It’s been a while since I’ve been out on the bike and have gotten wet. I can’t honestly say I miss it, either.
But tonight I chanced it.
With two days off the bike resting the knee I figured why not get out there after work and…
- Blow off some steam
- Get some exercise
- Get some fresh air
- oh… and enjoy a bike ride?
All good reasons to don the kit and get clipped in.
Only it was thundering. Not raining. But thundering.
Somewhere off in the distance a very grey sky loomed. And yes, I could hear the infrequent rumbling. Heck, as I got out onto the circuit I could even see the rain coming down – but it was miles away. I’m guessing at the time it was out Blackpool way.
I stayed fairly close to home, hitting my usual TT-esque loop aiming to put in a hard effort yet still being local enough that if the heavens did open I could get back in ~10 minutes.
As I got back from the loop, the ground was wet. That was weird as it hadn’t rained anywhere that I had been, and I’d only been a few km away.
But not to worry, it only looked light.
So I went on.
My plan was to head out down the Guild Wheel, then loop back and come home via some back streets to avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic.
That, too, went to plan.
All good.
It was only as I was so close to home that my luck ran dry… or maybe that’s entirely the wrong turn of phrase. Suddenly it tipped it down.
Fortunately I’d brought my Rapha commuters jacket (best £60 ever!) and ducked under a tree to put it on. I missed the worst of it, then waited for it to ease off a bit more before heading home.
Even though I only had ~1km or so to go by the time I got back my bike and my bum were soaked.
Anyway, it was worth it. My knee isn’t perfect but it’s good enough. I should have done an easier ride no question about it, but I don’t think I’ve done anything to make the situation worse.
I’m guessing the number of times I might have the chance to get an after work ride in are going to start diminishing quickly so I’ll take them whilst I can get them.
It’s not stopped raining since I got back ~2 hours ago so hey, it could have been worse.
