bikernew

Awesome... I'll check them out. THANKS

Barrettscv 

I have a simple formula: Damp is tolerable if it's warm, Windy is tolerable if it's mild, Cold is tolerable if it's not damp or windy.

wphamilton

Riding in the rain is a really broad question. A steady rain in the 40°'s or colder, I am not going out for a long ride, recreation or training, on a regular bike. Like someone said earlier, do it tomorrow or the next day.

Commuting to work, that same cold rain never stops me. The difference is that I know that I can deal with it for half an hour, all weather conditions that I've seen in this state. But longer than that could be threatening, and it won't be any fun.

After about 70° a ceaseless rain might or might not be unpleasant and much warmer the rain is sometimes even welcome.

auldgeunquers

I ride. Year round. In any weather. As I keep telling people - the thing that's worse than riding in this mess, is NOT riding in this mess.

I actually ENJOY riding in rain - as long as I am dressed for it. I shold note, though, that I am not primarilly a recreational rider - I commute and run errands, and if the ride is recreational, it is usually at kid speed - and I don't make the kids ride in rain.

The thing I find about rain riding is that you need a balance between breath-able and water repellant. Cheap waterproof raingear does not breathe, and that defeats the goal of keeping dry since one ends up stewing in one's own persiration - wet is wet. Raincapes are great in warmish weather - though you have to accept that you will not remain perfectly dry, but "dry enough", which is good enough. I sometimes combine rain trousers with the cape, but most often I just ride in shorts and accept that my legs will get a bit wet - this really depends on temperature and wind. One can spend a bundle on good gore-tex high tech gear, but, while it does breate, it does not breate so freely as one might wish. My favourite find in this arena has been the water repellant hoodie - they breate nearly like a cotton hoodie, but I have riden quite long distances in the rain and remained dry and warm, without excess perspiration - particularly with a layer (or 2) of wool underneath (or some polyester tech fabric when temps rise).

If I am riding in rain and have decided to try to stay completely dry (say when temps are closer to freezing) I ride with rain-proof trousers and use high top old-man overshoes and platform pedals.

Good gloves are essential - I either use water-proofed leather mittens with wool gloves inside, or thin work gloves which I found at the local dollar store, which turned out, unexpectedly, to be mostly waterproof (and high viz - high viz gloves = bicycle turn signals). I also carry extra gloves on wet days. Wet, cold hands WILL make me misreable, no matter how comfortable the rest of me is.

And - a rain cover for my helmet. Many of you may not ride with a helmet, but I do, and the combination of helmet with rain cover greatly improves comfort in wet and cold.

MUDGUARDS!!!

HOWEVER - with all that said, I do not insist that all should enjoy riding in all sorts of weather, as I do, and I won't think the less of you if you don't, and choose not to. I might give you hard time for it, but I won't think less of you.

I also should admit, that I do derrive some sense of accomplishment from pushing through to live my life by bike in bad weather. Accomplishment and smug self satisfaction. Not sure what that says about me ...

Gerryattrick

Can't say that I love riding in the rain, but here in my part of the UK not riding in the rain would rule out many of my rides.

Summer riding in the rain can be very pleasant, but I draw the line at winter riding when it's cold and/or windy.

I just bought a new lightweight waterproof cycling top yesterday in readiness for summer.

P.S. Hardy commuters would scoff at the problems of riding in the rain.

Hypno Toad

Well said!!

I will add, 42F and rain is easily the worst conditions to ride in... without the correct gear. 40F and rain is so much colder than sub-zero temps (I ride temps down to -20F). And as auldgeunquers said, you can happily ride in the cold rain ... with the correct gear.

edit - I'm too young to talk about the age issue, I'm only 47

Biker395 

We have an impostor! A spy!

Hypno Toad

I have every intention of joining your ranks in 3 years! Honest!

wphamilton

I didn't even start riding until older than him. I vote we let him into the club though, if he proves that he eats enough pie.

auldgeunquers

I, a hardy commuter, do scoff in your general direction. Scof scoff scofff.

Respect though, for your ability to ride clockwise around roundabouts. That takes nerve!

revchuck 

I do this in one of two ways. Either I dress for it and make sure I've eaten well enough to supply the fuel needed to both complete the workout and keep me warm, or I set the bike up on a trainer and pop in an old Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western and do it indoors.

Outnumbered

I commute 22 miles each day in the MA. Its cold wet and miserable at times (the right clothes make all the difference) and the drivers get real angry when it rains here for some reason. At 58 if I deride its going to be too cold and wet, road drainage is terrible on my commute, then I drive. I enjoy the challenge of riding int he rain makes me appreciate the good days. Now I imagine if your from the NW then you scoff a the rain as its a way of life many days.

