Riding in the rain

[sheffgirl]

Muckynutz. They do a small catcher that fits to and folds up to store under the saddle when not in use.

I have one of those. It keeps my bottom dry, nothing worse than a soggy bottom

I remember one day riding home on a very wet day. When I arrived home I stood in the garden for a minute to cool off, and there was steam coming off my thighs because my cycling tights were so wet, I was quite amused

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I have one of those. It keeps my bottom dry, nothing worse than a soggy bottom

I remember one day riding home on a very wet day. When I arrived home I stood in the garden for a minute to cool off, and there was steam coming off my thighs because my cycling tights were so wet, I was quite amused

Look at it this way, you could pee yourself just to stay warm and nobody would ever know!!

 

[Pale Rider]

I've since learned a few of those on the ride in my OP got into bother with the weather.

The plan was Sunderland up the C2C to Parkhead Station at the top of Weardale.

Most of us, including me, were in a poor state by the time we reached Consett, so took refuge in the cafe at Hownsgill Farm.

Five pressed on to Parkhead, to be met with even lower temperatures, yet more rain, then horizontal sleet and snow.

One of the lasses admitted she was in tears and unable to speak.

Fortunately, one of the group is ex-navy and used a bit of survival training, getting the rest to sing songs and keep talking.

Another of the lasses said later she would have been 'found dead in a ditch' if it wasn't for that support.

No long term harm done, and happily for me as the ride was my suggestion, everyone has accepted they took their own decisions.

But all of us should have known better, as locals we know if it's grim at Consett, it will be much grimmer further up.

 

[Mark1978]

My biggest off was in the rain. Phone was in my jersey pocket so needed to move it into my waterproof topeak stem bag as it had just started chucking it down in one monster of a storm. Pulled off into a lay-by, hit gravel after a dip in the tarmac and the bike just went away from me. Bike carried on into a ditch and i lay there looking like that dude from the fantastic four, with legs covered in gravel.

So im not a big fan of the rain. Dont mind it too much if it's not windy or cold.

 

[ianrauk]

Just checking my commuting stats. I have only had 7 rainy commutes this year so far. Not a lot. 2014 there were 45 rainy commutes.

Sorry for the boring stat.

 

[Brandane]

Just checking my commuting stats. I have only had 7 rainy commutes this year so far. Not a lot. 2014 there were 45 rainy commutes.

Sorry for the boring stat.

You're not from these parts, are you?
If I was a cycle commuter, I would estimate that 45 dry commutes in a year would be a good result. Seriously.

 

[ianrauk]

You're not from these parts, are you?
If I was a cycle commuter, I would estimate that 45 dry commutes in a year would be a good result. Seriously.

Well you will live in Northern Britain

 

[Turdus philomelos]

I live in North and have cycle commuted for 18 months I can only recount being completely saturated through maybe 2 or 3 times.
Again its all about wearing the right gear.
Some say, "there is no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes."

Except wind and gales that is. I hate side swipes!

 

[Brandane]

I live in North and have cycle commuted for 18 months I can only recount be completely saturated through maybe 2 or 3 times.
Again its all about wearing the right gear.
Some say, "there is no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes."

Yebbut you're in West Lothian. I'm in the west, yards from the coast, and the atlantic fronts dump their rain on us long before it reaches you! I even notice how much drier it is in Paisley than it is here, and that's only just over the hill from here.

 

[Turdus philomelos]

Ahh, wait the now, emm, what's its name again

Got it! 1978, a Border's high school, Wednesday, Period 5, Geography, Rain Shadow Effect

 

[mjr]

You're not from these parts, are you?
If I was a cycle commuter, I would estimate that 45 dry commutes in a year would be a good result. Seriously.

I'm sure someone produced a map showing how many times a year on average a commuter making the same journeys at the same time each weekday would get rained on. Damned if I can find it now. The web seems awash with BS from British Cycling and various retailers that want to make commuting far too complicated in order to sell people a load of specialist gear (cycling-specific clothing, rain covers for you, your bike and other stuff you don't need, special products for in the shower afterwards, ...) that would make cycling to work a nuisance and people on bikes look like road warriors.

Don't complicate it: get on the cycle, ride, and if it rains, wear a raincoat and whatever you like over the top, then take them off and hang them up on a coat rack when you arrive. Job done.

 

[Brandane]

Don't complicate it: get on the cycle, ride, and if it rains, wear a raincoat and whatever you like over the top, then take them off and hang them up on a coat rack when you arrive. Job done.

Not a chance! I work for an agency driving HGV's, so no fixed place of work. Commute usually involves a journey of between 25 and 40 miles each way at short notice, carrying a lot of equipment with me. Quite apart from that, nobody in their right mind would consider riding a bike on the A737 in the daylight, never mind darkness. I won't even use the motorbike to commute because of the amount of stuff I need to carry; cycle commuting really is a non-starter.

 

[mjr]

... cycle commuting really is a non-starter.

OK, fine, I can see it's difficult where you live, for your work. So how would you know how often cycle commuters get rained on?

 

[Brandane]

OK, fine, I can see it's difficult where you live, for your work. So how would you know how often cycle commuters get rained on?

Perhaps it's because I notice when it's raining while I am commuting by car? I have to switch the wipers on and turn the heater up a notch. I assume that it would still be the same rain whether I was in the car or on the bike.

 

[mjr]

Perhaps it's because I notice when it's raining while I am commuting by car?

But as you've noted, you're not a typical commuter and won't commute by cycling. There could be all sorts of other factors meaning you're more likely to get rained on than average - maybe the permie drivers are more likely to call in sick when the weather's bad?