not a big fan of riding in the rain because I wear glasses and don't like the rain drops on my glasses. I am also a bit concerned about other cars riding in the rain and not seeing me as I ride. A gentle rain is pretty peaceful though but heavy rains make me nervous.

Wiper glasses to the rescue:

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=...fbcbe4.jpg&f=1

No...

Just might work.

Doesn't matter; just look at that thing...

Prescription available? no just kidding no.

I commute with cycling glasses because my regular ones slip off when I sweat. Water getting on them does kind of suck, but the visor on my cycling cap helps reduce the water accumulation on them quite a bit.

Its just light snow at or below freezing. Not bad with a decent rain jacket and two layers or so under it. Its all good as long as the road is fairly clear. I wuss out with too much snow on the road.

C'mon. Function over fashion, right? ;)

Just to be sure, you do love riding in the rain, right? ;)

Only to a point, and that is way past it... :lol:

I've found that the worst rainstorms I've rode through were on days with a 20% chance of rain. I'm not sure why that would be, but it seems like it really pours on those days if it rains.

[MENTION=409376]GovernorSilver[/MENTION] you are right! I got a cycling cap and it really does a good job of keeping the rain off my glasses. My wife thinks it looks funny but it is pretty helpful in the rain.

Cool, man!

I have to credit my coworker. One rainy evening we were walking to a bar for happy hour. He was wearing a baseball cap and saying how surprised he was at the difference the cap made in the rain. So I was inspired to order a cycling cap. REI happened to have Art Crank moisture-wicking caps on closeout so I got one. It doubles as my "sweat manager" - does a much better job of reducing the flow of sweat over my eyes than the pads that came with my helmet.

I hit another glorious downpour on my way home tonight. Stopped at Costco after work, and when I came out and loaded up my bike for the ride home the skies opened up for the final 10 miles. Felt fantastic.

I think the rain-proof panniers I bought a couple years ago are turning out to be one of my best investments.

I don't mind being out in the rain when it's not too cold, but riding in the rain is a different story. I have no rain gear, no fenders. My panniers were once water resistant, but they're pretty worn now (I'm shopping for new ones right now in a different browser tab). So far, this year, almost all the rain has been cold. Road grit gets into everything - my eyes, my teeth, my panniers. I get out of work around midnight; there's no way I'm washing the grit off my poor bike (and re-lubing) when I get home.

No, I'm not getting much joy from commuting in the rain.

Incidentally, I wear glasses. Rain and glasses are a pain in the butt, but I don't remember it being much of an issue on my rainy commutes.

Where I live, it rains a lot (over 46 inches since October '15). I don't like riding in the rain. When it rains, it's also cold. Getting to work soaked, freezing, and with a mud stripe that looks like I crapped myself does not do wonders for my mood. I also hate the grit and grime that gets caked all over my bike from riding in the rain. I mind the rain less if it rains on my way home. Plus, the rain makes life a little less safe.

Get some Frogg Toggs to carry with you when they are calling for rain. They only cost around $20.00 and will keep you dry. http://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-Dr...ds=frogg+toggs

I enjoy riding in the rain too. My wife doesn't understand it, but she hates walking 15 feet from the driveway to the door in a light sprinkle.

A few things I've found make it much more enjoyable:
Fenders - The rain coming down is clean and refreshing. The muck coming up is nasty and serenity-sucking.
Waterproof Bags - Riding in the rain is fun, but sitting in the office in wet work clothes is not so much.
Temp - Riding in the rain is a lot more enjoyable above 40 degrees. From about 39 down to 32 if it's raining hard it can turn into a hypothermia risk. I'll still ride, but I have to be aware and make appropriate preparations.

I keep my sunglasses on in the rain (unless it's getting dark outside). Keeps the water from blowing into my eyes so much.

Those look like they're worth a try.

One word: FENDERS.

Get either SKS Longboard or Planet Bike Cascadia; those are the ones with the best coverage (that aren't super-expensive -- they should be about $45 on sale). And yes, you really do want the longest fenders you can get; the dirt-bike-style ones that clip to your seatpost are mostly useless.

I have 26" ATB Cascadias on my old-MTB-turned-commuter-bike, and I only get wet from the water falling from above, not dirty from stuff splashing up from below.

I like the rain when it's above 65 (or maybe 70) and I can just wear my shorts and shirt and get wet. I also like it when it's really cold and I can wear my rain jacket and pants without getting too hot. What sucks is the 45-60 degree range, when it's too cold for getting wet but too warm for rain gear. (I have a relatively-inexpensive Novara Express jacket and pants; maybe if I had shelled out $300 for Gore-Tex my opinion would be different.)

I've tried a couple sets of fenders from SKS. The problem is I can't find ones that fit on the forks since I don't have eyelets and the blades aren't shaped normally. I just picked up some for next fall/ winter that I will try. Most of the LBS around here cater to the MTB crowd for fenders and the road fenders they do have clamp onto the seat post. Internet returns are not my favorite.

Hmm, no REI nearby? Eureka's at least got a Wal-Mart, right?

Ha! I drive down to the Bay Area frequently and stop by REI when I need stuff. I avoid that Wal-Mart like the plague...

Well, there's your answer: order several different fenders online from REI and then return the ones that don't fit next time you drive down there.

:thumb:

Agree with all of these, though I haven't ridden in below-40 rain yet.

I carry my work clothes in a waterproof pannier or waterproof backpack depending on the bike. Both bikes have fenders.

I've learned the hard way to beware of slick road surfaces. You never know when some random oil spot on the road can cause your bike to wipe out under you - in dry weather, they're no problem but when they're wet from rain you might as well be riding on ice.

I'm OK with rain. The worst thing is getting my shoes soaked, just from a comfort standpoint. One time I literally poured water out of my shoes when I got home. If it's warm enough, I'll just ride in sandals or flip flops. I keep some spare rain gear at work (it's no longer completely waterproof) in case I get into one of those 30 to 40 °F situations. I used to carry rain gear 100% of the time, but have gotten more carefree about it in my old age.

Fenders are a toss-up. There just isn't a lot of muck on my route, and my fender-less bikes have stayed reasonably clean. I'd install fenders if that situation ever changed. My new tires (Schwalbe "Citizen") don't toss up a lot of water. Now we're getting into the season where I can largely avoid rain by watching the weather radar and being prepared to wait 15 minutes.

I've mentioned before: Cyclists in my locale seem to be more afraid of rain than of snow.

For better or worse, a factor in a lot of discussions about commuting, is the quality of your workplace. I happen to work in a very casual workplace, with flexible hours, and a job where nobody really knows what I do. I outrank my supervisor. So if something really goes wrong with my commute, I can just turn around, go back home, and figure out what to do next.

"Wet roads are as slick as ice"

"From 32-39 riding in the rain is a hypothermia ..."

Wet roads provide about 90% of the traction of dry roads (according to motorcycle research). So, unless your commute like ride the Tour, you are fine. Just watch out for ground that has a funny shine or looks a different color (oil or gas).

The only risk of hypothermia while riding in the rain is if either you crash and cannot get help (I carry a space blanket for emergencies) or if you commute very, very slowly wearing thin cotton clothing for some reason. But, with decent clothing and rain gear you will be more than warm enough 5-19 minutes into the ride.

I commute year around and only say no when ice is highly likely, plus it does rain a bit here in the Seattle area.

And, Merlino wool socks are nice and warm, even when wet.