Caught in the Storm: How Consistency (and Chaos) Led to My Best Ride Yet

I didn’t plan on riding into a storm.

June 18th was supposed to be a light spin — a 27.3-mile after-work loop to keep the legs moving. Nothing heroic. Just another notch on the consistency belt. I clipped in around 5:30 PM, partly cloudy skies, 823 ft of elevation on the agenda, a gentle breeze in the forecast… or so I thought.

The Downpour

About 25 minutes in, the skies opened. First a drizzle, then a full-on tropical deluge. The kind of storm where cars pull over and runners duck under bridges. But me? I kept riding. Not out of toughness — more like momentum. I was already soaked. Might as well see it through.

Sheets of rain, crackling thunder, wind whipping sideways. I should’ve turned back. I almost did when I slipped through a flooded crosswalk and almost ate 💩. Twice. But weirdly, something clicked mid-downpour. My legs kept turning. The rhythm locked in. The chaos around me forced total focus. And suddenly… I was flying.

Performance Gains (and Surprises)

Distance: 27.3 mi
Time: 1h 39m
Elevation: 823 ft
Conditions: Heavy rain, thunder, low visibility, slick roads

Despite the mess, I walked away with a few PRs. I still don’t know how. Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe it was muscle memory taking over. But something about that storm stripped away distractions. It was me, the bike, and the road. Raw riding. Honest effort.

What I Learned

Consistency doesn’t always look like structure. Sometimes, it looks like showing up when you least want to. Or finishing what you started even when the weather turns sideways. That ride reminded me that growth hides in the messy miles — the unscripted, uncomfortable, soaking-wet ones.

Next Week?

I’m thinking about doing a side-by-side breakdown of my wet weather gear (spoiler: I had none) and what I wish I wore. Might even test a few rain jackets and fenders. For now, I’m just grateful for the reminder that storms pass — and sometimes, they make you faster.

Over to You

Ever ridden through a storm? Hit a PR in the rain? Drop your wildest weather ride stories in the comments or hit me up on Instagram. Let’s swap war stories.

Ride often. Ride consistent. Even when the clouds roll in. 🌩️🚴🏽‍♂️