RichSPK

Those look like they're worth a try.

mrchaotica

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.)

mister

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.

mrchaotica

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

mister

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...

mrchaotica

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.

GovernorSilver

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.

Gresp15C

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.

Kindaslow

"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.

Kindaslow

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

Daniel4

I generally like riding in the rain. No pedestrians in the MUPs.

During my first spring commute, I was caught in a thunderstorm going home c/w lightening (June 2014). When I got home I jumped straight into the shower. When I got out, my wife told me the roof was leaking and rain was dripping on to the stove. The news the next morning was that a golfer had been struck by lightning but he was saved by another golfer who was a nurse.

scoatw

No eyelets, no problem. https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...t-cf-fork.html

wphamilton

But avoid painted lines, because they can be slick as ice. Also wet leaves. And wet boardwalk. In my own experience I'm much more likely to fall during inclement weather for one reason or another, so my policy is take it easy.

Kindaslow

The painted lines seem fine, if you are going straight with them or straight across them, otherwise much caution is needed. Leaves have always been interesting to me. There are a ton of wet leaves here for a couple of weeks each year and sometimes they feel very slick and other times not, so I always slow down. No boardwalks in my area, except MTBing, and they are much less intimidating on a MTB.

wphamilton

Most of the time they're fine, but you'll probably agree that you can't take them for granted when wet. Motorcyclists are even more paranoid about them than we are.

What makes leaves slick, IMO, is decaying matter between the leaves. That's why just one layer of leaves is no big deal, and it's leaves that have been there a day or few days that you really have to watch out for.

long john

lol

andyprough

Why stop there? Get an ELF

GovernorSilver

I was talking about oil spots and other stuff on wet roads, not every single millimeter of all wet roads. Perhaps you missed this part of my post:

You never know when some random oil spot on the road can cause your bike to wipe out under you

I'm sure most people understood that but just in case...

Kindaslow

You, and a lot of folks, imply that riding in the rain is extremely dangerous. Like random oil spots are just waiting to jump out and attack. A whole bunch of us in the Seattle and Portland area seem to somehow survive the madness, though. I am sure,though, that most people understand that.....

GovernorSilver

No, you're being melodramatic, by putting the "extremely" in there.

I have a deep cut over my eye and various other bruises after falling due to some kind of slippery spot on a wet road this past Friday. I'm just saying I learned to be more careful riding in the rain, that's all.

Kindaslow

I am sorry to hear that you got injured, truly.

i believe if you read your post in which you quoted me, you could see you started the sarcasm. I just made the choice to continue it. I do not want a fight, but I also do not want the world believing wet roads are profoundly dangerous. Those beliefs can lead to people riding in fear and over reacting when little things occur. Wet roads need to be respected, but are not all that much different than dry roads (except a first rain after a long dry spell).

GovernorSilver

There's no sarcasm intended by me.

All I meant was that riding on an oil spot on a wet road is like riding on ice. You somehow blew that out of proportion. Everybody knows what I really said - it's all documented in this thread. I can't be held responsible for what others make up in their heads.

I'm going to goddam commute this week despite my injuries. If I really thought riding was profoundly dangerous like you say, I wouldn't ride anymore.

Kindaslow

It appears that you want a fight, and I do not. Re-read this in a week, I think you will read it differently. If you want to continue the discussion, please PM me.

Good luck with your commute.

GovernorSilver

I didn't want a fight. Who picked a fight with whom is self-evident in this thread. Where did I ever say don't ride in the rain because of oil spots? You made that up.

andyprough

Google maps took me on a "bike route" on Saturday which was nothing more than a barely discernible tire track for half a mile through an overgrown, muddy pasture. I looked at it and thought, "nope", but then decided to try it anyway. First thing I did was wipe out on the muddy track and take a spill into the grass beside it. Turns out that the field was using the mud bike track as a kind of a drainage ditch and a steady stream of water was running right beneath the surface of the mud, and I had zero traction.

Kind of fun though. I did the rest of the path at about 3 miles an hour, riding the brake the whole way. My poor tires were spitting off globs of mud for the next 5 miles once I hit the asphalt again.

Ended up finding a beautiful little lake right in the middle of Dallas at the end of the bike trail. White Rock Lake. Beautiful place with 9 1/2 miles of hardtop bike trails all around the shore: