I forgot just how heavy the rain could be

[downfader]

Its been hot, its been dry. We've had a couple of showers this past month in Southampton but nothing major. I had planned to get down to the local bike shop and talk about my broken Jake frame, then I saw the weather report this morning on the BBC warning of "heavy showers".

Trouble is they've "warned" before and nothing much happened.

So I set off, nice tailwind, it drizzled for all of 15 seconds this morning. Looked out the window at lunchtime and saw another spot of drizzle then the sun came out. Great, I think, will be nice riding to the bike shop (2 miles out of my way). Then 4 miles into my 8 mile trip the heavens opened!

I had to stop twice as the rain was so heavy I just could not see where what I was doing. Better to wait, even though I was soaked. I got to the point when I realised that I was so soaked that walking into a shop might be a little rude. The last thing you want to do is to dribble all over their nice clean floor, LOL!

I think I need a summer raincoat or gilet... or a shell over the bike

 

[HLaB]

At least it looked warm

 

[PBB]

You're more polite than me.

I remember being so wet a few months ago that my shoes were squelching.

I also hesitated about going into a newsagent, but I was so fed up and seeing that the floor inside was already wet I pressed on inside anyway!

 

[Berties]

Falling into the trap ,oh it's missed us put on my running stuff hit the road,well got to the end of the drive and it resembled the rain scene from Forrest Gump ,1/4 mile was drowned rat ,3 miles the roads were now rivers,but you block it out ,your shoes weigh the weight of two small elephants,the roads are now full of floating horse muck and grass bits ,yes I love the rain did a 7.5 mile circuit in 1 hour 5 not bad due to the circumstances

 

[BSRU]

I was lucky yesterdays forecast was completely wrong for Swindon, they forecast stated rain all day with heavy rain around lunch time, turned out dry all day with a light shower at around six.

 

[tmesis]

I love cycling in heavy rain, as long as it's not too cold. The pad in my bib shorts was so saturated the other day that every 30 seconds or so warm water would trickle down my inner thigh and make me feel I'd wet myself. It was strangely pleasant.

 

[Spinney]

I love cycling in heavy rain, as long as it's not too cold. The pad in my bib shorts was so saturated the other day that every 30 seconds or so warm water would trickle down my inner thigh and make me feel I'd wet myself. It was strangely pleasant.

Not sure if or or is the correct response to this!

But

 

[annedonnelly]

My bike was in for service. When they called to say it was ready it was raining, but it had been raining all day. As I set off on the 15 minute walk to the LBS it became torrential. Many of the buildings I passed had broken gutters so I was deluged even more. The shop staff were very entertained when I arrived looking like a drowned rat though I don't think they were too impressed by the wet patches on their floor. Then I rode home...

 

[BentMikey]

You need WeatherPro app on your phone. You can run the rain radar and see exactly what sort of precipitation is headed your way.

 

[ManiaMuse]

I knew it was going to rain because I checked the radar like a geek before I left and had my rainjacket and overshoes on. It didn't start raining until about 2/3rds of the way home but that final 1/3rd was enough for it to look like someone had poured a bucket of water over my head.

Had one scary moment when I went for the brakes going downhill and absolutely nothing happened (has been recently serviced so in good condition). I don't mind the rain too much, the one think that annoys me is drivers seem to give you even less space/not see you when the conditions are bad.

 

[cd365]

I didn't commute yesterday because the forecast was rain most of the day, drove to work, the odd spot or two, dry and sunny all day. I was quite annoyed by then that forecast was wrong. 5:10pm it got very dark outside, 5:25pm the heavens opened. I leave work at 5:30pm and it was torrential rain all the way home. I was glad in the end I didn't cycle in!

 

[Bman]

Didnt really have a choice leaving work last night. It was still raining.

I was soaked in seconds. Feet were fully wet in minutes but I loved every minute of it!

There was no better feeling than throwing all the kit in the washing machine and having a nice hot shower afterwards.

 

[downfader]

I'll be honest - I love riding in the rain, but this was the heaviest I've seen it in just over a year. My shoes were squelching, too, as was my pad in the shorts. It only probably rains on me for about 5 days of the year if I'm honest.

 

[palinurus]

It was pretty silly rain. I was soaked before I left the industrial estate.

For the first few yards it's 'I hope my feet don't get wet', once you can't get any wetter you can enjoy it.

 

[Milzy]

I love heavy rain, it's the most wonderful thing.