Rain Rain Go Away

Yesterday I finally got to ride one of the loops of the Vineman course.  The Vineman course was great.  It really is an amazingly beautiful ride.  The course if full of rollers, and since I'm not much of a climber and I'm really comfortable descending, it suits me well.  Anyway, the weather, on the other hand, was pretty awful.  It rained.  And, when the rain stopped the strong headwinds came.  And, when those finally stopped, it began to pour!  What happens when you ride in the rain?  Well, for starters you get wet (and getting wet is probably the part that I mind the least).  The rain collects on your helmet and drips in your face (Jen wore a hotel shower cap over her helmet, which I thought made her a genius).  Water starts to slosh around in your shoes.  You can't ride too close to the person in front of you, unless you want to get dirty water from their wheel flying in your face.  A trail of dirt from your own back wheel leaves a lovely streak on your butt.  And, somehow that dirt even manages to get inside your pants. (how does that happen?!?!)  The sand and street crud flies up and gets all over your water bottles, which makes drinking really fun.  And, lastly, your bike just gets filthy!