help me stop obsessing about the forecast for El Tour de Tucson Saturday

[azfiddle]

I'm signed up for the 107 mile and have plenty of training for the distance but not the weather:

The forecast is 51- 59 degrees (between 7 am and 4 pm), wind 13 mph, rain- 70% chance; thunderstorms likely.

I have never done a ride under these conditions so I am looking at the weather forecast almost every hour and watching it get worse and worse - with great apprehension.

I bought a Canari Niagra rain jacket from TE- have wool socks, new long PI cyclone gloves, a merino wool sweater, arm and knee warmers, and a variety of thrift store purchased capri or long length work out tights I could put on over my regular kit. Shower cap for a helmet cover... And SAG stops where I could leave some dry clothes for later in the day.

I'll take any other suggestions or encouragement. I can't back out- I've raised almost $700 to do the "Ride for a Child" benefit for kids that have gone through serious illness or a death in the family, and I'm riding for one of my own students this year.

Thanks- it helps to just talk about it!

[tulip]

Take it 10 miles at a time. Thunderstorms can be dangerous, though, so use common sense.

[OakLeaf]

I think I've ridden more tours in similar weather to that, than I have in good weather. :p That comes with the two big tours around here being the second weekend in May and the last weekend in September.

You'll be fine. Sounds like you have the clothes pretty much dialed. Put plastic bags in your shoes if you don't have shoe covers. Don't even bother attempting to stay dry - anything you do to keep rain out, will keep sweat in. Just dress to stay warm.

Be extra careful on descents and railroad crossings. Take a selfie of your rain-slicked hair and mud-spattered face, and have fun. :D

[ny biker]

+1 about the thunderstorms. No one will expect you to risk your life in order to finish the ride.

If you can get fenders for your bike, I recommend them. I have SKS Raceblades which are easy to put on my road bike when I need them. They will help keep you dry.

Put a bit less air in your tires than usual for better grip in wet conditions. Be careful when riding over metal (like manhole covers) or painted lines on the road. Also be careful if there are any wet leaves on the ground.

The jacket (which looks very nice, btw) is rated "warmer" by TE. My Showers Pass jacket has the same rating. I recently wore it for a rainy ride with temps in the low 60s. I wore a thin long sleeved wool base layer and a sleeveless jersey, and I was too warm. I've also worn it on a totally overcast day with temps in the high 40s and was too warm with the same wool base layer and a long sleeved jersey. So for temps in the 50s I would recommend one layer under your jacket. I'd probably go with a short sleeved jersey and arm warmers.

Sunglasses with clear or yellow lenses will help keep the rain out of your eyes. So will a helmet visor or cycling cap with a brim.

Good luck!!

[ny biker]

Oak's selfie comment reminded me -- put anything electronic (cell phone, car key fob) in zip top bags. Also bag anything else you'll want to keep dry in your bike bag. I also like to bring an extra bag with me just in case, and I usually put one or two pieces of paper towel in one of them. (My smart phone got wet on a very rainy Livestrong ride several years ago, and I was glad that someone at the rest stop was able to give me a dry paper towel to dry it off with.)

[Susan Otcenas]

I find that when the weather is poor, my extremities are what feel it most. I like warm gloves and booties on a day like you are describing.

That said, while rain and mid 50's probably sounds cold to someone living in Arizona, it really isn't all that cold. I suspect you will find you are warmer than you expect to be AS LONG AS YOU KEEP MOVING. It's the stopping (and subsequent re-starting) that will probably chill you most. In wet weather, I find it best to take much shorter breaks, and to keep my body temperature up.

Also, most people eat and drink less when it's wet, because they don't feel as thirsty and because managing food with gloves is a bit more challenging. Try to avoid letting this happen to you. Make sure to eat and drink on the same schedule. If you get behind, it will affect your body temperature for the worse. If you start to feel cold, try to eat something. It will help.

Hope this helps!

Susan

[azfiddle]

Thank you all! And Susan, thanks to whoever I spoke to on the phone when I ordered the jacket :-) It fits perfectly and looks like just what I need.

The weather report keeps changing...less chance of thunder but not any more dry (starting at 80% and dropping to 65% chance of rain.

Don't think I'll be able to find the fenders in time.

But the encouragement is appreciated. We just don't often ride in the rain here because there are so many dry days. But if you're a reader of Bicycling Magazine- their recent article on riding in the rain featured photos from Tucson. Go figure!

Thanks again

[Xrayted]

Yup, wear a decent rain jacket like a showers pass. Open the pit zips so you don't sweat too much and be swamping yourself inside the jacket. And I suggest wool socks with a spare pair in a ziplock bag. One of the things I always liked was changing into dry socks at some point on long rides. It just perks you up. :D

[Dogmama]

I know it's late but I'd get some really thick tubes put in my tires. You'll be going through puddles and picking up lots of nasty stuff on the road. You're a seasoned cyclist, so you know how wet weather + sharp stuff tends to adhere to tires.

Stay away from crowds. Some cyclists really don't know how to handle bikes in the wet & don't realize things like how their brakes don't work as efficiently. Stay off of the white stripe on the road because it gets very slick.

