Looking out the window this morning and seeing a steady rain didn’t bode well for Ride to Work Day but I really do find satisfaction riding in the rain.
Maneuvering the Vespa along wet roads really turns up the attention level. I stopped twice on the way to work to get the camera wet and just appreciate being part of the rain. Mental processes at work on clear dry days with good visibility are intensified as even more data streams into my head when the weather is more demanding. I’m left feeling hyperaware.
Did not see any other motorcycles on the way to work but I know there are some hard-core riders around and that we just didn’t cross paths. By the time I rode home the rain had passed and the roads were clear and I was seeing other riders.
Good day and a fine ride.
I am quite surprised you didn’t see me riding in to the night shift tonight. My side of the street was sunny and 96 degrees though.
I have never liked rain, walking in it, riding in it, or trying to eat a sandwich in it. On the other hand in South Florida I gradually came to appreciate rain because its not cold and it generally doesn’t last long.
Now I need to practice riding slowly and enjoying rain. A5t least i ride to work as a matter of course.
Cheers
Conchscooter
i learned about ride to work day from your blog. i was looking forward to riding my honda metropolitan to school today but was bummed to find out it was raining — which is *very* rare in california in the summer! luckily, i was delayed by a phone call and by the time i left home it was starting to clear up. my commute ride was a lot more boring than yours but i was proud nonetheless!
Riding in rainy manchester you kinda get used to the rain 🙁 I don’t mind riding in the city streets but on the faster roads the adrenaline really starts kicking in when your using your hand as a windscreen wiper on your helmet!
Great blog btw: Not sure if you have seen mine yet but its now gone live
http://modvespa.com
Any feedback from such an experienced blogger as yourself would be greatily appreciated.
Thanks
Danny (ModVespa)
Looks like your rain was relatively benign. Rose and I had to cope with “gully-washers”, flooded streets and intersections.
No fun…
Did that water-crossing awhile back do anything Bad to your GTS?
Ride well,
=gc=
I just stooped by Gary’s site and commented that I felt like I was in good company riding to work in the rain, and the same goes with you. It’s almost funny that as Ride to Work Day rolled around, we all ended up waking up to, or going home in the rain. It was meant to be I guess. At least we all rode.
Have fun,
Bill
We had rain, too. I wasn’t so bummed out by the rain as I was by what it did to traffic. I had to make a 9 AM meeting in Portland which usually takes me an hour and fifteen minutes to ride. It was like nobody had ever seen rain before!
I went from being a half hour early to barely making it on time. Do people do that in the East?
Conch: Going slow is a real challenge. Speed is seductive and like a drug. It is easy to do and gives instant gratification. Going slow is harder and requires a lot of patience before you see the benefits… Rain is just a joy!
yli: Congratulations! Commuting to work, even on a boring route, is always better than a car (in my opinion).
delrond: Checked your blog out. Pretty nice and lots of good information about vintage scooters.
gary: You just attract bad weather. Is there a little gray cloud following you around?
My water crossings have not been in water deep enough to gover the air intake for the belt housing. I was afraid of what might happen. I am anxiously awaiting your verdict when you do your 3000 mile maintenance.
bill: Well, we definitely needed the rain here. And a lot more. Riding in the rain is not as terrible as people make it out to be if you are prepared—mentally and physically. And have the ability to slow down. Riding at the same speeds on wet roads as you do on dry ones is just asking for trouble.
irondad: We are a mature culture in the East having been here since the late 1600’s. We have made our peace with rain and water. Out West you’re all still in your infancy and things like rain, eclipses, and shooting stars make you stop in wonderment.