Bikeforumuser0019

Greetings. I thought perhaps I would start with easy, fair weather commutes as I'm beginning to commute by bike for the first time. However it has been exceptionally rainy in the midwest this summer, with upwards of 13 inches having fallen since June 1st.

I'm starting to think that unless I just acquire some rain gear and start riding anyway, I'm never going to get my wheels on the road. I also just started a new job on Monday of this week, so I'd like to avoid any major screw ups (such as being late to work because of something I didn't expect on a rainy commute, or arriving on time but without enough supplies to clean myself up adequately to female business casual levels.

I'm not sure I am asking for advice, although I would welcome it if you have any. Mostly I'm just bummed that it's going on two months since my bike was ready, and I've still only gotten in one commute and a few casual bikerides for fun.

How are you all fairing with the abundance of rainy days? Ultimately I want to ride no matter what the weather...... but just now I don't have a lot of funds to buy new/specialized rain equipment. I just have to make do with what I already have and be creative in finding solutions.

The new job is going well by the way and they seem bike/commute friendly. Yay for that

Roody

It really doesn't bother me much. I got used to it a long time ago. You will get used to it too, if you ever get started. My only advice would be to start riding in the rain on your days off until you become less anxious about trying it on a work day.

Oh, and remember that you're a sweet person, but not sweet enough to melt.

Bikeforumuser0019

Hey, you're right! And I like the way you think.

Do you remember when you were a child and it was the grooviest thing in the world when your parents let you go outside and play in the rain? I remember it..... Whatever happened??? Good Lord I've become a boring adult. I think I must take a ride in the rain immediately. Would be nice to have disc brakes but maybe I'll indulge in some after a few paychecks come in from the new job.

rock on

enigmaT120

Do you have fenders on your bike? If not, you'll probably need a shower when you get to work. I used to have a picture of my legs all crusted over with road crud from a rainy ride home. And that was with full fenders, but I go pretty fast on a gravel road. Going the other way to work it's more uphill and I don't get so dirty.

Roody

I have never had a problem with good bike brakes in the rain. Possibly the disc brakes are worth the extra cost, but I have my doubts.

Unless there's an extreme gully washer, I really don't think you'll have any problems with rain. If it gets so extreme that you can barely see--pull over at a McDonalds or under a bridge--whichever is closer.

Artkansas 

Let the NOAA be your best friend. Here's the link for St. Louis. National Weather Service The best part is the Enhanced Radar Image which shows you just about exactly where the rain is. You can get to it from the main St. Louis page. Look on your right under Additional Resources, Radar and Satellite Images, click the link to Local Radar Data on the left. Then Loop Reflectivity Base. If you want a bigger picture there are a bunch of small maps below that are links to National Weather maps. The Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi maps have St. Louis.

Summer rain tends to be sporadic, so the key is timing your ride, maybe going in a few minutes early and avoiding the rain altogether. Last Sunday riding to work, I saw that there was a small lightining storm heading my way. When I was on the road, I was about a mile from work when I began to feel a few sprinkles. Happily, I then hit my big downhill section of my ride and left the rainclouds behind. I got to work and the sprinkles were catching up. A few minutes later, I looked outside and it was a downpour. Fifteen minutes later, the sky was blue and there were big puddles in the parking lot.

You will probably want rain gear for winter rain, which tends to rain for longer periods. Check into the Winter Cycling forum for tips on winter riding.

Artkansas 

Good is the operant word. Fortunately the days of steel rims in the rain are behind us. I remember clamping the brakes and then counting slowly to 10 before I felt any braking with steel rims. Aluminum rims are so much better.

Walter S

And now there's discs! What will they think of next?

Roody

Yes, I well remember those days of constantly applying your brakes to wipe off the steel rims. Then always wondering if you would just have to fall off the bike to stop it if you were approaching an obstacle.

Well, it's all what you're used to. Here in Michigan, we ride (and drive cars) through snow and ice. Rain is a relief. In southern California, they've never seen ice. And three raindrops can bring car traffic to a standstill and send bicyclists indoors. But they will ride through heat that I could not tolerate!

Steel rims are rare but still exist, so the OP should be sure that their rims are aluminum.

Kindaslow

I live in the Seattle area, frequent rain and big hills. Disc brakes are awesome!

i did have a new coworker who though we were not going to ride because it was raining. Too funny!

Roody

Did the co-worker end up riding with you, and if so, how did it go?

I-Like-To-Bike

Coaster brakes; inexpensive, 100% all weather reliability, zero maintenance.

Darth Lefty 

Retro rockets

Bikeforumuser0019

How can I determine what metal my rims are made of? Short of testing them in the rain, that is.....

Thanks!

Roody

Try a magnet.

Bikeforumuser0019

Magnet sticks to steel but will not stick to aluminum, right? The mag stuck to the spokes but not the rim.

Also, I think one or two of my spokes are not completely straight. But the rims are true. Should I take any action to correct this? Thanks a lot.

Walter S

Good point. But not up front where you need it.

Kindaslow

He did, everything went fine, but he learned why riding glasses in the rain are a nice thing to have.

Roody

They should be OK--just keep an eye on them. But it's easy to adjust spokes--just look for DIY video on youtube. It's well worth learning at some point.

I-Like-To-Bike

I've found in 60+ years of of cycling, that applying the rear brake also stops the front.

In slippery road conditions applying rear brake only may be the best if not only way to stop and stay upright.

gregf83 

Being from Vancouver, we don't often get to gloat about rain. But since the end of Apr Vancouver has only had 2 or 3 rain days with a total of 15mm of rain falling. We'll get our share come November when I'll be back on the rain bike with fenders.

On the odd day that it has rained I haven't changed my clothes as it's still warm. I just get a little wetter. The problem with wearing a jacket in the summer is you'll sweat on the inside so you end up being just as wet as you would without a jacket. A jacket just keeps you warm in the winter but I still get wet.

I-Like-To-Bike

Yesterday 2.47 inches (62.7mm) of rain fell here. I had no problem riding in the downpour and storm water flooded streets, approx. 11 miles to and from my normal destinations, an indoor swimming pool and the library. My fenders and coaster brakes worked fine and in conjunction with Teva sandals and poncho I was reasonably comfortable and the important parts of me were not soaked. My mp3 player played my current audiobook (Steve Jobs) without a hitch while riding.

baron von trail 

Fenders, coaster brakes and sandals...yeah, rain isn't going to be an issue. I typically wear my old spd shoes without socks on rainy days, but I don't ride the fender bike until late fall. It's too heavy.

gregf83 

We don't ever get that much rain in a day, more like a steady drizzle for a couple of months but it's distinctively less pleasant when it's Dec, 3C and the wind is blowing rain in your face.

ro-monster

Maybe you could try a rain cape. I have no experience with this particular one, I just found it with a web search, but it's a good example. There are other brands available.

I suggest this as opposed to a jacket because of my experience as a backpacker. It's accepted that if you hike in a waterproof jacket and pants, you will still get wet -- not because the rain gets in, but because your sweat can't get out. Even waterproof-breathable materials like Gore-Tex or EVent only help a litte. A cape or poncho allows air circulation and is generally considered the best option. It will also cover your backpack if you wear one.

You could try one of those cheap (around $5, if I remember correctly) plastic disposable emergency ponchos that sporting goods stores sell. It won't last long but you'll be able to see how it works for you without investing a lot.

If you're creative, you can probably make your own cape out of a painter's drop cloth or a shower curtain and some duct tape.