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Wet and windy commute: Did you ride? Stay dry?

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A wet Esplanade.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This morning was by far the wettest and windiest ride I’ve had into work all year. And you?

Despite my best attempt to stay dry, I arrived at my office pretty much soaked through the lower half of my body. I knew it might happen (my J & G rain paints stopped being waterproof months ago) so I brought an extra pair of pants.

My four mile ride from North Portland into downtown was pretty lonely. I didn’t see many other bikes out there. The conditions must be scaring folks away. Can’t blame them I guess. As I rode over the Broadway Bridge, strong wind gusts made me swerve a bit and I was pedaling hard even on the downhill.

Here’s what people shared with us via Twitter this morning…

@keviniano: “I did. No other bikes when I arrived to work (usually 3 or so). At least it was warm. It’s wet AND cold that kills me.”

@jocelyntutak: “Brutal is the word — but I couldn’t help laughing at the ridiculousness of it. Made it over the B’way bridge at 10 mph!”

@garrettmoon: “Yup, I think they scheduled the Worst Day of the Year Ride on the wrong day.”

@theta444: “I rode, to the bus stop & that was enuf. 🙂 Sandy was a swimming pool. A dirty, dirty swimming pool.”

@anomalily: “rode, but I wasn’t happy about it. 10 miles, completely soaked with a headwind the whole way. Two of my co-workers rode too.”

@yusebio: “Rode in this morning. Brutal. Even going downhill I felt like I had to push.”

@poetas: “the wind was nasty, have to be ready to react to gusts.”

@eBikeStore: “we are all playing hooky”

I’ve heard reports of huge puddles on the Going St. bike boulevard, at SE 12th and Hawthorne, and on N. Rosa Parks Way near I-5. I’d love to hear from more of you about the conditions and/or whether or not you rode at all.

Use the comments to share your experiences and to report conditions.

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