I rolled back into Portland on Thursday, last week. I’d been away for a few weeks because of my dad’s illness and when I came back into town the rain welcomed me home. I’m always amazed by how quickly my body adapts to different climates. For example, my folks live in Red Bluff and the climate is warm. It doesn’t rain that much and the winters aren’t very cold.

Over the last few weeks, I’d gotten used to the warm, dry weather. So yesterday, the idea of hopping on my bike in the pouring rain didn’t sound appealing. But I was anxious to see friends. We’d made plans for a Sunday brunch at a little coffee shop called Crema.

Even though I didn’t want to get on my bike, I had a blast on the ride and it made me feel a whole lot better; especially after spending two weeks sitting in a Chico hospital, worrying about my dad. Riding my bike helped ease my anxiety and I remembered why I love the rain so much. I love how it smells and how it makes the trees so green.

As Logan noted earlier this morning, “I never remember why it’s fun to ride in the rain until I get on my bike. The air smells clean, I never overheat, and clouds and landscape are beautiful to look at.”

Some of you have asked how I get around by bike in the nasty weather. I use a few key tools that keep me safe and dry, including:

• A clean bike. When the weather is rainy and wet, it’s essential that I take the time to wipe down my rims and brakes. It takes 5-minutes and it keeps me safe. If I don’t wipe off road grime from my bike, it’s hard for me to stop. Also, it keeps the bike working in the long-run.
• A Portland Shower’s Pass jacket and black, REI, waterproof rain pants. Good rain gear is essential in a wet climate. During my first year in Portland, I learned about the importance of rain gear the hard way. I put off buying rain pants because I didn’t want to spend the money and got VERY wet on my bike.
• A hat, mittens, helmet and scarf are other goodies that keep me warm and dry.
• Two hot pink, Swift Industries bike bags carry all of my stuff. The bags easily hook onto my rack and the bike carries my load.

In short, cycling in the rain is fun and you don’t need many tools to keep dry. Give it a try sometime!

Do you cycle in the rain? Share your cycling tips on Google+.

///

Also, check out the recent interview I did with Bindu Wiles about cycling and creativity.

Want more? Sign-up for my daily photo and note.

The following article is by Chris O-Byrne of Editing Your World and Tiny Simplicity.

Chris edited both of my ebooks, Simply Car-free and Minimalist Health. He is an exceptional editor and an amazing person. If you’re ever in need of an editor, Chris is your guy.

****

I was living in southern Arizona near the U.S.-Mexico border, too far from civilization to even consider living without a vehicle. But as violence from drug trafficking and the subsequent overrun of human rights as perpetrated by Homeland Security pushed me to move someplace safer, I also thought about moving someplace where I could live with little to no dependence on my car. (It’s a van, actually; a big gas-gorging cargo van I named Duke and outfitted to camp in.)

Living car-free or car-lite was a dream, but nothing I seriously considered until I became more involved in the minimalist movement. Blogs such as RowdyKittens and Zen Habits got me excited again about minimizing my impact and I thought about where I could move that would fit my lifestyle. I make my living as a freelance editor, so I can live anywhere in the world I want.

Places on my list included Portland, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, and Flagstaff. I thought about living location-free and simply living out of my backpack for a while, but current family obligations are keeping me grounded for a while. (My first grandchild is on her way!) I narrowed my list to Portland and Albuquerque and my love of the sun brought me to Albuquerque, 500 miles from where I lived in Arizona.

The next step was to choose a place in the city that made logistical sense for getting around primarily by walking, biking, or busing. I had almost given up and was ready to look at another city when I found a house for rent on Craigslist that was in a quiet neighborhood, was two blocks from the library and a large park, was near the bus line and the bike path, yet was close to necessary shopping. Perfect! I saw the house that afternoon and signed a lease the next morning.

I’ve been here a month, now, and know I made the right choice. I only drive the van about twice a week and even those trips are very short. As I get settled in and plan my necessary driving trips even better, that will go down to only once per week. (There’s a jam session I go to that is too far to bike with a big, clunky guitar and the bus doesn’t run that way on Sundays.) I love being car-lite and the sense of freedom I feel is exhilarating. Going from car-heavy to car-lite is the first step on my way to being completely car-free.

Spread the love. If this post helped you, please retweet it and share the content with your tribe. Thanks!

Note: This ebook is no longer available in a PDF version. However you can read it on Issuu.

Since the release of Simply Car-free, I’ve received an incredible number of emails from folks asking questions like:

How can I improve my health?
What are the best ways to lose weight?
Where can I find real food?

In response to the questions I’ve received, I decided to write my first free e-book. The book is 20 pages and I hope it will help you get active.

You only get one body and mind. If you don’t take care of both, it’s hard to create amazing art or get involved in your community. I hope this manifesto will help you improve your health and inspire you to change the world.

If this e-book helps you, please help spread the word by…

• Sharing it with your tribe on Twitter or Facebook.
• Writing about it on your blog.
• Printing out copies and leaving them in your local library or coffee shop.

Please let me know what you think. Feel free to connect with me on twitter.