My cold threshold is a bit higher than a lot of folks here, but anything above 70F, I just get wet (and rather enjoy it). Below that, it depends. In this area, it's usually a light mist or drizzle, in which case I have a Novara Jacket and tights that are water resistant enough to get by for up to a couple hours ride. If it's really coming down, I will wear a lighter under layer, and get the actual waterproof jacket and overpants. By the time it's cold enough that I would need the really waterproof stuff, and the heavier insulation, there's ice on the roads, and I drive the car. :p

For me it involves bigger, softer tires, full coverage fenders with mudflaps, improving the lighting situation, and just accepting on some level that I'm gonna get wet.

If my commute gets longer I might pick up some Rainlegs, and maybe a boot dryer.

Thanks, guys. I'm not sure I agree with you, though. :eek: We may be kindred spirits, or whacked in the head the same way--whichever you prefer. :)

If anything, I've learned there's more than one way to skin the proverbial cat WRT to cycling in general and commuting in particular. As much as I like it when people agree with me, I learn more when they don't. For the most part, there's no real right or wrong, only what works best for each of us most often.

And that depends on exactly what way one is whacked in the head. ;)

I take the car. If I am forced to ride I put on a ball cap, rain jacket, rain paints, and waterproof boots over my work clothes.

SF Bay Area daily commuter. Fixed gear with strap on fenders. Showers pass jacket over lightweight thermal and mid layer. Novara rain pants over lightweight thermal pants. Clipless with shoe covers. Carry my work clothes (and extra socks) in an Ortleib backpack. I try to stay a day ahead with the clothes when it's gonna be a longer storm. Has worked so far this season!

Longboard P-45 Fenders, poncho with reflective strip on back with hood on under helmet, street clothes and shoes, Minewt 600 headlight and Spanninga Pixeo fender tailight, Cateye tailight hanging from Carradice saddle bag (haven't had bag in rain yet). Shower cap over the Brooks saddle.

Depends on how heavily it's raining and the temperature.

Light sprinkle and warmer weather (not by California standards - I spent most of my adult life in Colorado with real cold; this means 55-60ish) implies shorts, jersey, and an Arkel Commuter pannier.

Heavy rain and/or cooler temperatures progressively add a rain cover for the Arkel (it does a fine job keeping moisture out, although I love my carpet and would like to leave the road dirt at the door when I come inside), jacket, shoe covers (I hate soggy socks and wet feet), rain jacket replacing the jacket (I used to have a nice performance brand Gortex jacket with mesh lining, pit zips, and a vent in back in which I stayed dry and did not roast; although the current unlined Gortex jacket with only pit zips isn't as nice)/pants, and gloves. When I lived someplace cold I sometimes used a helmet cover.

The bike goes inside regardless.

When I was young I lived in an alpine dessert where fenders rarely mattered and I didn't care otherwise; approaching middle age with wetter winters I want some fenders and will probably build a titanium or stainless frame with clearance and longer chain stays once cash flow is better with the kids moving past their odyssey years.

Highlighting something Notso_fastLane mentioned, there are a lot of water "resistant" fabrics that work quite well. I don't actually have any waterproof pants just my Novara pants and have used them in some pretty heavy downpours. At the end of my 1 hours commute I've yet to have them soaked all the way through and water resistant still has ability to breath