General Cycling Discussion - Do you look forward to riding in rain?

Two days ago, I took my hybrid to LBS to change out the rear cassette. It was one of those unexpected/expected Southern California showers. Often, we get teased about the possibility of a shower and it does not happen. Anyway, the LBS' mechanic looked almost envious. Getting my bike to the shop, I got a little wet.. I packed a plastic raincoat in my pannier in case.
The mechanic quipped, wish I was off to go out in the rain..I know once this speed demand did a 2 century ride, mostly in the rain and did great time.. Do you look forward to rain? I do not think this mechanic considers moving to Seattlle, and getting away from the So. Calif. Sun...! Maybe here rain is a uncommon, so it is a change.? There is a chance of rain. I know, I set pondering what to wear. For if it does not rain, I will be too hot and do not want to carry more than I need.
So to assure I get out in this threat of rain, I dress up early, so I have no choice. I am then committed. So do you go out for a ride in the rain, when you needn't...?

I'm ready for it! Let's go, boyfriend!

In a word: NO

I do I do :-D I can't explain it. I've always raced better in the bad conditions..

I look forward to the rain if it's warm (above 80F) and there is no wind. Then I don't really mind it. Even enjoy it some.

Cold and wind in addition to rain... NO WAY... I'll skip the bike commute to work and go to the RECenter and swim laps instead.

PBW

Riding in the rain is fine as long as it starts raining while I'm riding. If it is already raining, motivation to go on a ride is tough to muster up.

The fouler the weather, the more of a rush I get from riding; i can't explain why but it happens. I could be the look I get from people, like, you're nuts. Last week we did our first snow ride, which was actually a rain / wet snow ride. Had a blast. Unlike the previous poster, I prefer cold rain and snow to warm rain. :D

Not while riding on the road! Soaking wet and cold.....not fun. Plus you have to wash down the bike and dont forget to wash that jersey right away or expect a nasty surprise! On a MTB, well that's another story! :D

This is where we seperate the hardcore from the wusses.
California has been in a mild drought and the riding has been wonderful.
In the past year I was caught in the rain 4 times. Nice riding, but I wouldn't purposely head out into the rain. Seems to me that it's kinda like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane because you want to sky dive.
Signed,
Dry Weather Wuss

Follow up post: I think riding in the rain is a challenge. That makes it more fun too. It involves more planning and commitment. Finding the right clothing combination to balance good ventalation, warmth and good waterproofing isn't as easy as putting on a rain slicker.

Cali weather must be nice, but don't you folks get bored with the nice weather? I have a trip to San Diego coming up in 2 weeks; I'm looking forward to riding out there in the sun :)

P. B. Walker originally posted

"I look forward to the rain if it's warm (above 80F) and there is no wind. Then I don't really mind it. Even enjoy it some.

Cold and wind in addition to rain... NO WAY..."




fubar5 followed with

"Riding in the rain is fine as long as it starts raining while I'm riding. If it is already raining, motivation to go on a ride is tough to muster up.


Those statements about sum up my feelings

NO!!! People around here forget how to drive and no matter how many strobe lights, blinkies, reflectors and plain ol' lights I have there's always some jabrone that has to crowd me through a puddle with a pothole somewhere in it. Bastiges :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash:

To answer the question "do you look for to riding in the rain" the answer will have to be NO, but will I let rain stop me going out ......NO NO NO.

I work on the theory that you can only get so wet and then it doesn't matter.:)

A warm storm is doable.

I'll head out in a light, warm rain and if it gets worse while out it's fine.

Greg, Seems So Cal storms are not usually warm,since it only rains here in the winter and most storms come from the northwest.. I like the idea of a warm rain..
Used to not like the wet's effect on skinny tires.. For a change I took out my hybrid with 38's on it and the ride felt more stable with better braking...

