Is it raining outside?

Now that we are in the very end of fall season and only a breath away from entering to the winter season, I think it is an appropriate time to discuss this topic.

For the last three weeks, every morning that I wake up, I rush out of the bed, open my bedroom door, hug the door lining and ask really loud "Is it raining outside?".

When the following answer is no, I then simply walk back into my bedroom, pick up my robe, wear it and then I just continue to get ready for work as usual.

But when the answer is yes, I run again back into my room, open the shutters and I just stand there for a moment, looking outside and inspecting the intensity and rhythm of the rain. I then pick up my robe again and continue to get ready for work, as usual.

However when it is raining outside, I choose to wear clothes that are more rain appropriate. That doesn't mean I own any special waterproof clothes just for commuting in the rain, not that that's a bad thing, I just preferred not to.

(Actually those of you that own rain gear outfits have made it easy for yourselves.) 

Me personally, I don't have the time to change when I'm in my work, and also because I am an optician and I work in a shop, I have to look presentable. So when it is raining, I simply choose to wear something that is nice and casual. 

Starting from footwear, any kind of boots or booties will do the work just fine. They're waterproof, well sealed and warm. If you're a guy, don't wear athletic shoes that day. They're not waterproof and you won't like to walk around all day with feet that are soggy. You can wear men booties, which came out in a variety of styles, from more casual to more dressy. 

For the inner layers, I simply choose to wear a tank-top and overlaying it with a blouse or a sweater. If it is really cold outside, I will also wear a shirt in between. Usually one that is made from a lighter material and has some feminine details. I'm a girl after all!

For the legs, I will either pick to wear regular pants, skirts or jeans, depending on the look I'm going for. I found that they're all the same in the rain, except from skirts. Because when I'm wearing a skirt and tights, my legs get wet, but dry up instantly after I arrive at my workplace. 

As for the out layers, I normally choose to wear a long jacket or coat with a hood to protect my head or if my jacket/coat doesn't have a hood I will simply wear a hat and cover my neck with a wool scarf. 

And after that, I'm off with my bicycle!

I'm not a fair weather cyclist, not because I pretend to be tough, but because riding a bicycle in the rain is the same as riding a bicycle with no rain. 

The only difference is to cover your head with a hat or your hood and to wear boots instead of athletic shoes (if you're a guy) or ballet flats (if you're a girl).

Now if it is raining outside, then you won't have any problem!

Either if you own rain gear outfits or not! 

But what happens if it is pouring outside?

Next post is following up...

Finding mushrooms

Two weeks ago, when I was out riding my bicycle, I followed a new trail. I rode slowly as the gravel beneath me was still a little bit moist from last night's rain and, although riding on gravel is relatively safe as it isn't slippery, I didn't knew the trail that well. 

So riding on a slower pace gave me the opportunity to observe the surroundings and to take in all of the small details. 

The fresh smell of the pine trees, the soft sound produced by my wheels on the gravel and the different shades of green every plant had.

I kept pedaling and pedaling, and with every stroke of the pedal, I absorbed more and more of the near environment as I was passing by. 

One thing though that it really catch my eye was a particular spot that had lots of rocks and the whole space between each rock was covered by some really small, but very bright, green colored plants. 

The upper leaves of these little plants had the shape of a star. I tried to capture them with my camera phone, but sadly it doesn't show that well. 

They seemed so fragile, however they didn't broke under my weight as I was walking all over them. 

A couple of meters to the left was another plant, with a cooler undertone in its green leaves, and as I was approaching to it, to take a better look, I spotted a mushroom hidden under it! 

And to my surprise it wasn't the only one there! I looked further up, behind the plant and it had a whole area filled with these. They were so beautiful and in total contrast with the environment and the star-shaped plants.

As you can see in the picture, the mushrooms are light brown, flat shaped and medium sized. I didn't touch them as I do not know anything about mushroom hunting. But as an avid mushroom eater, I just can't help myself and until now I wonder if they were edible.

Before leaving that space I just stood there and admired the contrasting colors one more time. Who knew that gray paired so well with green! It is not a combination of colors that we tend to see a lot, at least not for decorating places. 

Have you ever found any mushrooms while you're out with your bicycle?

Do you know how to pick them?

