Six months of cycledork — and a year of commuting

Tomorrow will be six months since cycledork generated the first message about socks on fire.

More memorable for the 'dork is that today marks one year of bicycle commuting. What a great fuckin' year, all +/- 4,000 miles of it. I've missed two days cycling to work: May 19, 2006 because of a flat tire and June 14, 2006 because of inadequate preparation for Tropical Storm Alberto. I'm now prepared for either of those situations not to mention many, many more. Here's to all the miles in front of me — and you. See you on the road.

Cycledork wishes for webbed feet. With cleats.

As our nontropical storm continued into a second day, I faced the question so many two-wheeled men have but so few admit: what to wear? This question has been critical lately as I've prepared to ride in the rain. The good news is that most of my wardrobe is now set — even if half of it could stand improvement. Since the weather's cooled I wear a long-sleeve jersey or wicking t-shirt and my waterproof, windproof, bright red Patagonia synthetic hooded pullover. If the temperature's below 35 or so, I wear my cardinal-red Ibex wool hooded pullover in between. No use weaseling: I paid through the nose for those last two garments. On the other hand they perform up to every expectation for dryness and warmth, respectively, that I could have. Deciding what to wear over my torso is even more straightforward than picking my ride. If it's not raining in the morning it's the trusty Trek 2100. Wet skies when I wake up almost always mean my wife's ancient but dependable Nishiki tank.
Clothing becomes more problematic below the waist particularly the closer I get to my feet. Between my waist and my ankles I wear a pair of tights and my supposedly waterproof Illuminite pants. I'll concede that my Illuminite pants are nearly waterproof. They take on water through the butt seam and have since I got them. Though that situation is irksome I'll take the Illuminite as they're way ahead of the so called rain pants they replaced that shredded after three rides. Given the promotional buildup they get you think they'd at least come with a bilge pump or something. Anyway, though not waterproof, the Illuminites are fantastically windproof and warm and perfect for dry rides. As far as my tights go, the Pearl Izumis conform to my body better than the Louis Garneaus but the chamois in the LGs is about a light year more comfortable. Nothing's perfect and I just have to lump it.
Call me obsessive compulsive but I can't stand having dirty hands or wet feet. You want to mindfuck me, there's the secret. I don't think there's any such thing as waterproof cycling gloves so I just peel 'em off when I get to my destination and wash my hands. Quickly. But for all the time I've put in considering how to keep my feet dry while pedalling in the rain I could've cured cancer or at least have read a really good book. For the time being, at least, I've come up with two solutions, one for the road bike and the other for the mountain bike. On the road bike, as I reported yesterday, I use my supposedly waterproof Hind shoe covers. Though more or less inadequate, they are an improvement over my supposedly water-resistant Pearl Izumi covers. The PIs seem to actively attract moisture. When wearing the Pearls with 1-gallon Glad freezer bags, waterproof was within reach. That was great if I didn't mind arriving somewhere with feet not rain soaked but certainly sweat slicked. Not to mention the bulk that would seem to diminish sensation while pedalling. On the Nishiki I abandon any pretension of cycling savoir faire. I wear field-tested waterproof hikers with wicking boot socks even with the full bike get up from the ankles north. With no clipless pedals I can go for comfort all the way. Even in fall deluge, day two I was only damp at the intersection of Illuminite and right boot sock when I got to work.

Warm yet not fiery

The Triangle is getting blasted by the late-fall equivalent of a tropical storm. After the smoking-socks incident last week I was relieved to arrive home from my afternoon commute and find that my supposedly waterproof shoe covers had indeed kept my feet dry. Today was the first of four times I have used the covers when they have come close to being waterproof as advertised — but only because I made an effort to coordinate the functions of all my gear. I am always careful to make sure the covers' velcro enclosures are completely secure and that my rain pants go over the covers. This afternoon I carefully and tightly applied my reflective ankle straps in an attempt to keep my pants legs from coming off of the covers. End result: the top of one footie was mildly damp. However, my shoes and feet were dry and comfortable. I accept my progress in small doses.

Celebrating six months and nothing to be alarmed about

As of yesterday I've been a bicycle commuter for six months. Between getting to work and riding for fun the pedalling has gotten me about 2,200 miles, night and day, rain and shine. The round-trip commute is typically only about 7 miles from my home in a suburb outside Raleigh to the small business where I work. I celebrated today by cycling to the office in the rain. Despite my best efforts, however, I was unable to keep my feet dry. The good news is that when my socks caught fire in the microwave I was able to get them quickly to a sink and destroy the other evidence shortly thereafter. I'm telling my co-workers that funky smell is burnt s'mores.