I wake up every morning hoping for rain. I desperately want it to rain all the time. I actually got a couple of days of rain on my (very) recent tour of western Victoria (well, one day of rain and one of sleet/drizzle) and it was the best feeling I've had in ages. Of course, here in Queensland we desperately need a major flood to break this drought, lest we all run out of water by next easter. :eek:

As far as I'm concerned, it's a case of ask not what cycling in the rain can do for you, but what you can do for cycling in the rain!

Cool thread.

I really dig the rain, but have come to hate the clean up afterwards.

All that grit and road muck seems to get into EVERYTHING.

At this time of the year its all about commuting in the rain, doesn't bother me, only problem is that I wear glasses and it can be difficult to keep them clear. I think you concentrate more when its raining.

Oh man...there is absolutely NOTHING that pumps me up higher than heading out ahead of a good storm...the clouds, the high winds, and being able to see the rain coming across the fields at you . And then once the roads muddy up there's the mud to sling. The only thing that keeps me in is hail, severe lightning, and freezing rain.
Ok , and maybe wind chills below -25. Yeah, that does suck.:mad:

I must admit to a feeling a little thrill when I see that it is raining. I would rather it actually be raining than just looking like rain. At least you can go ahead and put on the rain gear and be done with it. Having said that I must say that I am not as enthusiastic about riding in the rain as I used to be. After my spill in September I am a little more wary of wet surfaces.

My riding "mantra" sums it up.

Bring it on.

Conditions, time, where, how fast... just details. As long as I ride free, there will always be some simple thrill.

Don't ride in the rain unless it happens while I am out wheeling ;) Now, I do play golf in the rain and love it. :beer:

Originally posted by Garbear
Don't ride in the rain unless it happens while I am out wheeling ;) Now, I do play golf in the rain and love it. :beer:

isn't that kinda dangerous with lighting storms and all?

Chris.. Anxious to see/ hear more about your tour of Victoria.. Drizzle. isn't it like middle spring there now? The background of your recent post/ photo looked like great cycling.. My nephew has traveled to Autsralia a lot. Says it resemlbes California, only a little greener.. Sounds like great cycling..

I love riding in a storm, with stringing , horizontal rain. Usually we get cool drizzle or a light shower (we have as many words for rain as Inuit eskimos do for snow!!)
I like being prepared with the right equipment, so rain poses no real problems. One summer I took my fenders off for a 4 week drought, but usually ride an all-weather bike.
The usual case in the SE of England is that it is about to rain. That doesnt mean it will rain, it just teases you enough that you have to pack waterproofs. Its quite rare for rain to fall during commuting times, so even on rainy days, I can get away with a dry ride.

Originally posted by VegasCyclist


isn't that kinda dangerous with lighting storms and all?

If one goes outside there house, life is dangerous in many ways... :) I love lighting storms. However, I live in So CA... and we almost never :( get them here. We hardly get thunder either. So, both my wife and I play in the rain. We're planning a golf and cycle outing to Summerland, Vegas early next year... oh boy :D

Rain relaxes me and most golfers are not equiped for it and leave the course open. hooray

I enjoy riding in the rain, of the kind we get around here. The sound of the drops against my rainsuit is as pleasant as the sounds of drops against a tin roof. More often than not, though, when I get ready on a rainy morning to ride to work, by the time I've gone 3 miles down the road the rain has abated and I then have to strip off the rain gear when the sun pops out. So far this calendar year its rained only on 20 days for a total of 11 inches; so there's not much opportunity to dig out the rain gear in the first place.

Originally posted by cyclezealot
Chris.. Anxious to see/ hear more about your tour of Victoria.. Drizzle. isn't it like middle spring there now?

Well, summer "officially" starts on 1 December in this country. Of course, those of us here in Queensland know that it's been summer since August 30. Victoria in November is a lot like a Queensland "winter", except slightly cooler. The Victoria tour account will be posted in the touring section sometime this weekend, and yes, it is great cycling.

When I cycle in the rain, I take with me 2 drinking bottles of water 0.75 liter each.

If it is cold, I do not drink it, but wash my bike with it. I just pour this water on the bike here and there, and it makes a lot easier to clean it afterwards inside the house.

