All-Day Bike Ride In the Rain

We woke up at 5am to get a good start for our all-day bike ride, but when I listened to the sound on the roof I said, “What is that sound?!”

Nate said, “It’s rain, Babes.”

I asked my adventurous husband, “What do you want to do about that rain, Honey?”

He gave a witty reply, “Well, neither of us is the wicked witch of the west, so we probably won't melt!”

I was going to show my husband just what a trooper his lovely wife could be! I got out the blue emergency ponchos and decided not to worry about my favorite pair of running shoes. I wrapped everything, including the camera, in plastic ziplock baggies, and off we rode on our bikes into the pouring rain at about 7:05am.

At first I thought, “Wow, this rain actually cools us off a bit. I guess it’s better than being in the hot sun.”

We raced tricicabs, jeepneys and busses through the wet streets of the city for over an hour. At about 8:30am we stopped in a small local bakery for a snack. When the owner found out where we had just ridden our bikes from he was surprised at these crazy foreigners who were riding so far in the rain!

After another hour of riding, my bum had become bricks and my thighs were pillars. My soggy jogging shoes each held about 1 2/3 cups of rainwater. My cold bare legs were no longer cheerful about the non-stop tropical rain. Would I be able to keep up with my strong, athletic husband?

Every kilometer my knees grew weaker. I didn’t think I could turn the pedals one more time. The gap between me and Nate increased, and my speed decreased. Soon we had to make another stop inside a half-completed barn where the animals kept dry from the rain. Again the locals peeked out their windows and smiled at us wondering what we were doing out in the rain!

Finally we rolled into the next city after riding in the constant rain for a total of 50 kilometers. We ate lunch at Chow King, where I actually got to use a hot hand-dryer to warm up my pickled feet. I didn’t want to leave, and I didn’t think I could ever make it back home the same way we came, but I knew I would at least try.

I tried, and I failed. Actually my knees failed. I had the cardiovascular endurance to go home, but my knees would not take me one more kilometer. As we rested under a shelter we decided that we would try to flag down a truck to take us back home. It was our first time hitchhiking, but we knew it would work in this culture.

Eventually some guys, who had been watching us nearby, approached us to help. I’ve learned that is the key to doing things—ask the locals to help. They flagged down a bus for us, loaded our bikes, and waved us goodbye as Nate tipped them.

I was so glad we took that bus home! I know I whimped out on Nate, but I didn’t think that I could stick it out just “for fun.” Nate was so loving and understanding as he gave up his plans to care for my weak body. I was glad to know that I was able to keep up with him for 66 kilometers (about 45 miles?), but I don’t think I will be going on any all-day bike rides again anytime soon, especially in the rain!