Commuting - Commuting in the rain

Does anyone commute when it is raining, or if there is a chance of rain?

The only reason that I am asking is that I don't ride in the rain because part of my commute is on a 6-lane, very busy road.

The only rain which really keeps me off a bike is freezing rain falling onto a frozen road. It turns to ice instanly.
With the right equipment (which need not be very expensive) anyone can become an all-weather rider.

I semi bike commute if it's raining - i.e. I cycle either end of the commute and catch the train for the middle.

Richard

I'll ride when it's cold and I'll ride when it's wet. I generally don't ride if it's cold and wet.

I actually look forward to rainy rides when it's very warm out.

RichC

As long as you dress for it, rain is not bad. The only downside is the extra weight and heat retention of rain wear.

I'm an all-weather, all-hours commuter. The veritable F-117 of commuters. Actually, living in San Jose with its temperate clime and predictable rainfall patterns makes this a relatively simple thing to do.

I ride in most weather, as stated above, cold is ok, wet is ok, cold and wet is tough. In the summer I don't carry rain gear, I just get wet,m everything I carry is in it's own plastic bag then put in the pannier, so what I carry stays dry. Bike maintnencae is the key, when you get where you're going you need to wipe the bike down and lube things up. When you buy parts for the commuter you need to buy quality parts, things like cable end seals, hub abd bottom bracket seal must be in good shape and in my case, make sure you use plenty of proof hide on the brooks. I ride a bike to get where I go no matter what the weather. Up here in new england I use Nokian studded tires fron November through the end of March, I have a large inventory of cycling clothes that I've learned to mix and match over years to allow me relative comfort in all kinds of weather. For me, every day and everywhere I go turns into an adventure.

Let me add to what mrfix says....as long as the temps are 60 F or higher, you are better off not wearing rain gear, as no matter what you wear, it will soak through after a while and will just add weight.

Our winters are rainy but not very cold. And the rain we get is pretty gentle compared to the east and midwest. So I usually ride when it's rainy.

The big exception is that I sit out the first rain of the season. All that oil in the asphalt floats up, making it pretty treacherous. Worse, though, is that the drivers turn into complete idiots in the first rain. This may be a California thing, I don't know.

You think oil on the road is bad, try the riding in the first wet snow storm of the year. It is fun watching drivers trying to relearn how to stop, make sharp turns, etc. The auto body shops really love this time of year.

I try not ride when there is any wet snow.

I am not afraid of riding in the rain if I have the side strip to ride on, but riding out on the main road scares me. I am always afraid of my tires slipping from the oil coming up.

I prefer riding in the rain to riding in any other conditions. The big dry we had in 2001/02 confirmed that completely. Having almost choked in a dust storm and several days of bushfire smoke, having been unable to brake without skidding by the end of it because of the build up of oil on the roads (yes, even in the dry) - I'll even welcome hail! I actually found that I had better traction on the roads in the rain than in the dry.

Rain keeps the pedestrians and other commuter cyclists at bay. The only real problem is the greater number of parents delivering or picking up school kids.

Seeing that my fellow PNW riders have not weighed in on the subject, but we have two seasons here, warm wet and cold wet, if you want to do any kind of serious riding expect that you will be doing it in the rain from time to time..

The only thing I hate about riding in wet roads is the rooster tail I get from the slicks. I often get a load o' road spray into my eyes and arse, and sometimes tasting road dirt isn't pleasant.

Otherwise, rain is cool. Esp. now that I just bought me a raincoat on sale. :D

For any non-racing cycling in the rain, you can avoid that rooster tail by the simple application of fenders. In the UK, most winter race-training bikes are equipped with them, and every serious comuter uses them.
There are times when you dont need a raincoat, but the roads are wet, and fenders make life so much cleaner and more comfortable. They also do a lot to improve the image of cyclists. When you drip into the office with a dirty brown smudge up your back, you are not a good advertisement for cycle commuting.

