Scorer75

Help me out here.

I ride in the rain, it's not so bad when it starts raining while you are riding. What I cannot for the life of me do is leave my house while it's raining. If I wake up and it's raining, I hop in the car instead of on the bike. I tell myself that I'm going to ride no matter what, but if it's wet out, I simply cannot do it.

Please tell me how you psyche yourself up to start a ride while it's raining.

patentcad

Embrace your inner Sponge Bob young padaweenie.

Machka 

I'm not fond of riding in the rain, but I do have the clothes for it, so if I want to ride that day, I dress for it and go.

datlas 

Fenders, they make ALL the difference.

HigherGround

WWJD?

What would Jens (Voigt) do? Or Eddy Merckx, Sean Kelly, or Andrei Tchmil, for that matter?

Watching too much of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders races makes my local ride on a rainy day seem like a trip to namby pamby land by comparison.

Having said that, I did skip riding in the rain last night because the forecast was calling for lightning and thunder. I just barely beat a major storm home last week, when it got dark early, and the wind was blowing down branches as I rode. I didn't feel like pushing my luck!

bradtx

I clip in with my right foot, start pedaling and clip in with my left foot.

Brad

HigherGround

Sean Kelly

meanwhile

I wear a Paramo Velez Adventure Light. Rain proof, wicks sweat away, as soft and comfortable as wearing silk pajamas. It even has the perfect cycling hood - wired brim to keep rain off glasses, room for a helmet if you want one, notched so that you don't lose peripheral vision. Good venting options and because it is softshell (but 100% waterproof) you can even roll the sleeves up to your elbows if the rain disappears. Washes in a washing machine, too, and I've never heard of a Paramo shell lasting less than a decade. I'm now completely indifferent to the rain rather than just somewhat-less-miserable as when I used a conventional shell.

https://www.outdoorsmagic.com/reviews...iew/36539.html

Paramo has been standard kit with hardcore climbers etc in the UK for years, but I think you'd have to order from a UK net seller to get it in the US.

roadiejorge 

I only ride when it's already raining outside if there's already been a day or two of rain and I want to get back in the saddle. When it gets like that I slap the fenders on, put the waterproof cover over my backpack and off to work I go.

ptle

Well for my commute, it's either bike or take the bus, which is $1.50 each way...

If it's hot and rainy, I'll probably just take the bus. If it's cool and rainy, I don't mind. I'll put fenders on the bike, and wear a rain jacket and pants.

If I'm doing a road ride, I'll put on my fenders and bike in what I normally do. If it's a bit chilly, I may put a rain jacket on.

After a few minutes, you're warmed up and being wet won't bother you.

merlinextraligh

Pay $500 for lodging; $50 for the entry fee; drive 450 miles, then you have to ride even when it rains to recoup your investment.

It rained all friggin day for Six Gap this year.

ridethecliche

Rain rides in the summer are my favorite things to do. It really helps me if I'm feeling a bit burnt out because it's such a different and refreshing feeling.

To boot, I feel like a total badass riding in the rain. Kool stop salmon pads help with confidence. You're going to get wet and you're not commuting, so just wear a light shell and stuff you can get wet. I don't even bother with keeping my shoes dry. Just come home and take the shoes apart, stuff in news paper, and set them near a vent.

Gluteus

Trainer.

leooooo

Took me a whole lotta will power to go out yesterday in the pouring rain we had yesterday in NYC.
Looks like it will be more of the same later on today after work =(

jr59

Ok here you go;

You pump up your tires.
You get on your bike.
You pedal your bike.

Pretty easy!

HTFU

jr59

That would be TERRIBLE!
That ride in the rain, Hogpin in the rain?

DataJunkie

I wait for a few minutes. It rarely rains around here for very long.
If it is raining excessively and it was going to be a training ride I run instead.
If it is something like a commute I throw on rain clothes and grab my bike with fenders.

Doohickie

I'm with ya. I will ride to work if there is rain predicted, but find it much easier to back out if it's already raining. I've found that the best thing to do is spend some money on rain gear.

patentcad

Most of you are waterproof to a depth of 1 meter.

Seattle Forrest

When it rains, I take my aluminum cyclocross bike - not only does it not have terribly expensive components, but it also has disc brakes. They make a lot of difference, at least in my hands, and it's probably because I keep shuffling between bikes. But disc brakes means not having to "wipe" the rims down before you have stopping power; just pull the levers, and decelerate. But that's not what you're asking.

I wear merino base layer, from my toes up to my head. It doesn't feel wet until it's saturated, which is a big deal, and it maintains its insulating power when it's wet. Perfect wicking properties, etc, etc, make wool a great fabric to have against your skin. I have an Arc'teryx outer shell, with rain pants and a theta jacket, merino neck gaiters, and lots of other wonderful gear. I've been out in a downpour, after dark, and not been sure whether it was still raining or not until I went by a lamp post and actually saw the rain still coming down.

JC 911

I am with the OP. If I am out and it starts raining, no big deal (assuming no torrential down pours). But if it is raining, I either wait until the rain stops and the road starts drying a bit or jump on the trainer.

For me, it’s not worth the risk of possibly crashing on slick roads and then having to clean off my bike (my usual routes are lots of climbs and then descents). I’d rather wait it out a few hours or just pop in a movie and jump on my trainer.

banerjek

Sheesh. What's the big deal about getting wet? You realize that's what happens when you take a shower.

On the bike, you'll be soaked with sweat if you ride when it's warm and sunny. Being soaked from the rain is no worse except you get grime on your bike.

In order to get rained on, you need cloud cover. Cloud cover keeps temps more stable than clear skies, and that's more fun. Rain cleans crap out of the air and makes it easier to breath. If it's raining, it can't be that cold or it wouldn't be liquid. And it can't be that hot either.

Rain is fun to ride in and don't screw around with rain gear. If you spend much time in it, you're getting soaked no matter what. Trying to avoid that is an exercise in futility.

patentcad

I like riding in the rain.

zac

I like riding in the rain. (I'll take a rainy day over hot and humid any time.)

How to start, just go...no magic.

cmolway

A parking lot at work that fills up by 6:30am (1st come 1st served) is all the motivation I need. I have a dedicated rain bike with race blades so I have no real excuse.

I second the "forget the rain gear" quotes as long as the temps stay above 40'F.