Leaf Ride

[Nortoon_imp]

I suffer from Ol'timers and can't remember what I had for dinner last night. But I can remember riding home in solid rain from Toronto to Ottawa in 1972. It was cold when I left home so I wore a ski jacket thinking it would be warmer than my leather jacket.

That jacket, gloves and my jeans were soaking wet before I put Toronto behind me. Riding at 75 MPH just pushed the cold rain through my clothes on that miserable 4 1/2 hour ride. When I reached home I had trouble getting off the bike because I was so numb with hypothermia.

When I peeled of my wet clothes I realized I was blue. Started off with warm water in the bathtub. Changed it out several times with water of increasing heat. The whole process took about an hour to bring my body temperature back to normal. That was followed by a long nap to regain my strength so I could move normally.

Now although I do have a good rain suit, I don't ride if the there is a threat of rain. I am also reluctant to start out in the morning unless the temperature is in the mid-60sF and promises to be in the 70sF in the afternoon.