Weather Watch

"Red sky at morning, sailor take warning."  I couldn't help but remember that phrase on this morning's ride as we turned back to the east.  At the time, the wind was still out of the southeast or maybe southwest, but things were definitely changing. At any rate, I was glad there was no rain on the radar map.  The Thursday long levee ride was fairly sedate today with riders taking longish pulls at moderate speeds.  I was fine with that.  It's early afternoon now and the wind has already shifted to the NNW at 9 mph and will no doubt swing fully around to the north later today.  I don't really understand what's going on with the weather right now, but the hourly forecast is calling for a nice day on Friday and then rain chances increasing after midnight on Friday all the way up to 70% at 6 am Saturday.  Then the chance of rain drops quickly to only 20% at 10 am., which is when the cyclocross races start.  That's cutting it pretty close, and really it's still a little too far out to be counting on the hourly forecast like that.  One thing seems certain.  Between now and then it's going to rain, and that means that some parts of the course are going to be wet and muddy and slippery.  Those are conditions that some in the cyclocross world truly embrace.  I am not one of them, although I'm sure I will find some fun riding out there anyway. With apologies to Mark Twain, one might advise, "Get a cyclocross bike. You will not regret it, if you live." 

What I'm most concerned about is actually getting the race finish and judging area set up without getting all of the equipment and myself soaked.  We will be basically out in the middle of a very low-lying grassy field, so I would greatly appreciate it if the rain would just come and go before sunrise.  For now, though, I will be including plastic tarps, plastic bags, umbrellas, rain gear, and extra socks and shoes on the "stuff to bring" list.