The Marine Layer

The clouds of a marine layer.

Summer has been really slow to come to Seattle this year.  I suppose that’s what comes with living in a coastal region, especially one with a convergence zone like Puget Sound has.

As summer approaches, so does the Marine layer.  Marine layers are actually a good thing for the world and serve an important purpose. Particularly if you happen to be a slug or worm or a hunk of moss.  The benefits are less pronounced for humans, especially those who hold themselves to strict weather conditions under which certain bikes are permitted to hit the streets.

Which brings me to my point.   Rule #12 states the following:

The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

The part of the Rule around owning as many bikes as possible without suffering separation from your dearly beloved partner requires very little explanation – if any at all – and I’ll spare you the discussion on that topic.  What may be less obvious is why the minimum number of bikes is set precisely at three.  It comes down to having three steeds for the three most common weather conditions we find ourselves in during training: dry weather, mixed wet and dry, and wet.  Lets review in more detail, starting with Bike #3:

Bike #3: Rain Bike

Intended Purpose: Riding in the Rain

Justification: Riding any bike in the rain is tough on the bike for a number of reasons; risk of crashing is higher, brake pads wear more quickly, chains get gunked up, dirt gets in between the components and their bearings, nuts, washers, and hub flanges, which all increase wear and tear in addition to causing trouble with the Principle of Silence. In the long run, a bike that’s never seen rain will generally work better than one that has.  Also, riding in the rain may require the use of flasher lights and fenders, and we definitely don’t want to be adding fenders or flashers to our best bikes. Ideally, the Rain Bike would also be built up with affordable components such that when parts wear out, they can be replaced easily.

Bike #2: Mixed Weather Bike

Intended Purpose: Riding in Mixed Dry and Wet Weather

Justification: It’s not always wet (or dry) throughout a ride, which makes riding a bike that has fenders and lights affixed to them a nuisance.  But, if the weather is variable, you may also not want to ride your best bike.  Bike #2 is reserved for these conditions; it is generally built up with better kit than Bike #3, but not the top-notch stuff that graces our best bike.  Should it begin to rain, the additional wear is acceptable, but the bike is also good enough that the ride is thoroughly enjoyable should the roads stay dry and you don’t have to rue the choice to leave Bike #1 in the stable.

Bike #1: Good Weather Bike

Intended Purpose: Riding in Good, Dry Conditions

Justification: Number One Bike should be looked after more carefully than your first child and any pets you may have.  This is the one you spent 17 hours searching eBay for the out-of-production stem you wanted; the one you went into debt for to get the carbon-railed saddle instead of the lowly titanium model.  This is the one that gets rubbed down with a diaper after every ride.    Not only does this bike never see the rain, hopefully it does not come in contact with overly humid air.  It is not ridden on dirt roads, it is not ridden on gravel.   Try not to look at it sideways or speak near it with a raised voice.

Choosing the bike for the day can be a bit tricky. Personally, I rarely trust a weather forecast, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where even the meteorologist will admit something to the effect of, “Well, I don’t know what the weather will be, folks.  One of three things will happen: it will be sunny, or cloudy, or it might rain”.  That being less than helpful, I generally study the skies and make a best guess at what might happen over the course of the day in order to ascertain which bike I will choose for my ride.

Some cases are easier than others. For instance, say it’s pouring rain outside and the skies are rough and dark. Obviously, this is a case for Rain Bike.  Gray skies, no sun, air feels wet and out comes Bike #2.  Sun is out, birds are chirping and the kids down the street are making me crazy with their cheerful squeaks and screams,  and it’s a day for Bike #1.  But this Marine Layer we’ve been experiencing here is a tough nut to crack.  In the morning, I can’t tell if it’s overcast or if it’s all just going to burn off in a few hours to reveal a gorgeous blue sky.  I’ve been caught out twice already, and I’m not eager to make it a third.

Damn this Marine Layer.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

View Comments

  • @frank
    It's awfully wet in your part of the world in November. But staying off the bike from December through April here hurts a lot. There's no finer part of the world than the PNW"”and few better for cycling year round.

  • It's definitely been all about the arm and leg warmers up here in Vancouver this June.

    Biggest issue with the weather is that the cool temps are resulting in a slow melt up in the mountains. At this rate, there is still gonna be snow covering 542 up to Mt Baker until late July....last weekend you could get up to Heather Meadows, but the last (and best) 3kms of the climb is still buried under 8ft of snow. At least the local Van climbs (Cypress, Seymour) are snow free.

    It's the alpine rides like Baker, North Cascades, etc. that make me love PNW riding regardless of the fact that some years summer never truly arrives....

  • @frank
    we don't normally have weather like this. The last three summers have been in April with the nominal summers being wash-outs. But to have sit out such great weather and to miss dusty-dry trails that we haven't had since 2003 is torture.

  • I'm visiting friends in Portland, Or right now and have gone on two really nice rides in the last two days since being here. Yesterday was a mixed weather day and today was bluebird. I only brought the number one steed but no sweat. Back home in Minnesota summer started in April and I've been riding since March which is unheard of. Tomorrows forecast for tour de blast (mt st helens) looks iffy at best. No worries, those are the times when epic stories are created and the beer tastes better at the end of fh ride. I'm certainly imagining some proper bike maintenance on Sunday though, another occasion for good beer.

  • @Marko

    If you get a chance, stop by HUB for a beer. Great beer, and owned by big bike supporters. Plenty of frames hanging from the bar ceiling. I'm riding the long way home in about 10 min. Hope the weather holds!

  • @frank
    I can beat that Cervelo P3 (or any bike made these days actually), my UCI illegal Giant MCR. I got given it by a friend who didn't use it enough/at all.

    The great thing is, that over in the UK we have a separate governing body for timetrials (for some reason we love 'em... something to do with police and road racing :( ), the CTT. Anyway, they don't do UCI rules, so my bike is legal, woop, that still doesn't stop be getting destroyed, I wasn't made to timetrial, bunch sprint anyday.

  • Dan O :

    Yeah - we gripe a bit about the weather here in the Seattle area at times. Even so, I'll take this over extreme heat and humidity anytime (like the East Coast where I grew up) - even if means arm and knee warmers in June.

    Exactly the reason I moved from Australia to NZ. Summers there were near impossible to ride in, I'd freeze my bidons overnight, and the water would be warm about an hour in. Returning from a ride with severe sunburn, dehydration and heatstroke-like headaches was common. That is if you could even get outside, such is the intensity of the heat. Here, I ride in pretty cold winters, but a lot more than I did in Aussie summers.

  • @Brett

    You get used to being in the heat - and also being out of it. When I lived in New Jersey, hitting the road for a ride when it was 90+ degrees out was common for me. I remember getting a flat once and sweat was pouring off like a waterfall, as I wrestled with the new tube. I don't miss that at all.

    After living in Seattle for 20+ years now, 75 degrees feels hot. I'll take the Pacific Northwest weather - no problem. I did a mountain bike race today in arm and knee warmers - in June! Crazy, but I dig it.

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