Riding in the Rain... A Poll
 

Just finished a great ride despite the weather. I got up early today, planing to go to central park and click out a few laps but the weather got me down, so I stayed in and cleaned, thinking I'd go out tomorrow. By noon, having finished my laundry, cleaning my house, shaving, showering, everything I could think of, I decided to take my bike out to nearby Prospect Park instead. I pulled on my tights and longsleeved underarmor, a jersey, shorts shoes gloves and the rest, and out I went.

After 40 miles in the rain, I decided I need to do this more often! I loved it, I was soaked but not cold, and feelin great!

Back into the shower (took my helmet in with me to clean it... thanks bike forums!) and now I'm sitting around eating grilled cheese and lentil soup, relaxing, and it's still afternoon! What a nice use of the day!

So what I want to know is, do you guys ride in the rain? Or do you wait for a sunny day?

I'll ride in anything, and often do, on my commute days. Because of that, I'm apt to skip the bad weather rides on the weekends.

55/Rad

I pass on all rain unless it surprise attacks on longer rides.

I hate to ride in the rain. We only get about 11 inches of precip a year here, so it is easy to avoid it.

I ride in rain all the time. I commute daily in the pacific northwest.

It rains, its water. The bike is an inanimate hunk of metal. It gets wet, big deal. My car sits in the driveway getting wet too, it still works.

I think most of the refusal to ride in the rain is pshychological. I was thinking of starting a thread on just that. Most people grow up equating anything in the rain to miserable and uncomfortable. Once you have decent gear, you get slightly wet sometimes, then again what cycling hasnt gotten soaking wet from sweat on a hot day ?

I don't make a habit of riding in the rain. when I do, I get soaked and can't pay attention as well as I ride.

Of course, there are times when I do go out while on errands. Also, when I'm doing extra-long rides, there isn't much choice. However, on one rainy day during the Trek Across Maine, it was so cold and wet that I ended up suffering from hypothermia. Sadly, I was brought in an ambulance to where everyone stopped for the night. Although a long, hot shower remedied the situation, I've learned a lesson ever since.

I ride in the rain probably 50 degrees F and higher. I'm enough of a cold weather wimp in the winter without the rain.

I love rain in the summer. I love those random thunderstorms that happen on the really hot days. You never know when or where they'll pop up, and when they do it's a welcome break from the heat- almost like riding into a lake. Haven't you ever ridden by a lake on a hot day and thought, "Man it would be nice to jump in that lake right now"? I love that smell in the air right before it rains, and the calm after a rain storm is a beautiful thing to ride through.

I've said it before, but I was one of those kids who wanted to go out and play in the rain, but my mom would never let me, and I think that's one of the reasons I like riding in the rain so much.

Anyone who's never ridden in the rain and/or in the dark is missing out!