Hi all. I just started bike commuting five days a week here in the San Francisco Bay Area and am planning on doing it year-round. I was wondering about how rainy days to expect (a few weeks of rain total? more than a month?). Is it worth having a secondary, rain-ready bike? Or, doing a weather-prep of my main bike?

Thanks for any advice/opinions.

If you just moved to the area you are about to enjoy the bay area's rainy season which lasts from Oct./Nov. - Feb./Mar. when it usually rains several times per week. You've got a couple of months to ready your rain bike.

Godspeed.

I know it doesn't snow much or get very cold there, but I can't stand a cold rain. I'll take 15 degrees and snowing over 40 degrees and raining any day.

The other point to note is that it rarely rains both in the morning AND in the evening (at least here in the South Bay).

Thanks for the info. Do any of you have a specific bike set aside just for foul weather? Or, do you go with your main ride?

There is only one ride.

Yeah, if I was to be totally honest with myself, I think I'm just looking for an excuse to get and set up another bike, haha...

I just throw some fenders on my Cross Check which is my year-round commuter.

The other other point is that the rain isn't always constant. Often the weather report in the evening predicts morning rain, and I have a dry ride in to work. As bigbenaugust implies, there are at least three microclimates in the bay area.

Personally, I equip with fenders and rain cape (admitedly most prefer rain suit) and bike in all but a downpour. If there is a downpour on the way home, oh well, I get home mostly dry and change clothes.

Welcome to the neighborhood,

Tony

Stop ya whinin'.

Living in San Fran is a dream.

Great, great city. I would love to live in a place with as few Republicans as possible.

Rain usually comes in large weather systems so that we usually have no rain or several days of on-and-off rain. That being, I think it's good to either have a bike that's very rain tolerant, i.e. a single speed bike or otherwise one with an internal hub. In other words, no exposed drivetrain because your cogs, rings and derailleurs will quickly accumulate road grime on wet days and if you ride every day, you can either leave it on there or clean it off. The former is undesirable and the latter becomes annoying when done constantly.

If you have the means and the will, I suggest getting a bike that's set up for wet weather use... either single speed or internal gear hub. If you want it (externally) geared, I suggest you get something that allows you to mount full fenders so as to reduce how dirty your drivetrain gets.

All I know is that it rains a lot less in SF than it does where I am in Sonoma County. SF weather is pretty screwy, still have yet to figure it out.

I'll give ya a reason to get a second bike: Get a fixed-gear bike that accommodates fenders. You might be riding it even in the driest of summer days.

I'm in the SF Bay Area as well and started commuting 4x per week @ 32miles RT
this year.

I purchased a Giant TCR 1 road bike and I love it but I'm beginning to think I will
need a commuter bike with some fenders ect. If price was no object, can I get
some suggestions on a all around winter commuter bike as well.

Thanks and sorry to High jack, OP..

Lips

From what I remember, different places in the Bay area had consistently different weather. Sometimes, just a mile or two and there was a significant change. I lived in the Mission district and frequently it would be nice and sunny when the rest of the city was foggy and cold. Then there is the Sunset district... why do they even call it that?

Wild guess: Because it's on the western most side on the peninsula?

I think unk is making fun of the stereotype that the Sunset is usually swamped in fog.

Thanks for everyone's replies! Now, anyone have a link to good advice on rain-prepping a bike (if there is such a thing)?

With excetion to Kauai, I don't give a hoot where you live, it ain't as rainy as Seattle.

You'll enjoy commuting in San Fran. My only serious suggestion, is perhaps a triple is definitely in order.