swekarl

Does anyone more of you love riding hard in the rain?

I'm up commuting again. I've moved outside the city, so it's a 40 minute ride every morning and evening.

Distance? Speed?

I don't know. Since my bike (and the Selle gel saddle, and the SPD pedals, and the bar ends, and so on...) got stolen, I have used public transport (also 40 minutes door do door). But four days ago, my dad brought me my old high school bike from the country. I can't higher the saddle, nor use all the gears, but still ... IT'S A BIKE!!! And it has no computer what so ever, so I have no idea how far or fast I traveled.

Today the rain poured down as I left work. What did it matter. If you push and pull really hard you work up the sweat necessary not to catch a cold. I found myself liking it. My upper body was as dry as it can be (wet only from sweat) under my fab Shimano jacket (worth at least twice as much as the bike...). I bought it for my long tour through Central Europe, so it was like the remains of those happy bikedays back then. The only reminder.

Anyway, as I reached my door, the whole of me (except the upper body) was soaking wet. Despite this, I caught myself smiling in the mirror of the entrance door, water dripping from my hair. I think biking through a rainy Europe made me immune to rain for all future. What I thought now was only: I've been through worse. This was nothing! I even enjoyed it!

Then I through a readymade protein-rich fish dish into the microwave oven and took a warm shower while it prepared. It feels so good!!! It feels almost like after one of those stages of my tour! I love it.

Does anyone relate?

timmhaan

i can relate. i feel like i'm doing an epic battle out there when it starts to storm. a nice long hot shower just feels sooooo good and well deserved at the end. the only thing i don't like about riding in the rain is that my bike gets really dirty and i usually have to clean the drivetrain well if i'm to go out again.

samundsen

I LOVE to ride in the rain. I could be weird, but I've found myself sitting in my office looking out the window at the rain, wishing I was out there. I've even been disappointed when the rain has cleared up in time for my ride home.

I always carry raingear in my backpack, though it happens that I just keep riding. Living in Houston it's humid enough at this time of year it doesn't really make much difference whether you get wet from sweat or rain.

Sverre

Chris L

I actually seek opportunities to ride in the rain. I've often found myself putting other things off so I can go riding just because it's raining. Mind you, around here it rarely gets cold enough to justify a jacket of any kind. I did, however, experience two consecutive days of freezing rain on my tour of Tasmania last "summer" (Summer? yeah, right, our "winters" don't get that cold). I camped in it the first night, but when I got back to National Park (yes, that is the name of a town), I stayed in the local pub and utilised the first hot shower in days.

Let me tell you something, that was about the only time I've ever seen an entire pub go dead quiet just to hear a weather forecast!

NYCommuter

Wow!
I was thinking about posting the same message (minus the stolen bike piece) while riding in the rain this morning!!!
I agree...riding in the rain is yet another great thing about bike commuting.
One of my favorite things is that there are no "fair weather" riders, jay-walkers, or skaters to worry about!
With the proper gear, what could be an annoyance for most commuters (cars and pedestrians included), turns into a fun and pleasant ride. Proper gear for me is a rain jacket, bib shorts (summer) and glasses.
I won't ride in the rain if it is below freezing. Otherwise... bring it on!

slvoid

Heh in NYC, there are always jaywalkers.
And if it's below freezing, you won't be riding in the rain, it'll be called snow

NYCommuter

Jeez.... I see the rain put you in a great mood again today!.... did you ride in?

brokenrobot

I had exactly the same thought today on the way in! It's nice not to have to dodge the wobblers and wrong-way riders while playing in traffic...

andretan

It rained in Singapore as well in the afternoon. Got a little wet before I managed to reach a sheltered canteen to get a hot cup of coffee.

After the rain and upon reaching my destination, my bike (and I) went down on some wet tiled pavement. I'm on slicks by the way. Nothing bad except a small cut. Luckily.

Cheers.

mtessmer

Someone once told me that there is no such thing as bad weather, just different kinds of weather. I kind of enjoy riding in the rain too, the air is so fresh and clean, the rif-raff is off the streets for the most part.

swekarl

I'm amazed by how much some of you love to ride in the rain! I actually prefer sunshine, but rain is really good too.

Mtessmer, I really like that attitude, that there is just different kinds of weather. Makes me think of the wonderful Gore-Tex ads.

bluejack

The last couple of days it has been raining unusually hard here
in Seattle. We're known for rain, of course, but usually it's just
a drizzle. I get to work, rivulets streaming down my all-weather
gear, and people say "Wow, must be nasty, eh?"

No way! I love it! It's cool, and I have at once an unusual
connection to the world and a fabulous protection from it.
I have to be a lot more careful, of course: there are some
serious downhill stretches, some puddles obscuring dangerous
potholes, that kind of thing. But in general, there's a fabulous
feeling of being one with the weather, and of knowing that
nothing can stop you!

I will say, yesterday it was raining so hard that on one of the
big downhills, I could hardly see. There was so much water
in my face I could only squint through tiny slits and keep
careful control of my speed. There was a green light down
there, and I wanted to make it, but the crossing has a big
bump in it that at 40mph will send the bike flying. At 20 mph
in a total downpour, what would it do? I didn't rush it, the
light held for me, and all was well.

But that's all part of the fun, isn't it?