Remember how many times the weather forecast in Tucson is completely wrong. Right now it's supposed to be raining and it isn't.

Good luck! You're a smart and experienced cyclist & you'll be fine!

[Owlie]

I'm signed up for the 107 mile and have plenty of training for the distance but not the weather:

The forecast is 51- 59 degrees (between 7 am and 4 pm), wind 13 mph, rain- 70% chance; thunderstorms likely.

I have never done a ride under these conditions so I am looking at the weather forecast almost every hour and watching it get worse and worse - with great apprehension.

I bought a Canari Niagra rain jacket from TE- have wool socks, new long PI cyclone gloves, a merino wool sweater, arm and knee warmers, and a variety of thrift store purchased capri or long length work out tights I could put on over my regular kit. Shower cap for a helmet cover... And SAG stops where I could leave some dry clothes for later in the day.

I'll take any other suggestions or encouragement. I can't back out- I've raised almost $700 to do the "Ride for a Child" benefit for kids that have gone through serious illness or a death in the family, and I'm riding for one of my own students this year.

Thanks- it helps to just talk about it!

I was wondering about this! I'm not riding this year, but the forecast doesn't look all that friendly. (And the parking lot for my apartment complex is currently a lake.) You've got the wool and a rain jacket, and I like the dry clothes idea. Toe covers to keep the rain out? Just remember that you don't have quite the braking power, and I think you'll be okay. Just watch for other people who don't know how to ride in the rain...

[azfiddle]

Thanks Owlie and Dogmama,

I think I'll manage.

BTW- I raised over $1000 for Tu Nidito and I won't get a trophy for speed but I WILL get one for fundraising :-)

[Dogmama]

AZfiddle - congratulations on the fund raising! That's fantastic!

BTW - they predicted 80% chance of rain for right now. It isn't raining. Hopefully they'll be wrong tomorrow too!

[Owlie]

Thanks Owlie and Dogmama,

I think I'll manage.

BTW- I raised over $1000 for Tu Nidito and I won't get a trophy for speed but I WILL get one for fundraising :-)

Congrats! I think the route goes right past my apartment complex. I'll wave. :D

[azfiddle]

Hello all and thanks for the many suggestions.

The grim weather prediction was right- in fact it continued to get worse until the day of the event. We had rain and quite cool temps (49-51) for almost the entire day. I had riding companions for about half the way but one abandoned less than 30 miles in (was not dressed well) and I got separated from the others later on. It took me much longer than I had planned: 9 hours, 52 min. Part of it was the weather, part of it was the detour I had to take (see below) and part of it was having to stop more times than planned.

I managed to organize the layers pretty well and stayed warm enough but not dry through the first 35 miles or so. Shorts and jersey, arm warmers, merino wool sweater, knee warmers work-out tights over the shorts and knee warmers and of course the brand new raincoat. I also had on a wool beanie and a baseball type cap under my helmet, Cyclone gloves with waterproof latex gloves underneath, plastic bags over my gloves and a plastic shower cap over my helmet. By the first big descent around mile 35, the rain got a little heavier and then we had several big puddles to pass through where washes crossed the route. The hands and feet were totally wet by then but not as cold as I thought they would be.

The route normally has two dry wash crossings where you pretty much have to get off of your bike and walk. They had to skip the first one because the rain had seriously filled the Santa Cruz River bed and we stayed on paved roads. In my opinion, they should have gone with the alternate route for the 2nd one, which was at risk for flash-flooding from the mountains. One reason they didn't change it earlier is the the event director lives right next to that creek crossing and he likes having the cyclists come by his house. However, they didn't switch to the alternate route. That is, until I got there. I was the first person they would not allow to cross the creek, which was running about 8-10 inches deep and about 15-20 feet across. So after about 10 minutes of standing around, all of the cyclists there realized they would not be allowed to cross and we had to take an unmarked detour to get back on the official route. This added more walking back to the road plus 7 extra miles :(

The detour started around mile 48 or so. I was doing generally okay, although I lost one of my buddies at the crossing and the other about 10 miles later. By about mile 60 or so, the temperature was below 50 again and the rain was getting harder. I hit my low point and considered abandoning but kept thinking about all of the folks who had donated to the charity, a group called Tu Nidito that supports kids going through grief from death or illness in the family. In particular, I kept thinking about the girl I was "riding for", who is one of my students this year. She lost her father to cancer 2 years ago, and has had more than her share of difficulties due to her own medical issues. I thought- I can make it through one day for her.

Fortunately, my team had a SAG stop where my dry clothes were. I made it to the car, and then started getting cramps as I tried to change to dry socks, gloves, etc. They mixed me electrolyte drinks (I hadn't been drinking enough) and got me warm in the car with the heater and just gave me a lot of TLC. 22 miles to go - and into a headwind. A nice guy I met on that section pulled me the last 16 miles and probably kept my speed 2 mph faster than it would have been.

