Weekend rides - Mercer Island/South Lake wA loop

[Crankin]

I worked at my club's bike workshop Saturday (it was freezing and windy, anyway). On Sunday, it was warmer, but really windy. DH didn't feel good and it didn't take much for him to get me to not ride . We went for a walk/hike, half on the road, half on the trail. We walked up a 20-25% grade that is much harder to do in shoes, rather than snow shoes! My knees were killing me. I kind of regretted not riding, but I think I would have been blown all over the place. Spring is long in arriving. I am hoping to get out Wednesday.

[Biciclista]

gee, Crankin, sounds like you live at the North pole!

[Crankin]

Nah, the snow is gone and it was actually 43 out yesterday. But the wind chill was like 32, just below my threshold for riding. I would have been struggling and I gave myself permission to stop feeling bad about it.
But the temperatures have been 10 degrees below normal. It doesn't help that last spring was one of the warmest ever.

[Susan126]

I rode in that rain too Mimi! Down here in the south end it was a continuous down pour of the wet stuff. I almost talked myself out of riding but I decided if I don't ride on rainy days I'll never ride . . . this is spring in the pacific northwest after all! I was worried about coming down Sumner Lake Tapps hill. The rain was really coming down when I arrived at the hill and that hill is 3 miles long and steep. I usually fly down it anywhere between 37 and 45 mph. I held back and kept it between 30 and 35 even so it was scary. I breathed a sigh of relief when I was at the bottom. My riding glasses really needed wiper blades on Saturday! It was tough seeing at times with droplets and water running down the lenses. Unlike you I forgot to put on my booties and my feet got wet and cold. I stopped in Buckley to warm up by the fireplace in this quaint espresso place and ordered a mocha and a cookie. Forcing myself to get back on my bike I finished around 1:00 and got 45 miles on Saturday.

I rode today and though it didn't rain it sure was windy! I got 48 miles in today. I hope to ride tomorrow and maybe a short ride on Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon at 1:50 PM I will be at SeaTac picking up my Mom and sister. They are flying in for a visit staying through Sunday morning. No riding once they arrive. I'm off all week on spring break.

Have fun doing your P-12 on Saturday Mimi. I wish I could join you; next month for sure! I plan to do my P-12 the following weekend on Saturday, April 9th. I hope we both get a nice day for our rides.

[salsabike]

Yeah, we did a tandem ride in it yesterday as well--Juanita, Kirkland, Juanita, Forbes Creek Drive, home on the river trail. Chris works just like a fairing on the tandem. You tandem riders know what I mean. Neither of us really mind the rain.

[Seajay]

I have found this website extremely helpful in planning routes/times to dodge the rain.

Typical Seattle rain is pretty easy to avoid with some planning. Also, I love RAIN-X on my cycling glasses to avoid the drop build up. Just shake your head every once in a while and they fall right off.

[Biciclista]

@Seajay, are you serious? How can you avoid rain (say, in March) when you ride 40-65 miles?

[Eden]

If you study the weather radar, sometimes you can predict where its headed.... of course this only goes for days where it isn't continuous drizzle everywhere.

[maillotpois]

Mimi fantastic ride! I know what you mean about glasses and rain glare. I did a ride a week ago where it didn't stop raining all day and I just gave up and didn't wear my glasses at all. It was even worse when we were in the dark, because you had the rain magnifying the rear lights of the other riders. That part was awful. But I was glad I finished the ride - and you clearly should be, too!