noglider 

The more you do it, the more tolerable it becomes, up to a point, of course.

In case I get soaked, I keep a complete change of clothing at the office, including underwear, socks, shoes, and belt. I end up using it about once a year.

Fenders are a very good idea even if your plan is to avoid the rain. They help a lot. If rain is moderately heavy, fenders will slow down the rate at which you get wet. Get the longest fenders you can get.

fietsbob

It rains I go, (but I'm retired).. & I don't have far to go, its a , pretty, small town.


In the Winter when Marine Squalls come ashore a lot of rain falls in a short period of time,

It's like an advancing curtain, then behind that curtain the rainfall lightens up a bit ..





....

no motor?

I don't commute in the rain very often, but I kind of like riding in it. I rode home last night in a light rain and was kind of peaceful as well as exciting wondering if I was going to get home before the heavy rains got here.

RubeRad

There's a saying, "There is no bad weather -- only bad raingear". If you are properly equipped, riding in the rain vs dry should be no more difficult than rain vs dry in a car.

That said, here where I live in SoCal, there's not much rain for me to ride in. I used to try to make a point of riding in the rain, kind of out of solidarity to all the rest of y'all, but recently I've decided I've got nothing to prove.

I keep my car at work, so if it's raining in the morning, I ride to work in the rain. If it starts raining during the day, I decide whether to ride or drive home based on the forecast.

winston63 

I wouldn't ride all that often if I didn't ride in the rain!

Fenders are an automatic addition to all my bikes and I have good lights. I prefer to ride with wide tires and slightly lower pressure when the streets are wet and I do take a bit more care when cornering, etc.

I don't often wear raingear but I do keep spare clothes at work. And when it's really pouring out I usually pack an extra pair of socks. I hate wet feet.

bikerbobbbb

I do, year around, regardless of weather. But I'm only out maybe 10 minutes (depending on how fast I can go) for 1 mile roughly for most trips.

Fenders like others mentioned.

Pedals with nubs on them are very good too. The original pedals I had were super smooth. Too dangerous when wet. Ones with points help for grip.

Using a big umbrella still works. There are different ways of holding it (arched index finger, in line with your forearm) that help to keep your hand from going numb. I can't figure out a good solution for the knees, although I may have accidentally found something recently if the rain isn't that bad.

Coast and keep the umbrella as low as possible. Keep you legs straight and as under the umbrella as possible.


I've tried rain pants, but it's extra work. And an extra layer can heat you up so you start sweating. Otherwise, a change of shoes, pants, or whatever can work too. Still more work though.

A different route with more things to ride or hide under if possible.

They also make nylon material gaiters. I tried those but they're kind of narrow. Bike riding can build up leg muscles I guess. Gaiters were ok but still a pain to put on. If you don't want to change clothes though, they do cover your lower leg somewhat well.

Ditto for a poncho or rain coat -- It heats you up.

I found no real solution when it's really pouring rain, and then if it's too windy for an umbrella, it just doesn't work. It's easier to ride and get soaked then. The bigger the umbrella, the more coverage, but the more it catches wind (fun when it's light rain and you get pushed like a sail though).

Reynolds 

I ride in the rain, no problem. My commuter bike has fenders and mudflaps and I wear a cycling cape & rain hat, so I stay dry. My shoes do get a little wet in a downpour - I should buy some sort of shoe covers.

johngwheeler

...as the song says, "nunca llueve en el sur del California" - ¡Que suerte!

blakcloud

Rain doesn't bother me at all. Once you get fenders you have it made. I do accept the fact no matter what I do, buying Shower Pass jacket, rain paints,helmet cover, you still get wet so get use to it. It is part of the experience. With that said its not for everyone.

mcours2006

It rained all night last night and continued to do so as I left the house. Then it got heavier, and with the wind in my face gusting at 45-50 km/h it was one of the most miserable rides I've had, rivaling the freezing rain of a few months ago. Needless to say everything was wet, and I mean everything, including socks when the water had somehow seeped in through my neoprene shoe covers. Goggles were replaced with just visors midway, and even they weren't any better. In the end I rode without any protection for the eyes.

Bottom line: when the rain is heavy like this, no gear/equipment is going to keep you dry. The wind just adds another layer of misery.

As I mentioned earlier, I am fortunate to have a means to dryer here at work to dry everything before the ride home.

Let's face it, any sort of precipitation sucks when you're on a bike. I'd rather take -30*C than this cold rain.

