Its supposed to rain here in California tomorrow . . .
10-03-15, 08:59 PM
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Its supposed to rain here in California tomorrow . . .
. . . can some of you east coasters tell me how you ride in the rain? 
Heck, what is rain? We haven't seen any in a long time!
Heck, what is rain? We haven't seen any in a long time!
10-03-15, 09:19 PM
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There's no trick to riding in the rain. It's the same as the dry except you get wet. Cold rain is a different thing, because the combined effect is colder than either. But warm rain isn't bad at all.
There are a few things to consider. Cornering traction is reduced, braking distance is much longer, and if you wear glasses you face the decision of dealing with the distortion caused by droplets, or taking them off for blurry vision with no distortion. (after 50 years of rain riding, I no longer wear glasses on rainy nights, but daytime is on a case by case basis).
BTW the sooner you give up worrying about getting wet, and go with the flow (sorry) the nicer and easier wet riding is.
There are a few things to consider. Cornering traction is reduced, braking distance is much longer, and if you wear glasses you face the decision of dealing with the distortion caused by droplets, or taking them off for blurry vision with no distortion. (after 50 years of rain riding, I no longer wear glasses on rainy nights, but daytime is on a case by case basis).
BTW the sooner you give up worrying about getting wet, and go with the flow (sorry) the nicer and easier wet riding is.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
10-03-15, 09:29 PM
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10-04-15, 02:28 AM
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8 years of riding in California year-round here. Now in Seattle.
I don't know what to do in Seattle but in California I sufficed with a barely waterproofed cycling jacket and a baseball cap. The baseball cap is really the most essential thing. It really sucks when your eyeballs are being pelted with raindrops at 15-20mph. You put a baseball cap on and suddenly the rain is only hitting as high as your cheeks. You're good to go.
I don't know what to do in Seattle but in California I sufficed with a barely waterproofed cycling jacket and a baseball cap. The baseball cap is really the most essential thing. It really sucks when your eyeballs are being pelted with raindrops at 15-20mph. You put a baseball cap on and suddenly the rain is only hitting as high as your cheeks. You're good to go.
10-04-15, 06:18 AM
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You really need fenders for dealing with rain and puddles. While it is raining, I like to wear a rain cape, which is shorter than a poncho so it doesn't get in the way. Mine is specifically designed for cycling, so there are thumb loops to keep the cape in place while I ride. The bottom of my pants tends to get wet, but the cape is cool enough that I don't get drenched in sweat while wearing it. My helmet's sun visor doubles as a rain visor. If it's a deluge, you're going to get wet and have a hard time seeing, but under normal conditions, I find fenders, the rain cape, and my standard helmet all the gear I need.
