Jwall0804

So I am a first time bike commuter and commuted by bike this last spring and summer. I just rode last night in the rain to work and was embarrisingly unprepared. I want to know what is necessary in order to stay dry and get to work safely. I live in Washington where there is rarely a downpour just a constant drizzle all year. I ride a 2011 sirrus specialized elite to commute in and I love that bike. I know I need fenders but what are some other gear that's pretty valuable. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Booger1

I've found that if you ride in the rain,you get wet.....Either from the inside or the outside,take your pick.

If it's a warm weather storm,I just get wet...If it's a cold weather storm,I get wet and work on staying warm.

scroca

I like my rain jacket with pit zips.

alan s 

Let me know when you figure out how to stay dry in the rain. So far, I've only been able to stay warm. As far as safety is concerned, use lights and take it easy on the turns.

gregjones

Clear safety glasses to see when the clouds get dark, goggles don't fog when it's cold.

Jwall0804

Any recommendations on a good rain jacket?

Jwall0804

Do you just change clothes at work? What is your routine to remain presentable at work? I work as a server at a restaurant which is required to have a neat clean uniform.

scroca

Mine is years old but this is close to what I have. Patagonia Men's Torrentshell Rain Jacket

jrickards

https://www.showerspass.com/ has some highly recommended ones but they are a bit pricey for my wallet.

When you're riding, you're generating body heat and a good rain jacket will keep the rain out but trap the heat in making you hotter and sweatier. Yes, there are some that permit moisture to cross the barrier (inside to out) but probably not as fast as you're creating it.

As most do here, on wet days, I just get wet but if I'm riding in lower light conditions, I'll don my rain jacket because it is bright and has lots of reflectivity (in addition to riding with lights). I also make sure that my work clothes are well packed so that they don't get wet.

scroca

Change clothes.

alan s 

I always ride in cycling clothes and change at work. My commute doubles as a workout, so I'm usually sweaty no matter what the temperature is outside. Never found rain gear that "breathes" enough to let out moisture and keep out rain, so I get wet from the rain and/or sweat regardless. Suppose I could slow it down a bit to keep cool, but the less time in the rain the better.

Bike Gremlin

Stop trying. There is nothing bad, or wrong with getting wet. Soaking wet.

The only bad thing is staying in wet clothes, letting them dry on your body.

My solution is to cycle in synthetic clothes that dry quickly, hang them to let them dry, change to work clothes, then put cycling clothes back on for the ride home. If there was no way of drying clothes at work, I'd just bring 2 pairs of cycling clothes.


Most windproof jackets will keep you warm enough when cycling, even if you get wet. My favourite is hiking trousers, jackets.

Jwall0804

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips on how to tackle the rain. Changing clothes at work seems like the easiest way to keep my work clothes dry. Also, to be honest it want so bad riding in the rain, just arriving at work with my pants soaked for the first hour was no fun!

CrankyOne

Unless a really heavy downpour and high winds I stay quite dry. My bike (upright Dutch city bike) has good fenders, spats, and a full chaincase. Often just an umbrella is sufficient though for heavier rain or wind I'll also wear a poncho. I'm also riding on segregated cycleways so there's no spray from cars, trucks, or buses.

matimeo

I don't like getting wet, and here in PNW you definitely get more wet from the outside rain than the inner sweat (in rain gear). Even on a really long commute, you can't get any wetter from sweat than from rain. Frankly I don't understand the people that say you should just get wet. On a cold morning and warmer afternoon in which both are wet, you can always take it easy on the way in with you rain gear, and just get wet on the ride home if you want.

I got rain pants that go over the top of regular pants at a Columbia outlet store, and they work well to keep my warm and dry and breathe reasonably well. If it's a little warmer I wear just underwear underneath them. Most of my other rain gear if from local thrift stores. Look for the vented rain shells, and if you get lucky you'll find a gore-tex shell like I did. $10 and I wear it whenever there's a heavier rain. Of course a $5 reflective vest from harbor freight goes on the top. Wear layers of clothing that don't absorb sweat. Most of my shirts are the dri-fit material activewear shirts from Target when they're on clearance for $5.

I haven't bought shoe covers for the rain since most are fairly ineffective. I plan on making some this year by cutting up a cheap rain jacket I got from the thrift store and sewing on some elastic, just to cover the top of the shoe.

Fenders are a must at least 8 months out of the year. I have a rain cover for my helmet, but I rarely use it, since a little rain in the vents keeps my head cool and short hair dries fast when I get to work.

