I have not ridden in rain for 5yrs. Really. It just doesn't rain much here. I have been near storms and just missed them, but thru luck haven't been caught in one. But right now we are in the season when a later afternoon storm can hit - but mostly they come after my commute home is done, around sunset and later.

So I ask about fenders as I just have no experience with rain. I keep telling my wife that if I am home when a storm (without lightning) hits, first thing I'm going to do is get on my bike and cruise around the neighborhood so I can get some experience with rain, wet brakes and pavement and how my bike responds - before I get caught during my commute home with zero experience.

I do occasionally ride thur a giant puddle on the way home, it soaks me with nasty warm water that has been sitting in the 110deg sun for three days (that how long it take to dry this puddle up after a storm). But its only 1/2mi from home so I jump in the shower right after.

Al