nkfrench 

Hair - life's short, I have a simple wash+wear haircut that dries on its own quickly. That way my hair is not an issue in deciding whether to ride or not.

I always wear safety glasses on the bike. They keep rain, road spatter, dust, or bugs out of my eyes. $5 at WalMart or similar at HomeDepot.

I've only ridden a few times in the rain when the weather forecasters had an "off" day or when it was just a light drizzle. On hot summer days, a light rain feels delightfully cool. On colder days, rainpants over tights will keep you very warm. I did have problems with shoes slipping on the pedals. Since then I got clipless pedals / toe clips on the bikes.

Braking - I don't allow myself to build up much speed downhill due to the less effective braking on wet rims and on oil slicks at intersections.

-- Nancy

Heather H

Thanks again guys! you all have some great advice/ideas.

jcm

+1 on eye protection. When it's gray and raining, the yellow or salmon/pink really lights it up. Don't spend alot on this. Cheapo Home Depot or other type of safety glasses will work as well as a $70 bike fashion statement. Besides, they're going to take a beating.

zoltani

I really need to get some goretex socks because the rain always sheets off my rain pants straight into my shoes and socks. Usually I carry an extra pari of socks just in case, but goretex socks would be sweet. Anybody have experience with them?

Jarery

I used to wear goretex socks and sandals all winter long in the pac northwest. At first I wore tights that were windproof on the front and lycra in the back, which let water run down the backs of my legs, and into the goretex socks. I can attest to the fact that the socks hold water in, just as well as they hold the water out

I now use a very thin set of waterproof tights that come down over top of my socks and eliminate the filled up socks. They do get clammy though and can get ruined if you pull them on too hard.

AndrewP

Fenders. Well ventilated showerproof jacket and pants. Have a change of clothes and towel at work. Sense of humour.

breakaway9

I just wear cycling gear, keep my work clothes in my waterproof messenger bag and have a great time riding in the rain... I am fortunate enough to have an office where I can lay everything out to dry during the day until I go home. Usually everything is dry by 10:00 AM if not I hang it from my bike and point the space heater at it for 5-10 minutes and it's dry shortly after that...

GearsForFears

I love riding in the rain.

Remember to take it easy - don't go full tilt and leave lots of room to brake and turn. You want tires with a bit of tread on them for all-weather, not totally slick. I run Continental City Rides and they're cool for commuting in different weather and road conditions; they have a thin slick spot down the middle for less rolling resistance moving straight forward but they're treaded on the sides for traction when you turn.

+100 on the Planet Bike Cascadia fenders. The flaps work and they look fantastic on the bike.

This is perhaps not practical if you have long hair (I'm male), but to continue the above conversation on wearing a cap - I wear a baseball cap bill-backward under my Giro Indicator helmet, which has its own plastic bill on the front. In rain the back-turned bill keeps water off the back of my neck and in sun it protects the back of my neck from sunburn. The cap also provides an extra layer of protection for the top of my head under the helmet. The button is no problem if you pick the right cap. You don't want a thick structured wool baseball cap like major league players wear - the button is huge and the whole thing is hard to crush under the helmet. I like a light fabric hat like the Twins Enterprise "Franchise" cap - it breathes and leaves my hair fairly undamaged when I arrive. A fitted (non-adjustable) cap works best because there's no plastic crushed against your forehead. A Lids store in your local mall will have a thousand of these light fitted Franchise hats.

Ask your stylist about the hair. They have ideas about this stuff and can tailor the solution to your hair and style. My stylist suggested a leave-in conditioner to comb through when I get to work - works pretty well, not always perfect.

As mentioned a rain shell will keep you dry but slow-cook you like a ham. I'm gathering after a year of all-weather riding that there's no such thing as a truly breathable rain shell - anything that keeps water out is going to keep air out too and vents are never enough. On the recommendation of a few experienced riders I'm about to try good old wool. A wool jersey like Surly makes should breathe and wick most of the water away supposedly. I'm guessing I'll still need a change of clothes when I get to work. It's a transformation from bike style to work style in different kinds of weather, for sure, but you get the hang of it. One of my students says when I get to my office I'm like a superhero going into a phone booth and emerging like a regular person.

buzzman

didn't read everyone's suggestions but a couple I would add if they haven't been mentioned.

riding through puddles- in addition to fenders- shoe covers.

plastic bag or something over the saddle when it's wet- keep your saddle dry.

my wife leaves a hair dryer at work and doesn't do much to her hair (or make up) before she bikes in- saves time so you can leave early and get there a little earlier.

leave a towel at work, too.