I don't commute if it's hammering down when I'm due to leave on the way to work but will commute if it happens on the way back. Just because it's difficult to get everything to dry out during the day.

otherwise if its a chance it'll rain it doesn't stop me.

I will confirm and agree with ngateguy - if you want to ride in the PNW, you will have to get wet, or you'll never ride at all. I commute M-F, every week of the year.

Originally posted by Chi
The only thing I hate about riding in wet roads is the rooster tail I get from the slicks

At UC Davis this is referred to as the Freshman Stripe. :)

If I waited for nice weather, I would not ride much. Winter commuting is still somewhat of a challenge, but I am working on it... As stated above, proper gear will make "bad" weather riding a lot more comfortable.

--J

Originally posted by ngateguy
Seeing that my fellow PNW riders have not weighed in on the subject, but we have two seasons here, warm wet and cold wet, if you want to do any kind of serious riding expect that you will be doing it in the rain from time to time..

Yea, if I didn't commute in the rain, I couldn't commute!

The biggest problem for me is that drivers drive worse in rain than in good conditions. You would think when it's dark and wet that you should slow down, and give a little more space to be a little more safe in poor conditions, but most drivers seem to want to get home (or to work) a little faster so they'll have to spend less time in the rain! You'd think no one has ever seen it rain in Vancouver before!

:p

Originally posted by ngateguy
Seeing that my fellow PNW riders have not weighed in on the subject, but we have two seasons here, warm wet and cold wet, if you want to do any kind of serious riding expect that you will be doing it in the rain from time to time..

Oh now, be fair! There's about two weeks in August where it hardly rains at all. :p

I don't mind rain unless it's sheeting and visibility is poor. Cold isn't that bad either; it's unpleasant for the first few minutes but then improves once I'm warmed up.

Cold and rain together can be Hell, but then afterward I feel like a warrior so there's some compensation for it. :D

-Rob

Originally posted by MichaelW
The only rain which really keeps me off a bike is freezing rain falling onto a frozen road. It turns to ice instanly.
With the right equipment (which need not be very expensive) anyone can become an all-weather rider.
The fact that anyone can become an all-weather rider is a compelling reason to do it.

I am not as experienced as Michael is when it comes to rain, but
I don't like to let it stop me.

As far as freezing rain goes, heck, even cars should stay off the road.

On hot summer days, I need rain (as long as the road doesn't get submerged by flash flooding!)

I guess fenders would be smart. :p

I suppose I should invest in fenders also, aside from "the freshman stripe" I like riding in the rain, It's cool (literally, temp wise).

Originally posted by RobCat
Oh now, be fair! There's about two weeks in August where it hardly rains at all. :p

Shh your not supposed to tell anyone then they will want to move up here ;) I will be peddling to your fair city this weekend hope it stops raining long enough to do it :D

Originally posted by ngateguy
Shh your not supposed to tell anyone then they will want to move up here ;) I will be peddling to your fair city this weekend hope it stops raining long enough to do it :D

:p

You may be in luck; the forecast as I recall said dry and warm. This could have changed in the few hours' interim between now and when I heard it, of course. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ChezJfrey
I will confirm and agree with ngateguy - if you want to ride in the PNW, you will have to get wet, or you'll never ride at all. I commute M-F, every week of the year.

I too must confirm and agree with my fellow PNW riders. To commute in here you must ride in the rain. I have fenders on my bike which helps immensely.

Originally posted by RobCat
:p

You may be in luck; the forecast as I recall said dry and warm. This could have changed in the few hours' interim between now and when I heard it, of course. :rolleyes:

ALl day friday the weather reports said sunny and clear with chance of rain north of Everett. Well true on Saturday until just before Centralia, but it was a welcome relief after a full day of riding in the sun.. Sunday it rained on us on and off all morning and cloudy until just before we reached St Helens then the sun broke through for the last 30 or so miles we had a great time :)