I have the honor of filling in for Craig Hill, and I like to keep the expectations low so my only hope is to not screw it up. Thanks, Rick B

On Monday as I looked out of my classroom window, I asked the question “To ride or not to ride?” (Okay, we are studying Shakespeare in class) When looking at a rainy day, many riders face this same dilemma. A good rule of thumb is to plan for any type of weather when preparing for STP. If you are thinking “Sure, but it is July,” remember all those Fourth of Julys that you spent indoors wrapped in a blanket with the heat blasting because it was rainy and cold outside. Good coaches have their teams practice in whatever condition they will face, therefore, practice or cycle in the conditions that you will face on the STP which could be rain, wind, or heat.

Some ideas to keep in mind when riding in the rain: 1) Watch out when crossing railroad tracks because they are very slippery. The same goes for cornering on the pavement after an extended dry time and the rain starts to fall. When in doubt, slow down; this is not a race, but a ride. 2) Keep in mind the air temperature. If you are soaked to the bone, and the air temperature drops, watch out for wind chill issues. Okay, maybe not in July, but the low for Thursday is supposed to be 47 degrees. If you ride at a speed of 15 MPH, you are looking at 40 degrees. Add some wet stuff and, you are looking at a bad combination.

Here is a website for ideas and gear info on equipment for riding in the rain:

www.ultracycling.com/equipment/foul_weather_gear.html

Have fun riding and be safe – Rick Beitelspacher