The sun was out the last hour and a half :)
It was really a challenge and I would rather not ride in those conditions again but I am really proud I met the challenge.

Very sad end to the day though as one of the folks who was at the start with me (had not met him before) was struck by an elderly driver who did not obey the traffic cones on the last southbound section (freeway frontage road) and was killed. A friend of a friend, who also started at the beginning with me, was right behind him when it happened. So tragic....

[Owlie]

Good for you for finishing! I wondered how you fared. It was nasty yesterday. I'm glad the SAG stop took care of you. J

Sad to hear about the cyclist who was killed. Is it just me, or does this seem to be becoming more common?

that's the scariest thing about riding on the roads around here. tons of elderly people who probably shouldn't be driving...

[Dogmama]

Glad you were able to finish but would not have blamed you for quitting. It was nasty all day. You are a warrior!! Could not believe they didn't detour Sabino Creek at the beginning of the race but now I know why :mad:

Very sorry to hear about the man who was killed on the frontage road. There are no words. Glad you are safe!

[emily_in_nc]

Oh no -- that is so tragic. I did not know there had been a death in this event. What a horrible shame.

Kudos and humble bowing down to you, though, azfiddle, for surviving what sound like brutal conditions. Don't know that I could have done it. Sounds similar to the Seagull Century we rode in 2004. We did the full century on our then-tandem, and the heavy rain started partway through. We were cold and miserable (and underdressed) for the final 50 miles. My DH's lips were blue and teeth chattering by the end. The Weather Channel had been calling for the rain to start a lot later than it actually did; otherwise we would have gotten our clothing closer to right. Quite a miserable experience though probably warmer than what you faced -- I can't recall now.

I just read a blog of an RVer who is also a cyclist, and she did a report with some photos of riders along the route. She didn't ride as she's recovering from foot surgery, but they are in Tucson in their RV for the winter. I was astonished by the amount of water in her photos:

http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/2013/11/rain-on-el-tour-and-streets-of-old.html

Congratulations again, azfiddle, and thanks for the report.

[zoom-zoom]

AZ, one of our JDRF coaches and several of our rider were on this ride. I cannot imagine how miserable that was, especially as a lot of people would not have brought the appropriate clothing for a ride in AZ!! Today's CX race in the 20s was wonderful…in part because it was only about 35 minutes and I was dressed properly. Kudos to you who gutted this out!!

[Susan Otcenas]

Congratulations on finishing in conditions that were so outside of your comfort zone. It's a mark of true strength that you were able to draw on things to motivate you when the going got tough. (You'd clearly make a great randonneur. ;-) )

Someone in customer service forwarded to me the note you sent in about the Canari Niagara Jacket you purchased from us. Really really happy to read that it worked out so well for you. While I don't wish you rainy conditions on many rides, I do hope you get plenty of life out of it! Incidentally, I find that on very cold days, my rain jacket makes a very effective lightweight wind blocking layer. So you may get more use out of it than you expect! I have family in Tucson and have ridden there in late November. It was surprisingly chilly in the pre-dawn hours!

Again, congratulations on your riding and fundraising successes.

Susan

[ny biker]

Congrats on the ride and the fundraising. You dug deep into that suitcase of courage, as they say.

I agree with Susan -- a good windproof rain jacket is also useful for sunny days when it's cold and/or breezy. I also sometimes wear my Showers Pass jacket when I go out for a long walk.

[Crankin]

AZ, take care of yourself. I was more affected than I thought, by being on a ride where 2 people got killed. I *saw* them, standing in the line, waiting for our packets. The way I felt had nothing to do with the crash I had later that day. We had all intentions of doing the ride in its entirety a few weeks later, but I found myself really not wanting to be anywhere near that route.
Congrats on finishing in what sounds like horrible conditions. One thing I know is 1) Arizonans don't know how to drive in the rain, and I imagine the same goes for riding, and 2) yes, I agree with Owlie's comment. Too many people who just should not be driving.

[azfiddle]

Thanks again, Susan & NY biker and everyone else for you suggestions and kudos. I'm sure I will use my now well broken in jacket again in the future.

I read that about half of those registered for El Tour dropped out or didn't start. I spent all week trying to figure out what I already had that I could wear to stay warm. We saw 2 poor guys from Mexico who were absolutely not dressed for the weather. One just had short gloves- I gave him an extra pair of latex gloves to put underneath them, for what little good it did.

Even my husband, who has actual randonneuring credentials, having completed a 200k, 300k, 400k and the first 400 of a 600k, did not dress properly. His jacket was no longer waterproof and at the end he was edging a little closer to hypothermia than was good for him.

My school district superintendent is a big fan and participant in endurance sports (mostly running, but also cycling), especially when done to raise money for a good cause, and he was one of my donors. I sent him my "El Tour Wrap-up" story on Sunday. He sent out an email to everyone in the school district mentioning me and 4 other employees who rode and raised money, but he pointed me out as his "hero of the day" for finishing the longest route and hanging in there for nearly 10 hours in the crummy weather - so I was showered with a lot of attention this morning when I came back to work. A short-lived career as a celebrity...