Excuses, excuses.....

[Jo25]

... for not biking in the rain. I am trying very hard at the moment to keep to the commuting at least 3 times (usually more) a week, but with the weather the way its been lately I've found it far to easy to look out the window in the morning say to myself "bloody hell look at all that rain, better take the car". So I'm looking for help to get some motivation and find replies to all my excuses.....

So what wet weather gear do I need? I'm quite happy wearing shorts and getting wet legs rather than waterproofs, thinking more of things like mudguards, overshoes, waterproof cover for my backpack (not interested in panniers). Any suggestions, anything else I need?

Also, being a novice, is there anything on the bike (or in riding style) I need to pay particular attention too when biking in the wet, especially as I have some very big hills to go down on my way home.

Cheers!

 

[4F]

I would say mudguards and overshoes would be about it. Works for me

 

[hackbike 6]

Nah I dont take much...a very light Hawaiian shirt is my favourite and shorts..Bought some very light running shorts recently.(May use them if It pours.

If my shoes get wet I put newspaper in them at work and they are fine by the end of the shift.Stuff is generally stored in my locker.

 

[fossyant]

Thing is it's also a slippery slope - looks like rain..car etc...

For me, it's keeping the shoes as dry as poss - overshoes and a plastic bag (cut off) underneath - waterproof top,and sometimes bottoms - bear in mind the boil in the bag situation.

I assume you have bike specific clothes - i.e. they dry off whilst at work.

Mudguards and a front mudflap helps loads.

The only thing that stops me is ice - if it's frosty I'll walk to the main road, but if there has been rain then frost - it's the bus (leave car at home).

You also feel great when you get to the end of the journey !!!

 

[hackbike 6]

I've done it in snow but I don't particularly like doing it,

 

[HLaB]

I really enjoy the commute in all weather's. I suppose subconsciously it helps that I haven't got a parking space at work, so the alternative is the Bus.

 

[Keith Oates]

Just tell yourself you're going to do it and then get out regardless of the rain, you'll be pleasantly suprised how much you can enjoy riding in the rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[domtyler]

Cycling in the snow or when there is ice on the roads are the only two occasions when I won't cycle any more having learnt my lessons the hard way.

 

[Chappy]

Nothing magical to advice re: being motivated about cycling in non-fair weather conditions, except to just do it.

The pay-off is that you will soon take a (perverse?) enjoyment in actually cycling in rain, hail, cold etc.

I really enjoy it.

Honestly! I love it.

Only weather that I don't enjoy is the wind.

I agree there is no real way to explain the feeling you get just pure enjoyment I suppose.

 

[CotterPin]

I've bottled occasionally and ended up standing on the side of the road waiting for a bus I get on to, watching all the cyclists go by. When I finally get onto the bus and eventually find a seat, I look out the window as we lurch slowly forward and watch the cyclists go by.

I tend to find that this memory limits the times I do decide to take the bus rather than cycling.

 

[nilling]

Cycling in the rain is quite refreshing and cooling. I dont even bother with the rain jacket now, as it just boils me from the inside. But nothing destroys my motivation more than a strong headwind in the morning!

 

[Notsoblue]

I love the rain! Its never as bad as you think its going to be. Just not so keen on the wind.

 

[redjedi]

Nothing magical to advice re: being motivated about cycling in non-fair weather conditions, except to just do it.

The pay-off is that you will soon take a (perverse?) enjoyment in actually cycling in rain, hail, cold etc.

I really enjoy it.

Honestly! I love it.

Only weather that I don't enjoy is the wind.

+1

I don't bother with any special protection from the rain at this time of year. In the winter I will put on a waterproof jacket.

I quite enjoy the rain, in fact I was very disapointed yesterday when it stopped raining half way home

My advice for when cycling in the rain is
1) avoid large puddles because you don't know what's under the water. It could be a nasty pothole. Even if you know the road, the wave, caused by the front wheel, can be enough to fill your shoes with water (as I found out the other week). I should probably get some overshoes.

2) If your going down steep hills, make sure you brake well before you get to any corners.

3) Stay off the white lines (and other road markings) as these will be slippery

4) Don't wear white lycra shorts

 

[HLaB]

Yes. Deffo agree. I've only bottled out once becuse of the weather this year - that day when it was REALLY windy. Even then I still got my bike out of the shed in the morning and sat on it. The wind blew me backwards. Even then I still considered cycling in as I thought the wind would be less gusty in central London itself.

But took on a miserable bus / train instead with sodden commuters. Walking over Waterloo Bridge I still saw cylists on the bridge having to walk the bikes across due to the wind. Still wished I was one of them.

Wind was fine later that day.

I went out one moring when it was particularly windy; I live near the banks of the River Forth. I thought the same thing "the wind won't be as bad in central Edinburgh. Pedalled off only and the wind just blew me round in a big circle and blew my glasses clean off. After much searching (half blind) a neighbour came along and found them unfortunately they were minus a lens .
In the end I wheeled the bike back and got my spare glasses and got the bus. Sod's law the wind was a bit lighter in town and the bus passed lots of cyclists (lots of cyclists passed the bus)

 

[wafflycat]

Cycling in the snow or when there is ice on the roads are the only two occasions when I won't cycle any more having learnt my lessons the hard way.

That's when having a recumbent trike comes into its own. Incredibly stable on ice/snow.