An intreresting frame

Last Sunday, when I was heading home after visiting my sister, I came across an interesting frame that I captured with my camera and wanted to share.

It is an image of a parked boat. 

However, what surprised me the most, it was not the boat itself, but how well it blended with the surrounding environment.

Usually, everyone assumes that a boat belongs to the sea. We are expecting to see images of endless little boats tied on the port throughout the whole winter, and although they are beautiful and we admire them, we do not overthink about them.

On the other hand, a boat parked in the land seems foreign. Most of the times, when I come across boats that aren't in the sea, I find that they are not that beautiful and that they have a neglect look to them.

Not this particular boat though!

As you can see in the picture there are three plants rounding this boat. One with vibrant red leaves, an olive tree full of olives (it's picking season) and last but not least this fluffy one with these bright, almost neon, flowers.

If you compare them all, you can identify their beauty and how interestingly they all blend together. 

The boat, which reminds me of summer and the warmer temperatures, is positioned just nicely in the middle. 

The red leaf plant, which totally matches with the autumn, hovers above it, adding to it a unique charm.

I don't know what type of plant it is. Certainly isn't an ivy though. The leaves have a different shape. 

The fluffy plant has covered the entire olive's trunk and also extends further in the front. Sadly, I do not know the name of this plant too, but I find it so beautiful. It is one of those plants that benefit from the colder temperatures, the morning dew and the autumn's rain and that's why it became greener and brighter and grew these happy colored flowers!

As for the olive tree, it stands there, timeless, with its branches weighted down by all those olives, waiting for someone to pick them. 

And despite the fact that each subject of this frame is different than the other, they all combine a very interesting frame, with a certain "feeling" to it. 

The boat did not "belong" there and normally I wouldn't care for it. However, I found that it had a charming look, as it was surrounded by all those plants. 
The boat represented the summer and the plants the winter.
And while together they create a strong contrast, I find it very appealing.

Autumn aromas

It is the end of October.

The second month of autumn has passed. Only November is left. We are officially heading into the winter season.

I continue to use my bicycle as my main transportation vehicle, as normal. I won't stop riding my bicycle no matter what. It is something that I really like. Despite the crisp air and the lower temperatures, riding a bicycle during fall season feels different but nice.

Yes, deciduous trees are starting to loose their leaves and nature starts to wear its warmer colors, however if you notice more carefully, you will see that due to the rain's water, other plants are in their period of growth. 

During summer, I remember myself riding among yellow fields, but now, I see vibrant colors of green appearing on these fields.

And it is not only the color that is changing, along with the appearing of green, wonderful scents of all kinds start to fill the air, too.

These little plants have a distinctive smell of freshness. 

On the other hand, these little yellow flowers smell really sweet, and bees seem to really like them, as if I stop riding my bicycle, I hear them buzz all around. 

Arugula is also in its exaltation. You see it grow everywhere and every time the wind blows, its sharp and peppery smell fills the whole air!

Last but not least, I should not forget to mention these little mauve flowers. Those do not have a scent, but they're popping everywhere around, making the surroundings look more beautiful. 

Because we are in the autumn, everyone seems to pay attention only on the falling leaves and the brown colors, but if you start to observe more carefully, you will notice those little plants and how they become greener and greener with every passing rain. By being on a bicycle, which is keeping me outside for longer, I have the opportunity to notice the nearby landscapes and smell all the wonderful autumn aromas.

Those little plants deserve our admiration, as they complete the scenery's look by making it diverse, bright and less boring!

Riding in the mist

We are in autumn's heart. 

The temperatures are dropping, the wind is getting chillier, the leaves are changing their color, from green they turn to a rich golden color, with orange and coppery hints. The days tend to be cloudy for longer and the migratory birds have already flown away. 

When I think of autumn, the images that come to my mind are the trees and the rain. I know and expect to ride in wet weather and I always keep in mind that these beautiful leaves, with their rich color, will soon fall from the trees' branches onto the ground, which will make it slippery. But one thing that every year I seem to forget is the mist.

The foggy cold days of last year are just a fade memory. Spring and summer have the ability to make me forget all about the autumn's mist. 

However riding in the mist is a common thing at this time of the season. Everything around seems like it's covered with a dense veil. The visibility decreases dramatically. 

