I don’t want to be one of those fair-weather cyclists, the kind who only ventures out on a bright, sunny day, rides only under ideal conditions and cowers in fear at the first sign of the inclement. I want to ride my bicycle, far and often, regardless of the weather.

But let’s just face it, weather is an uncooperative sort.

One day last week, there was a light morning rain, right smack during the time I had planned a ride. I hadn’t been out at all to that point, and I was real antsy to get on the bike.

But it was raining, see. And rain, for those who don’t know, tends to make you very moist. Sometimes uncomfortably so.

I debated whether to skip my ride or power it out anyway. I decided my need to ride trumped my need for aridity, and I set out anyway. To the devil with you, rain. To the devil with you.

At first, it was fun. It was a light rain, as I said, so I wasn’t being pelted or stung by raindrops, nor was I slowed by a downpour. It was novel. Me, out in the rain, riding a bike, like a crazy person.

And that lasted a good long time, actually. The liberation of riding through the rain, accepting my wetness and simply going with it was, well, quite liberating. I rode along for miles, so very smug that I did not perish because of some widdle waindwops, unlike those Only In The Sunshine riders. Sissies.

But then the sky went black. Mother Nature wasn’t messing around anymore. That’s when it all became pretty ugly, I’m not going to lie.

I was two-thirds of the way through my ride when it started pouring, and suddenly I was in the middle of some serious weather. Puddles formed, quickly. Passing cars, of course, plowed through them, much to my dismay. It was like riding through a water park, only without all the fun, which of course was sucked out like a unknotted balloon, just laying there, deflated and sad, only a memory of party that once was.

So there I am, being slowed by a pouring rain and really wishing I had reconsidered my decision to head out this morning. I’m soaked to the bone and I think to myself: “Self, this might be a good time for some fenders.”

I can feel the road junk spraying up my back from my rear tire. Lord only knows what kind of yuk I’m being sprayed with. This does not improve my mood.

I did, eventually, make it back home, freezing, dripping, tired and, oddly, sweaty. I parked my bike, wiped it all down with an old t-shirt and headed in, feeling rather accomplished, actually. I did not die. I rode my bike, as planned, unencumbered by the weather.

To the devil with you, rain. To the devil with you.

I’m looking pretty seriously at spending the $60 for a set of fenders, though.

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The next day, it was cold, brother. It was really cold, and it was the first time that I had ridden in truly cold weather.

This, this cold weather riding is a monster unto itself, worthy of its own sub-culture, clothing and attitude.

All I really know from my one and only experience with it is that there is a lot of snot involved that no one talks about in polite bicycle circles. And it wasn’t 100 yards before I regretted not having dried out my gloves more completely before setting out this morning. Also my ears need more protection.

Mayhaps I’ll do a winter cycling column soon, after I have broadened my experience somewhat. But I can tell you from my first experience with above freezing temperatures thought mild by most standards: It’s cold, man. You do warm up, kinda, but those first few miles? Not fun. There’s no way to get around that. Those first, say, three miles will leave you wondering if you’ve lost your senses or self-respect.

If anyone who reads this is a winter cyclist, I’d love to hear from you for tips and tricks, because the idea of an indoor trainer leaves me feeling empty on the inside, since the exercise is frankly only an ancillary benefit to the overall cycling experience for me.

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On a brighter note, I’ve received my first issue of Bicycle Quarterly (Thanks, Patch! You’ll be getting a bill shortly.). If you haven’t read it, I do recommend it. Very retro (what could be more retro than a publication that comes out only four times a year?), very focused on “everyday,’’ bicycles and bicycle riding. Very neato.