Riding in the Rain and Gratitude
After six months of ownership, I finally had enough pucker-moments on wet pavement to force me to get rid of the nine-year-old, rock hard tires that came with the bike. With new tires ("New and improved high-silica compound for improved traction in the rain!" says the advertising copy), I finally knocked out the last nagging maintenance item that was sapping my confidence and keeping me from riding in anything but perfect weather. After picking up the bike from the shop (on one of the nicest fall riding days of the year), I was dying to break these tires in and put them through their paces. Too busy with kid sports and preparing for our Covid-friendly outdoor Halloween party to get out and ride, I figured I could sneak something in the next day. Lo and behold, as I stood on my porch, it was forty-eight degrees and raining steadily. I went back inside and told my wife I wish I had a bike that was better suited for rain riding (like a BMW GS or Triumph Tiger). My recently so