alathIN

Looks like tomorrow will be my first rainy day commute. I go about 12 miles each way to work, most of it on a greenway MUP.

Things I've thought of:
- wearing contacts instead of glasses
- I commute with a Burley trailer, so I've got a place to keep my work clothes and my lunch dry
- I have a windbreaker which I think will be somewhat water repellent; probably wear baggy bike shorts also

Things I'll have to do without:
- fenders
- dedicated rain gear

Anything else I haven't thought of?
Any tips or suggestions?

Giant Doofus

Depending on temperature, you may find it better to go without the windbreaker and just get wet. The wind breaker might make you feel stuffy and sweaty. You'll have to dry off at work either way.

Edit: two other things I should have said: it takes longer to stop in the rain and have fun. Riding in the rain is liberating.

TransitBiker

Yes, just wear a shirt you know that is breathable & you'll be fine.

My two fondest memories of riding as an adult have been in utter and complete dumping rain.

- Andy

1nterceptor

Wear a cap with a long bill. This will minimize water hitting your
eyes especially in hard rain. Use your front and rear lights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeZ...IoDLA&index=17

gregjones

I carry clear goggles when it looks like rain. I won't ride without eyewear and goggles don't fog. Sunglasses get hard to see out of with dark clouds and a fogged lens.

Giant Doofus

my last ride in pouring rain prompted me to get my rain jacket out of the pannier...to wrap around my new Brooks saddle. Got to have your priorities straight!

Hypno Toad

I normally go without anything on my eyes, but I wear a cycling cap under my helmet and this keeps my eyes from getting the worst pelting. Stopping distance is an issue and know that drivers visibility is reduced - be more defensive. Like posted above, if it's over 60F I just get wet (no jacket) and I will change clothes when I get to work. I ride about the same distance as you and I have to say, getting to work when it pouring rain and I'm smiling ear-to-ear. Looks like I'm gonna be grinnin' tomorrow morning when I get to work in Eden Prairie, MN. Enjoy!!

elephino

I always ride with lights in the rain, even if it's a "bright" rain. I also wear sunglasses to keep the rain out of my eyes. If you have lighter or clear lenses, try those. In a pinch, anything but superdark ones will work. There is some visibility loss, but for me at least, I lose less from the darker lenses than I would from trying to squint rain out of my eyes all the time. (Yes, I have a visor or cap brim).

I love riding in the rain as long as I know I can get dry afterwards. I just tell myself I'm only as wet as in the pool, and then it's fun. Also, once you accept the wetness you don't have to worry about cars splashing you anymore!

metz1295

i prefer to use a jacket for cooler temps, but not rain. i would rather be wet from rain than wet with extra sweat. i also wear prescription glasses, but no contacts. i prefer the heavier rain as it just runs off the lenses. lighter rain or mist doesn't run off as well and dries spotted once you get out of the rain. take it easy with your braking and extra easy through your turns. good luck and enjoy the ride.

alathIN

Wow, lots of great suggestions here. Thanks!

One thing I almost forgot: give myself an extra 10-15 minutes to get there ;-)

streetstomper

A cycling poncho is far more breathable than any jacket. Keeps your arms and thighs dry, too.

Artkansas 

I always check the NOAA weather to see what their radar images show. Maybe by changing the timing of the ride a few minutes, wetness can be avoided.

TransitBiker

I put a plastic bag over mine, as plain water soaks into it (sweat did not). I was riding home around 3 am after a midnight screening of a movie in town here. The kind folks at the theater brought my bike inside & parked it near the door so it didn't get drenched.

- Andy

TransitBiker

Yes, absolutely yes. I've lived here long enough to be able to ballpark the arrival of any precipitation or wind based on the radar loops. Often the wind can be seen as a line of reflectivity, depending on the nature & severity of the system. I'm usually accurate by about 2 minutes, which can mean the difference between riding in a few drops or gushing downpour.

- Andy

wphamilton

All I can add to all that is: large zip-top freezer bag for your clothes, and fold-top sandwich bags for phone and wallet.

You can wrap your feet in small plastic shopping bags, but short of that the shoes are going to get wet, and I'd advise just wearing whatever you don't mind getting soaked.

Hypno Toad

So, how'd it go for you?

I had my first wet commute in a long time (been really dry around here). 65F & heavy rain to start, tapering off to mist on the last mile or two. I wore normal shorts and T-shirt with office clothes in my Chrome bag. Felt good!

