First ride in the rain today
 

After reading about all of the hearty souls who bike through rain/snow/sleet, I decided that I could do my 7 mile commute through what started as just a light mist today. It was 45 F, so I wore bike shorts, a long-sleeved running shirt, and my bright orange bike jersey over that (I feel uneasy riding roads in lo-vis clothing). The light mist turned to moderate drizzle about half way in, and I was pretty soggy by the time I arrived, but not especially cold. I enjoyed the ride all the same, especially hearing how quiet the park was on that segment. Discovered that those little terry cloth patches on the thumbs of my bike gloves come in handy for wiping off the sunglasses. It's clearing a bit now, and I've got my shoes stuffed with paper towels to dry them off a bit. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that my clothing dries out some. Fortunately, my work clothes stayed dry, but I'll probably start wrapping them in a plastic bag (inside the backpack that I use for carrying).

Ride on!

It's a lot worse talking about it than actually riding in the rain. Same with the winter. It's not that bad.

You might think about getting the type of rain gear used by bass fishermen (http://basspro.com). These suits are built to keep you dry in a bass boat going 50 mph in the rain. With quality rain gear designed to handle extreme conditions, you can bike to work in your work clothes depending upon the length of your ride and other environmental factors. A 10-mile commute could make this difficult depending on climate and topography. I usually pack my shoes and bike in sneakers or sandals.

I learned at an early age to always carry 2 plastic grocery bags (I walked home a lot, one soggy/moldy textbook was all it took). They take up about 2 sq. in. of space, but can water proof nearly anything against rain.

My first ride in a downpour was in '02, in winter here in Austin (so it wasn't really THAT cold). I remember being soaked to the bone, but most of all I remember SMILING and LAUGHING to myself the whole time. The experience really made me feel free, honestly. When we drive we are so disconnected from the seasons and weather.

I'm sure the drivers thought I was absolutely nuts... of course, they were right! To this day, I really don't bring any raingear with me, except for very rare occasions. Having replacement clothes at work helps, though.

One of the things I enjoy the most about riding in the rain is the looks you get from everybody. I can't tell if it's " Oh look at that poor man " or " Oh look at that crazy Son of a B*&^%% ", but it just makes my day.

Anything that's guaranteed to keep all the water out will probably get me just as wet by keeping all the sweat in.

I actually don't care if I'm wet as long as I'm warm.

Edit: I take that back. Dry feet are always a good thing.

I developed a tolerance for rain when I would take cross country trips by motorcycle.

So I pedaled in to work today despite the forcast. NO big deal doing 5 miles in the rain on the way home. However, pretty soon my hands will be getting cold when they get wet. I suppose wool gloves worn inside regular fingerless bike gloves would work, but I was thinking of some of those neoprene fishing gloves? I know thin surgical gloves keep your hands dry but not warm.

What do you use to keep your hands warm in the rain during the cooler temps?

+1... i also find drivers much more considerate.

As long as I don't have to face hail or tornados, I look forward to riding home in the rain. Rain on the way to work/grocerystore/bar/etc is another matter.

Lighting also makes me think twice.

I invented two new sayings about rain rides:

1. "I got wetter than a mad hen."
3. "I was so wet after that ride that I had to take a shower to dry off."

Corny, but feel free....

Today was my first commute in the rain also. After a short while I was smiling. I did seem that cars were being a little more civilized than normal.

I have one of these at the office for just such occasions.