How do you ride in rainy weather. What kind of outfits should I wear? My back always gets muddy.

You're gonna get wet... you just have to learn to deal with it.

Fenders might help.

Ride only on pavement in the rain.

I only ride in the rain if I'm on tour or already on a ride, and have no other choice. The only thing worse than riding in the rain is making the Call of Shame(tm).

+1

Fenders/mudguards. SKS raceblades will fit on road bikes that don't have the clearances for the usual kind, and weigh practically nothing.

Once you have them installed, the problems are minimal, there are loads of decent gore-tex shells available. And skin is more or less waterproof. Personally I don't mind the rain, being wet is no big deal.

I'm onboard with Blazingpeddals, and Biker395. If the weather looks threatening. I carry my showers pass pro tech st rain jacket in my jersey pocket (5 oz.). I also use it on occasion for a wind barrier, and highly recommend it.

I'm mostly car-free. If I didn't accept a little rain, I wouldn't get out of the house for about 9 months a year.

I've got a couple of rain jackets. The best is probably the Showers Pass Transit jacket, (although I do have a pocket problem which is going to get it sent back for warranty work).

I've put fenders on and taken them off. Currently fender-free. I would like a rack with some protection, but no rack mounts on my current ride.

Rain pants? I just get whatever cheap pants I can find. They do take a beating.

Learn to love it.

Velominati, Keepers of the Cog

Rule #9 If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a Badazz,,period.

Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.

Velominati ? The Rules

I dont. I only get caught in the rain. Since the saying is train in the weather that you'll race in. I don't ride in rain. When it rains during triathlons in Texas it's a welcome relief.
It rained all last week and I rode once outside before it began. This week the high will be in the mid 80's all week and I'll be out every day. Clear skies, no rain.

There is no way for me to stay dry on the bike if I'm out for more than a few minutes in real rain. If it keeps water out, it doesn't breath well enough.

I own obscenely expensive, heavy-duty, Goretex foul weather gear for ocean racing and I'm always wet when it gets snotty, from the outside, the inside, or both. I haven't invested in good rain kit for the bike, but have given up on the entire concept of dry and just try for warm.

Absolutely correct. The most expensive breathable fabric can't breathe as fast as we can sweat. They do stop you getting chilled, though.

Which brings us round to wool, the "nice" way to get intimate with sheep...and it's all protein! On the road, and, especially, offshore, where one's friends have to live with that shirt for a week. Seriously, it's unbeatable in the wet.

That was my theme and anthem all winter while snowriding on my MTB.

If you are worried about riding in rain when living in a place with a climate like Holister I suggest you change your username.

Unless you're worried about rust.

Agreed.

I'll ride in rain if I get caught in it. If rain is threatening before I start a ride, I'll take a rain jacket. Usually, if I pack the jacket, it will absolutely not rain.

If it's fairly warm out and I get caught, I don't worry about it. The rain cools my core.

Don't forget to be careful not to ride on roadway marking stripes if it's wet - very slick.

Rain is a sure bet here, in the spring and summer, with the pop up showers and T-storms. Lightning calls it off, or makes me take safe shelter, however, if its just a shower I ride. I would be just as wet from my sweat. I have a Pearl Izumi Pro Lite rain jacket, it is almost a gossamer fabric, and for a shower its fine. It folds up, or can be rolled up, small enough for a jersey pocket. Neoprene shoe covers completes the rain stuff here. No rain pants or wool stuff, yet.

Bill

Back when I rode uprights, I wore a cheap plastic rain jacket like DiabloScott, with one modification: I made it short-sleeved so that I kept my radiator surface. I always hated having the wet pad in the shorts and the squishy socks though.

It depends. Are you talking about an 80 degree rain? or a 40 degree rain? 80 degree: thin, hooded nylon jacket over a short sleeve cycling shirt. 40 degree: Two layer nylon suit over poly or merino wool base layer (I use Terramar). Keep pedaling and you will stay warm. Stop and you will suffer.
Carry extra base layer and/or shirt in ziploc for after the rain stops or to donn at your turn-around point, because the nylon shell will hold in perspiration.

Ass Savers - Bicycle mudguards

If I didn't ride in the rain, I would seldom be able to ride. Fenders help the most, with appropriate clothing a close second.

Keith

The only thing to add about riding in the rain, is that it sure is nice to be retired and squeeze in winter rides between the major showers. Fenders and flaps make wet days quite bearable.

I concur that in a downpour at speed you just get mostly wet, trying to keep 'core dry' and 'extremities warm' is doable. For me it needs to be above 45f (and not a downpour) if I want to enjoy the ride.

+1

Here's a post I made a while ago on the general subject:
https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cyc...l#post16213936