Jay D

I'm seriously considering switching to a recumbent as a daily commuter however I have a question about riding in the rain. Since your laying back on a recumbent, I can only assume you're more exposed to rainfall rather than being upright on a DF. Do you get more wet, or wetter faster on a recumbent than on a DF?

ratas calientes

Okay, new fella here, DF = ?

ratas calientes

Diamond Frame?

Jay D

Yup!

Don't worry, it took me awhile to figure out what DF meant when I was new too.

StephenH

I was thinking I had seen this topic before, and I think this is the thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/recumbent/321883-better-rain-bent-df.html
And also this older one showed up:
https://www.bikeforums.net/recumbent/138708-recumbents-rain.html

Floyd

the bottom line is...you are gonna get wet, real wet if it is raining hard. You may get wet it different places but you will still be soaked if you ride very far. This should not be a consideration in which bike you buy. I am partial to the bent however.

BlazingPedals

I found that on a recumbent, the water would run *up* my arms from my wrists to my elbows (praying hamster position,) and pool there. Also, if I had a jacket with a zipper in front, the jacket would wrinkle up in front and inevitably there would be a spot where water would pool and seep through the zipper. OTOH, my feet would stay drier for a while; but eventually my socks would get wet at the heel and water would wick all the way to my toes. In the end, I agree, I'd be just as wet no matter what I rode.

vik 

Having ridden both bents and DFs in the rain I'd rather be riding a DF. Jackets work better in the sitting bent forward position on a DF than the reclined position on a bent. You can also use something like rain legs effectively on a DF which are nice when riding hard and not wanting to get super sweaty.

Having said that you can figure out ways to be comfortable on a bent in the rain. It will take some trial and error though.

megaman

That's pretty much it for me too. However, there is no contest in any other way. I'd much rather ride a bent. Plus how often does it really rain?

JanMM

Ride in the rain and you get wet.

Jeff Wills

Since the OP is from Bellevue (aka Seattle) I'd say it really rains fairly often. At least we Pacific Northwesterners don't have to contend with ice and snow all that often.

I find that I'm comfortable behind the fairing on my Easy Racer bikes as long as I've got fenders and a reasonable rainjacket.

When I was riding a SWB recumbent, quite a lot of spray came up from the front wheel and between my legs- yuck.

djwid

I am a trike rider, also in the Seattle area. I am happy as long as I have the correct clothes on. Though my trike is more upright than vic's Challenge. I do have a high tolerance for rain and wet though.

Echo Gypsy

Riding my DF in (Columbus, OH) in the rain I was soaked by the time I got to work, I could never afford those ultra waterproof cycling jackets and pants but I did find that wearing synthetic clothing dried much faster then anything else. Of course Spring time it's still cold and not as fun but summer it's hot even when it rains and quite enjoyable. Sometimes, when I had the itch to ride in the rain I'd ride on the trail in my bathing suit.....
JUST DON'T WEAR JEANS!

Linus_S

I live in the seattle area. I ride in the rain often. I have a fairing. It really helps a lot. It keeps the rain off of my lower body. I also wear rainproof pants and a visibility jacket in the downpours. I also wear goggles to keep the rain out of my eyes. For the head, I have a helmet cover to keep the rain off of my head.