jfowler85

Used to commute in semi-arid southern ca. When I moved to the Midwest, I said **** it let's do this.

WonderMonkey

I bought her a remote start a few years ago.... winner!

I have some nice wrap around sunglasses that I wear when biking and coaching but I was coveting some goggles a guy had on a group ride on a chilly day. He said he loved them because though they were vented his eyes stayed warmer.

FedericoMena

The worst weather here doesn't go past rainy / foggy / windy - it doesn't snow. Still, the process of learning to ride in those conditions was, well, a process, rather than something instantaneous for me.

Rain:

- Got good fenders with rolled edges. Bought some thin, rough leather and made mudguards for them. Found out that the most important is the front one, to keep one's shoes and bottom bracket clean.

- Learned that it's okay to ride slower - safer, less splashing, and less chance of disaster should I fall into a water-filled pothole that I can't see.

- Learned that I don't like rain capes. Found good waterproof shoes. Figured out that on rainy days it's best to wear quick-drying pants and a reasonably waterproof jacket (hood under the helmet, and the visor out front!), and then take a change of clothes and a towel with me. Those ultra-small towels for swimmers are fantastic.

- There's no good way to get rain off my glasses. I have taken them off and ridden without them, as I only have mild astigmatism and can see mostly fine without them. Definitely thinking of getting laser surgery done.

Fog:

- Got LED lights. I don't ride at night often enough or for long enough to justify buying a generator hub and lights. I'm happy with the battery LEDs that I have.

- Got a reflective vest, which of course I always forget to take with me. Still got the lights, though.

Wind:

- It's always a headwind, isn't it?

- Except when it's a sidewind that throws you off...

rmfnla

My way home was pretty bad, but mostly because the wind kept changing direction!

I would get going and suddenly get hit in the face or either side with no warning.

Rarely from behind, though, for some reason...

WonderMonkey

I like the idea of making a mudguard. Why the rolled edges? What's the difference besides cutting myself?



I am fortunate enough that my commute is mostly bike path. The downside is that it isn't maintained in the Winter but I may not care and I feel like I'm ok with the trade.



I have a nice rain jacket but I have not worn it on the bike so I hope it comes down far enough in the back. I have some Sham-Wow knockoff things that I take in the kayak and backpacking with me so I'll keep a small piece of that in my bike bag. As for work I have an office and a shower so I can have all the changes of clothing that I want.



I can see ok without them as well and have had the laser surgery. If done right it's a great thing.





I have two up front and one is always flashing unless it is dark and then they are both on. Rear blinkie, etc. as well. At times I will also carry a headlamp but that is just when I remember.



I have a vest but don't know if it will fit over what I'll wear in colder weather. If not I'll get a bigger one.



Yes, always.

Jim from Boston

In reply to the thread, ”What you got from BF transportation forums?,” I posted:

I wear goggles for 35° and below, and conquered a serious fogging problem. In the spirit of BikeForums as described above by @Slaninar, I posted earlier this month,

WonderMonkey

In my weight loss talks I get to give I let them know we will speak about "adjustments" because we as humans can adjust, but "change" is difficult. It just so happens they often end in the same place, meaning better habits or "change". I have to take what I've decided to do and you find people in this forum (and thread) have helped me with and apply that to commuting in inclement weather.

WonderMonkey

I had some errands to run today so at the end of all that I drove a change of clothing to where I work, left my vehicle (locked in the back lot) and biked home. That forces me to bike back in tomorrow morning. The weather will be fairly nice for this time of the year but I figure it is better to start the habit NOW than wait until Mr. Ice Storm arrives and I don't have a base layer of habit built up.

Gresp15C

I only ride in good weather, but what's happened is that my definition of good weather for cycling has changed.

esmith2039

I like cake.. either I can be miserable and fat or I can be miserable skinny and on the bike regardless of weather. That's what I tell myself anyways and so far has worked! If humans weren't built to withstand the weather we'd be extinct along time ago. I find subjecting myself to it has lessened it's effects over time. Not saying that 30 degree wind chill isn't cold just means I need more cake!

WonderMonkey

The Cake factor! I spent a Winter in Alaska and my thoughts of what cold is has also changed.

WonderMonkey

Thanks! It's a commute I have done here and there over the years so I know the routes and the markers and such. There are even some very clear spots that I could drive part way if I wanted and ride from there. I rode into work this morning (toes got cold) and it took 1h 21m from door to door. I may have to chop that down to an hour just so I don't get tired of it.

locolobo13 

I'm still a fair weather commuter. Even if it's not raining if the streets look too wet I'll drive to work. OTOH going home there's no choice but to go.

kuroba

We usually have good weather where I live (which is a dessert area) so days with any precipitation are odd and far between. At first, light rain kept me home or driving, but we also started getting spring rains. By this time of the year I was really committed with riding my bike to work so that last time it happened I was like "Whatever" and rode anyway. It wasn't so bad that I needed any special clothing or mudguards. I still fell off my bike (not being used to wet pavement) but heck did I feel proud for making it to the office when even my fellow bike-commuter colleagues left their bikes at home.

WonderMonkey

I've got to find my mix. I also have the option of riding during lunch. I'm trying to use commuting to make use of my time and of course the side benefits of less use of my car, etc.

WonderMonkey

It's a fun badge of honor to ride when others don't or won't.

tarwheel 

I ride in all kinds of weather that is far from "fair" -- high heat and humidity, winds, cold temps. However, I don't do heavy rain, sleet and snow unless I get caught in unexpected storms enroute. My commute is fairly long (15-17 miles each way) and takes me an hour or more for each leg. My route also goes along a lot of heavily trafficked roads, particularly in the afternoons. Thus, for reasons of safety and person comfort, I have decided not to ride on days when it's raining hard or storms are likely. I still end up bike commuting about 5,000 miles a year, so I don't feel that I've got anything to prove. I admire those who ride in all kinds of weather, but we all have to make our own decisions about what is safe and bearable.

rmfnla

For me it's the whiskey factor.

And living in SoCal has changed my definition of cold as well, but I suspect not the same as yours...

WonderMonkey

I can shorten my commute if I choose as there are some very nice parking spots along the way where I can adjust. 1hr 20+m each way will make me tired of it very quickly. Being on the bike that long makes me think "OK now what?" so I have to keep it to an amount where I am happy to be doing it.

Door to door is 1hr 21m (or so) but I'll probably make it less than an hr when the bad weather hits. Whatever distance I have to park and ride to make it an hour I'll do.

FedericoMena

The rolled edges keep water from exiting the fenders from the sides, so that it only exits from the back.

WonderMonkey

Makes sense. Thanks.