Day 238: Unexpectedly Riding in the Rain

When I left the house today it wasn’t raining, and the forecast was for no more rain. Yeah right! I felt the first rain drops by the time that I had reached Blithedale Canyon. I was completely unprepared for rain. I didn't have a waterproof shell, etc., but I also wasn’t willing to head back home to get what I needed so I pushed on into the rains.

I was completely soaked about ten minutes later, and the temperature was dropping really fast on the mountain. I’ve experienced rapid temperature drops up there that seem to happen within a matter of minutes. I think that today’s drop must have been 10-15 degrees. It was cold enough that I would have enjoyed one or two more layers of clothing, as well as my winter gloves. Oh well, so I braced myself for what was going to be a very cold descent home.

By the time that I reached the West Point Inn I was really cold, and I’d been pedaling up the hill at 9 mph (I should have been hotter than a Jalapeno Pepper), so I knew that I’d be really cold once that I steered my bike back down the hill. I rode over to Pantoll Station where I was greeted by even wetter conditions. At this point my feet were sloshing around in my shoes, and as I squeezed my handlebars water would seep from my gloves. Yeah, I was wet through and through.

I rode down the highway and back over to Gravity Car Trail where I began to feel the shivers coming on, and my fingers started to go numb. I pushed on even harder in order to get my body temperature back up, but by the time that I hit Railroad Grade I’d regained very little body heat, and I was about to turn back downhill.

I rode downhill really fast. There was no one as crazy as me out on the trails. I reached the bottom of Railroad Grade and I literally couldn't get my thumb to move. I couldn't actuate the shifters! I got off my bike and shook my hands until I was able to get my digits working again. Wow, this sure is fun!

It was another day of riding in solitude. These are the very hard days for me. Wet, cold, and alone on the mountain. It’s still better for me to maintain my commitment to R2R, rather than giving in to the winter conditions. I’m remaining true to myself for the first time in years, and even on these difficult winter rides, I never waiver because I know that it’s the right thing to do for myself.

I’m bummed out that I forgot to turn on my GPS unit at the start of my ride, so I’ve lost 5-6 miles, time, calories, etc. That’s flying solo for you.

Tomorrow should prove to be an interesting day…