alathIN

40s and raining this am, but had a nice ride to work. The greenway was mostly empty - saw a couple of runners and a couple of other cyclists. Quiet and peaceful, nice way to start the day. I was actually a bit over-dressed and too warm, except my toes.

Ride home will be low 40s and 25mph winds in my face. If I could make weather trades, I'd much rather have the rain than the wind.

Tomorrow will be colder - low 30s but clear.

So far the biggest lessons for me with bike commuting have been:
1) how much better I feel about my whole day when I ride - the exercise, the fresh air, and the greenspace do a lot for my mood
2) expanding definition of "bike-able weather" - the range of weather where you can enjoy being on a bike is much greater than I ever would have suspected

PatrickGSR94

Just be sure to take care of your drivetrain after rainy riding.

alathIN

What do you do for this?

noglider 

Really nice post. Clothing makes a big difference. Attitude makes a big difference.

kickstart

Riding in the rain daily here in the PNW, an IGH and Chain-L oil make maintenance a once a month routine of cleaning and oiling chain.
Being able to put the bike where it can dry off overnight is more important than anything else. Boeshield sprayed in the frame and anywhere water can be trapped will control corrosion.

bmthom.gis

I am really regretting not riding my bike to work today. It was windy and cloudy on the morning dog walk, we have a lot to do tonight to prepare for a trip and the wife said I should just drive. Now it is effing gorgeous outside, my legs feel great after a MTB ride last night, and I have a stupid car at work. At least I will get a few miles in tomorrow - carpooling in with the wife, she needs a car in the morning, and I need it in the afternoon but we only want one car for after work happy hour. So I get to ride from her work to mine (with a definite coffee stop), then in the afternoon ride from my work to hers to get the car. 8 miles is better than 0, but damn I just want to go for a good long ride. Preferably a wet one so I can test out the fenders.

modernjess

Truth: Just about any type of weather can be very enjoyable on a bike if you are armed with the right clothing and the right attitude. It's very simple, but most non riders and some fair weather riders just don't get it. Yet.

CJ Str3tch

Your ride this morning sounds exactly like mine. 38F with Rain/Snow spitting the whole way to work. 15-25 mph winds in my face the entire way. NO ONE on the bike path this morning. When I got to work, one guy asked me "Is it days like today you ask yourself - 'Am I crazy?!?!'" I have my motivations. And, no, I'm not totally crazy.

matimeo

I prefer winter commuting in some ways because there are way fewer people on the MUP to get in my way. Plus I get warm enough riding, so the cooler weather is nice.

takenreasy

I agree; it’s all about gear and attitude. Plus riding in the rain is the best!

Northwestrider

+1 This, with emphasis on attitude.

PatrickGSR94

I love riding in the rain if it's warmer outside, especially those summer afternoon showers. But when it's in the 30's, barely above freezing, not so much. I can't afford any expensive rain gear right now. I have a Cannondale wind breaker but haven't really tested it out in really wet weather. Luckily we haven't had any really cold, wet days yet.

Last winter, though, I recall that if I woke up in the morning to rain with 30's-40's temperatures, I would usually skip the bike and drive instead. We'll see how it goes this winter.

bluegoatwoods

Yes. It is a nice post.

From the OPs 'name', I'm gonna guess he's in the state just to the east of mine. Plus my weather this morning and evening was just how he described his. And it was a gorgeous commute both ways. There just isn't better riding weather.

It's one more distinction between us and the drivers; November is a good month for us.

And though no one is asking for tips, I'll just throw one out. Bar mitts make one heckuva difference. Imagine it's 35 deg F and raining. Your hands are warm and dry. Plus you're not worried about them becoming wet and cold. This makes these weather conditions no problem at all.

Eds0123

Do you live in Chicago?

auldgeunquers

I'd much rather ride in the weather than not ride because of the weather.

noglider 

That's a similar sentiment to those bumper stickers: a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. So for me, a bad bike ride is better than a trip on any other mode of transport such as in a car.

auldgeunquers

Like this morning ... 28 F (or -2 C) out, a couple of icy patches, but beautiful sunrise, clean clear air, the world (mostly) to myself. Breakfast on an east facing bench on the waterfront as the sun made it's appearance (first in a number of days), then rode a patrol along the waterfront. Good ride. Great way to start the day.

... though my toes were starting to feel the cold by then end of it ...

TransitBiker

If you have the right tool for the job, the tool does the work for you, and it almost becomes fun even if it is a challenge. For me it is making sure vital areas don't get too hot or cold. Sweat, rain, snow, doesn't matter, just add an extra layer to absorb precipitation in the cold. Usually my vest does great at that.

I routinely bike in blowing snow (from the ground, not falling) or falling snow 18 mph 15 degrees in winter, and it's those little victories you enjoy, the top of that hill, the view from that one spot, the kind motorist or large truck that respects your space or gives you the nod at an intersection, the OTHER cyclist giving you a thumbs up.....

- Andy

alathIN

No, right region though... Indy area

mcours2006

I think spending time reading posts on this forum has expanded my zone of 'comfort' when it comes to commuting and riding.

Last year, just as a whim I rode to work. It was hard, especially coming home in the afternoon with the wind whipping at 30km/h and along a busy road. I thought, this sucks! What a dumb idea. And this was in June.

Fast-forward five months and may bike commutes later and I am loving it. I don't have to thinking about doing exercise on the days I ride. I feel better having save a few cubic metres of CO2 from polluting the air, as well as a few dollars worth of gasoline. So far this year I've save about $160 in fuel,.. but I've spent well over $2k on bike-related purchases.

I have set a limit for myself that when the snow hits that will be the end of it. But who knows, perhaps my zone of comfort will extend beyond the snow however unlikely.

mcours2006

Sounds nice. I had my first commute in the rain a few days ago. The newly installed fenders worked great, as did the new Hutchinson urban tires.

The wind is a friend to no one. I hate it as a long-time runner. I hate it even more as a cyclist.