New Year with New Gear! – Riding with Primal in rain or snow

January 20,2014

2014!! Where did the time go? Last year at this time I was busy hibernating…. not riding my bike and just being kind of lazy.

Well it’s a new year. Everyday is a new day and I’m thankful I had the year I did but I’m ready to start this new year on the right pedal!

In September after a few weeks of hearing that my friends Weaver and Bennett were commuting I started commuting with them and I haven’t really looked back – fell in love with commuting. Yeah there were days when I thought, “It’s raining, I don’t want to get wet!! ” Or “It’s a nice morning, but it’s supposed to rain, who wants to ride home in the rain??” NOT me. Well for some reason, things change. I changed. Not sure what it was or when it happened, but somewhere along the way I started to like riding in the rain. You just get used to it.

2013 we were lucky enough to get a kit sponsor for Team PHenomenal Hope from Primal Wear. They have really made my cold weather commuting so much more bearable. I never thought that I would get to work and be sweating, let alone not cold. Our kits are extremely soft and just really well made. This year we also got a Paradigm jacket and vest. I don’t know if I can ever commute without that jacket again!! I only wear a short sleeve t-shirt underneath it and feel as though I could ride all day long. I wear the vest just for extra wind block but also because it has the 3 pockets so I can store extra stuff on my commute.

Anyway, Greta and I decided to do some mountain biking on January 2nd. We were expected to get a bunch of snow, but we were willing to just get out there and get a little ride in. Never did I think I wouldn’t be warm enough. Of course starting on a climb made sure I would warm up fast.

Even after all my commuting and longer rides, I still get amazed when I get out there in 25-, 30-, 35-degree weather and am perfectly comfortable, if not a little warm. So happy and feel really lucky to be supported by Primal Wear. Our jackets have our official RAAM patch on them and everything!!

Trixie (my mountain bike) and I had the chance to hit Hartwood with my spinning groupies. I’m still learning the trails and again what gear works and had no problems. Only wish I could figure out how to keep my butt as warm as my upper body and legs. LOL!!

No matter what I’m wearing (but love my Primal Wear) I feel completely blessed to be apart of such a great team, community (PHA and PH community), and to be able to ride my bike no matter the conditions with so many great people and for such a great cause!