General Cycling Discussion - If you have never been caught in the rain read this..

Today my riding partner and I got caught in an absolute downpour. Thunder, lightening, wind, blech!

I never thought I could get so cold so quick riding in the rain. It was warm out, but my body temp drop incredibly quick. Even got the shivers.

So to those of you who are like me and don't want to pay $10-$20 for a rainjacket.....DO IT!

I live in Fl so I am use to thunderstorms. Rain and wind doesn't bother me, it's that darn lightening that get my attention.

Living in SD I don't normally get much rain.

However, this past winter has been weird. Plenty of rain to go around. Riding to school I got dumped on everyday.

I must say, a raincoat helps you ALOT.

Newsflash, if it's really pouring no 9 billion dollar jacket is going to save you.
If it's a warm rain, I say bring it on

What could be more fun than hammering it out so wet that you don't even care if you get more wet?

Newsflash, if it's really pouring no 9 billion dollar jacket is going to save you.
Are you a "special" person?

My jacket was $20.

And IMO it does help alot.

I had to ride home from work in a cold rainstorm a few weeks ago. I had left work early because I was starting to show symptoma of cold/flu. My rain gear kept me dry and warm at a time when cold and wet were most definitely not advisable. I always have it along when there's rain in the forecast.

Newsflash, if it's really pouring no 9 billion dollar jacket is going to save you.
If it's a warm rain, I say bring it on

What could be more fun than hammering it out so wet that you don't even care if you get more wet?

I think you paid too much for your rain jacket. :D

I think you paid too much for your rain jacket. :D

I agree. I'd be willing to sell mine for only 3 billion...

Not to change the subject, but me and my wife had a storm catch us on a mountain ridge. We were inside a thunderstorm. Lightning went off and it was so loud I would jump a foot straight up when it went off.
It was terrifying. We eventually found the trail and got down out of the cloud, but what an experience.

I knew I should've waited for that clearance sale.

I knew I should've waited for that clearance sale.


:lol:

Huh. I've been "caught" in the rain -- cold, relentless, pouring rain -- on several occasions and have continued riding for as much as 3 hours with no ill effects other than pruned-out feet.

I never take a rain jacket, but I do usually bring a poly fleece insulating vest or overshirt. The nice thing about fleece is that it is fairly lightweight and retains insulative powers even when wet. Whereas the bad thing about rain jackets is that they tend to trap sweat moisture inside and make the problem worse -- even the more expensive "waterproof/breathable" ones (especially if you are a sweathog like me). I don't think I've ever paid more than about $15-20 for a fleece. I got one for $8 one time (no, not $8 B-Billion, just $8. U.S.)

I was in my first heavy rain on my bike a few days ago, and it was wonderful. I even took the time to go the long way around and splash through the puddles! I had more fun that day than I've had in a long time. The only scary thing was my bike doesn't have the best brakes, and when they're wet they're almost useless (need to fix that this week).

It was truly a record downpour... 2.5" in that 24 hour period with minor flooding in low-lying areas. When I got back home, I was dripping all over... my hair, clothes, socks... it was great.

I don't need no stinkin rainjacket! :)

As the original poster suggested, there is a diference between warm rain that you get in Florida and even in the Carolinas during Summer, and cold rain that you got recently.

Around here, except when it has been very warm for 3-4 weeks, the rain we get is always cold. Too refreshing to ride without raingear.

Not to change the subject, but me and my wife had a storm catch us on a mountain ridge. We were inside a thunderstorm. Lightning went off and it was so loud I would jump a foot straight up when it went off.
It was terrifying. We eventually found the trail and got down out of the cloud, but what an experience.

Wow, that sounds amazing. I can see how that would scare the hell out of you, but it's a great story! ;)

Yes, warm rain is nice. I like warm rain when mtn biking. But this was a cold windy rain with a little elevation.

At any rate, I was successfull with stirring up the "buy a rain jacket" thread. I can't wait for my checks to start rolling in from the outlet stores!