Rain and road bikes

[TrekDianna]

I live in Oregon. If I don't ride in the rain I might not ride for months. I just put on layers and peel them off as they get wet :0 Seriously, I guess I am just so used to not letting rain get in the way of anything it doesn't seem to bother me much anymore. I only don't go out when it's windy. We have too many old trees and sometimes the roads are littered with limbs.

[maillotpois]

Like a lot of those who've posted, if I didn't ride on the road in the rain, I wouldn't be able to ride. I dress for it and LOVE my disc brakes!! The disc brakes were what really sold me on my Volagi. Full fenders are great, though I didn't put them on at all this year, even though I did a couple of 200ks in really bad rain.

Generally if it's just a casual ride and it is absolutely dumping, I will probably stay in. But if it is a ride I have planned, or it's just sprinkling at the start, I'll go.

[Owlie]

I don't set out to ride in rain, but if I get caught in it, I deal. If it looks like it might rain, I wear a wool base layer and ride my cyclocross bike. (It has disc brakes--better stopping power in wet weather.) I've been caught in a downpour on my roadie and just rode. Bear in mind that rim brakes will squeal and lose stopping power when wet. Ride accordingly. Oh, and the painted lines are also slippery when wet.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Also tyres are softer in the wet so will puncture more easily, especially if there's glass on the road.

[TigerMom]

I would never willingly ride a road bike on the road even if it is drizzling.

Have I had to ride while it was raining, yes, due to sudden, unexpected rain showers.

The turns and the braking on wet roads (especially if there is a downhill), even when there is only a slight drizzle is too dangerous in my opinion. I can't speak for cyclocross bikes though.