Riding in the mist considers to be more dangerous than riding in the rain. Not only because others cannot see you, but because you can't see anything in front of you either. Bicycle lights are necessary when there is mist, as they help other users of the road to spot you, but they do nothing for improving your eyes' visibility. You need to be extra careful when you ride in the mist. Routes that are so familiar, suddenly seem to be strange and foreign.

A dense mist has also the ability not only to cover the surroundings but to drown any sound, too. When being alone, the absence of noise feels so calming. You can no longer to hear any birds or the rustling of the leaves. You can only hear your own breathing and the rolling sound generated from your bicycle's wheel. 

But as dangerous as it might be, riding in the mist feels so nice. It is like you're in another world. When there is mist, people suddenly disappear, you're left alone, riding your bicycle, trying to see far into the horizon, but with no success. 

However do not be afraid, the mist will eventually fade away, bringing back all the colors and the sounds. People will reappear too. 

When this dense veil fades, all the fears of the fog are fading away along with it.

The fisherman

It was an ordinary morning. I was with my bicycle, riding the way back to my house. The air was cold. I rode one-handed and with the other arm I was holding my jacket's collar up to protect my neck from the crisp air.

I didn't expect to meet anyone at this early hour. I imagined people were still in their beds, under their blankets, sleeping. 

There was a wonderful peace everywhere in the atmosphere. I rode in a moderate speed, observing the surroundings. 

The only living creature I've met up at that time was only a cat sitting on someones tile roof. But after a couple of kilometers I run into a fisherman.

I stopped my bicycle as the view was amazing. Him, standing in the coast, with his fishing rod, the small boat to his left and another abandoned small boat in the far left, and at the background the calm sea, the fluffy dark clouds and the city of Volos. 

The scenery is breathtaking! This picture is like its taken from an old book's cover. Preferably a novel. 

I took four pictures, but this first snapshot was the best of them all. Its like finally my camera phone agreed to capture the beauty of the wonderful scene I was viewing.

I waved him good morning. He was there since 06:00 a.m. He saw the sunrise. When I asked him why was he fishing at that early hour, he replied that fishing at first light relaxes him and makes his day. Also, the fish seem to bite more easily when there is peace and quiet in the atmosphere. That is why he prefers to fish really early in the morning.

After this conversation he grinned and ask back what was I doing riding my bicycle at this early hour. I laughed as I told him exactly what he's told me, too! Riding my bicycle in the early morning feels relaxing and makes my day!

He then noticed that every person has his morning rituals. He had the fishing, I had my bicycle riding. Others have walking, planting, cleaning or waking up really early and watching telemarketing programs on TV. Unfortunately, he cannot do his ritual everyday, only a few days per week, and that I'm lucky as I ride my bicycle during work days too. 

After talking a little bit more, I then continued my ride. When I arrived home, the neighbor was sitting in the balcony, despite the cold, drinking his coffee while watching the sea view. He did that every single day, rain or not. That was his ritual! The others were still sleeping.

I dragged my bicycle inside the house with a smile in my face, thinking the fisherman.

"Every person has his morning rituals..."

What is your morning ritual?

The first cold of the season

Fall is the season of extreme differences in air's temperature here in Greece. One minute the sun shines bright and you feel its warmth upon your skin and the other you suddenly find yourself in desperate need of a jacket. It is not so much that the degrees are low, but it is the constant changes of the temperature throughout the day that feel overwhelming. 

During the previous week, the temperature in the morning/evening was at 18°C and in the middle of the day it reached at 30°C. This temperature pattern continued till yesterday, and I was getting used to it. 

However today, morning's temperature was at 14°C. The air felt cold and it made my eyes tear. I wore a T-shirt, a cardigan and a jean jacket but the cold air managed to reach my body even despite all those layers. In the middle of the day the temperature didn't rise that much, it was only at 17°C and it rained constantly throughout the whole morning. It stopped to rain at 13:00 p.m. The fluffy clouds were all over the sky and they are until now, but they scattered a little bit. 

No need to describe how amazing the scenery is! I love this kind of weather! The near landscapes are more dramatic and the colors are magnificent. Last but not least, the wonderful scent of rain that fills up my nostrils completes the whole experience.

Now the temperature is at 15°C and the humidity is at 80% which makes it feel rather cold. 

