First Rains of Summer …
It rained on me on the ride home yesterday.
I saw one cyclist riding in the rain other than myself. He was dressed in “roadie attire” on a bike with no fenders. He was pretty wet with the “dirt stripe” up the back of his jersey …. not enjoying the moment. But I was quite dry and relaxed, enjoying the cooling effect of the rain.
I’m always surprised by the lack of cyclists who refuse to ride in the rain. I find riding in the rain can be a better ride sometimes than riding in the hot afternoon sun. There are just certain types of equipment that make the ride more than tolerable …
Check out an older article I wrote on rain gear options for the commuting cyclist: https://commuteorlando.com/2008/08/25/dealing-with-the-rain/
I haven’t changed my gear — still use my CampMoor bike cape and water shoes, and of course my bike has full fenders. I arrive either at work or at home with nothing to dry out but my feet …
Rain should not be a reason keeping your from continuing to commute by bicycle. It just takes a little planning and a little gear to render rain a non-issue.
It’s Florida — it’s going to rain. Just be ready for it … and enjoy!
Yeah, I was sure happy to have fenders on the way home yesterday! I was also happy that I had left a spare rain jacket at my office, because I hadn’t repacked my primary jacket in my pannier after taking it to the big D with me.
Riding in the rain is fun!
I’m with you Andrew… I quite enjoy riding in the rain. Full fenders make it down right pleasurable to do, especially on multi-use paths where the rain has driven else away and you ride hard for a change.
I missed a couple of words there, but you get my drift, I’m sure!
When riding in the wet with groups, fenders are a big help! I got a fendered bike at the end of June 2007 because it rained in Dallas most every other day. Even when there was no rain, the streets were wet in spots, and my feet were always wet too. My cycling shoes never dried out that month!
I learned the hard way that chip-seal is slick when wet- by crashing a few times! (Why does education always have to be so expensive/painful?) In fact, I have just lightened the gearing of my single-speed fendered bike to force me to go slower in the wet.
I wonder how Fred gets along in his Velomobile in the rain/wet?
I would advise running your blinkies in the rain, because motorists have more difficulty seeing through wet windshields.
And BEWARE puddles! Danger lurks there! Monsters and goblins! Potholes and debris! (I say this in hopes that not all education be painful!)
Tailwinds!
I wondered if I had anything to contribute to this thread, and ChipSeal has spurred me to do so. I run my headlights, night and day, so they are especially useful in low-visibility conditions such as rain. Potholes and debris are less of a danger in the middle of the lane, or slightly to the right or left, to avoid the oily skunk stripe for those on two wheels.
Since it’s warm in my cozy cabin, winter, spring, summer and fall, if it’s raining, the visor is open almost all the time. If it’s raining, my face and shoulders tend to get wet, but that’s about it. If it’s raining harder, I’ll try to find someplace to sit it out.
Have you discovered that the ride in the rain is always better considered after it’s completed?
That attitude might work in Florida, but not Dallas! I don’t care if I get wet – as long as my feet stay dry it’s often very pleasant, but lightning strikes and hail are another matter altogether. ChipSeal didn’t let on about THAT little secret of N Texas weather.
I’ve concluded that fenders are somewhat of a secondary consideration around here. I want a bicycle-mounted lightning rod – and not a human one!
My policy – I use storm days for laundry exchange purposes unless I’m convinced it’ll just be a gentle rain. A lightning storm gives the term “vulnerable road user” a whole ‘nother meaning.
Yeah, we get the wicked thunderstorms here every afternoon in summer.
I’ve had to beg a ride a few times because the lightning wouldn’t let up.
Once the main cell is dissipating, it’s harmless. But you don’t want to be out in the primary discharge, or even right before it.
It also rains so hard you can’t see 5 feet in front of you sometimes. It’s pretty much mandatory to pull over and wait that stuff out, too.
The I-4 corridor is the lightning capital of North America. I’ve had a few close calls with that stuff.