Wet Weather? No Problem!

A Short Guide to Biking in the Rain

There is no such thing as "bad biking weather", just ask those happy folks cycling around rainy Portland, snowy Minneapolis or rainy Oakland every day!
Posted by East ay icycle !oalition , "pril #$, %&#% at &#'() PM !o**ent#+% More

There is no such thing as "bad biking weather," just ask those happy folks cycling around rainy Portland or snowy Minneapolis every day of the year! ,et-s take a look at how they do it, while staying stylish and still arriving at ho*e or work in war*, dry socks. /iding safely and co*fortably in the rain is relatively easy using so*e co**on sense, preparation, and a bit of additional gear. On your body: " synthetic or wool 0non1cotton2 base layer 0underclothes2 will keep any sweat fro* sticking. " wool or fleece 0again, non1cotton2 outer layer 0shirt or sweater2 will breathe but keep you war* in cold te*peratures. " waterproof jacket or rain cape will keep the water out, but avoid hoods that cover your ears and keep you fro* hearing traffic noise. 3aterproof rain pants and boots or shoe covers will keep you dry fro* all of the water that your tires will splash up fro* the roadway. 4ay1glo and bright colors are especially i*portant in di* but not dark conditions. " waterproof bag, pannier, or backpack will ensure that all of your valuables stay dry even if you don-t. "lternately, if it is rainy but not too cold you can ride in 5uick drying, synthetic biking gear but carry a change of clothes in a waterproof bag or pannier. Once at work you can then towel off and change into your work clothes, then by the end of the day your bike gear is 0*ostly2 dry and ready for you to ride ho*e in! On your bike: 6ighly reco**ended' Plenty of bright lights "74 reflectors to the front, rear, and sides of your bike 0even during the day!2. 8enders on your front and rear wheels will keep water on the road fro* splashing up onto you. ,onger, "full" fenders will also prevent so*e dirt and grit fro* getting into your chain and gears, keeping things running s*oothly.

Things to know: ike brakes are *uch less effective when wet. Take it slower than nor*al and give yourself ,OT9 *ore ti*e to stop. after the rain. This *eans watch out for train tracks, *anholes, bike lane *arkings, etc. 3hen you cross over the* keep your handlebars straight, not turning, to avoid a slip. 6ands and feet get the coldest when biking, if wet and unprotected. :f you plan to bike *ore than just a couple *iles in the rain, *ake sure both are covered with waterproof and well insulated *aterial. eware of bike1eating puddles! Even little ones can hide nasty things like potholes, nails, or glass, which can cause a flat tire or a crash. "fter your ride, take so*e ti*e to wipe water and dirt off the *etal bike wheel ri*s, front and back. This will ensure that the brakes are still effective the ne;t ti*e you take your bike out. "lso wipe water off the chain after a rain ride, and s5uirt on a little bike lubricant if possible. This prevents rust fro* building up on the chain, e;tending its life. Most i*portantly, don-t worry about getting a little wet and don-t let the rain keep you fro* having fun on your bike! 3ith the e;ception of so*e wicked witches, *ost hu*ans are water1resistant and will get through it just fine. Every rain biker has their own routine and preferences, so feel free to e;peri*ent and see what works for you. :f you find a great new product or have a great tip for biking in the rain let us know about it so we can share with the rest of the E ! co**unity. 6appy biking!

Metal, painted, and brick surfaces in the roadway can beco*e very slippery during and

Seven years ago, I regularly consulted the weather forecast (almost obsessively), making sure there was no rain on the way. I didnt like to show up soaking wet at the office, nor did I enjoy skunk streaks up my back. uch has changed since then. I actually enjoy riding in the rain these days. It can partially be attributed to wisdom that comes with age! plus a lot of trial and error. Seven years later, I rarely ever look at the weather forecast " e#cept on the odd winter day, or if Im traveling. $ther bicycling blogs will give you long lists of gear that you need to endure the rain. $ver here on %he &rban 'ountry, we are more pragmatic and try to find the minimum re(uired gear to make that ride in the rain comfortable and not too overwhelming. )ust like bicycles, rain and weather come in a variety of forms. So I have broken this post down to provide other bicyclists with some tips that Ive learned from my e#perience over the years. %his is by no means an e#haustive list, and just because these simple ideas work well for me, it doesnt mean my way is the only way to go. Id love to hear tips from readers on what makes your ride in the rain comfortable and pleasurable.

*irst, the basics+

I rode for years without fenders (mud guards). %hey just arent common on ,orth -merican bikes. %here is a store here in %oronto that promotes chic urban bicycles with fenders and chain guards on posters on the wall, but not a single bike they sell comes e(uipped with these components. I gradually worked my way up from no fenders, to a rear basket (which protected my back), to finally installing fenders on my old %rek, to finally buying a .utch bike last year that came e(uipped with fenders, a full chain cover, and internal maintenance/free components. %he fenders make a world of difference when riding in the rain. -nd Im not talking about those fenders that sit 01 centimeters above the rear wheel. Im talking about the fenders that come standard on most .utch, 2ritish and 'hinese style bicycles. $nce your bike is e(uipped with the fenders, we can talk about the 3carry/ons4.

%he carry/on gear

I never leave home without my 3rain gear4. 'arrying this 3gear4 with me all the time is one of the reasons I never need to check the forecast. Ignorance truly is bliss in a society where we stress over the most trivial of matters. -nd proper preparation makes it easy to discard the weather forecasts. y carry/on rain gear consists of but three core items. *irst is my hat. I picked up this fisherman/ style hat in 'hina last year for 56. It keeps my head completely dry even in the worst of downpours.

Secondly, I bring a pair of splash pants that I throw on top of my regular clothes in hard downpours. I paid 571 for these pants from a local outdoor outfitters store. %hey are lightweight and fold up nicely in my pannier bag.

%hird is my thin water/resistant hooded jacket that I either wear under my winter coat in colder weather, or above my regular clothes in warmer weather. %he hooded jacket is nice especially in the winter because it adds an e#tra layer of warmth and allows me to 8ip up and cover my face when its really cold or while its hailing.

%hats it. %hose are the three items that keep me dry whether Im in shorts, jeans or a suit.

%his is a photo of me in 3business casual4 attire with my rain hat and jacket underneath my winter coat after riding in a light rainfall.

%he 39#tras4
%here are very rare days where the 6 3carry on4 items arent enough to keep me completely dry, so I will sometimes decide to wear my waterproof boots through torrential rain while transporting my dress shoes in a dry sack on my rear rack. I also generally wear these boots to keep my feet warm on cold winter days.

In 'hina, it is very common for people on bicycles to carry umbrellas " both to protect from the rain, and from the sun. Similarly in the ,etherlands, people use umbrellas on their bicycles. (&nfortunately, this is an illegal act here in %oronto)+

:hoto courtesy of 2rian &nderwood 2eing prepared and staying dry helps to make riding in the rain more enjoyable. ;ith very little effort you can show up at your destination dry, and you dont need to carry a large backpack with a change of clothes or heavy rain gear. / See more at+ http+<<www.theurbancountry.com<01==<17<simple/tips/making/bicycling/in/ rain.html>sthash.,?nas@A=.dpuf