April Showers

There comes a time in every bicyclist’s life when Mother Nature plays an April fool’s joke on them. A gorgeous day that gives way to a thunderstorm is the way it usually happens. Or the odd time when you head out despite some vague warnings of a shower or two that turn out to be understatements. When it happens you take shelter, check the weather forecast if you can and make the call… finish or turn back. It’s usually an easy call. It never rains on you when you are close to home. Temperature is rarely an issue as most of us leave the bikes on the garage wall until at least the warmer days of spring, and only seldom, if ever, do we set out in the rain.

As with any situation there is always an exception. This past weekend our team proved they are not only an exception to the rule, but are actually some pretty exceptional people.

New Jersey State Highway 70 is like the belt that cinches New Jersey’s narrow waist, running from Camden to Point Pleasant. The area it crosses is known as the Pine Barrens, a basically flat coastal plain of scrub pine, sandy soils and cranberry bogs. Our plan was meet along the western third and ride east toward the ocean. Our goal was 36 miles away in Double Trouble State Park. The plan was a good one. Flat terrain would allow us to work on speed, technique and tighten the pace lines, as well as toughen our posteriors for the longer rides ahead.

We arrived at the meeting point, the Medport Diner. As expected several team mates were away so it was a small group. The weather forecast was for showers clearing by 9 or 10, becoming sunnier as the day progressed. Once again Mother Nature was determined to test out mettle. To this point we have braved sub-freezing temperatures, gale force winds and an occasional shower. Today was going to be no different.

The day was slate gray and gloomy. The rain came down steadily and we sat for an hour watching radar on our Blackberries and waiting for break. About 10 the skies lightened and the rain let up so we headed out. It was not a warm spring morning but we had dressed for it. We tucked in open cuffs and slipped on waterproof covers where appropriate, and headed east. The rain didn’t stop but remained light for the first four or five miles. Now, saner or perhaps less determined people were sitting in their cars as they sped by, or more reasonably still in bed on this dreary morn. Not us! As the rain once again steadied and the wind blew it in our face we rode along. Whether it was the novelty of the conditions or the somehow satisfying thought that the people dry and warm in their cars most likely considered us crazy, we pushed on. Occasionally horns gave us encouragement, or was it a warning to go home?

Once you get wet it really doesn’t matter how much wetter you are. We rode for about 18 miles and sought brief refuge in a convenience store. A few of the team got plastic deli gloves to line their now sopping bike gloves. Somehow the unduanting precipitation (wasn't this supposed to end TWO HOURS AGO?) had managed to snake its way under and around our rain gear leaving us damp at best and in a few cases thoroughly soaked. We decided to take a long loop back. About an hour or so later we arrived once again at the Medport Diner, wet, cold and very glad to be back. 38.7 miles in the rain! Yeah, we’re crazy and yeah we’re determined and yeah we probably will never again ride in those conditions! Certainly not intentionally! But once again this remarkable year, our awesome group can say WE DID IT!