Fairytale ride

It always astonishes me how pleasant a simply ride can be if nature is present. I have to admit that although I enjoy to use my bicycle for transportation into the city, the joy I get from urban cycling it is nothing when I compare it with rural cycling. 

The above road is just a road.

But with those tall pine trees aligned in a row on both sides of the road, it is like I'm suddenly on a fairytale land, joining a fairytale ride.

I could hear the birds tweet, the squirrels' squeak while jumping from one tree branch to another and the cracking sound of the falling pine cones. 

I looked up in the far as I was pedalling. My bicycle just rolled and rolled. The road in front of me was a long stretch that seemed endless, but in a good way, as the pine trees ahead covered the horizon. The hour of the ride was also perfect, as the warm light from the sun really complements the surroundings while offering a more romantic feeling to the whole experience. 

I utterly love riding my bicycle! 

Even after all this time, I am still very grateful that I decided to finally purchase it and make it my main transportation vehicle. It actually adds value into one's life. And I'm not referring to the health benefits, that are simply a bonus. I'm talking about the way it can change your life. If you do own one, I urge you to go outside and ride it! You will experience the world differently. You are in direct contact with Mother Earth, the natural environment for all beings. You can release your stress (I know I do) and feel better. You will wake your senses and start to appreciate more of the little things in life. Things that you always took for granted.

One reader emailed me telling she felt sad as she was really stressed and tired from working all day long, and that she wished she could ride her bike and ditch the car. After finding my blog she went for it and now she transports by bicycle 3 days per week and also goes on a recreation ride every Sunday morning along with her 2 children. Now she is happy as she spends quality time with her family and also cut her gym membership, which she said she never used anyway.

What did she relearn? That living is not breathing. It is doing things that feel pleasant. 

Do not forget to live your life, do not let the days simply pass!

A bicycle can be your pal to this suggestion. 

It might be a small change, but don't forget that all changes start small. 

Go yourself and join in the fairytale ride! 

Is it pouring outside?

On the previous post we talked about of how to prepare yourself if the answer to the question "is it raining outside?" was followed by a "yes".

I became an enthusiast and tried to make you understand that riding a bicycle in the rain isn't something difficult if you are prepared, which it true!

However it isn't all nice and cozy, and while I enjoy to ride my bicycle in the rain, I always face myself with the same problem.

It is not a problem with lighter rain or if I ride short distances (aka when I'm already in town) but it is a problem when I'm commuting from home to work or backwards, or when it is pouring outside. 
(I don't want any of you being caught in heavy rain with your bicycle while thinking devious ways of eliminating me, as I was the one who told you to just grab a jacket and your boots and go out with your bicycle, which led to your rain "misery"!)

Fortunately, these cases are more rare than other people think. I don't know if the same applies to you, but to me, it is like that heavy rain starts to fall always after I've reached my destination!

This post also, it is not one for preaching or finding all the answers. It is one that I'm asking help from you, and want to discuss a few problems and how I try to handle them. 

So look outside of the window...

Is it pouring outside?

One of my major problems of riding a bicycle in the rain is wet knees. Usually I choose to wear a skirt when it is raining because tights have the ability to dry up really fast, so I won't find myself walking around with wet knees all day long. However, when it is really cold outside, I prefer to wear a pair of pants which isn't the most comfortable piece of clothing during heavy rain. No matter the length of my coat/jacket, my knees always get wet. I have found that if I don't "sit" on my coat and let it hang freely behind my saddle, then the front part doesn't "open" that much, which protects my knees better, but still not enough.

Another thing I have found to be somewhat irritating when I ride in heavy rain is that I tend to sweat, which is frustrating. I do not know why this is happening, as I tend to keep the same speed and I don't force into it. Also it is not that I'm wearing any additional clothes, I wear exactly what I wear everyday. My thought is that it might be the fact that there is more moisture in the atmosphere when it is pouring, so the heat generated from my body cannot "escape" which leads to sweating. At least that's my explanation.

Moreover, when it is pouring outside and I'm already into the town and just want to travel from point A to point B, I think for a couple of minutes and try to decide whether to use my bicycle or not. If the rain is heavy but normal heavy (which means no sudden air drafts) then I will wear my hood but also grab an umbrella, to protect my face from all the water, and I will ride carefully to my destination. However, if the rain is really heavy and with lots of sudden air drafts, then I will just walk my bicycle and I won't ride it as I don't feel safe doing it due to the air. 

Which leads to another piece of advise, it is wise to know when to give in. When the water coming down from the sky is more than I could take, then I will simply give in and search for another way to head to my destination. Usually by car or bus. The reason I will be doing that is because, at least to me, riding on a downpour feels like drowning, which isn't pleasant at all. I'm serious. There is constant water coming down to your face, blocking your vision and your noise. If you inhale from the mouth, then you drink the water. As I said it is not pleasant. And during a downpour holding an umbrella it is not an option, because not only it will broke in an instant, but it is crucial to use both hands to handle the bicycle. 

But what happens when you have no alternative? Well, this is something I would really like to know. I consider myself one of the "lucky" ones, as in the majority of the times that I need to ride my bicycle from my home to work or the opposite way, the rain is just normal rain or when I'm being caught by a downpour I'm either already in town, or I will simply wait it out as it doesn't last for a long time, only fifteen minutes tops. And in the rare times that there is a big thunder outside I have an alternative way of transportation. 

But I can't hold myself and wonder...
What do you do when there is a downpour and you have to be at your work on a certain hour? Do you use an alternative way of transportation?
Also have you ever notice that you sweat when there is heavy rain, but not when there is mild rain or no rain at all?
And last but not least, how do you deal with wet knees? 

I would like you to share your personal stories with me and give any additional piece of advise.
What do you do to protect yourself when being caught in a downpour?