ZIPP2001

The last week of June ended with mostly rain and July has been even worse. It's the 17th of July and we have had rain in 16 of those days. I really have to be in the mood to get wet and this year hasn't been a year I have been in that mood. Today I had a window open up before more rain moved in so it was off to knock off some rust. I'm hoping this trend breaks soon, or I'll have to drag out my old rain gear and put on my big boy pants and go get wet .

CliffordK

Go ahead and send us a good rain storm. But... NO THUNDER... PLEASE!!!

I think the last significant rain we've had was the end of May. Perhaps a couple of light mist days the first week of June.

Carbonfiberboy 

What happens is that we forget that riding in the rain is actually just fine and a lot of fun. The fun part is imagining how all those onlookers are thinking you're some kind of crazy nut when actually you are doing the sane thing.

One needs a decent (can be old and used) alu bike with room for fenders and inexpensive rims. Ride the heck out of it. No need for rain gear, just a wind jacket, arm warmers, and lights or leg warmers in summer. I usually wear a poly undershirt, too. If I didn't ride in the rain in the winter, I wouldn't ride outside at all. I use thicker clothes and booties in winter but just the wind jacket on top.

Chuck M 

I really don't mind riding in the rain. I just don't like having to clean the bike when I'm done.

big john

I hate road riding in the rain. Lucky for me it doesn't rain here.

ZIPP2001

The biggest problem most of the rain has been in the form of thunderstorms with heavy rain, not good for drivers to see you. I love riding in the winter and don't mind getting wet, just a different mindset when riding my trail bikes I guess.

ZIPP2001

Wish I could send it your way.

ZIPP2001

That might be the main reason for not riding in the rain for me, although I'll do it in the winter with the trail bikes getting all wet.

terrymorse 

Descending in the rain is not so fun. My two worst crashes were descents on wet roads.

CliffordK

The biggest problem here is dry thunder storms.

Well, we get the wet ones here, and just to the east of us, all they get is thunder and lightening, and no rain. Not a good thing to happen when there has been no rain since May.

Carbonfiberboy 

I've been riding in the winter rain here for 25 years. Never crashed, and we have a lot of steep hills here. One takes it easier in the rain, allows more room for everything. I use rim brakes and know to apply them early. To get how much rain riding I do, I go through at least 1 rim/year, worn to almost breakage from wet grit, even though I clean them with alcohol after every ride. Perhaps it's that riding consistently in the rain is a good teacher.

Carbonfiberboy 

Bright lights! Bright clothing alone doesn't do it. I run a 200 lumen white blinking light in front and a 300 lumen red blinking light in back. They can see that light for a mile in the rain. I run those lights on every daylight ride, no matter where, no matter the weather. I don't ride at night anymore. I've never had a closer pass in the rain than I would have had in the dry. In fact the opposite might be true. I think drivers can be bit overconfident in the dry.

The main thing is that they see you a mile away and are thus aware of your presence for some time before they reach you. That gives them time to plan their pass. They do think you're nuts, but that's OK.

Pop N Wood

The two things that bother me most riding in the rain is wet glasses and traffic. That and the occasional pot hole covered in pool of water.

I don't clean my bikes much, but do lube the drivetrain after a wet ride.

deacon mark

I don't mind rain as such but mostly if it rains there is lighting and the deacon fears lighting. It is almost a phobia. I get really nervous just seeing it in the distance riding. Lot of folks get struck by lighting. Rain you just get wet and go slower.