I must say that today was the first cold of the season, as I felt my spine shivering regardless of all the cycling. Transitional weather can get a bit confusing, as one cannot be fully prepared. The weather conditions are unpredictable. 

Today was the day that I finally realised that we are heading towards the winter. I knew it is the end of September and that the fall season is here, but I didn't "feel" it until now, in spite of all the past storms.

I feel ready to welcome the cold weather. The first cold of the season is over and my body got its "shock" of the difference in temperature. Embracing lower temperatures can be a little overwhelming to some but only the first time is difficult. When the initial shock of coldness is over, then it becomes much easier. You know what to expect.

How do you feel now that it is cold outside?

Why do you ride a bicycle?

I looked outside of the window. The sky was clear, only a few clouds were far away in the horizon. It wouldn't rain today. I opened the door and got my bicycle out. It was a bit chilly. The bright sun might disguise it, but the fall season is finally here. I wore my light jacket over my shirt and off I went with my bicycle.

The cool morning air hit my face. There was complete silence. There weren't many cars on the road as I had still twenty minutes before the rush hour. I rolled my bicycle all the way to the city center. Upon arriving to my destination, I said good morning to my colleagues and locked my bicycle to the next shop's pipe drain. I then grabbed my handbag from my front basket and entered the shop where I work. 
Two o'clock. It's time for my lunch break. I must return to the shop at five sharp. I have three hours for eating, resting, catching up with some friends. If the weather is still nice I might go for a ride afterwards, when the shops are closed.

The hours passed really quickly. I returned to the shop and continued my work. At nine o'clock it was time to start closing. We were helping the last customers out and at 9:15 I was once again outside unlocking my bicycle. The air was a little crisp, but nothing special. I wore my light jacket and I was fine. I went for a night ride. I met some friends. We decided to ride all together. We talked and laughed. As our bicycles rolled, the wind blew my hair.
It felt nice talking to friends while riding a bicycle. We paid no attention to where we were going. We just kept rolling with no destination. After some time and because it was late and we all had to work tomorrow, we said our goodbyes and each one headed to its home. 
After a while, I carried my bicycle inside and went upstairs to take a warm shower. 
Another day had ended.

...A couple of days later, I was with some other friends out. We had an appointment at a local cafe. I arrived there as usual with my bicycle. Not long after sitting down they started to ask me questions. At first the questions were just about general stuff related to cycling, we later covered the topic about the city's horrible bicycle infrastructure and after getting that discussion to an end, a girl who came later to our company suddenly asked "Why do you ride a bicycle?".
Truly she couldn't understand why I cycle when the infrastructure isn't suitable. She supported that if it was like that were she lives (Belgium) she wouldn't ride her bicycle at all!
...I sat in silence for a bit to put my thoughts in order. That wasn't the first time someone asked me this question. The answer is simple. Because I like it, I find it convenient and cycling just makes my day! But this answer doesn't seem enough for other people, even if these people are cyclists, too.

The truth is, that even though that the bicycle infrastructure is horrible, we cyclists don't have problems with navigating through the city. We just avoid and don't use the infrastructure. We don't do that in purpose, it is just that the majority of the cycle paths that are into the city are in irrelevant places and sparse to each other. That is why that all cyclists use the roads.
However there is courtesy in the roads. It is easy to move around, either being on a bicycle or inside a car. Everyone keeps the priority. It may seem a bit chaotic to cyclists from other countries with proper bicycle infrastructure to ride a bicycle on the roads here, but in reality it is not. There are a lot of cars only in the main roads. Also the average speed is low. It isn't dangerous. Someone must just try it for himself to understand fully what I'm saying. 
But despite the lack of bicycle infrastructure I ride simply because I prefer to do so. When I cycle to places I feel that I earn time, not only because cycling is faster and more convenient into the city but because when I'm riding my bicycle, I'm living my life! Imagine the day that I've described above without a bicycle. It was a day that I was working for over nine hours. If someone took the cycling out of that day, then it wouldn't be a nice day. The reason I liked that day, it was because of all the cycling. I arrived at work in the morning fully awaken and refreshed from the early exercising. In the lunch break, the three hours were enough for me to recharge my batteries and enjoy myself and the company of others. The same applies to the night ride, too. If I didn't had a bicycle, I would just drive home and watched TV as most of the people do.

In other words, without the bicycle riding, that particular day would be an empty day, with the bicycle riding it was a full day!

