Originally Posted by
ph0rk
Depends on the day - I live close enough to work to walk, and I've done that in the past for torrential rain. There have been days when I've put off errands for rain, and once or twice a year I'll take the shared car (we have just the one) for a longer errand in weird weather. For most errands it is easy enough to knock them out on days with less rain.
I am, however, weak, and let the wife get groceries in the car rather than collect them myself. It isn't really safe to bike to either nearby grocery store, though (and probably less safe with panniers full of food).
On on the other hand, many of the recent local pleasure rides have been in the 30s and rainy, so...
Aren't you potentially getting just as wet by doubling your commute time in a downpour by walking vs biking? Honest question. Or is it safety that's the factor?
We've had a lot of steady showers here lately, a rare relief from our drought. I've been doing great with fenders, rain pants and jacket, but only some thick canvas vans sneakers. Rode to a friend's straight from work last night in a steady rain, but by midnight when we were all leaving it was a crazy heavy downpour, everyone else drove and was super concerned for my safety which I didn't really understand, all offered to drive me home. The rain was really intense, and half of the right lanes of the road were all flooded out so I rode in the left lanes a lot of the way. Also went through a few pedal deep puddles which instantly soaked my feet. But basically once you are out in it, to me it still just seems like riding a bike. Sure, I take it a bit slower, am a little more cautious about hidden potholes, and make sure any cars around can see me with reduced visibility, but I don't see much beyond that.
And I got home mostly dry. Feet were wet, hands were wet, and face was wet. All easily dried, and none of it was uncomfortable. Found myself grinning the whole ride home. Meanwhile my friends who drove had to walk probably five minutes to their cars, because parking is so bad at the apartment complex you have to park in the next neighborhood over, and their feet got just as wet as mine.