lungimsam

1. Do you commute with fenders, in case of rain?
2. Do you commute even when it is calling for rain?
3. Do you commute when its just a chance of isolated t-storms later, but sunny and clear now?
4. Do you commute no matter what, and don't even bother looking at the forecast?

jeffpoulin

No line. If I go to work, it's by bike. Haven't driven there in years.

tjspiel

The forecast doesn't determine whether I will commute or not, but it will affect what I bring with me.

My commuting bike has fenders on it now, but they will come off for the summer at some point. If I get caught in the rain after that, - oh well.

dramiscram

I commute no matter what but I suggest fenders, the ride is more enjoyable when properly equipped!
As I always say, there's no bad wheather, there's just soft people!

Gatorfreak

I try not to ride to work in the rain. I don't worry about the ride home. It rains almost every afternoon in Florida summers.

A few weeks ago a large brush fire north of where I live made for extremely smokey conditions. I drew the line there. There wasn't going to be any health benefit to riding while sucking in smoke the whole way.

[edit] I don't have fenders, nor rain gear. I'm usually dripping in sweat anyway so rain isn't going to make a big difference.

linus

Commute with my bike unless I have to carry something large or people with me.

I don't have the patience to drive inside the city.

boro

If the snow is too deep, so cold the bike doesn't work, or if it's absolutely pouring.

kevmk81

No fenders for me, I could care less, since I don't wear my work clothes while riding to work.

I do ride when rain is in the forecast

I do ride when just a chance of isolated t-storms, especially if sunny and clear currently.

I do look at the forecast, it helps me take whatever type of extra clothing I need.

I won't however ride to work if there is lightning or thunder currently. ETA - won't ride if pouring rain - as in instantly drenched when you step out the door.

I won't ride to work if there is a chance for ice/freezing rain or snow in the forecast for the day, especially if that is the current weather.

chipcom 

I look at the forecast...and other factors. I don't ride to work in weather I wouldn't drive to work in. I don't ride to work when I have a reason to drive. If riding ever begins to feel like an obligation, it will no longer be fun and I will probably have to shoot myself. Flexibility is why I have managed to commute by bike for all these decades, not mindless zealotry.

DVC45

When it is too cold (<40deg).

When there's a chance of thunder and lightning with heavy down pour.

When not feeling too well.

Oh, yes, fenders, racks and panniers are standard equipment.

ThermionicScott 

I'll add kevmk81's freezing rain to this list and that's it for me.

1nterceptor

1 Yes.
2 Yes.
3 Yes.
4 Yes, I do check the forecast though to plan what I'll be wearing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfcWEkSrI

jdswitters

Hail

Steely Dan

i check the forecast to know what to expect, but i'll ride the vast majority of the time unless it's absolutely pouring cats and dogs when i'm about to leave.

in winter i usually ride unless there's so much snow that the bike won't work or if it's just stupid cold and windy.

MK313

I have fenders on my commuter year-round. I will ride unless it is cold enough to snow, or if it's rainig when I leave the house, (or if it looks like rain all day long (like 70% chance of rain from 9am to 7 pm) or something like that. If the chance of rain is 50/50, it seems like it never actually ends up raining during the time I'm out on the road, so I don't worry about it unless it's on the way in. On the way home, I'm going to be home in a few minutes & can change into dry clothes.

Andy_K 

There's at least a 20% chance of rain here every single day for about nine months out of the year and it does rain three out of four days during most of that time, so I definitely ride in the rain. On the other hand, we almost never have snow or ice so I don't have gear to ride in when it's like that.

pauschl

I've recently (since October) become an every day commuter. I've been working up to this for the last few years. I've driven 4 or 5 times since October- once because of lightning and the rest because of after work obligations. I live in central Texas so the worst weather I have to deal with is the heat/humidity. I have a poncho in my panniers but never get to use it.
YES to fenders!

essiemyra

I do not own fenders, though I do ride in the rain. I have even left the house in the morning when it is raining. As long as it is not a heavy rain. I am thinking of getting fenders, I just have not researched and committed to the idea yet. I will probably not ride in the winter as I have a very hilly ride in the dark and the idea of icy roads in the dark scare me.

kookaburra1701

+1. Though I'm out on the coast, so if the weather's bad, I can just wait 15 minutes and it will change.

Though the freak 8 inches of white stuff we got this March did throw a wrench in my bike commuting plans. But it would have done that even if I commuted exclusively by car.

alexaschwanden

Adapt your bike to the conditions and ride to work.

Farmer Dave

+1. Though I live in Southern Oregon, cold rainy winters, sweltering dry summers. God, I love Oregon.

jcmkk3

I live in Seattle so it is pretty much just assumed that it will probably be raining in one direction of my commute.

rearviewbeer

I do not like to commute in the rain. Difficult to not as mentioned above though. I have fenders, but just took them off recently. I will not ride if raining in morning, on way home it is not as much of an issue if it rains a little. (I mostly drive to work )

Boudicca

I ride home in the rain.

If it's raining at the time I leave home for work, I usually abandon the bike and take the streetcar.

I need fenders.

drbenjamin

Lot of PNWers in this thread! I'm another, and the only weather I don't ride in is the rare snowy day, when the snow is too loose to ride on. Icy days - studded tires. Heavy rain I'll wear gaiters in addition to long pants and helmet cover. My main issue is the rare sunny day, I get hot climbing hills