Quietly coming back to life

I'm just really sneaking in a post to keep my blog from getting the digital equivalent of cobwebs and to let you know that karmacycle is still alive and well, cycling through London. As ever, I've been tweeting more than blogging but it is nice to come "home" to the blog every now and then.

Like thousands of Londoners at this very moment, I'm hoping my bike clothes might just dry out before tonight, after a nearly biblical soaking this morning. If you're in the mood, and know you have the means to get dry later, riding in the rain is one of life's great pleasures. You feel a bit like you're at the helm of a fast ocean-going vessel in the driving force 9 gale, sea lashing at your face.

All I need is a sou'wester to complete the picture.

A bientot, mes braves.

Saddles are brilliant at retaining water - unfortunately

Do you remember the soaking most of us got in London on Friday evening? It was good proper heavy rain, and got most of us really, properly soaked. It was great for comraderie on the roads. I've never spoken to so many cyclists in my life - we all had a cheerful exchange of mutterings at the lights, about how we weren't properly dressed, how we forgot to bring the right gear, how we were looking forward to getting straight in a shower etc. Made me think that actually, we're a pretty friendly bunch, in spite of the thinly veiled competition between us all ... or is that just my imagination?

Anyway, so we got wet on Friday. I employed my getting-clothes-off-as-quickly-as-humanly-possible technique to great effect.

But I then cycled on Sunday. Without going in to too much detail, I noticed my ... nether regions ... getting increasingly wet, two days after the rains ...

On examining the seat, it turns out that it had soaked up the rain like a sponge (in fact, is there a sponge in there?) and was gradually being released as I sat on it. I must admit I do have quite a lot of holes in the seat and that's probably the cause. Is it time for a new seat, or is there a cure?

I guess it could be a useful feature if you're ever travelling through the desert on a bike.

How to get into your house when you've taken a soaking on your bike

There are few things more miserable than putting on wet shoes the day after a soaking. That happenned to me this morning and ... it was misery.

When I arrived home last night I found myself a bit paralised because I couldn't work out whether there was a way of getting me and the bike through the house without causing maximum wetness all over the house. But even as I thought about it on the doormat, I realised I was already contributing to the flooding of the house.

I then reluctantly decided the only thing to do (and for all sensitive readers, please look away now) is to take off all your clothes very quickly, grab anything like a towel (dishcloth can work) and stand on that. It helps if you have a lovely wife or husband who can hand over said implement. Put all wet clothes straight in the washing machine while using above-mentioned towel/cloth to shuffle along the floor so as not to drip. Then, find proper towel and dry clothes.

This method is not recommended if important guests are visiting including, for example, parents-in-law or
new friends. The behaviour could be deemed eccentric.

I am still unclear though how you're meant to dry off your boots/shoes - I placed mine up against an admittedly cold radiator so they would "drain" - but overnight this had pretty much zero effect.

Anyway, as ever, keen to hear some tips!