Got caught in a downpour on the Springwater Corridor trail and had a total gear wakeup

I used to think fenders were optional extras for fancy riders, not something I needed. Last Tuesday I was 6 miles from home on the Springwater Corridor when the sky just opened up. By the time I got to work my entire back was soaked through with that nasty road spray, and my backpack felt like a wet towel. A guy at the coffee shop near the trailhead saw me squeezing out my shirt and told me about his $30 set of SKS Raceblades that take 5 minutes to put on. Now I own a pair and I actually get to work dry even when it's dumping rain. Anyone else had a specific crappy ride that made them finally buy gear they were avoiding?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.oliver13d ago

Total gear wakeup" is the perfect way to put it. I always thought fenders looked dorky and were just for the hardcore wannabe racer types. Then I got caught in that same kind of sudden Portland rain on the Springwater last fall and spent the rest of my shift sitting in wet shorts. It took me about two wet commutes before I caved and bought some cheap Planet Bike fenders. Now I'm that guy telling people at the shop how much they changed my life.

ruby56113d agoMost Upvoted

What nobody talks about is how fenders actually make you look cooler in a weird way. Like once you embrace the practicality, you stop caring about looking like a try-hard and suddenly you're just this chill cyclist who shows up dry.