Commuting - All this rain is killing my commute!

It has been rainy all week, and I'm just not set up for that. I need some rain gear and fenders.

I rode home last Friday afternoon in the rain, and the water was rooster tailing off of my slicks right in my face on the down hill runs. Rain came down in buckets, but I made it.

Any suggestions on what I should do for a drier ride... besides take my car... lol.

You're quite welcome to send some of that rain over here anytime you like. Our drought has reached a stage where a major flood would not be seen as a disaster. As far as keeping dry goes, the biggest recommendation I can make is a dry change of clothes for your destination. You can put them in a pannier (once the clothes have been wrapped in a plastic bag) and you should be alright. Also, sunglasses are particularly useful for keeping rain and whatever else out of your eyes.

Originally posted by bigdog2all
It has been rainy all week, and I'm just not set up for that. I need some rain gear and fenders.

Believe me, fenders make a *huge* difference in wet riding conditions as they prevent almost all of the filthy water from spraying on you and on the bike. The rain falling from the sky will get you wet of course but not dirty. I had to modify the fenders I had on my commuter bike as they were simply not long enough. I like being wet when it's warm, but when the temperature drops rain gear is pretty much a necessity. To repeat what Chris pointed out, you also need to be able to keep what you are carrying dry and a backpack being pelted by road spray just won't cut it for long. I agree that plastic bags are your friend and I quickly switch to my yellow lenses when I have to deal with 'pelting' rain (or snow, my main motivator for buying them!) so I can ensure my visibility is not compromised.


I rode home last Friday afternoon in the rain, and the water was rooster tailing off of my slicks right in my face on the down hill runs. Rain came down in buckets, but I made it.

Any suggestions on what I should do for a drier ride... besides take my car... lol.

Definitely throw the fenders on for the next time and see how it goes the next time you are 'caught'. However, there's no shame in not using the bike if you don't want to - part of bike commuting is the fun. There's no sense in making it an unpleasant chore and then avoiding it altogether.

How you deal with rain depends on the temperature and your riding style. Many of ride in rainy weather all year round, its not that hard. Ive even ridden in freezing rain.
Fenders are the biggest improvement you can make.
For temperate rain, goretex style waterproofs are OK if you moderate your speed. Goretex works better when it is new, but after a lot of wear it soaks up the rain like a sponge, so keep it for actual precipitation only.
For faster riding, a more breathable/less waterproof material often works better and dries quicker. Cheap pertex windproofs handle water well, esp with a jersey of wickable material beneath.

I find that pertex trousers work well for cool to cold wet conditions.

A peak on your helmet keeps rain out of your eyes.

Footwear is important. Here you can go for a mesh shoe which will not hold water, with a waterproof sock for cooler conditions, or a waterproof shoe. The market for good waterproof cycling shoes is pretty small. There are "arctic" winter boots which are way too warm for most riding. Some of the MTB shoes are OK. Light trail shoes and boots are good, esp since they dont have a hole drilled though the sole to let the water in.

Reduced visibility means wear bright colours and use lights. Keep your rims dry by feathering your brakes. Leave more room for stopping, keep more distance from cars and think ahead.

Another thing, in addition to the great suggestions above, is to get some shoe covers. I had a pair long before I used "real" cycling shoes - they will stretch over most regular shoes and really help keep out water. Mine had a seam down the front which leaked, but this was easily fixed by using some clear silicone sealent on the inside.

My approach to rain is to wear the minimum (shorts and jersy obviously) and have dry clothes ready for when I arrive, in a plastic bag inside the backpack - as mentioned by the other posters. In the winter, I usually wear a high visibility jacket, which helps to keep warm and dry, but I ride in shorts all year round. The bike does not have mudguards or fenders, but that is just my vanity;)

Hope this helps,

Ed

I got caught in a storm today. The rain wasn't that bad but the headwinds made it feel like I was scaling a mountain. Fenders are good and rain gear might be good in cold weather. I put my dry clothes in freezer bags inside of my backpack. I need to buy some clear lens glasses to wear in the dark hours and in the rain. Acid rain in the eye doesn't feel too good.

All great suggestions above. I agree with them all. I finally broke down and bought some rain pants and a rain jacket. They make a huge difference. Plus, those shoe covers are a MUST. I've ridden too many times with wet cold feet. Sometimes I could barely feel my toes... but yet the rest of me was fine. It sucks.

The fenders are cool. I don't have them, but I want to get some. I think the front fender is more important in terms of keeping the throw-up from getting into your eyes. The rear fender isn't really all that important unless you don't want the nice line of throwup on your back :) I have a rack on my bike, so the rear fender is a non-issue.

I would recommend clear glasses over the yellow or amber lenses. I find that when you get your lenses totally coated with water (and you will) it's easier to see when your lenses are clear. I would also suggest you put a visor on your helmet if you don't already have one. I don't wear my normally. But if I see it is going to rain, I put it back on. If you tilt you head just right (assuming the wind isn't blowing the rain almost horizontally) you can block alot of the rain from hitting your eyes and glasses.

If you have cold weather and it's raining.. I also suggest either a waterproof helmut cover, or something to put under your helmet. You lose most of your heat thru your head. And have it get wet and cold will drain your heat and strength quickly.

Hope that helps,

PBW

Ah, quit whining and ride the bike, if it's raining you're going to get wet. Your maker did a great job of making your skin water proof. Nothing you can buy is truely water proof, everything eventually leaks and lets water in. Pack your things in zip lock bags before you put them in your backpack or panniers, put on your bike clothes and layer for warmth, I pack a clean dry set of bike clothes for the ride home if the weather clears. Slow down, road rash is harder to clean when covered with dirty water, Be seen, get bright blinking rear lights, I use 2, one for a back up should 1 fail and wear bright clothing., Install fenders on the bike to keep the dirt off you and the bike. maintenance your bike when you get home, wipe it down and lube the chain, take care of it and it will take care of you. Mother nature is a tough woman, she will blow you around, try to freeze you, try to cook you and try to drown you, ya just gotta take what comes because there isn't much you can do about it accept drive the car, and we certainly don't want to do that. Keep commuting and riding your bike, slosh around in the rain, just be careful and have fun. Some do and some don't, some can and some can't, some will and some won't. We do, we are bike commuters, We stop at nothing and for nothing,