying go? Caution is the better part of valor.
Yesterday, my bicycle stayed home!
I think that everybody should ride within their comfort zone. I cycle because I feel that it improves the quality of my life, and not because I feel that it is my “duty”.
Oh, and if I did go out on my bicycle in a storm, it would definitely be on my heavy Pashley. On lighter bikes, I have actually been pushed sideways by gusts of wind!
Here in Sac it was pretty much the same. I did ride to work, but with an early shift (5am-12) i only had to deal with the mess going one way. Had to detour due to one very large tree completely uprooted and across the road.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s that bad if you have large tires and good fenders + lights. Although i guess you do have to worry about branches falling on you!
And i agree about riding heavier bikes in the wind, makes a difference!