Living Car Free - Rain & Other types of bad weather

In summer when the weather was nice all around, I use my bicycle all the time. But when it's raining (or snowing) in the bad weather months (oct to march) I just tend to use my car mostly since the rain gear (you need extra stuff I find generally when bicycling, like rain pants and other things vs. the normal jacket & shoes), mess & wet just make it a pain in the ass. How do you guys deal with consistent bad weather and not look like ass all of the time? :(

If you live in an area where you get a lot of rain or snow in winter, consider getting fenders for your bike. This will keep you from getting the skunk stripe down your back. Where I live, we don't get a lot of precipitation in any form, but I'm still considering mounting fenders on my winter bike.

You can get rain pants that will fit over your normal clothes for wet weather. This will help keep you dry and in cold weather, you'll stay warm as well. A good winter jacket and gloves or mittens are essential as well, especially when the daytime high temperatures are below freezing. Cool weather clothing is not an inconvenience. You'll need it whether you're cycling, walking, riding transit or driving a car in winter. It doesn't really matter how you look in winter. Your goal is to stay warm and dry. Anything that accomplishes that is good.

I already do all that basic stuff. The rain pants is what are the major pain in the ass (Since i cant just take them off/wear in a minute like everything else) and general unpleasantness of riding in bad weather.

look on Bike Forums for the "rain chaps". i think you will find that is EXACTLY what you need :)

Velomobile?

We have over 320 days of sunshine. I think winds in excess of 60 mph to be as much a factor to not getting in my rides as rainy days .

Bushman was referring to Rainlegs (http://www.wallbike.com/oddsnends/rainlegs.html). They're highly rated by those who use them. I'm thinking of giving them a try this autumn.

Foul weather riding isn't for everyone. If you rate image higher than cycling in your personal value system, then it's not for you. There's no way to ride in foul weather without looking like an ass. Raingear makes you look like an ass, and riding without raingear makes you look like an ass. Best way not to look like an ass is inside your car.

For those of us who do ride in foul weather, a lot has to do with temperature, length of ride, how hard you ride and personal tolerances. I usually ride hard enough that I usually get wetter from sweating inside a rainsuit than I do without. I get wet in the rain and change to dry clothes at my destination. I'm good in bike shorts and a T-shirt down to about 45°F. Then I'll wear a long-sleeved T-shirt and full-finger gloves.

Others, who ride in different temperatures and at different rates, (and with different tolerances for cold and wet) will have different recommendations.

One thing that applies for all foul weather riding is visibility. Lights, high-vis clothing and reflectives will help keep you alive.There's always some idiot who can't see through their streaky wipers and fogged-up windows.

And all that hi-vis stuff makes you look like an ass. Personally, I don't give a sh!t. If you do, that's fine. Just don't plow into me with your car.

You see, I don't care about high vis, I care about how long it takes to put it on / take it off. (And I live in the pacific northwest, where it rains, alot).

Shower at work

I care about how long it takes to put it on / take it off.

Oh. Then you need pants like these guys have: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zHu_poijPKM :eek:

I think it's mostly an attitude problem. I used to get excited when it was pouring rain and it was time to ride to work. It was fun peeling off all that raingear after riding through a torrential downpour and still ending up mostly dry. Instead of a hassle, I just re-framed it as an adventure. Now I have to ride a motorcycle to work since my commute is 25 miles of highway, but I'll still be on two wheels this winter when it starts raining again. To heck with cars, I ain't gonna melt if I get wet.

You see, I don't care about high vis, I care about how long it takes to put it on / take it off. (And I live in the pacific northwest, where it rains, alot).
This isn't an issue for me. It takes longer to put on my cycling shoes during the warmer months than it does to put on or take off my rain gear or cold weather gear in winter.

Instead of a hassle, I just re-framed it as an adventure.
+1

I already do all that basic stuff. The rain pants is what are the major pain in the ass (Since i cant just take them off/wear in a minute like everything else) and general unpleasantness of riding in bad weather.

Get rain pants that have big zippers on the bottom, so you can slip them on and off over your shoes. They're quick and easy; you put them on when you want to ride, whip them off when you get to your destination, and you don't look like a dork when you bicycle to the pub in the rain. Okay, you still look a bit like a dork, because you're carrying a dripping wet messenger bag or panniers, your hair's wet, and you're steaming, but who cares? You didn't have to look for parking, you got some exercise, you're in a great mood, there's a gleam in your eye, and you have a healthy appetite. You're not looking all that fashionable, but in every other respect, you're looking well. What's not to like about that? If stangers look down on you because of that, that just means they're morons.

I don't mind the rain espically on hot humid days it's some what of a cool relief in Houston, but when dripping wet I hate dripping all over the place inside stores, wouldn't mind hearing some suggestions on this. I have been doing a booty shake / wet dog shake method, doesn't really seem to help that much though, but fun.

http://www.wallbike.com/oddsnends/rainlegs.html thats the ones, thanks TSL !