September has always been about getting ready for something, at least for me. Whether it was school, the football season starting, or wrapping up all the clips I’ve wanted to film on the BMX before it gets cold, the arrival of head high plus surf and a thick wetsuit, hopefully some days on a mountain this winter.
It was in the spirit of preparation that I decided to test my ever evolving commuter cycling attire. There is but one manufacturer of cycling pants that is even worth the extra cost of buying cycling pants in my opinion. Needing to look good and still get there without swiping a metrocard, or just having a blast feeling the wind down city streets, bicycle commuting has never looked better. The soft-shell pants by Rapha were designed for the soak, yet they remain curiously water-resistant, and are crispy for the office. With the morning scheduled for sheets I waited for a lull in the barrage and hit the street, wheels spinning wet. Intent on both filming and riding in the park I eluded the usual route of a straight shot down Madison Ave, to climb the hills in North Central Park.
Hoe hum you say at dry legs? Well that is wet jeans talking. Right, it is the upper body that really counts, what with sweat, and the rain falling on your head first. For upper body falling condensation coverage I happened upon the Burton Tracer rain jacket. For those who know snowboarding or not, Burton jackets and backpacks are the shit with extra flies on top. The tracer, with huge armpit zippers, a thin 2.5 layer and a head grabbing hood, one manages to stay cool and dry, while legging mad RPMs.
I am down with Chrome Bags NYC, so I run their bag and shoes with the confidence of having fallen and slid along the asphalt on my bag. Though bags do not heal from road rash, how they survive it is all that counts. Durable, functional, and can take an ass kicking, all while keeping contents dry and safe, what more could a bag do? Nothing like being out in the elements and feeling confident to perform. With the precision outer wear, experience gained from years of riding and instinct, a catastrophic brake failure could have been more severe. My brake cable popped at the lever making me brakeless on a rainy day, in the middle of a turn, at an intersection. It would be quick wits, and a nice truck, with the lift just high enough for my bars and front wheel to slide under, while I sent a wave up the sliding door with the gorilla on the cage style arm high ten. Watch the video.
Conclusion, there is no reason to wince and surrender to grey skies. With the right investment a pedaler can build the ideal heavy weather cycling defense suit, wet or dry, two pedals and two wheels is still the best option for personal land craft. “So expensive,” you say? I don’t have the bread to buy all this stuff at once, I got the jacket at an outlet in Florida for cheap, the pants from an off season sale. The Chrome equipment is worth the value. Best believe drying off is easier than shaking the down you get from sitting on the subway with those who have given up on human power, or on a couch in a cage on wheels tooting along. All that remained was to replace not just the cable but the lever that broke it; accomplished with the skillful assistance of Dah Shop, 134 Division St NY. Have fun ride your bike.