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Here is New Orleans, we are in Hurricane season (also known as the rainy season). It rains every single day. I am not talking a drizzle, but a good downpour. Sometimes it lasts all day, sometimes just 20 min.

Because of this, I am often caught in the rain on my bike. In this heat a rain jacket makes you so hot that you end up wet with sweat, so I just go for it. If I am headed to the office, I bring a change of clothes; headed home and I just go (I have taken to keeping a towel just inside the door for these occasions).

Monday I had to pop into the office for about 1 hour, so I thought I would be safe. Wrong. Just as soon as I left it started. The kind of rain that floods our sinking streets in 5 minutes, making the never-ending potholes invisible. Thankfully, I was on a street I know well so could avoid most of the potholes, although I hit 2 that nearly shook my brains out.

The worst part? I was wearing a light colored flowered dress. It was like a wet t-shirt contest the whole ride home. Yikes. I won’t make that mistake again, as I got many yells of …ahem…appreciation from other weary rain soaked travelers.

I am sure that once it cools off I will start wearing rain gear, but for know I prefer to cool off in a good summer storm. Anyone else just ride it out in the summer rain?

*This photo does not do justice to just how completely soaking wet I was. Not a dry stitch of clothing on me!

I am from Louisiana, so Mardi Gras is a big deal for me. I get a king cake (often from my awesome friends who have brought me one back for the past 2 years!), wear purple, green and gold and generally am annoying about it.

Today was no exception. I had a few meetings, so I needed to be respectable, but still with a little Mardi Gras flair. Purple tights, gold shoes and a green cardigan did the trick to get me to and from my meeting and to Bayou Deli for a (wonderful) crawfish po’bo y and seafood gumbo.

I got rained on and had to ride on a friends lap with my bike in the back of a compact car home, but it was all worth it. Tonight Bici has a “float” in the Birmingham Mardi Gras Parade, 1st one since 1909. I have on my purple tights and crazy green socks. Let’s do this thing, rain or shine!

Laissez bon temps rouler!

It was one of those drizzly rains where the sky is still wonderfully blue and the clouds are nice and fluffy. An afternoon ride home worth appreciating.

A rainy day at Jones Valley Urban Farm

All I know is that right now I would rather walk than ride to get places.

However, when I have a chance for a fun ride on the weekends, I jump at it.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Dottie and I on our way Downtown on Oma and Betty

I am having a simply lovely time here in the midwest.  I have been here less than a week and may just stay for a while (don’t worry Bham…I am still coming home).  The weather is glorious, the people friendly and the coffee incredible.  A quick rundown on the trip so far (very quick…a longer post to come).

I spent the first few days walking around downtown Milwaukee and making plans, as well as see the people and drink the coffee (oh and shopping!). I was with Carrie Rollwagen for the first few days and that was so fun. 

Today I am in Chicago with Dottie from Lets Go Ride a Bike.  We spent the afternoon sightseeing, bike riding and eating.  I got to ride Betty Foy and we are fast friends.  Riding an upright bike took some getting used to, but I am getting the hang of it.  Chicago is so flat!  The ride downtown was raining the entire way, but we kept and on and had a lovely time.  Drinks at the top of the John Hancock building, shopping the Magnificent Mile and dinner at Giordano’s for Chicago Deep Dish Pizza!  Yes, I would say this has been a good day. 

Tomorrow we head to Wicker Park for bike shop visiting, meet up with some fellow Alabamian cyclists then it is time for the Cocktail Party Ride.  I hope to see some of you there. 

Phew…I am exhausted.  will report back more soon.  Look forward to a post about the Milwaukee Bicycle Collective, a bike shop tour of Milwaukee, test rides of Dutch bikes in Chicago, Cocktail Party round up, and more.  I am sucking the life out of the vacation (in the very best way)

Chicago on a rainy, foggy day

bike love from Chicago!

I am in Fairhope again, and remembered that I never posted pictures from my puppy killer ride.  Click on the photos to enlarge!

I rode this morning downtown to get coffee and do some work.  I decided to check out the library, and while I was enjoying my perusal of Bicycling magazine I was alerted that it was about to rain.  Horror of horrors!  I jumped on puggles and booked it back home, making it back before encountering too many drops.  Thankfully I didn’t have to call on rescue this time around.

Saturday started out nice, although a bit cloudy. Carrie and I decided to go to Pepper Place market together early in the day. She on her Vespa and I on my new bike (details to come), riding the downtown streets looking…well, just adorable. Did some shopping and ignored the drizzle. Until that drizzle turned into a full on thunderstorm. The kind that you know will not subside and it is useless to try to wait out. So we parted ways and ran to our 2 wheeled steeds.

That ride was hell. Pouring rain, temperatures dropping and streets quickly flooding. I rode through many spots where the water was up to my knees. I can say one thing: it is a good way to break in a new bike! I got home cold, soaked and exhausted.

The rest of the day turned out lovely and we enjoyed Do Dah Day at the shop, amid the puppies and babies and heat and humidity. I got home just in time to miss the night thunderstorm.

Sunday was our planned Chief Ladiga ride: Part deux. We had already been bailed on by 1/2 the group, but we remaining 3 were determined. I cooked food the night before, got the bike ready to go and we set out at 8 am, knowing that we were probably going to get wet, but deciding to take a faster pace and hopefully be done before the storms rolled in.

After getting lost (my bad), we get to the trail…and it is raining already. Not pouring, but not sprinkling either. We laughed about it, questioned our sanity and took off. The temperature was slowly but steadily dropping and the rain was getting harder. After about 6 miles, my seat starting shifting (I can fix things but have trouble tightening them enough!), causing us to stop and thereby cooling our body temperature. Damn. Another 2.5 miles in water in my eye caused a stop, when we decided to just turn around. The rain was now a steady pour, with howling wind and cold temps plaguing us. 3 miles back, there was a slight bump…and my handlebars fell (seriously, not going anywhere until someone retightens things for me anymore!). That was scary. Rainy, slippery and suddenly unable to reach my brakes! eek

Made it back to the van, got in and decided to eat the yummy food I had brought…to discover that I did not bring enough, had we gone the whole way. We ate all of it and could have eaten more. After only 17 miles. oops.

What. A. Mess.

Rode back shivering and soaked, heat turned full blast, but able to laugh about it. The day wasn’t a success per say, but it was definitely an adventure. Thanks Heath and Shaun…even though I led you astray and didn’t feed you enough AND made us stop way too many times, you guys were awesome!

Hoping to try it again soon. But not too soon…I have spent today on the couch with a killer sinus infection and cold.

How was your weekend?