+2 on changing clothes. I do that every day, no matter the weather. I have to dress in slacks, shirt and tie at work, so it's never worth the hassle and discomfort (I did it the first time I rode to work and never again).

My best advice? Make friends with the rain. Embrace it and enjoy the awesomeness of kicking it's butt every time you ride to work. Let the moss grow behind your ears a little and it won't bother you anymore.

joeyduck

This is so dependent on your ride and goals and available amenities.

I live just up the road and I bike in nearly the same get up year round. I add layers and shoe covers in the rain. Otherwise I have a shower and use it. So I bike fast and hard and prefer to get wet from rain and stay cooler than sweaty and hot wearing a jacket.

My wife on the other hand has a short commute and puts on rain pants and a jacket and pedals leisurely. She has no shower. Sometimes she wipes off with a wet rag.

ratell

I agree with Matimeo. Here in the northwest you are going to have months of cold rain (the coldest I've been was 45 degrees and raining). It's worth investing in rain gear if you plan to commute year round.
I love the showers pass stuff. Although it's expensive my showers pass jacket is going on 6 years of daily use during the rainy season and still going strong. A cheaper option is one of the rain capes which my wife likes though it can be a bit like a sail when its windy.

I also like the showers pass rain pants, but the rei novara rain pants are a lot cheaper and work fine.
I also use booties because otherwise all the water runs off the pants into your shoes. I like the Pearl Izumi ones, but you could also just wear waterproof shoes of some kind.

Gloves are the toughest. The rain proof ones are expensive and aren't ideal. I have two pair of wool gloves with a windproof liner. I wear one pair in and then ride home with the dry pair giving the first pair time to dry.

Good Luck

rumrunn6

a little mentioned tip is using a clear cheap motel style shower cap over the helmet. it's also useful when the temps drop and you want to regulate your head temperature. it's easy to whip off and stow while riding. being clear it doesn't block your reflective bits. also it doesn't look dorky like other opaque helmet covers.

Mr.McBeardson

I'v been told that a poncho works great (one that doesn't have sleeves) as it allows for air circulation under it to keep you cool. And just in general keeps the rain away from you more than your regular old rain jacket.

ItsJustMe

I just don't mind getting wet as long as the temp is over 55 or so.

Below that I have a vented/breathable J&G jacket that I paid about $100 for. It's lasted years, I wear it all winter as a windbreaker/top layer. bicycleclothing.com

With various things under that, that takes me all the way down to below zero.

Below about 40 I start wearing rain pants as well, from the same source, about $80. Also very long lasting. Above that I just let my legs get wet.

I have booties but I find them a gigantic pain in the ass and I would rather just let my feet get wet than to deal with them.

PaulRivers

Yeah, I have a showers pass jacket, it was the best I could find, but around 60 degrees it's ability to "breathe" gets oversaturated I start sweating - if I'm biking hard. If not biking to hard, temp range is higher.

Best I could find for warmer weather was a rain vest - didn't trap as much heat in. Arms got wet, but they dried easier than the rest of the body.

FedericoMena

Waterproof shoes are nice. Some people swear by tying plastic bags around regular shoes, but I've never tried that

Mudguards, at least a front one, are *very* nice to have. You'll keep your shoes much dryer, and your chain cleaner.

SlowJoeCrow

Fenders are critical, waterproof clothing helps a lot. Like a lot of riders I live in the Pacific NW where winters are more wet than cold. In addition to full coverage fenders (Planet Bike Cascadia) I have a Showers Pass rain jacket, rain pants, Endura waterproof gloves, Shimano winter MTB shoes (booties work but shoes are less hassle), and a choice of a waterproof helmet cover, a hood for my jacket or a cap under the helmet to keep my head dry.
For occasional rain protection you put plastic bags over your socks, which keeps your feet dry although your shoes still get soaked. Also rubber gloves can sub for waterproof gloves and watch out for water wicking down legs or sleeves. I once got caught in a hailstorm and ended up with a 1/2" puddle in the bottom of my waterproof shoes from water soaking my tights and running down my legs.

imi

Lights and hi-viz clothing

jralbert

Well, I just finished buying a fully-waterproof coat (Showers Pass Elite 1.0), pants (Gore-Tex Path), gloves (Showers Pass hard-shell), and SPD boots (Northwave Celsius Gore-Tex). Winter is coming; that rain ain't gettin' any warmer. Other people can maybe handle just getting wet, but I need to spend an hour on the bike each way, and I'd freeze even in early-autumn rain, never mind what it's gonna be like in January. I rode through the last winter without proper rain gear; I won't make that mistake again!