Rain
 

I've been commuting by bike as a way of life for many years. But here in Atlanta, the rain can be rare. So I can get by avoiding it, usually.

But I've noticed (thanks to BikeForums and the internet) that many of you commuters in other locations have to deal with rain (especially cold rain) much more frequently.

What tips do you have for cold rain? Please let me know. I want to be a fully-prepared bicycle commuter.

Thanks. :)

(PS--my route is about 15 miles each way, but I can hop the bus/train with my bike if I need to.)

I think we have different ideas of what cold rain is but the basics remain the same.

We are getting some cold and freezing rain here of late... I just wish it would snow.

I wear the same gear in this weather as I do for dry cold in that I have a base layer, insulated layer, and a few waterproof shells... the shells change in relation to the temperature.

My riding shoes are lightly insulated and waterproof and I have waterproof rain mitts to go over my gloves and this keeps me a happy and relatively dry camper.

Windbreaking waterproof jacket, I personally use my ex-service Goretex camou thing, as I can't buy another just yet. As long as the wind is kept off your skin, it'll keep you warmer when you're riding in cold wet conditions. Layer up according to the weather as always.

Get fenders (I use the Planet Bike Hardcore Freddy Fenders), it helps a lot more than you may think.

I've just cleaned my bike + drivetrain clean/lube for the 2nd time in 2 weeks (note: this particular bike has no fenders and it's gets MESSY), and I feel this isn't enough really considering the crap we've had the past couple of weeks... Be prepared to clean at least your drivetrain fairly regularly just to keep it in trim.

Other than that, it's mostly common sense for me - if it's cold, dress accordingly. I have only worn rain pants twice, I've rarely felt it necessary in the conditions I've ridden in.

My commutes are typically no longer than 40 minutes outside exposure and so far I've ridden in heavy rain and slight hail this autumn season.

Layering up for the conditions is good. Don't forget some type of windproof/waterproof gloves or mittens as well as the jackets and overtrousers. You want to be able to use your hands on the brakes at some time in your ride and they tend to work better when not frozen stiff.

Just remember that everyones (including yours) braking distance will almost double and allow for that. If it is raining the sky is overcast and visibilty will also be reduced. I would suggest a bright jacket with reflective tape or a reflective vest worn over the top.

Right now I can't remember what to do in cold rain as it is warm with strong gusty winds.;)

So far the only rain I've faced is on my way home, about a 4.5 mile ride...a cotton undershirt and $3.99 hi vis/reflective vest has done the trick. On the way to work an undershirt and reflective windbreaker did the trick. http://www.bostonindustrial.com/hiviwirestcl.html

A 15 mile commute might be daunting to me if it was all rain though.

Remember to rely on the rear brake during turns because the ground will be slippery.

I learned this the hard way on a patch of wet concrete.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4348/thepretty3.jpg

are you flexing?

big front mudflap. well waxed leather gloves. a nice wool baselayer. windstopper skullcap under helmet, helmet cover on occasion. Today it is dumping in seattle, and I will probaby not run the helmet cover, just the windstopper cap.

good rain jacket (duh!), fat street tires for good contact patch on pavement. For the last couple of years, with the ever increasing LED technologies, daylight visible, high powered blinkies.

I drive when it's pissing in the morning. If I ride and rain comes once I've left....oh well. Raincoat and Pants. Deal with it.

For emergency use you can wear plastic bags between socks and shoes. Use lightweight carrier bags and tie them on the outside so they dont catch in the chain. Tuck them under your rainpants to allow water to drip off and cinch the assembly tight with some bike clips, veclro straps or elastic bands.
If your helmet came with a removable peak, fit it to keep rain off your face, esp good for people who use eyewear.

Today was my first real test of my new cold rain getup. I've got fenders and mudflaps for starters, but I used to wear rain pants and a rain jacket. I finally realized I'm getting just a wet from sweating in a non-breathable jacket as I would from the rain itself. Today I wore a lightweight polypro baselayer (top and bottom) with my bibs over the baselayer, generic running tights over the bibs, and a Performance Tundra II jersey. I had a microfleece hat as a helmet liner, my Bellwether No-Aqua booties and PI Cyclone full finger gloves. Holy cow, what a combo! Yeah, I was sopping wet when I got to work... but I wasn't cold at all.

Thanks, all.

Very good info., I have had some experiences with rain over the years, but wanted more.

