So, I've gone nuts and become a mad cyclist. I've joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program (TNT) to raise funds and ride a 100 mile race in September. To check out my TNT page (and to donate, please!), visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/chuck08/jhanneman.
After missing a week's practice due to work, today I rejoined our group for a 26 mile ride to Snoqualmie Falls. We've had a really cold and wet few weeks, and today was no exception. It rained the entire ride.
In addition to riding in the rain, I had a few other firsts:
1. First time seeing Snoqualmie Falls.
2. First time breaking 25 miles on a ride.
3. First time riding with clipless pedals.
4. First time falling on my bike (twice--both time due to the new pedals).
It was a surprizingly fun ride. By the time we finished, everyone was completely soaked and covered with mud. A bunch of us went to Starbucks all muddied up after the ride. Hot chocolate and a bagel hit the spot!
Some of you may be wondering how someone can avoid riding in the rain in Seattle. My solution was simple: don't take your bike outside when it's wet. It wasn't a great solution and sort of killed riding from November through March. However, after today's ride, the rain isn't particularly intimidating anymore. After all, all the muck washes off pretty easily in a shower. It took longer to clean my bike than it did to clean me!