To the post above, I hope you have dry socks and underoos! I've forgot both on a couple days (silent shame in the office all day).

I didn't say it and didn't see any other comments - LIGHTS! I ride with lights on day or night, sun or rain - but I highly recommend running with lights on during rainy rides.

Hope it was a good ride for you!

mikeybikes

I tend to get lucky with the rain, and it usually only rains on my way home from work. If I'm on my way home, I just let myself get wet and keep going. I'll dry off when I get home.

I do keep a J&G rain cape in my pannier for when it is super wet and/or I'm on my way into work. I have a spare set of work clothes for those mornings in my desk as inevitably, my pants get too wet.

Tundra_Man 

You mention you don't have fenders, so that may be your biggest challenge. For me, fenders turn a rainy day from misery into an enjoyable ride.

I primarily commute on two bikes. My road bike doesn't have fenders and my hybrid does. If the weather looks favorable I'll ride the road bike. The weather where I live is pretty unpredictable, so it's not unusual for me to guess incorrectly (either way) and wind up riding the wrong bike.

When I get caught in the rain on my road bike, I get completely covered in slop kicked up by the tires. Usually I get far wetter from the moisture coming up than from the rain coming down. With fenders, I watch all that water running off the back of the mudflaps and realized without them it would have been deposited on my legs and back. The rain falling from the sky is fairly clean and while I arrive wet, I don't feel like I need to be hosed down before I go inside. The other day I rode to work in the rain on my hybrid and was liking it so much I took a detour and explored some side streets I'd never been on before.

Regardless, I don't wear specific clothes for rain. My biking clothes get wet every day from sweat, so I figure a little more moisture from rain doesn't hurt them.

Now all this I've said above applies to summer riding. Below about 40 degrees and add some wind, riding in the rain becomes a different beast. I generally try to avoid it if I can because hypothermia becomes a very real possibility. If I do ride in that situation I will take extra measures to wear more protective clothing. I'll ride in snow at 32 degrees all day long, but riding in rain at 33 degrees can be hazardous.

alathIN

* UPDATE *

OK, so that was somewhat anticlimactic. Most of the ride was just a light sprinkle, some cloud-to-cloud lightning here and there, and only about 5 minutes of real rain.

Glasses were fine; I think the billed hat under my bike helmet was a huge help.

I do want a fender! Got a nice mud splatter up my back.
Also some road grit on my shins; but not really bothersome.

Arrived at work to an unscheduled early meeting, so instead of going straight to the shower and change my clothes, I had to sit through a meeting with the CEO and other high-falutin's in my muddy wet bike clothes. They were nice about it - we have a wellness incentive in our company and there was a joke about getting extra points for bike commuting in the rain.

Honestly sitting through that 45 minutes in air conditioning with wet socks was vastly worse than acutally biking in the rain.

Next on the shopping list: rear fender.

Appreciate all the help and suggestions here!

Checked the weather report - may have a more heavy rain experience on the way home ;-)

RaleighSport

I only have one piece of advice to add, stay alert of paint stripings/markings. I witnessed a very experienced commuter go down yesterday right in front of me because of a slick lane striping he went onto when he was attempting to check behind him for traffic.

joeyduck

Braking takes longer.
Road lines are slick.
Oil seeps up, about the middle of the lane.
Uvex Genesis safety glasses. They have a selection on lens colors available.
Good job on wellness bonus points. Sitting in an AC room is the pits.

scroca

OP, good that you are getting a rear fender but I recommend a front fender as well. You get a lot of water/grit spewed at your from the front tire. A fender helps protect your drive train too.

spivonious

Don't forget to pack your things in plastic bags. Getting to work and finding your underwear is soaked is not a fun experience.

scoatw

If you plan on riding everyday. You'd be smart getting yourself some good rain gear. Warm or cold weather, doesn't matter. You know you can stay dry in anything Mother Nature throws at you. In hot weather you make adjustments as needed. Sometimes, like others, I'll go without and just get wet. On the flip-side, I've ridden in freezing rain and stayed as snug as a bug.

xuwol7

I love riding in the rain, full fenders, lights front and rear and a cap under your helmet are the basics.
You need to ride with care over wooden bridges, rail road tracks and anything metal or painted surfaces as you can go down quick.
You can lightly skim the water off your rims if you lightly press the brakes before actually braking.

The biggest danger is lighting because you are a moving lightning rod, always be aware of the lightning and sound of thunder:

NWS Lightning Safety Outdoors

Rain gear is a good investment, and make sure it breathes.