Ride (in the rain!) to Alice.

March 18, 2008 | by Carl Larson | Posted in Events, News

As you may’ve gathered, the BTA is having a big fancy party on Saturday night. Seeing as it’s a fancy party and BTA stands for BICYCLE Transportation Alliance, it would make sense for most of our guests to a) dress up and b) ride their bicycles.

Armani model riding a bike on the runway
That said, the Portland Mercury Blog has brought this frightening KATU weathergraphic to my attention:
KATU weather graphic predicting seven days of rain.

That’s right folks. It is going to rain in Portland.

…

Now that you’ve gotten over the initial shock of this news, ask yourself a few questions:

  • Do I own a raincoat?
  • Does my bicycle have fenders?
  • Is showing up to a bike-based event with wet hair acceptable?
  • Can I bike to a MAX station and be transported directly to the Oregon Convention Center’s door?
  • Am I comfortable making some costume adjustments in a bathroom?
  • Is it a faux-pas to drive to a bicycling event?

Depending on how you answer those questions, I’m thinkin’ you can probably figure something out…

Man riding in the rain with an umbrella.
Woman riding bike on city streets with umbrella.

(Photos above c/o Copenhagen Cycle Chic)

Comment

Comments (5)

  1. Jessica Roberts Permalink  | Mar 18, 2008 08:27pm

    I know folks who love to arrive in fancy dress gear, but I’ve always preferred to show up in my everyday cyclist gear, and then do my superman routine in the bathroom looking dazzlingly glamorous. Well, I also usually stay to clean up, and you don’t really want skirts and heels for that…but anyway, thanks for the weather alert, and I think I’ll stick to my standard approach in light of it.

  2. Michelle Permalink  | Mar 18, 2008 11:31pm

    I think I might try out on of those cheap clear plastic slickers. Or maybe ride my bike with the coaster brakes and carry an umbrella. Though I might be delivering my mom on a tandem so that could complicate things. Hmm. Well I’m glad there’s valet bike parking where I can leave my wet stuff, whatever it turns out to be.

  3. carrie Permalink  | Mar 19, 2008 03:16pm

    Today is currently Wed. and it’s bright and beautiful out! Maybe the weather is the least of our worries, I think I’ll wear nothing at all and tandem my behind down to the event! It’s theme is “Alice in Paris”!

  4. joel Permalink  | Mar 19, 2008 03:26pm

    I just tried to find a gore tex tuxedo and it does not exist, at least in web-land. Extra brownie points if you find or make one, seriously not even a crappy coated nylon tux exists. Is all weather formal wear an emergent industry?

  5. Jessica Roberts Permalink  | Mar 05, 2009 05:43pm

    Joel, I still haven’t seen Gore-Tex, but will you take a reflective tweed suit?