Is it really worth commuting in heavy rain?

[Teuchter]

On a positive note if it is really wet it must wash away the usual diesel trail from Inchinnan through Renfrew!

I take it that's your route as well? That bus depot has a lot to answer for!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Part of the issue is that there are no radiators in the office - aircon only though having a desk fan on under my desk does an okay job.

I think it'll be spare kit in future.

Have a search online and look photographers/film processing places and see if you can find an old photographic negative drying cabinet for sale. They're brilliant for even absolute;y sopping wet clothes & shoes drying, tall, slim, discrete, dry everything quickly & as they're for hanging photo film up, theres plenty of drop for a jacket and trousers or full lycra longs as well as plenty of hook places for socks etc. I need to have a look for a new one. The one I'd bagged at work and put DO NOT BIN labels on, got taken away whilst I was off for a knee op. I'm still not happy about it now.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I'm lucky, I have a drying room at work. Sometimes people get it mixed up with the forensics drying room next door, and I have murder offenders clothing on the hangar next to me, but as long as it dries eh? (joking)

 

[Moodyman]

On a positive note if it is really wet it must wash away the usual diesel trail from Inchinnan through Renfrew! Then again if it is that wet I wimp out. Today was great 'tho...

That was my thought too as I set the fastest commute for weeks this morning. Amazing how much one can slow down fearing diesel trails and wet leaves

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Foss, I'll see your socks and raise you a soggy bag (complete with tablet and phone which I forgot to put in my waterproof pouch duh!)

Oh, poor you!
I drowned 2 phones last "summer"

 

[Sara_H]

Oh, poor you!
I drowned 2 phones last "summer"

I put my phone in a sandwhich bag inside my bag when its rainy.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I put my phone in a sandwhich bag inside my bag when its rainy.

Me too: but sometimes I forget

 

[Crankarm]

I'll start by qualifying this... I generally consider myself an all weather rider. I live on the "Wet Coast" of Scotland and always figured that if I avoided the rain I'd never ride.

This morning's ride in had me wondering though.

Torrential rain, strong winds and localised flooding.

No problem, I've commuted in this sort of weather countless times Man up and get on with it - the first few minutes are always the worst.

The 9 mile ride to work didn't give me any problems, despite the lashing rain and some roads being under several inches of water, kerb to kerb. I actually enjoyed the ride.

The problem was once I got to work. Showered and changed, I then had to deal with the pile of soaking wet cycling kit. The worst of it is hung under my desk, being blasted with a desk fan in hopes of drying some of it while the rest is draped around discreet parts of the office where it hopefully won't bother my colleagues.

It's this turning my corner of the office into a laundry that is beginning to bother me. Should I just bag most of my kit up and accept it will still be soaking for the ride home? Should I revise my kit so I wear less, thus having less to dry? Should I just stop worrying what effect my chosen form of transport has on everyone around me? Should I (shock horror) relent and take the car when the rain is really bad?

How do you guys deal with it?

Either take another set of dry kit to ride home in so you can bag up your kit from a wet ride in to work therefore not inflicting drying your smalls on your colleagues or alternatively when really wet just leave your bike at home and drive to work instead. The latter is what I did today and will do when ever it is seriously chucking it down for the ride in or back home. I hate having to clean and re-lube my bike.

 

[Crankarm]

We have enough reliability issues with the servers without introducing damp to the room. Can't see me getting away with that though one of the network guys owes me a favour for replacing the freewheel and chain on his Halfords mountain bike so who knows!

I heard some where that water and electricity don't mix. But I might be wrong.

 

[J.Primus]

I find with waterproof trousers and shoe covers I'm ok. Cycled in through a deluge yesterday and when I got in, hung my hoodie and high viz on the back of my chair, changed into a dry pair of trousers, hung up the waterproofs and shoe covers and I was sat bone dry behind my desk in 5m. Probably helps my helmet doesn't have air holes in it though!

 

[Mo1959]

Probably helps my helmet doesn't have air holes in it though!

That's something I was wondering about. Luckily haven't been caught in torrential rain so far, but I presume the rain will go in the helmet vents then start running down your neck and into your clothing unless you have a really tight neck around your jacket? Would this be where a buff might be handy to soak the moisture up rather than let it trickle down your neck?

 

[Hawk]

That's something I was wondering about. Luckily haven't been caught in torrential rain so far, but I presume the rain will go in the helmet vents then start running down your neck and into your clothing unless you have a really tight neck around your jacket? Would this be where a buff might be handy to soak the moisture up rather than let it trickle down your neck?

Could get a waterproof helmet cover

 

[doddy73]

Another weather warning issued for heavy rain this afternoon.... looks like the "just dry" kit will get another soaking on the way home .... Geeso

 

[Stevie Mcluskey]

Another weather warning issued for heavy rain this afternoon.... looks like the "just dry" kit will get another soaking on the way home .... Geeso

Working late night so wont be heading up road till about 7 o'clock lets hope it passes quick Doddy. Got a right soaking this morning and that was on top of pun%tu@e on way home last night at Thorntonhall. Couldnt see a thing changing the inner tube. Lucky enough it was the back wheel
On the plus side cheapo Lidl jacket i'm using the now holding up reasonably well.

 

[doddy73]

That's something I was wondering about. Luckily haven't been caught in torrential rain so far, but I presume the rain will go in the helmet vents then start running down your neck and into your clothing unless you have a really tight neck around your jacket? Would this be where a buff might be handy to soak the moisture up rather than let it trickle down your neck?

Yep, big buff fan here. As I am somewhat follicly challenged (and a shaved head is more aerodynamic) headbands, skullcaps etc tend to leave me with a very attractive ring round my head where the stitching digs in. Don't like being referred to as a b**lend so I find that one buff worn like a bandana (covering the ears and then flipped over the back of head) and another round the neck (and up over the chin if required) is more than enough of a barrier. This only works for a short time though as they will eventually get soaked then very cold. I can pedal for an hour in torrential rain with little discomfort.

I use freebies from a cycling mag last year and a couple of Skiing ones that I picked up for a £5 each in Sports Direct. They also had short and long sleeve base layers at 2 for £10... designed for hill walking but also great for commuting.