Since I took up biking again 3 years ago I have morphed into the mindset If I want to do a certain ride in certain conditions I do it, if not I don't.

Gerryattrick

I must confess that there's one roundabout at the bottom of a steep hill I regularly ride that I often take anti-clockwise to keep my speed. In my own defence, feeble as it is, I would say that, because I am approaching it from height, I can see all the traffic for 100 yards and only do it when there are no cars visible.

dmanthree

I'm 61 and did 41 miles in the rain Sunday at 46F. If you're dressed for it, and I was, it's no big deal. I think the gear is pretty important, as well, since road debris can stick to tires and get ground in easily resulting in flats. I rode an old Trek MTB and had no issues. Keep riding, but get the right gear!

Rick@OCRR

Good timing on this post! Thanks for all the good advice. I'm heading into a ride (well, it's timed so kind of a race) with a 70% chance of rain and a high temp of 48 Deg. predicted at 5,000 ft. of elevation but we're going to 8,400 ft. so it will likely be colder there (at the finish line).

Then we have to descend back into Redlands, about 40 miles and to about 1,000 ft. of elevation. Climbing I generate some good heat. Descending, not so much . . . not much at all. Should be mid 40's at the start in Redlands (5:30 AM) get a bit warmer through Beaumont and up Oak Glenn (steep climb that one).

May be cold on the Oak Glenn descent but should be okay (mid 50's) climbing up Damnation Alley to Forest Falls, then the temps should start dropping again and probably rain falling by Angelus Oaks. From there it's only 20 miles and 3,400 ft. of climbing to the finish line but I expect ever falling temps as I climb. Could be snow at the summit.

Hopefully I'll make it by the cut-off time (3:30 PM) but should have some epic (if not tragic) stories to tell after it's all over.

Rick / OCRR

1989Pre 

@ Ric: I'd bring an extra shirt to put on before you start your final descent.

1989Pre 

I use my atb for that kind of ride, too. the knobby tires kicks up the wet, sand and dirt. Does your TREK have fenders?

1989Pre 

I like being naughty on my bike sometimes, too. As long as there is no one else around, why not immitate the Wild Man of Borneo once in a while?

1989Pre 

"You just don't seem like a nun!"

Carbonfiberboy 

In PNW the reality is that there are two kinds of cyclists: the weak and the wet. I have ridden 70 miles in heavy rain and a steady 36° and been OK but not happy. One just has to know how to do it. After turning 70, I initiated a new policy of not riding in heavy rain below 40°. If you want to know how it's done I can tell you, but that's beyond the subject of the OP.

eja_ bottecchia

Last time that I rode in the rain, I crashed against a K-rail and fractured the bone of my right pinky finger. The bone broke in several places and required surgery.

I love riding in the rain and this little ncident will not deter me from doing it again.

I will just slow down a bit.

BTW, I just turned 60!

Fun times.

dmanthree

Yes, I had long fenders front and rear. They weigh very little and are worth their weight in gold on days like that. Also, I had "street" tires on the bike, some Continentals with very little, if any tread. Traction was never a problem, either. Overall, it's a perfect bike for that ride. I still ride it in the rain occasionally, like this week where there's very little break from the rain.

stardognine

A couple people mentioned wool, and I'll STRONGLY agree. Especially for socks and gloves, your extremities get cold fast, and need help. I learned this from commercial fishing in Alaska, and yes, wool keeps you warm, even if it's soaking wet. It works for sheep. For wool sweaters, I like them to zip up the full length of the front, like a jacket, for good ventilation. And a light windbreaker, to break the wind, as needed.

Jseis 

Yep, I used a Bellweather cape back in the day. Commuting to school, work, touring. Best rain item ever. I recall being in a driving rain between Vancouver BC and Harrison Hot Springs. Feet soaking wet (wool socks!) and me wearing a t shirt and cycling shorts under the cape. I was dry and warm despite high 40's temps. Like having a microclimate.

in the late 70's I commuted Capital Hill to U-District in Seattle. Paint stripes, steel bridge decks, metal sewer/storm lids/grates are...slick! Be careful.

Biker395 

Rick's situation is one of the few that might find me riding in the rain by choice. You registered for a big ride, paid your money, and now, rain is in the forecast. The other is if I'm on a tour. Rain or no, you go.

I checked the weather this AM, and you might be in luck, Rick. It looks to be dry until 7PM Saturday or so.

BTW, the reasons I avoid riding in the rain aren't just the discomfort or the extra risk of slippery surfaces and lower visibility. It's all that and the fact that the bike will be a mess at the end of the day. Last time I rode in an all day rainfest, cleaning the bike up and getting all of the water out of it was a real PITA.