How do you commute in the rain?
 

Hello all,

As the title says, how do you commute in the rain? What clothing, bags, storage, and so on.

RH

I can bike in the pouring rain in a business suit. On top I would just wear rain pants and a rain jacket. At work I just peal off the outer layer and on the inside I am nice and dry.
No other tricks involved, my rain gear is from REI's own brand and I am very happy with it.

Dry bags for carrying things. If it's a cold rain I wear rain pants, rain jacket and waterproof socks (I wear sandals), otherwise I just get wet.

Fenders on the winter bike, none on the summer bike.

Not by choice. I HATE getting rained on. I do ride my scooter in the rain with a good rain suit because of the convenience over driving my car, but I can't bring myself to voluntarily ride my bike in it.

Showers Pass and Foxwear- makes rain riding enjoyable. I love taking off the outer wear at home and being dry.

In cold weather ust a rain jacket, I don't care about the legs, and my bags are waterproof.
In hot weather I just get wet.

Ditto, except I'll sometimes use waterproof trousers when it's cold. I hate how sweaty I get under a rain jacket in normal temperatures, so I prefer a waterproof/water-resistant gilet: head and arms still get wet, but torso stays dry and, most importantly, air circulates through the arm-holes so I don't get too hot.

My mum asked for a full-on bicycle rain poncho for Christmas, and she lives in tropical Singapore. I don't think I could last more than about 5 minutes in one of those things in that climate.

Sealskinz socks to keep my feet warm and dry.

the difference is that if it's raining hard I bring dry socks.

My model is similar to the above "pouring rain in a business suit" approach. I remember some James Bond movie where he infiltrates some sort of fancy party by arriving in scuba gear and a dry suit, and then peels off the dry suit to reveal a tuxedo. I have a helmet cover, a good rain jacket and pants, waterproof gloves, and Red Wing waterproof hiking boots. Just this week we had one day where it was raining and the temperature was just above freezing, that is, cool enough so I didn't get wet from perspiration inside the rain gear. It was perfect. Don't go too low-end on the gear. For carrying stuff, I use an Ortlieb messenger backpack, or sometimes the Ortlieb office bag.

If you arrive at work by bike on a couple days when it is pouring rain, you will cement your reputation as an eccentric. It's funny how people sometimes assume that if you are riding a bicycle in the rain or the cold you must be suffering.

Showers Pass rain paints and jacket. Cycling cap under the helmet. Wool gloves. Panniers for the stuff.

I catch showers all the time. I just pedal harder to escape the misery. It sucks. I clean the bike the next day and lube lube lube.

In warm weather, I'll usually just let it rain on me. It feels better than riding in rain gear in warm weather (I'd be just as wet from sweat and whole lot stinkier). In cooler weather, I use dedicated rain gear. MUCH more comfortable than getting rained on when it's cool. The only problem I'm still trying to solve with wet conditions is keeping my glasses clean. Most of the time if I stop to wipe the grime off of the lenses, it just seems to smear and make visibility even worse.

Sounds like some excellent suggestions. I plan on taking a job close to my house ( five miles) and would like to commute, and just curious how everyone deals with rain.

What rain jackets and rain pants do you guys suggest for a "ride in a suit" type recommend? I have an REI, Sun and Ski, and Performance Bike close to me.

You forgot to mention fogging glasses in cold weather.

Awesome truth here.

That is a good point, as I do wear glasses.

Not trying to derail the thread here, but...I have been riding going on five winters now and
I still haven't figured out how to deal with the fogging glasses in cold weather thing

I always keep a change of clothes at work, just in case I get caught in rain on the way to work. But then I work in a factory, and dress code is free. For the trip home, (when it is more likely to rain here) I don't add to what I have been wearing all day, and enjoy the rain knowing that I always put on a dry set of clothes when I get home. Only on extreme wet mornings will I take the car.

same here - it's just water

I live in Florida. I wait five minutes. ;)

Really, though, my Detours panniers aren't inherently rain-proof (though they're fine in a drizzle), but they came with bright yellow rain covers that do a pretty good job. If I get caught in some rain, I just put everything I care about in the pannier and slip the raincover over it.

I have used a giant trash bag as makeshift rain gear in a pinch.

This is turning into a really good thread. :)

Bear in mind that except for two, all the replies so far have been from people in northern areas. Houston is a *lot* warmer and *much* more humid. I"m not sure "ride in a suit" is even possible on nice days in Houston.

I find rain gear is useless over about 50°-55°F. I get wetter inside it from sweating. Over 50, I just ride in my regular cycling gear and get wet.

It's only water, for heaven's sake.

At work I change into in my dry work clothes and dry socks. (Ortleib panniers are absolutely waterproof.) Hang the wet stuff up to dry and usually it's pretty close to dry after six hours.

Fenders are a must, IMHO.

Oh, and either carry a towel or keep one at work. The ones I use are actually hand towels. I keep two in my locker.

Excellent point taken, being that I will be working at a bike shop.

See, I ride in my work/street clothes, so the "cycling gear" thing doesn't apply; but I work in a fairly casual office. On really hot days, I ride in a tank top and put whatever shirt I plan to wear in my bag; this works for rainy days, too. I may start keeping "emergency pants" at my desk when rainy season returns. Fenders are definitely wonderful, though mine are great at delivering what seems to be the entire contents of any puddle I ride through directly into my shoes, alas.