As a Seattlite I do have to jump in on thisa one with a big fat NO I don't shy away from it but I grow weary of it quickly riding in dry weather even snow is more fun. Though I must admit that when I buy new rain gear I do hope it rains to check it out, we are in a drought right now and it is supposed to be a dry year that is not good though :(

Hey ATroll I know this is from another thread but I never got back to you I love women with Fucia hair they are usually pretty fiesty :D Will you be my girlfriend :love:

NO!

No way.

Nope. I wear glasses, so that's a pain to deal with. The drivers around here seem to look for any excuse to drive worse that usual (but they stay dry in their cages, so why?) I will finish a ride in the rain, but won't start a rain ride save for my commute. Or a big organised ride, like the MS150.
:D

Originally posted by ngateguy

Hey ATroll I know this is from another thread but I never got back to you I love women with Fucia hair they are usually pretty fiesty :D Will you be my girlfriend :love:

Oh, ngateguy! This is a first! I've always done the asking and never been asked. And my answer is...

YES!

:love: :love: :love:

Lets see if I can actually get my picture posted this is fro my ney Babe-alicious girl friend A.troll. I think the picture makes me look shorter than I am. But I am decked out in my holiday finest

Hey A.Troll I thought I would show you that I clean up well too. Maybe I will wear this on our first date. This will be my last off topivc post sorry gang, I can't help it I am in love and she said
YES!!!

:love: :love: :love: :love:

I have really loved my experiences with rain. The only time I'll get wet outside is on the bike.

Around here at this time of year yuo get more wet if it's not raining than if it is. A little thing called perspiration. :eek:

:) Hope you guys get some rain in the land down under:)

We got a storm here last week. Now that was worth riding in! :thumbup:

However, what we really need is a flood.

I live in Seattle. If I didn't ride in the rain, I'd cut my riding time in half. It's just something you deal with.

I live north of Puckloki in Vancouver and he's right, if you didn't ride in the rain you'd hardly ride at all. I got full raingear for my bike and I ride all winter long. Nothing better than bringing the bike home and you can't tell what color it is

My mileage has bee so awful in December, I decided today I must get out.. The past two days were one of the 20 or so rainy days here in So Cal.. I have great rain gear so I decicded to test it out again, to see how comfortable I would be..
I have rain resistant clothes from helmet to toes.. The Triflex tights were great, as long as it is cool. They insulate and breathe so well, I was hoping for a lite rain.. A little cool about the face and neck and feet felt a little too warm. Wind resistant booties keep out the water but do not breathe.. The rain was about 60 degrees. Overall it was a good ride. Would be reluctant to do it w/o proper gear. Will go out again.. Wonder if might commute next Monday nite to work. All that heavy gear, would it be clean and dry by morining.? Always rinse out my cycling clothes so they will feel clean for return home from work. Strange for So Cal to rain all way through Christmas of varying degrees.. We do need it..
ps- yesterday, I went out Christmas shopping in the rain.. Had plenty of room in the panniers- but could find nothing to buy. Wish my Cycling clothes could have been green and red.. I get the strangest looks when Christmas shopping in cyling grear- even though I was wearing baggies..

Can't stand peeling soaking wet knickers off when I get in from cycling in the rain!!! :( and being soaked cause I have to ride thru large puddles either that or get run over!!! :D

I seriously need to ride in some rain soon. Anything to escape the bushfire smoke that is once again enveloping the Gold Coast. :cry:

My grandad lives in New South Wales Aust but I have never met him I might get round to it one day!! Brothers just been there wouldn't mind cycling over there too the terrain must be really good for mountain biking and off road!! :D

Originally posted by Giant_racer
My grandad lives in New South Wales Aust but I have never met him I might get round to it one day!! Brothers just been there wouldn't mind cycling over there too the terrain must be really good for mountain biking and off road!! :D

Yeah, I'm in Queensland, about 22km from the NSW border. Under normal conditions (i.e. not in the worst drought ever) this is a great place to ride, with riding to suit every taste. However, the last 18 months - 2 years haven't been as much fun.