My first commute...Rain!
 

Well, I did it, my first commute. I had this planned for a week ago Monday, but massive storms in San Francisco Bay Area thwarted my efforts...I know, most of you commute in snow, but for my maiden voyage, I wanted dry!

Over the weekend, I told myself, the first break in the weather and I am gonna go for it...well, yesterday, rain forecast morning and evening...but today, only morning rain in the forecast...so, away I went...

The downpour started about 2 miles into my very short, 6 mile commute... surprisingly, I felt great...yes wet, but great! Not at all cold, granted this is Ca, so the temps were ~50 degrees. But really a non issue.

Sensing it might rain, I brought a extra shirt and pants..a quick change and I am set for the workday...

Now, if I can do this commute in the rain (the worst element Ca receives), which I proved to myself this morning, I should be able to keep this up 365 days/year in Ca...no excuses!

Laptop and clothes in the seat bag, phone, keys and repair equipment in the glove box, errr, front rack trunk.

So, one more convert!

I think I attached a picture of my wet bike (first time trying)... fortunately, I can bring the bike right to my cube, where it will sit all day, awaiting the ride home!

Congratulations, and may this become a new addiction for you!

Nice work. Rain is no big deal if you are prepared. If we did not commute in the rain up here in the seattle area, there would be only week in the summer when we could ride...:)

Congrats. Great achievement. Invest in some good rain gear, it's well worth it.

You may find that rain riding becomes your favourite :)

Dude, you have an AHH? Awesome!

Anyway, we all ride in the rain at some point, planned or not. Your bike looks prepared for it with fenders, so why not? Congrats.

I do recommend wrapping your laptop and anything else that must not get wet in a plastic bag as extra insurance though.

Awesome commute!

I like that seat bag; it looks huge!

Thanks for the replies...
 

It gets better! I had a haircut scheduled at 10am...no more than a mile away...if I had my car, the drive would have been longer than my ride...literally!

So, my first 'errand' on the bike...

Yup, the Rivendell AHH is decked out for the elements with fenders and 'shellaced' bar tape...it is 'me' that is the softie!

Anyway, that changed, rain or shine, there really is no excuse....

You have no idea, the damage you've done. Next time you drive (even for valid reasons) you'll have this nagging feeling of "why didn't I ride?" Then you'll start to hate yourself for not riding; the anxiety will consume your day.

The very few times I've needed the car to take my boy to preschool, I've tried to figure out ways to ride anyway. Once I rode to work in the morning, rode home to take him to school, brought the car back home, and rode to work again, and back home at night. Two RT bike commutes in one day, just so I could commute by bike...... Yep, you've done it now.

Congrats

That AHH is the ultimate commute machine. No excuse to not ride that rugged beauty! And here's the bonus part, after this January all your dry commutes are going to be pure heaven.

Welcome.

Nice! The rain is never as bad as you think once you get going. I used to commute from outer sunset to soma everyday and I still miss that commute. My commute in Seattle is way less interesting now. And by interesting I mean good bars and restaurants for food/beer on the way home.

Good Job. I too have been riding the the Bay Area rain. As other have said after awhile you just do not care what the weather is, work, dark, light, hot or cold. That is just the way you get the work. ;-)

Day 2...so far so good!

On the way home from work yesterday, I stopped at the Bank. Another errand...!

This morning, rode to work...settled in for an hour or so, then rode to 2 banks...

I am leaving the office in 10 min for a 2pm Doctors appt, then riding to my kids school for a parent teacher conference a 3pm...

Reality check: I do not think for second that my play by play is of any interest to anyone...hahahaha...I am not that cool! I am simply reviewing my activity on the off chance a newbie, like I was 48 hours ago, is contemplating a start to commuting...it can be done! Errands can be run! Rain can be endured!

Go for it!

Going to 3 banks in 2 days. You must have a lot of $$$.

Great work!!!

Wondering how visible your rear light is from under the bag. It might be worth mounting it on the back of the rear bag if you can.... or maybe on your fender?

z

Congratulations. You have imbibed from the jug of Kool-Aid! There is no turning back...

Yep now get on the bike already.

nice looking bike. I might suggest you move the rear reflector so it is mounted to the back of your rear rack, and also get a rear strobe. I like the "planet bike superflash"

I fried a cell phone in the rain so you might consider rain covers for the front/rear bags

you might consider cardboard for under the bike at your cube to protect the carpeting

I think your mudflaps will get many compliments on the forums - you should show them off

Serious congrats! I started commuting a scant 2-3 years ago, and it's just second nature now. I have changed jobs, been laid off, started a new job, and one thing remains constant---desire to research when and how I can ride. I currently do: bike from house to Metro Rail--bus---bike to office. It takes about 60-70 minutes, but worth the extra time. Double congrats on lumping errands into your biking. If you ever lose the bug, just post on here for encouragement. Good on ya!

A new route for me an my Rivendell A Homer Hilsen...
 

Great feedback and warm welcomes, thank you!

Well, I did NOT miss a day...rain or shine, rode my bike every day! I am totally hooked...

Funny thing, I planned my route for a few days prior to my first commute. I 'drove' it for a few days as the week prior to my first ride, the weather was horrible, everyday...and WHO ON EARTH would ride in the rain, that is pure silliness :rolleyes:

Well, after a few days, I change my route, literally 100%.

Originally set out to ID the shortest route....well, shorter it was, but on a mildly busy street, had to cross a freeway using a busy overpass, an elementary school with car doors opening every where, a high school with pubescent teens behind the wheel and a ton of stoplights...

One day last week, I had to go to the cobbler on the way home from work to get an extra hole punched in my leather strap on my saddle bag (had to expand the bag the day before because I needed to stuff the bag to fit the groceries I BOUGHT ON MY WAY HOME, ON MY BIKE, who am I?!?!?!) and had to take a different route home, LONGER. gasp!

Well, what a fortunate find, the new route, while a bit longer, is a complete upgrade!!! Love it...

Anyway, I do not know as much as the rest of you, but I will attempt to pass on a little advice for newbies....Google Maps is the 'best' way to find the shortest route....real life exploring is the 'best' way to find the nicest route...

Well, 6:44am, off to make another batch of that great the cool-aid!

Better watch out that you don't get that brooks saddle too wet. Excessive wetness is bad for the leather. Congrats on your first ride. There was a bit of flooding in San Jose which is always fun :)

4 straight weeks...did not miss a SINGLE day!

Feels soooooo good. Just returned home with a Whole Chicken, 2 sweet potatoes and a 2 bunches of spinach...shopped for dinner on the way home (saddle bag and front trunk bag were stuffed)...I shop 2-3 days/week....

Sweet to read. :thumb: