Riding in Fog : 14 October, 2008

This morning was one of my normal reverse loops (New Galena to Sellersville Road to Township Line Road to Hilltown Pike) and the weather was pretty close to as perfect as one could expect for this time of the year, sans the fog. It was about 11°C so I knew that while I'd sweat, the temperature was cool enough that I wouldn't be drenched. Again, this was sans the obnoxious fog with which I had to contend. Which brings me to the point of this brief post.

Riding in fog, whilst very beautiful and quite cooling/soothing upon ones exposed extremities, does indeed pose a safety risk. I happen to be fortunate that those in my area are seemingly cautious, as I myself also espouse to be. The most peculiar thing about today's fog was that it was so thick in the valleys/dips in the road, of which there are many, particularly where New Galena approaches Barry Road heading towards Sellersville Rd. Sellersville Road dips down low, and most of all Township Line Road which seems to have several pockets that just attract a considerable amount of the low-laying vapours.

I didn't realise though, through how much fog I actually rode until I finally completed my morning running. I first noticed on my ipod shuffle, which appeared to be sweating (which obviously wasn't the case). I then realised that my bucksbicycling.com royal blue hooded pullover was harbouring what seemed like a million beads of water, much akin to an intricate spider web after a spring shower. I think I need a rain pullover for days like this, but one that is breathable nonetheless.

I do wish to also mention that for the first time (while riding), I ran across another cyclist as she was riding what I believe to be a shorter loop which hits both New Galena and Township Line Road. She was helmeted, but thankfully I don't believe she was wearing any bicycling specific attire, the way it used to be, and the way it is in so many modern nations. If you're riding over 50 km, or in a race, I can understand special attire but as someone who travels 32 km in jeans and a variety of shirts (sweatshirt, golf shirt, t-shirt), I can attest that normal clothing works fine for both my Hybrid and my Road bike with drops.

Either way, if you are the woman who was riding that route in Central Bucks on both New Galena Road and Township Line Road this morning and saw another cyclist on an older road bicycle with drops wearing a blue sweatshirt (in the fog) who nodded back to you both times, please respond here as it'd be nice to chat with other local solo riders in our rural area.