... get it? I've commuted on days when it's rained before, but this is the first time I've left for work, on the bike, when the river called Edgar Street was already a centimeter deep. It sucked, but not as bad as it could have been - I did a dry run Saturday. Here's what I learned:

(1) Keeping a pair of shoes at work doesn't cut it. Dry socks would have been a luxurious thing to have waiting for me. I'm wearing wool ones now, so it's not bad ... but I'll remember a pair tomorrow.

(2) Goretex is a wonderful thing, probably more so the further north you live. Other waterproof fabrics keep you dry, too.

(3) Rain doesn't imply cold. Wind does, but not when you're wearing pants and a jacket that block the wind. I wore a merino base layer and a cashmere insulation layer, at least until the first hill I got to.

(4) Panniers are a wonderful invention, unlike fenders. This spring, I had no way to store a layer if I got warm halfway in. I would either sweat or shiver, but cargo room is comfort in foul weather.

(5) I'm actually happy to be on my commuter instead of my road bike, because it has disc brakes.

(6) My coworkers have stopped being surprised. "Forrest is one of those crazy bike people."

Up until now, I've been wearing quick dry pants over a merino base layer, and it's treated me well when I've been caught in the rain. But today it's torrential.

I've had a few of those days, oddly enough i had one this summer. This year though i spent some money and got decent rain wear and i am sooo happy i did, fall and early winter is rain season in boise (luckily being in a valley means we get rain and not much snow) and i think its rained like 9 days since oct 1 and ive so far stayed dry with exception of my feet i still havent figured that one out, i just do the same as you and keep shoes and socks at work. And +1 on water tight panniers by far the best thing EVER invented!!!

my first today too. I've been commuting from Tukwila to the central UW campus since this summer, and I've ridden in my fair share of rain so far, but nothing like this morning. Visibility was horrible, I had to slow down to see things even with bright lights. But it wasn't bad. Didn't get too cold, and the Golite goretex PacLite phantasm shell I picked up for backpacking has proven to be a great cycling shell.

gloves, shoes, and socks are utterly soaked. I always stash dry work socks and a dry pair of wool socks for the ride home. I think my shoes will be wet all week though.

I was feeling lit up like a christmas tree last week in the nice weather, but glad I have all the lights now. I run a PB superflash tail light on both the bike and my helmet. Blinky white headlamp on the helmet and a 1W PB flasher up front, with a bigger light for seeing the road when I need it. I also added some spokelights to my wheels, and I feel it really helps when dealing with merging traffic. I have 3 spots in my commute where a lane is added from the right, and I have to dance to get back to the shoulder. I feel like I get more space and time to do so with the spokelights.

Enjoy the rain!

Have not gone out in a extreme downpour yet, but waiting impatiently here in sunny CA. Why you may wonder? Because I bought some 1.5mm neoprene sock and Sealskinz sock. I figure one or both in combo will keep my toes happy.

yeah, todays rain in seattle is pretty thick.
last weeks was a bit worse tho... buckle up.. got 6 more months of this

It was indeed pretty juicy out there this morning.

My rain lessons learned over the past years:

1. Lake winter riding boots not only keep your feet dry, but are good for back to back commutes because they are waterproof (if you keep the leather treated).

2. If you do get caught out with your regular shoes, and they get soaked, stuff newspaper in them - works well to draw the moisture out. Change out the newspaper every 2-3 hours for best results.

3. A helmet with a visor helps to keep the rain out of your eyes.

4. No matter how breathable my outerwear is (I am a fan of Showerspass), I still generate enough heat/sweat that my riding clothes get wet, so I carry a full change of clothes for work.

5. Always carry two pairs of gloves in the winter...one for riding into work and one for riding home.

I can't imagine commuting in a PNW downpour and then actually wearing any of the same clothes for work. Wow!

Definitely. If anything, I'm less likely to wear extra clothes - e.g. leggings - on wet days since it just means more to dry out. Skin is more waterproof than any clothing. In a really warm rainstorm I'd probably commute in just a thong, and my bike shoes of course.

Riding in the PNW does take some special preparations for when it rains and have heard that things have been torrential there of late... besides being wet, it's cold, and once you are soaked the riding can become hellish.

I'd take snow over that kind of rain any day.

yes!
i just learned this trick.. after having one pair of soaked "water resistant" gloves for the trek in and out.

I stay pretty dry in torrential rain, the last thing I refined was putting plastic bags on my feet (preferrably the ones newspapers come in). I put them over my socks and then put my shoes on. Worked well.

What do you guys do with your bikes when you ride it in the rain? I park mine next to my desk and that's one of the things that's keeping me from riding in "real" rain. (other than it hardly rains here). Walking through the office with a dripping bike would be frowned on i'm sure, and I don't ever plan to park my bike outside for 8+ hrs.

In that kind of rain I wear Showers Pass touring shoe covers. Not cheap, but worth the $$. They keep me totally dry and comfortable. Heavy duty and built to last.

People get used to seeing me go out in my rain gear all the time,
now that it's the Rainy half of the year.
just leave the black over-trousers on , and wear my polar-fleece bottoms
or sweatpants underneath.

I got soaked really good a couple of times this year. One thing I learned is .. always have a spare pair of socks and keep them dry, so when you get to work you can change.

Yep - it was raining much harder than typical this morning.

I keep several full changes of clothing at work for this sort of thing (or for my above-average clumsiness with coffee & food)... days like today make it all worth it.
Even if it is only stashing a shirt, a dressy sweater, and fresh underclothes - they take very little space, last indefinitely, and on days when you need them there is no substitute.

@Seattle Forrest - I sent you a PM just now on a totally unrelated topic, then saw this thread... so check your PMs

also readily available and helpful are breadbags... use whatever you've got in this weather.

Showers Pass makes about the best long-range-riding / commuter gear, but also quite spendy. My commutes aren't long enough to justify it, but I'd consider shelling out for it were I to get more winter miles in.

LOL... I have a change of clothes at work. It seems like there is gonna be a lot of rain in the upcoming days... I love riding in torrential down pours haha

I always loved riding in a downpour. It's fun, and also has the advantage that I don't get sweaty on those rides.

Just plain miserable for about a mile then you forget all about it for the most part. The part I like the least is when I am riding home and the wind is blowing the rain sideways and if you don't keep your head down a bit then you will drown from the rain blowing into your nose. lots o fun indeed.

I use the newspaper bags over my shoes (not clipless) and tuck the tops of the bags under the ends of my cycling tights (worn under rain pants). Then I put ankle length rubber Totes over the bags and cover the tops of the Totes with the ends of my rain pants. The bags make slipping on the Totes easier. My beater bike for inclement weather is equipped with strapless toeclips that work well with the bulky Totes.

Interesting that you posted this at exactly the time I was leaving for work this morning. I blame you (OP) for the heavy rains through Pearl City and Pearl Harbor this morning.

But to get back at you, I bet my ride home will be better, drier than yours was.

I work on the UW campus which has many covered outdoor bicycle parking areas. I do try to park in the middle of the structure since being near the windward side will mean that the saddle and bike may be getting wet all day.

I did not particularly enjoy the commute in the driving rain this morning. However, I kept pretty dry, since I wear a rain cape. It kept me quite dry (at least from the neck down). We better get used to this, as it is a La Nina year.

was nice on the way home tho, wasn't it?

Sure was, if you like rain...