Commuting - OMG! I don't have to ride home in the rain today!!!!!!

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rumrunn6
06-24-09, 01:31 PM
I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ItsJustMe
06-24-09, 01:39 PM
Sorry about that. Riding in the rain is the most fun evar.

MMACH 5
06-24-09, 01:41 PM
+1

Winter rain can be a little rough, but summer rain is awesome!


wunderkind
06-24-09, 01:54 PM
how so? You get water spray from cars, tire flings small pebbles at your calves, road gets slick, gravel trail becomes more difficult to ride because it becomes sticky, water accumulates on your glasses and not to mention that wonderful back stripe for those without fenders. I can't see it as being fun unless it's for leisure.

tjspiel
06-24-09, 02:02 PM
Sorry about that. Riding in the rain is the most fun evar.

Lot's of things are fun in moderation but get old really quick.

Frosty861
06-24-09, 02:03 PM
Rumrunn6,

That is what I thought yesterday, shoes are still wet.

MMACH 5
06-24-09, 02:22 PM
how so? You get water spray from cars, tire flings small pebbles at your calves, road gets slick, gravel trail becomes more difficult to ride because it becomes sticky, water accumulates on your glasses and not to mention that wonderful back stripe for those without fenders. I can't see it as being fun unless it's for leisure.

I forgo the glasses in the rain and my commute is 46 miles of pavement. It makes the same old ride feel different. The smell of ozone, leaves washing down the storm sewers, lightning crackling overhead. ;)

Didn't you ever play in the rain, as a kid?

DX Rider
06-24-09, 02:51 PM
I don't mind riding in the rain, especially if it's warm, but after 3-4 days of rain I'm a little tired of wet clothes and cleats.

luckysnafu
06-24-09, 02:57 PM
You obviously didn't ride early this morning. I got soaked on the way to work!

wunderkind
06-24-09, 03:21 PM
I forgo the glasses in the rain and my commute is 46 miles of pavement. It makes the same old ride feel different. The smell of ozone, leaves washing down the storm sewers, lightning crackling overhead.

Didn't you ever play in the rain, as a kid?

I highlighted the main difference b/t that and bicycle commute to work. ;)

lil brown bat
06-24-09, 03:38 PM
I forgo the glasses in the rain and my commute is 46 miles of pavement. It makes the same old ride feel different. The smell of ozone, leaves washing down the storm sewers, lightning crackling overhead. ;)

Didn't you ever play in the rain, as a kid?

Dude, you're from Texas, forgodsake. If you'd spent the past month in Massachusetts, you would have killed yourself long before now.

rumrunn6
06-24-09, 04:32 PM
LOL ... you guys ... :-)

of course I like to bike in the rain, hike and all kinds of stuff, etc. we get great winter storms and I love hiking 10 miles on the beach in sand before sunrise to see seals in high winds and freezing spray

was just feeling gitty about riding in just shorts and a t-shirt again! of course its raining again now and the rack trunk is covered in plastic again, but maybe just maybe I can ditch the wet weather garments again tomorrow morning!

I get excited to ride in the rain - I especially like the sound of the wind in the trees.

MMACH 5
06-24-09, 04:52 PM
Dude, you're from Texas, forgodsake. If you'd spent the past month in Massachusetts, you would have killed yourself long before now.

LOL - Yea, we're supposed to hit 102° tomorrow and stay in the triple digits for the next few days. It'll cool down to around 97° next week. This is my favorite weather for riding. :thumb:

FredOak
06-25-09, 08:52 AM
Guy that has some contracted work with us in Boston told me today that if I lived there I would have needed water skis on my bike for all the rain you folks have gotten.

apricissimus
06-25-09, 09:00 AM
+1

Winter rain can be a little rough, but summer rain is awesome!

Is summer rain in Texas at 58ºF? (That's what it's been like here for about a month.)

thehum
06-25-09, 10:43 AM
Yeah I was pretty excited to see sunlight today. Finally my gritty brake pads get a break(hehe). though riding in rain when it's really warm out can be a ton of fun.

evblazer
06-25-09, 10:52 AM
Is summer rain in Texas at 58ºF? (That's what it's been like here for about a month.)
I've never measured but on certain days it can feel like 110ºF and hot rain on a really hot day is icky. I have been riding on some sidewalks on my little commute where they have their spinklers watering the sidewalk as I pass by. That is nice because at least the water is in the 70s or 80s and the heat index tonight should be around 110?

apricissimus
06-25-09, 11:42 AM
I've never measured but on certain days it can feel like 110ºF and hot rain on a really hot day is icky. I have been riding on some sidewalks on my little commute where they have their spinklers watering the sidewalk as I pass by. That is nice because at least the water is in the 70s or 80s and the heat index tonight should be around 110?

I should clarify... The ambient temperature's been in the high 50's. No idea what temp the rain water is at.

ItsJustMe
06-25-09, 12:01 PM
how so? You get water spray from cars, tire flings small pebbles at your calves, road gets slick, gravel trail becomes more difficult to ride because it becomes sticky, water accumulates on your glasses and not to mention that wonderful back stripe for those without fenders. I can't see it as being fun unless it's for leisure.

Most people would say the same thing about riding a bike in general.

None of those things are actually a problem for me. Our roads are all properly crowned so water doesn't gather to be sprayed, I've never been hit by a pebble in any weather, roads are a little slicker but I'm not doing 50 MPH around corners so it doesn't really matter. I do get a little dirty but only on my lower legs since I do have fenders. I wouldn't own a bike without fenders any more than I would own a car without them; I expect my bike to get me around in any weather and it's equipped to do so.

It would get quite boring if I only rode my bike on clear days with the temps between 60 and 85 degrees. I like the occasional thunderstorm, 110*F or -10*F day, ice, hail, whatever. Makes things interesting.

Pig_Chaser
06-25-09, 12:06 PM
I understand how you feel, but I'd kill to ride in some rain these days. It's been so dry, just about every county has declared a state of "Agricultural Emergency".

MMACH 5
06-25-09, 02:14 PM
Is summer rain in Texas at 58ºF? (That's what it's been like here for about a month.)

That sounds more like and early winter rain, around here. ;)

Schwinnrider
06-26-09, 06:20 PM
Sorry about that. Riding in the rain is the most fun evar.

Riding home in the rain while being coated with road grime by passing cars is not the most fun evar. It's not the rain coming down I mind, it's the crud being kicked up. My bikes have fenders and mud flaps, but I always end up covered in grimy sand. And who knows what else---chemicals, liquified road kill, etc.

Jim from Boston
06-26-09, 09:12 PM
Riding home in the rain while being coated with road grime by passing cars is not the most fun evar. It's not the rain coming down I mind, it's the crud being kicked up. My bikes have fenders and mud flaps, but I always end up covered in grimy sand. And who knows what else---chemicals, liquified road kill, etc.

Well put; I never even thought about the road kill. Reminds me of the prissy lady I know who never used hotel ice buckets; you just don't know what they were used for. :p

rumrunn6
06-27-09, 06:07 AM
hope no one is eating breakfast but I used to have a route and this one section when it rained the water flowing over the street smelled like raw swewage. I couldn't use my water bottle after driving through it. not to mention my body was now sprayed with "whatever" as well. so glad my route has changed and that I have a shower to totatly cleanse thoroughly head to toe with.

Matt1972
06-27-09, 09:12 PM
Ewww! We're glad, too! Some people aren't as lucky...

capejohn
06-28-09, 08:28 AM
I'm working in Taunton today, Sunday. One station says 70% chance of rain, the other says 30%. I bet on the 30%. We'll see.

rumrunn6
06-28-09, 10:43 AM
today is a good day to ride, but I just decided to work on my bikes, and my kids bikes