Why do you ride a bicycle?

Taking care of a bicycle

A bicycle is a machine. Every machine needs some proper maintenance to keep running smoothly. Taking care of a bicycle isn't a hard thing to do, but it is a very important one. No one wants to ride a bicycle that feels like a slug or squeaks!

Just keep in mind to do yourself a couple of things on your bicycle regularly and your bicycle will feel smooth like butter when riding.

First of all, maintain a proper tire pressure. A bicycle that has a lower pressure on its tires feels like a drag. If you feel that your bicycle is slow and not so comfortable when rolling anymore, chances are you may need to pump up those tires! Invest in a good floor-pump and check your bicycle tires every week or so (depending on the use) for the right pressure. Do not make the mistake though and assume that your bicycle tires are inflated properly because you pumped them in the past and then left the bicycle unused. Bicycle tires loose air even when the bicycle isn't being used! 

Maintaining a proper tire pressure is important, not only because it affects the riding quality, but because tires that aren't inflated suitably are more prone to punctures.

Another thing that you must do for your bicycle is to lubricate the chain. When doing this regularly, the chain not only will run smoothly through the cogs but will also be not so apt to rust. You have to be careful though, do not put so much oil on the chain, as oil attracts dirt and grime. You do not want your bicycle chain to have a messy black and thick coating, as this will have the opposite effect. A light coating is all you need. I do this once per month on dry months, and every two weeks on wet months. My bicycle chain is still rust free and as good as new, despite the fact I live in a coastal area, where is humid, and that my house, where I park my bicycle, is only 40 meters away from the sea. (Your lubing times may vary, it depends on where you live and the conditions you ride, the wetter the ride, the more often you need to lubricate your chain.)

An additional thing to do is to inspect for scratches on your bicycle. At first, when I saw a scratch I felt my heart sink, but with time I got over it. Bicycles are getting scratched all the time! There is nothing we can do. What we can do is to find the scratches and coat them with clear nail polish (my little secret). The nail polish prevents the bare metal from forming rust (it works like a barrier, it doesn't let the metal to come in contact with the oxygen in the air, thus the metal does not oxidize) and it is also durable. Just keep in mind to clean (and then let dry well) the surface of the scratch before applying the nail polish. 

Last but not least don't forget to clean your bicycle. I usually just wipe the whole bicycle with a wet paper towel every now and then and wipe the cogs of the derailleur with a dry paper towel. When the bicycle is really dirty I might give it a proper wash, but that is something I've done only twice in the one and a half year that I own this bicycle. If you are properly lubricating your bicycle chain, then it doesn't need to be cleaned that often either. Mine is relatively free of grime. 

And that was all! These were the four most important things you need to do when taking care of a bicycle. I'm not saying that this is all the maintenance a bicycle needs, but these are the things that every bicycle user must take into account for a properly working bike!

There are of course other things (like adjusting your brakes, etc.) but these were the most simple and common "Have To's" associating with a bike.

And remember that when you're taking care of a bicycle, not only it will last longer, but it will have a better riding quality, too!

The approaching storm

Yesterday morning, when I was pedaling my way to the city, I noticed the sky. There were some really beautiful clouds that attracted my attention. 

Not the milky and powdery flat clouds, but some nice, full and fluffy looking ones! 

The weather broadcast said that we should expect a storm in the afternoon, but as you can observe from the pictures, although it was still 9:00 a.m. in the morning the first big clouds were already approaching.

As you might already know from my other post, rain is one of my most beloved physical phenomenons. There is something about rain, especially if we are talking about a good storm, that really excites me!

I understand that you may nod your head with question while reading these lines, as most of the people really love the sun more. I like the sun, too. But I do not love it. Someone might say that this is because I've always had plenty of sun, so the stormy weather is more rare and that is why I love the rain. However I don't think that is the case, because the majority of people here love the sun and hate the rain.

Furthermore, rain isn't actually rare here. This is a misunderstanding. When you are referring Greece to people, in everyones' minds appear images that show some nice beaches, the warm sun, the blue sky and the crystal clear waters. These images are correct, however Greece isn't a tropical place. We don't have an eternal summer. Actually Greece is a country that has all the four seasons.

