I prefer to give literal replies to silly questions rather than sarcastic ones. A simple, “I’m riding my bike!”, in a cheerful voice would do more to foster cycling than all the harebrained advocacy projects Moon has proposed combined.
I’ve had more people ask me “get a car” than “what are you doing out there”.
Yesterday I was riding in ~7 degree weather in Minneapolis in winter getup, and a car driver behind me snapped a cell phone photo. I thought it strange.
And before that, a car pulled up alongside and asked me for directions. That pretty much summarizes my interactions with drivers.
Showing my ignorance, but…. what (I mean WHAT) is the point of raincapes? I had one when I was riding to school, and it was:
o Bulky – pretty much filled my bag when folded
o Heavy
o Painful – oh those thumb-loops
o Wet – I’d arrive at destination, forget about the puddle it’d collected, which then emptied into my shoes as I got off the bike
o Tiring – headwinds. Always headwinds.
o Dangerous – sidewinds and the wash from large vehicles
I think that raincapes are a sort of ‘Mamite’ thing. You either love em or hate em and whatever camp you belong to finds it difficult to see things from the other camp’s viewpoint. Marmite lover don’t know why the haters don’t like it etc.
With raincapes, if you love them, nothing else can compare, as usually you are a: slow, careful rider and the headwind is less of a problem etc.
I’ve been using one for the past year on my short commute and I have a love/hate relationship.
They have to fit right. One size does NOT fit all. It needs to hang far enough over your handlebars that it’s hard for it to flip up in the wind. It needs to be tight enough around your arms and back so it doesn’t just form a big pond or flap around. The thumb loops have to be in the right place to match up with where your hands need to be on your handlebars. The one I’m using (got cheap from Germany by way of ebay) only marginally fulfills all these criteria.
When it works I love it because I can just throw it on and go. The one I have packs up compactly. I don’t have to wear rain pants with it in any but the heaviest blusteriest showers. I can wear my street clothes under it and not get overheated.
That’s me all the time.
(Dyslexia makes it hard to compose witty responses quickly and people have usually forgotten the context when I come up with one so I usually don’t try even….)
Most of the time I can’t use a rain cape in our rain. Here in N TX we get the majority of our rain in windy T-storms that would be impossible to ride in with a rain cape. There nearly impossible to ride in with a waterproof jacket and rain pants, and I still get wet through the vents…
Rode last Saturday O’side to Del Mar in Calif. No snow or anything, but cold as heck for here and we had to wear four layers. Peeled them off at the turnaround then it started raining. Wish I had a cape then!
Riding my bike in the falling snow! I was the first and only tracks in it too!
You’ll like the 01/27 comic, K’Tesh.
Man, I for one think last year’s rain capes were way more Coture. Way more fashion. Yehuda’s slacking and not progressing.
I’m about to host a poorly attended winter reflective gear show.
Wish me luck…
With you in Maine!
I prefer to give literal replies to silly questions rather than sarcastic ones. A simple, “I’m riding my bike!”, in a cheerful voice would do more to foster cycling than all the harebrained advocacy projects Moon has proposed combined.
I hear ya, but it wouldn’t make a very interesting strip!
Should have said: Moisturizing!
Could have said: “Going faster than you…”
Should have added “Here’s your sign”
Getting from one place to another. Whaddit looks like.
I’m ….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME
My favourite musical – Awwww!
Performance Art, what is your interpretation?
I’ve had more people ask me “get a car” than “what are you doing out there”.
Yesterday I was riding in ~7 degree weather in Minneapolis in winter getup, and a car driver behind me snapped a cell phone photo. I thought it strange.
And before that, a car pulled up alongside and asked me for directions. That pretty much summarizes my interactions with drivers.
is Yehuda riding a bike with drop bars and barcons because it works better with his rain cape?
Right on, that will be my standard answer whenever somebody ask that dumb question
Showing my ignorance, but…. what (I mean WHAT) is the point of raincapes? I had one when I was riding to school, and it was:
o Bulky – pretty much filled my bag when folded
o Heavy
o Painful – oh those thumb-loops
o Wet – I’d arrive at destination, forget about the puddle it’d collected, which then emptied into my shoes as I got off the bike
o Tiring – headwinds. Always headwinds.
o Dangerous – sidewinds and the wash from large vehicles
Or have I completely mis-understood?
I think that raincapes are a sort of ‘Mamite’ thing. You either love em or hate em and whatever camp you belong to finds it difficult to see things from the other camp’s viewpoint. Marmite lover don’t know why the haters don’t like it etc.
With raincapes, if you love them, nothing else can compare, as usually you are a: slow, careful rider and the headwind is less of a problem etc.
Sorry – ‘Marmite’ (or ‘Vegemite’ in Australia?)
I’ve been using one for the past year on my short commute and I have a love/hate relationship.
They have to fit right. One size does NOT fit all. It needs to hang far enough over your handlebars that it’s hard for it to flip up in the wind. It needs to be tight enough around your arms and back so it doesn’t just form a big pond or flap around. The thumb loops have to be in the right place to match up with where your hands need to be on your handlebars. The one I’m using (got cheap from Germany by way of ebay) only marginally fulfills all these criteria.
When it works I love it because I can just throw it on and go. The one I have packs up compactly. I don’t have to wear rain pants with it in any but the heaviest blusteriest showers. I can wear my street clothes under it and not get overheated.
I usually try to give a witty comment but then it takes so long for me to think up something that all I can do is smile and stay silent.
That’s me all the time.
(Dyslexia makes it hard to compose witty responses quickly and people have usually forgotten the context when I come up with one so I usually don’t try even….)
Most of the time I can’t use a rain cape in our rain. Here in N TX we get the majority of our rain in windy T-storms that would be impossible to ride in with a rain cape. There nearly impossible to ride in with a waterproof jacket and rain pants, and I still get wet through the vents…
Rode last Saturday O’side to Del Mar in Calif. No snow or anything, but cold as heck for here and we had to wear four layers. Peeled them off at the turnaround then it started raining. Wish I had a cape then!