Commuting in the rain and cold

[boydj]

The hardest part is from bed to bike. The rest may be messy but riding is the easiest bit.

+1
With the right attitude it's never as bad out there as it looks from indoors.

Good gloves, overshoes, a skull cap or similar to keep head and ears warm and a decent jacket should keep you reasonably warm - but you'll never stay totally dry. This winter I added a pair of waterproof overtrousers, but they've only been used on three days in the last 6 months. I've only missed a few days when the roads were at their iciest in December.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I am keen to cycle to work most if not all year round but living here on the west coast of scotland we get an awful lot of rain here. How do you guys cope with early morning when it is tipping it down. Even now it is still pretty chilly in the mornings here, we had some snow on Monday here.....

It's pretty dry most of the year around "down south" here.

You will pretty much get wet, if you put on full water proofs you will just get wet from sweat.

So, just accept that sometimes you will get wet and concentrate more on keeping warm, multiple layers are good, you'll want some way of being able to dry them out before you return home as putting on cold/wet clothes is a bad start (even if its wet and warm, that is better).

Consider that not all parts of your body requires the same amount of layers, you will probably suffice with a single layer on your legs even when you have 2-4 up top (some of us around here cycle in shorts most of the year around, legs dry faster than trousers )


It also seems to be drier the colder it gets, which is a bonus (went out at -17c this year, dry as a bone).

 

[buddha]

I got caught out today. Being wet/cold I can deal with to a certain extent. But rain on my glasses, in traffic and then in pothole ridden country lanes is worse.
Time to invest is a peaked cap to go under the helmet.

 

[Jezston]

20 degrees and you get the shorts out? 8 degrees and i'm in shorts

Yeah but do you shave your legs like Blackpanther does?

 

[subaqua]

Yeah but do you shave your legs like Blackpanther does?

why the obsession with leg shaving .
its enough of a chore scraping the face .

it really can't be the aerodynamics cos thats utter arse gravy

 

[format]

My 'commute' is into uni - about 3 miles so nothing much but if it's raining that's enough to get soaked through/super sweaty.

As it's uni there's not really shower facilities (unless I want to pay for gym membership). Maybe once I graduate and get a job there will be decent facilities or a place to change clothes.

I'd love to cycle every day but when I get up and look out the window and it's really raining I just take the bus instead.

 

[Moby Jones]

What do you guys suggest i wear on he bottom half if it is raining pretty hard oh and cold of course.

 

[Hydra]

I'd love to cycle every day but when I get up and look out the window and it's really raining I just take the bus instead.

Ultimate defeatism.

 

[ufkacbln]

Get a fairing

 

[lip03]

new to the daily cycle but i cycle to the train station and then go to work from there. the problem i face is the hour i spend on the train into london not nice when your wet! going to start packing my normal clothes in my back-pack so i can get out of my wet tights and be comfy on my journey.

 

[lip03]

Get a fairing

mental but dedicated!!!!

 

[mcshroom]

mental but dedicated!!!!

Not mental, fun!

Some of my best commutes last year were on cycle paths with 3-4" snow and my MTB.

Your probelm sounds very familiar (we get a lot of rain on the Cumbrian coast as well). I tend to ride in a waterproof jacket with side vents and tights/shorts in the rain. I find that as long as the material doesn't collect water and sag I don't notice my legs getting wet too much.

My tip would be to take a spare pair of gloves/socks with you as they are usually the hardest thing to dry out during the day. I don't mind riding in the rain, but I do mind putting cold wet clothing on for the ride home.

 

[DrSquirrel]

My 'commute' is into uni - about 3 miles so nothing much but if it's raining that's enough to get soaked through/super sweaty.

As it's uni there's not really shower facilities (unless I want to pay for gym membership). Maybe once I graduate and get a job there will be decent facilities or a place to change clothes.

I'd love to cycle every day but when I get up and look out the window and it's really raining I just take the bus instead.

For the sake of 3 miles, I would hate to have to change.

I think your best bet is to take it slowly, so you don't sweat... and wear full waterproofs.

 

[crumpetman]

why the obsession with leg shaving .
its enough of a chore scraping the face .

it really can't be the aerodynamics cos thats utter arse gravy

I think it is so that your legs dry out quicker if you have a shower or sweat a lot as the water does not get soaked into the leg hairs. Also, if you have a fall it is easier to clean the wound on a hairless leg.

I don't shave my legs, far too much hassle and I think it looks odd.