Rain is not so much a problem.

But I'm definitely re-thinking riding in the wind*. I did a ride recently during one of our winter "storms" here which had high winds. I found out shortly following the ride that a guy we'd passed just minutes before died instantly when a tree was blown over and fell directly on him. No doubt it was a freak accident, but that ol' wind sure can wreak havoc. There were power lines down all over the place, debris flying, and gusts strong enough to quite literally blow us off the road.

I don't think I would have given that ride away to anyone foolish enough to take it.

I used to ride in snow and ice a long time ago when I lived in less temperate climes. Also no biggie.

*Edit: I should clarify that I mean riding in wind after/during strong, hillside-saturating rains as are typical of what we get here. I would not stay home just because of a headwind or breeze!

Let me give a big recommendation to my SKS Raceblades. They obviously don't give the protection of full fenders but they make a HUGE difference over none at all. They go on and off quickly, weigh hardly anything, and if you get the black ones and you have all-black tires, you can hardly notice them.

Hmm, thanks for that, those look like they might do the trick. Pic for other curious parties:


Could've used a set of those last week!

I ride in the rain, but not on my road bicycle. I use my commuter with full fenders.

Ride in the rain, but be sure to degrease and clean the bike. I ride in Michigan Rain that is whenit is not freezing rain.

JC

Yeah, and it doesn't look like it'll be clearing up anytime soon. When I first came to Portland, all those months of rain/drizzle really got on my nerves... Now I actually enjoy it

I'll ride in just about any weather conditions. Rain is not a problem ... especially if you're dressed for it.

Get the following:

-- helmet cover
-- waterproof breathable jacket
-- waterproof gloves
-- splash pants
-- nylon booties

Put fenders on your bicycle ... and you'll be all set!!

I've covered thousands of kilometers in the rain. Isn't that a beautiful sky??

Sissies, I do my rain rides in cargo-shorts and T-shirts! No glasses, no fenders..

I kinda like riding in the rain, watching the streams of water peel off the front wheel and dance in the visionstick's bright beam, listening to the sizzle of the tyres buzzing through surface water. Mostly it reminds me of when I was a kid, splashing thru puddles and having loads of fun.

Mind you, I've come down hard in the wet and it's not quite so romantic. And it's definitely a no-go zone if your sick or if the wind is coming off snowfields with anger

Gorgeous picture, Machka. That about sums it up, if you didn't ride in the rain, you would have never had that scene to enjoy.

Like everyone else said, just dress for it and you're good to go (you dress appropiately for skiing, dress appropriately for riding in the rain or cold). Fenders can be a big help. I actually saved the doppler gif from right after my 43 mile ride on Tuesday. Got a little wet but it was a great ride.

Geez, I think I see the pancreas!

Word up, I only got in 30 miles that day I have to admit, really heavy rain sucks. But regular rain and showers is no problem!

Ride in it !
Your bike is a hunk of metal or carbon, it wont fall apart.
Your skin is 100% waterproof.

If riding in the rain cuts the life of your bike in 1/2, big deal, buy another. At least you'll still be alive and healthy due to riding to be able to buy another.

In vancouver were at 25 days days in a row of rain. I ride 2 hours a day, every day.

Two of my coworkers normally commute by motorcycle and I was overhearing how they had each decided to take the bus rather than ride in a little drizzle.

Babies.

I wouldn't call them babies, but cautious! Visibility is worse in the drizzle and I'm sure they were more concerned about the idiot auto drivers in the rain than getting a little wet.

WTF? I guess everyone can't be a super stud ultimate macho babbling idiot like you!

Can YOU explain to me the definition of a true cyclist?

So what do you REALLY think? Once you reach 18, you won't care about this melt in the rain nonsense and that will free up your mind for lot's of other kuul stuff...like thinking about college women away from home and whatnot. Tell us, did you buy your carbon bike, or was it parental largess?

I currently don't ride in the rain. But around here, there's plenty of fair weather days to ride in. I recently started fair weather commuting, though, and I expect to eventually commute rain or shine. One step at a time...

Yeah. My coworker's Goldwing is much harder to see than my Trek in the rain.

Can I edit the title of this thread? Because if you're riding in the rain, aren't you generally outside?

yea, and going down at 50mph in the middle of the road is the same as 15mph on the edge of the road!

Ride! Ride! Ride! As a seattle cyclist I have no choice but to ride in the rain. Sometimes it gets old, but the more you do it the easier and better it gets. I've tried a number of combinations to stay warm and dry but have given up any hope of staying dry and now I just focus on staying warm. Removeable fenders are nice but check out the planet bike freddy fenders they are much cheaper than the SKS raceblades and are much more adjustable. I have one of those cheap rain/sweat jackets but I don't wear it unless its really coming down. I prefer to wear something "water resistant" that breaths. Personally, I like my neoprene booties and some sort of helmet liner/cycling cap for my rain rides as well.

Watch out for manholes and painted surfaces on the road as they are REALLY slippery. Otherwise, just try and relax and enjoy yourself.

in fact, I know of 2 riders who have gone down since Saturday because of a freshly painted white line on the road, wet from the rain. 1 rider had concussion, not sure about the other. Stay off the lines!

It's also harder to see debris on the road when it's wet. I flatted in my rain ride yesterday, oh well.

That was on one of the 200K brevets I did this year ... a beautiful route!! I don't know if anyone here heard about all the flooding in Alberta during the summer of 2005, especially in southern Alberta, but that photo was taken in the area where a lot of the flooding was going on.

And actually ... I don't know what has been up with the weather ... but since late summer 2003, it seems to me that everywhere I go it rains and it is cold. If I didn't ride in the rain, I wouldn't be riding!! I'm not sure I'd know how to ride on a bright, sunny, warm day any more!

You're a lot more visible in the rain than you are headed into the sun. Riding in the rain in the dark isn't my favorite particularly if wind is thrown in, but it's not bad at all. Besides, the air's easier to breathe when it's raining.