I really like the fact that here we experience all the seasons, because when you start to get tired from the one pattern of the weather, the time approaches and the season is changing. In this way you never get bored of the weather as it is never the same.

After finishing my errands and a couple of minutes before reaching my home, I stopped and took more pictures of the sky. The clouds were starting to have a more deep grey color, at that point I also started to smell the rain, a sign that showed that the approaching storm was close. It was 15:00 at that time. Half an hour later, these nicely filled with moisture clouds released themselves and heavy rain started to fall towards the ground. What a sensation! It continued to rain throughout the whole day. (My bicycle was prepared though! My lights were working perfectly when I left in the afternoon and returned back in the late evening.) 

Even after midnight, when I headed to my bed to sleep, the storm was still raging outside. 

I slept with the hear of a thunder. Lightning strikes were lighting the area every two seconds and the noise that accompanies the lightning strikes was continuous. I tried to keep my eyes open, I wanted to observe this wonderful phenomenon a little bit more before I fall asleep, but I was too tired and after a while I was in deep sleep.

Some people like to compare the rain with the snow, but I think that these two phenomenons are totally different.

Yes, snow is just frozen rain, but the character of each one is different.

Rain is more fierce. You can experience a storm with all of your senses.

First of all you can smell it! There is this distinctive scent. That special earthy aroma. When smelling the scent of rain, is like you can almost taste it! 

You can also feel the raindrops in your skin. Have any of you ever notice, that even during a really heavy rain, the raindrops are never hurting your skin? You just fill the same pressure that you feel in the shower. The thought of a heavy rain makes us uncomfortable, not the raindrops themselves.

In addition, a storm is so beautiful to watch. The surroundings get a deep color, everything looks more mysterious. You observe the different rhythms of the falling water and the "dancing" of the lightning strikes. 

You can also hear the drops falling and the thunders. Who of us does not like to fall asleep while hearing a storm outside?

I do not know about you, but speaking of myself, rain gives me a weird sensation. I feel an excitement filled with relaxation. It is an odd and mixed feeling. 

Snow on the other hand is something very different. It is more silent, the sensation is different. Snow is more peaceful. It is a white blanket that covers everything and makes the surroundings really beautiful. To me these two are totally different phenomenons and I do not like when people are comparing them. Each one has it's own beauty and grace.

Today it rained again. When it happened, I was out having lunch with my family and some cousins. We were sitting outside, so I saw the signs of the approaching storm. We didn't bother from the rain, we were covered. 

The stray cats that begged for food from the people sitting in the restaurant weren't happy though! I threw them my fish bone as a little treat. 

Do you have four seasons where you live? Are autumn's first rainfalls started yet?

Waterproofing my lights

When I installed my new light set in February, I had to proceed to a custom solution as the front light was for a hub dynamo but I had a bottle dynamo on my bicycle. 

There wasn't a problem with the light itself but with the cables. A light intended for a hub dynamo has a really short cable, as the hub is only a few centimeters further down, and I had to find a way to connect the cables that run from the bottle dynamo and through the frame to the front light.

The custom solution that I followed was to cut a little bit the cable that came out of the front light and shorten it, so it wouldn't hang weirdly, and use some special clips for the cables to fasten the two different cables together. And I did this procedure two times, as I had to fasten together the grounding cables, too. 

This solution was effective and my lights worked alright. 

But after two months of cycling, one day that it rained really hard, my front light just didn't light up. At first I thought that the bottle dynamo was slipping, but that was not the case as the rear light was working. I then came to conclusion that maybe the system with the clips and the cables might got loose. I tried to adjust it but it was okay. 

I finally thought that maybe there was water into the clip and that is why the front light didn't work so I decided to give it a couple of days so that the water could evaporate.

I knew that the water was the problem because the previous night the lights worked fine. 

After two days I tried again to use the lights but still the front light remained unlit. 

The next day I called a friend who knows about bicycles to look it up. He adjusted the cables again and then the light became lit!

What a joy! The front light working meant I didn't have to ride in absolute darkness as I had been doing for the last three days.

So imagine my frustration when at the same night, after I've finished my work and wanted to head home, the light didn't work again!

The next day I called him back. The light was properly working when he came and saw it. 

Then it hit me! 

This particular light has two leds and an auto mode, during day one led it is on, during night the other one. After that dreadful rain the night mode wasn't working anymore. I was so sad! I gave up and rode in darkness for the rest of the week. 

