I'm riding a lot less now in the rain. Some of it is getting softer and less driven but a real part is that I've crashed enough. Rain is associated with slipperier roads, wet leaves and pavement paint, lower visibility; both from drivers and me as a full-time glasses wearer. I really don't want to hit the corner of my hip or ankle again. I already have to pad the hips (both sides) and ankle (one side) to sleep.

Yes, I'm getting soft but I have done my share. 3 years of racing and training in whatever, just grabbing the appropriate bike. Commuting 2-4 days/week for many years year 'round in Alameda, Ann Arbor, Boston, Seattle and Portland. I've ridden the fix gear through puddles (pools?) of water nearly up to the bottom bracket in three of those cities. The fix gear race training rides upwind for 50 miles, lunch in downtown wherever and the spin home after on dead legs. My first open (real) race, 105 miles in real (Maine) rain. As wet as I've ever been, by 1/3 of the way through. Riding along the Kennebec River I couldn't repress the thought that I could take a veer to the right and I wouldn't get any wetter. The post race jokes about what tires tasted best. The bike racer behind every bush in the park of downtown Waterville. The curses by those with shoes without those dumb holes in the sole.

On low traffic days it is fun to go for long rides in enough clothing to be fully warm while soaked. I still do it occasionally. (With fenders! Being soaked is fun but being soaked in road filth? Not my bag.)