commuting in the rain

okay, i have a rule. If it's raining in the morning, no bike.
But i didn't ride yesterday. And the forecast was for "morning showers" followed by clearing.
I looked outside and heard rain and saw blue sky. I got dressed for work in non-bike clothing and sadly looked out at the car I would have to drive. I continued to prepare for work, but upon letting a cat out or in, I discovered it wasn't raining... I was already a little late, but... I got my rain pants on and rain coat and went for the bike. As I opened the doors, the heavens opened. No, that was all the rain on my fig tree. the branches were bending from the weight and I had to get through all that. Good thing i had on the rain gear!
I started on my way to work and hit 3 different good rain cells. I got wet.
I rode through puddles (I love my fenders) The sun was out in parts of the sky so it was bright and light, but not blinding. I didn't go as fast as I usually do, since the rainpants tend to be a cooker, but I got to work only a few minutes later than normal and I was only one of two stalwart bike commuters that rode in today!

Good for you, mimi, for not letting the rain stop you (you're braver than I). Not only did you probably have fun "playing" in the rain, but you look like a super stud to your co-workers for riding to work today. Great job!!! :D

That's awesome!
My feeling is, rain is okay, lightening is not.
They've been forcasting thundershowers all week and we haven't got a one.
I've been riding anyway. I can always, always get off the commute if a thunderstorm comes. I keep thinking that rain is better than sleet and snow, so I might as well enjoy it while it's warm. ;)

Cool:) Thanks for sharing!! Riding in the rain can be fun - almost liberating. Makes me feel like a kid again.

Of course, I need to finally get rain gear, since it's not always warm enough here to not need it.

CA

I love getting to ride in the rain! It reminds me of being a kid, when I would ride just for the fun of it, no matter what!

Good for you for getting started despite the conditions! In the end you sound like you had fun. I love that "superhero" feeling when out riding in the rain. People look at you, they think: "Hard core," while you are thinking: "Wheeeee!"

I do wish rainpants were somehow breathable, though.

I wish there were breathable rain pants too.

As a child, i don't think i ever rode in the rain. AFTER it rained, That's when I rode!!

Good for you! Today was like that. Dark, scary clouds and a forecast of impending doom. But when I left the house, it wasn't raining, so I just rode fast and found a great spot on the bike rack because no one else was there. I don't trust the weather forecasts anymore. Too many times it's been the opposite of what they said it would be. I've been lucky enough to only get caught in one down pour this year, and actually, it was kind of fun.

I generally use the same "no hard rain in the AM" rule when commiting to my commute. With the wet summer that Ontario has been having, it's hard to be afraid of rain; otherwise, I'd never bike. :) Every summer, there's usually only a handful of times where it's raining during the AM or PM so we're pretty lucky.