One night, with a feeling of sadness I looked down at my front light and decided to turn it on to see what might happen...

...And it was suddenly working again! I just couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing! 

I then realised that my first impression was right. Indeed my lighting system had got water into it, although not the clips/cables, but the front light itself! The instructions said to avoid turning the bicycle upside down during washings as the bottom of the front light has holes and it might not work after being wet. I didn't wash my bicycle or anything, but as you can notice yourself from the pictures, my light is in front of the fender, not on top, and when it rains, water is splashing all over it! That was the problem!
(Fortunately the front light is still working perfectly until now.)

So that is why I've decided to waterproof my lights, as we are officially heading into the raining season. We already had our first big storm yesterday which reminded me that I need to do some waterproofing to my lights, so they won't have any problems in the future.

What did I do?

I used some electrical tape, which is supple and also more insulating, and covered the whole clip/cable system. I took my time doing it to ensure that every bit was properly covered and that water wouldn't be able to run through even during the heaviest downpour.

Furthermore, I used some electrical tape to secure the bottom part of my front light, too. I sealed the opening and double checked it to be sure that it is fully closed now and no water can come in through it. 

And that was it!

Who could ever told me that a piece of an electrical tape would ever give me such a joy! 

I feel happy as I believe that now my bicycle is ready to face even the most extreme rainfalls!

Are you prepared for the raining season?

Do you have any bits in your bicycle that might need some sealing or adjusting?

Bicycle fenders - are they important?

Bicycle fenders are not there just for the looks!

I was talking to a friend of mine and he said he doesn't understand why I'm keeping my bicycle fenders on now that it is summertime. According to him, bicycle fenders are an extra weight during summer, because it doesn't rain that often, but only 3-5 days in every summer month.

After some discussion with others too, I've come to realise that many bicycle users share this opinion. Most of these believers are men. Women on the other hand do not bother with the uninstall of their bicycle's fenders. And I'm not talking only about women riders that have the same type of bicycle as mine, but also about women that ride bicycles with clip-on fenders. 

It is true that removing bicycle fenders from my bicycle is difficult, as I must first remove the basket and the racks, following by my bicycle lights and then the wheels, so I can be able to reach the screws that hold the bicycle fenders in place. I must admit that I am not willing to do all this work just to get rid of some grams from my bicycle!

But what about the other women? The ones that have clip-on fenders on their bicycles, why do they keep their fenders on even during summer? 

The most popular answer was because bicycle fenders are part of the bicycle itself and that they are useful even during summer.

Let me explain this a little...

Yes, rain is more rare, but the grime from the roads is still present, as long with water coming from human presence (the lady who washed her balcony/porch/pavement in front of her house, the leftover ice that is melting in the side of the street after the closing of the stores that sell fish, water coming from the watering of city's plants, etc). 

And when the occasional rainstorm approaches, you will have nothing to worry about as you are already prepared!

In addition to all, I would like also to say that fenders are helping to keep the bicycle itself clean from grime, as whatever the wheel picks up is stopped by the fender. Even small rocks sometimes! My bicycle fenders are made of steel and I hear often the cling sound of a small rock hitting the inner side of my fender.

Last but not least do not forget that summer duration is small and that today is the first day of autumn. In two days we are expecting thunderstorms and there are plenty more to follow from now on!

Bicycle fenders are an important tool! If you ride a bicycle for transportation then fenders should be a standard accessory on your bike. 

...The image of a cyclist with a black line across his back from the latest rain is still vivid in my mind!

I advise you, as we are officially in autumn now, to install bicycle fenders. 

I spend the whole previous winter riding all the time, because I had fenders! Even with heavy rain, I used my bicycle! I would wear my long coat, my hood and my boots, and be off my way and reached my destination wet from the outside (but clean-wet) and nice and dry from the inside!

Other times , when my coat/jacket didn't had a hood, I wore a hat or hold an umbrella.

If you consider rain as a problem for you to continue cycling in the winter, then use fenders! It makes cycling so much more convenient! Believe me when I'm saying this, but when it is raining half the water comes from the sky and the other half from the ground. With the use of bicycle fenders you block that second half.

Do not worry about grams and weight. Bicycle is a tool after all and fenders are an important part of it!