Good morning,
I know how you feel, Hants Commuter, although here the rain held off until about 5 min into my 1/2 hour ride. Then the sky turned black and it pooooouuuured. There were some huge, unavoidable puddles against which waterproof boots covers were no defence at all. .... And then I noticed that the front wheel bearing of the bike was complaining bitterly "crack, clunk, tick, clunk......"
Cheers,
Ed