Last Friday night was the biggest storm I've ridden through this year, and it was the first real test of my new O2 Rainwear in a serious downpour. I don't know what else to say besides that it worked! I was comfortable, and I arrived at my destination dry. And I went ballroom dancing, so I needed to be presentable when I got there. Here are the details of my setup:
- The O2 Rainwear lives up to its promise to be waterproof, breathable, and lightweight.
- The Primary Jacket has all kinds of cool features like a built-in hood can be easily rolled-up and stored in the collar, pit-zips, a back pocket, and lots of drawtsrings and velcro for a perfect fit. It seems like the collar is a little tight around my neck, but I suppose that is a good thing to keep the water out.
- The Calhoun Pants seemed a little big for me at first, but after riding a bit I realized they are just right. They have zippers at the ankles to make it easy to take on and off with shoes on. There is elastic around the cuffs and waist, and the waist has a draw cord.
- For my feet I use waterproof socks with Crocs. This solution was suggested by a friend, and it works surprisingly well. The only downside is I have to carry an extra pair of shoes and socks to wear when I get where I'm going.
- Its usually warm enough when its raining not to need gloves, but when I need them I use a regular wool pair. They aren't waterproof, but they keep me warm even when wet.
- To carry things I just use my regular Banjo Brothers saddlebags. They are water resistant, and it takes a long time for them to soak through. I put anything that absolutely can't get wet in a plastic bag.
- I don't always wear a helmet, but I do with this setup for two reasons. First, I feel like I'm more likely to fall when its wet. And second it helps keeps the hood out of my field of vision when looking over my shoulders.
- The jacket, pants, socks, and gloves all fit nicely into a small stuff sack I can take with me anywhere and always be prepared. The crocs don't fit, but they are less important in a pinch.
 In summary, riding in the rain is really not a big deal. When you have the right gear, its actually a lot of fun being out there splashing around in the puddles. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment and puts you in touch with the world around you. As I was riding over 27mph with a stiff wind at my back on a long straight away, I couldn't help but think to myself- this is LIVING!
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Steve and Carolee are long time electric bike riders. They have owned several different types of bicycles and and even an electric assist tricycle over the years. This time around, they really did their homework. They did all the research they could online and then test rode five different brands- Hebb, A2B, Stromer, BionX, and Pedego. When they were convinced that Pedego Electric Bikes were best suited for their needs they came back to Practical Cycle to rent a few for a longer ride along the American River Parkway.
When they returned, Steve was a bit discouraged because the longer ride had caused him some pain in his back and tail bone. My dad suggested he try the Easy Seat, and Steve took one home to try out on one of his current bikes. Problem solved! They were back two days later to pick up these two Step-Thru Comfort Cruisers with Balloon Packages. Carolee's bike has fenders and Steve ordered an extended range battery to help him haul their dogs in a trailer.
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Dan in a nutrition coach and this BionX powered Yuba Mundo is part of his healthy lifestyle. His goal is to drive his car as little as possible. He was riding a motorcycle around town, then he switched to a "crappy ten-speed," and now he has found a nice balance between the two. Dan preferred the BionX over the kit that comes on the ElMundo because of the natural feeling of the pedal assist with a torque sensor. It feels like having bionic legs! This is the first BionX conversion kit we have done (or even seen) on a Yuba Mundo. It took a little creativity, but it turned out awesome.
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The Original Practical Cycle |
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This orange Pedego is the original Practical Cycle. It was one of the first three bikes we bought, and my dad rode it back and forth to work for several months. John originally bought it to promote his law practice. He was a recreational road bike rider at the time. Now his road bike collects dust and the electric bike is his primary means of transportation. He rides it everywhere! You can see him flying across town wearing a suit, on his way to a court appearance or a meeting with a client, and he always has a big smile on his face.
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Emily originally came to Practical Cycle looking at a Linus we had on clearance. She was familiar with Breezer because she works with our customer Patty, and her sister, who lives in Portland, just bought an Uptown Infinity. She has never been able to find a bike that fit her just right- that is until she test rode a small Breezer Uptown 8 we had in stock. It fit perfectly! We ordered an Uptown 3 for her in the same size, and it was here within a week.
When I took this picture she modestly said, "I was afraid you would ask. I've seen your website!" Thanks for being a good sport Emily.
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