RonE

I try to ride to commute 2 or 3 times a week. So, I can often pick the good days to ride and leave out the bad. I live in central Florida, so I generally do not need to worry about how cold it is and it generally does not rain that much during the winter anyway. Typically, if it is raining in the morning or there is a good chance of rain all day, I put my ride of until the next day.

The interesting time for me is during the summer when thunderstorms occur almost every afternoon. The scattered thunderstorms often have quite heavy rain with lots of lightning. When I ride, I watch the radar in the afternoon and choose when to head home, sometimes a little early and sometimes later. I can do a relatively good job predicting where the storms will be up to about an hour out. Unfortunately, my commute is a little less than 1.5 hours, and I have gotten caught a surprising number of times by bad storms just a few miles from home.

If the rain is not too hard and the lightning is not nearby, I turn my lights on and continue on. Some of the time, I have to hole up somewhere and wait it out, or call my wife for an extraction. I prefer not to ride in the rain because the streets often flood from the quick downpours and the drivers do not pay good enough attention to their surroundings.

The good thing about the summer afternoon rain is that it drops the temperature from 95 degrees F to the 70s pretty quickly, making for a much more comfortable temperature.

snow_echo_NY

yes i ride in the rain.
three things -
(1) full fenders
(2) neoprene paddling gloves with grip. warmth and dexterity a plus.
(3) toe clips/clipless to keep feet on pedals.

my ride is 25 minutes or 4.5 miles one way, with a shower and towels on both ends.

toe covers are nice on the downpour days but not helpful after awhile. i have two sets of cycling shoes b/c of this. you can obtain neoprene booties? i have these but have not tried cycling in them. the sole is not firm enough is my first thought.

RubeRad

I thought the song said "It never rains in California, but when it rains it pours!"

globie

I ride in regular rain as long as it's above 32F, and actually quite enjoy it. I'm lucky to have flexible hours, so in a heavy morning thunderstorm, I can wait it out and do some work from home. Thunder rarely lasts longer than 30 minutes or so here in the Midwest. I have one commuter bike, equipped with very good fenders and lights, so I'm always ready to roll. I have a good place to hang wet clothes at work, and they're usually dry or mostly dry by the time I head home. I also know all the spots along my route where I can take shelter if lightning or high winds start up. Don't mess with those.

Mr Pink57

I do not really have much of a choice, rain does not seem to start in the morning, it comes in the afternoon on my way him. I keep a rain cape in my desk drawer in case it does. I have full fenders and my commute is maybe 2 miles. I actually enjoy it sometimes, less walkers on the MUPS and washes the crap off the roads.

I do have a full rain gear set from Merrell and it was the best money I spent, a proper rain kit when needed is priceless.

devianb

If it is raining before I leave for work then I don't ride. I will tolerate rain coming home from work, but certainly not before.

1nterceptor

Yes.

bikemig 

Rain is where wool really shines.

johngwheeler

Agreed. I have lots of merino wool base & mid-layers, and it's very comfortable when wet, although a bit heavier. I have a Gore-Tex Active outer shell, but I still sweat when wearing it. I've yet to find any waterproof that keeps you dry from inside when exericsing, so having a comfy base layer is really importnat.

Chuck Naill

Yes, I love wool.


If I want to ride and it's raining, I want to have the clothing which will allow me to do it comfortably. That goes for any activity I participate. I spent $500 on a dry suit so I can paddle in the Winter comfortably.


The Kona I ride came with fenders. I did not know how practical these were. I have had the bike since last Fall and have ridden in all sorts of weather and have had no need to wash or clean the bike.

bikemig 

i dunno what the cross section of your tires is but riding in the rain is where a wider tire run at lower pressure really helps. You probably know this but if the roads are slick from water, you don't want to lean into a turn; take it upright.

vsudhir18

yeah it's fun

Darth Lefty 

heh heh heh

bikemig 

That's why your bike needs training wheels,

Currmudge

I have rain gear, so no excuse. Right now, my commute is sinfully short (2 mi), but I also did it when it 9 through town. It only gets unpleasant to me if the temps are below 40F.

Once, about a dozen or so years ago, I rode home through a DOWNPOUR, monsoon-like, visibility maybe 80 ft. Two miles from home, the street on my route for that day was flooded. I said the hell with it, and rode through.

The water was just below the BB, so every pedal stroke was a splash; my Pearl Izumi socks bled black patterns onto my ankles, and my derailleur quit working two days later. I smiled all the rest of the way home.