Carbon Trace

There’s never no weather. That, BTW, is an appropriate use of the double negative in English. The S – V- O word-order structure of English demands a subject or a place holder. We say: “It is raining.” What is “it”? It is nothing at all. Well, OK, it’s a pronoun, but it “stands” for nothing at all. It’s merely holding a spot in the subject position. It would sound a bit odd in English to say: “The weather is raining.” We would say instead: “The weather is rainy” or “It is rainy.” Native speakers of languages that do not demand such place holders will, when learning English, say such things as: “Is raining.”

We have The Weather Channel because, generally, people are very interested in weather. It affects our lives and moods. It makes some things possible and other things impossible (or at least troublesome). I think it is the rare person who doesn’t at some level wonder each morning about the day’s weather.

We sometimes ignore or deny weather. I wear sandals long into the fall because I enjoy wearing them and just don’t want to give them up. I sometimes see students — guys — wearing gym shorts in the dead of winter. But that may have more to do with a lack of diligent attention to laundry than to weather denial.

So what does this have to do with bicycling? Well, weather plays a role in our favorite mode of transportation.

On nice days (stereotypically: sunny, clear, mild) I’ll often hear people say to me: “Nice day for a ride.” And I usually reply: “Everyday is.” I don’t mean to be flip. I try to say this with an appropriate level of good cheer. What I’m indicating is that the weather is not playing a primary role in my decision to ride my bicycle.

The weather — what “it” is doing — does, however, play a primary role in how I prepare to ride or how I do ride (e.g. slowing down on newly wet pavement — hint, hint you drivers of motor vehicles!).

This morning, for example, we experienced unseasonably cool temperatures in Springfield. It was 44 degrees (“it,” in this case, standing for “the temperature of the air outside at 7:40 a.m.” — so you can see the need for pronouns to stand in for nouns (and noun phrases), otherwise, this sentence could get really long) outside. So I chose to wear a jacket, gloves, and a fleece ear thingy that fits neatly under my helmet.

I was completely snug. Arrived in a pleasant state warmth.

If it is raining outside, I’ll wear my rain gear (the same kind bass fishermen use). I’ll arrive the a pleasant state of dryness.

OK, point is: Weather shouldn’t be a primary factor in choosing to ride (although I know it certainly can/does/should for pure pleasure riding). The right equipment, i.e. clothing, makes it possible to ride all year without much hardship. “Much” is a qualifier. I avoid ice and snow. And on bitter days, well, I may not always arrive in exactly a state of warmth. But this I can claim with accuracy and honesty: I never arrive in a state of misery.

I mean, I certainly don’t arrive in the miserable state I see some people in — dashing from their cars across wet, cold, wind-swept parking lots to the safety of buildings. Quite a considerable distance sometimes. Do they not equip themselves for driving and walking? Or does something about the car encourage inattention to such things?

Great day for a ride

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