Someone once said: "There is no bad weather, just inadequate clothing". There is some truth to that. We must wear proper attire to protect ourselves from the elements, especially seniors like me. Our immune system is not as good as it used to be. I could not 'play' in cold, windy, and wet weather without any consequence on my health anymore.
I now realized that the rain jacket and pants that I had during the tour were inadequate and not suited for long distance cycling. After some research I went to MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) in Burlington and bought a rain jacket 'Shower Pass Elite 2.1', a pair of rain pants 'MEC Secteur' and a pair of shoe covers 'MEC Drencher'. I could have ordered them on line, but I wanted to make sure of the fit. Turned out that medium size for the jacket, 32 waist for the pants and medium size shoe covers fit me best. As I left the store it started to rain. "Perfect, I will try them out as soon as I get home."
I went for a half hour ride in the rain wearing my new jacket, pants and shoe covers. I also had a shower cap on. After the ride, my shoes and socks, shorts and jersey were completely dry. Not only did those new jacket and pants protected me from the rain, they also let my body moisture escaped. They worked together well. The jacket provides ventilation and the cut at the back is much longer than the front, ideal for cycling. The pants also provide ventilation and the inseam is extra long so they stay over the shoe covers while pedaling.
I was very pleased with my new attire, but my head and hair were wet from my own sweat. Putting on a plastic shower cap was not a good idea. My hands and cycling gloves were also wet and cold. So I ordered on line (www.mec.ca) a 'MEC Drencher helmet cover', a pair of 'MEC Drencher gloves', also a pair of pedals 'Victor VP-196' and a kick stand 'Filzer KS-1' to replace the broken ones.
The following rainy day, which was on Tuesday September 18, I rode for one hour in the rain. My order for the helmet cover and gloves, had not arrived. Again I put on my new rain jacket, pants and shoe covers; but this time I put the shower cap over the helmet, just like a helmet cover, and I used rubber gloves instead of my regular cycling gloves. I rode faster and pushed a bit harder than last time.
After the ride my legs and body felt a little damp, my hair just slightly wet, but my hands were very wet from my own sweat. From this ride I learned that I should ride at a leisurely pace in the rain; first for safety reason and second to minimize sweating.
My on line order arrived on Monday September 24. I installed the new pedals and kick stand, but I had to wait for a rainy day to test the helmet cover and gloves.
The kick stand and pedals looked and worked great. The pedals have sealed bearings; these should protect the bearings from dirt.
Finally on Wednesday morning, October 3, I had a chance to try out all the rain gears together. It was raining lightly and the temperature was 18 C.
The helmet cover was a little difficult to put on, because it had to stretched over the visor of the helmet. Putting the shoe covers and gloves were easy. The gloves went over my regular cycling gloves without any problem.
The jacket sleeves covered the gloves as nicely as the rain pants legs covered the shoe covers.
I rode for one hour at a relax pace in the rain. I felt comfortable after the ride. My body, limbs, hands and feet stayed dry and warm. I was very pleased, everything worked together nicely. Having fenders installed on Shadow help a great deal in enjoying riding in the rain. Also Shadow's hydraulic disc brakes gave me confidence riding in wet weather, they performed amazingly well.
Now a rainy day will no longer stop me from riding Shadow. I actually enjoyed it. The air seemed fresher and cleaner, and the trails more deserted.
I am so looking forward for my bicycle tour around lake Ontario next year............END.
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