I appreciate it. (Don't hesitate to add anything, I'm just thankin' folk.) :)

Buy crash pads (or a similar product) shorts or full length pants, they also have upper body protection available...you wear your regular bike clothing over them. When/if you fall, the padding really saves wear and tear on your body. Here's a link to their line:
http://crash-pads.com/intro.aspx?dept=bike

O2 makes some neat and affordable light weight rain/wind gear:
http://www.rainshield.com/p_cycling.html
http://www.upnorthgeneralstore.com/r...ainshield.html

Never seen anybody use capes, but it might be worth looking into:
http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/rain-capes.cfm

Here in FL it rains for about 15 minutes at a time and the
sun stays out. Very strange. I just roll through it, enjoy the
cleansing nature of it and then change into the dry stuff, sox,
t-shirt etc that I keep in a waterproof bag. :)

Cold heavy rain, i use an Elite jacket from www.showerspass.com. For a 100% waterproof jacket, it has the most breathable material and the most venting i've seen in a cycling cut jacket.

For cold light rain, I use a windshirt. Im currently using a Montane Marathon jacket. Weighs less than 4 oz's and fits in its stow pouch which is smaller than an orange. So far I've been dry in light-moderate rain for an hour commute.

Head, i always use a helmet cover and wear a headsweats bandana. I tried windstopper type beanies, but I arrived at work with hair that made me no longer 'customer friendly'.

Gloves, i prefer windblocker gloves. Anything else has too much padding and doesnt dry over the course of a work day.

I love reading.

I think he asked about "cold rain." I love hearing the people from florida and california chime in. I had never been in warm rain until I was in Alabama. You wouldn't want to be caught in today's rain in the Puget Sound area in cotton t-shirt or just "rolling through it." My commute this evening... 38 degrees, dark, 15-20 mph wind, and pouring COLD rain. But, I loved every minute of it! because I was warm and dry on the inside. I had on my Northface hyvent waterproof/windproof pants (lined cycling tights underneath), neoprene booties with wool socks, a base layer (under armour), a medium weight fleece layer, and a goretex rain/wind shell. I have some waterproof gloves that aren't too bulky. I had on a thin "beanie" under my helmet that covered the top of my ears. It takes few minutes to get dressed, but after that the ride is enjoyable. The only thing that bothers me about the rain now is the drops on my glasses and the fact that they fog up when I have to stop at an intersection or traffic signal. I'm looking forward to my daily 20 mile RT commutes in the COLD rain for the next 4-5 months.

I rolled for an hour tonight in Puget Sound region in the cold rain wearing cotton shants, wool socks, gore windstopper helmet liner, leather gloves, wool t-shirt, cotton polo, and non waterproof pertex jacket.

no big deal, perhaps the bigger issue about rain is the right attitude about riding in it!

Yep I am. Although at the moment being the tail end of spring it is the Nor'wester - Sou'wester - Easterly cycle.;) All tending to be strong and gusty and a bugger to ride into even on a recumbent.

But when the wind is behind you, you can bike at about 40kph barely peddling.:)

When it comes to bad weather, details count. That back brake that needed replacing but was sort of OK in dry weather...may not cut it in the rain. Also check your clothing while riding...rain pants should block water from filling the shoe from the top. Same with rain coat sleeves.

Hi,

Just to add my little tip. I commute every day in the Netherlands and it is raining a lot and it is freezing cold. Don't forget your feet! I use the bonshoes (http://www.bonsu.com). Great value/quality for your money. Good luck....

Vince

I, too, thought it was interesting hearing from southern and sunny weather residents in response to the question about cold rain. Here in Ohio, dressing for the weather presents interesting challenges because this is one of the few areas where you can have a 40 degree temperature swing from your morning commute to the evening.

Personally, I don't give a rip about the rain part and only dress for the cold part. Meaning I make sure I have enough layers on to stay warm and prefer not to use waterproof rain gear. I mix my daily commuting with training and group rides, and the reduced breatheability (is that a word?) of waterproof gear makes it too difficult to go hard if the weather changes during the ride. Wearing multiple layers means I can shed whatever I don't need. Jersey pockets are a wonderful thing.

I live in the Tennessee but we still get plenty of cold rain in the winter. Usually it will rain instead of snow even when the temperature is well below freezing, which I don't understand. Regardless, I just wear my normal winter clothes: Jeans, T-shirt, long-sleeved T-shirt, jacket, gloves, tennis shoes and sweater hat. I take dry clothes with me and change once I get to work.