I may have experienced a tiny taste of what Jill in Juneau must experience during her training rides during my first ride of 2009.

As soon as I stepped out of the garage, the skies opened with cold January rain. By the time I hit my first mile, it was sleeting.

It rained the entire time I rode, and as luck would have it, all my layers were made from recycled sponges. In a brilliant moment of serendipity, I was able to test how it would be to ride carrying an extra 30 lbs of water on my body–always helpful to know.

Maybe it was the Hahn curse, but I kid you not, it stopped raining the moment I rolled into my neighborhood.

I still maintain that the most miserable ride beats any time on the treadmill.