BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

My tolerance looks kinda like a Bell curve. I hated it at first, and when I took the bus whenever it was really raining. I sorta forced myself to get over it by just getting in the saddle. I even enjoyed it. Now I just kinda deal with it. After commuting for twelve years, I don't enjoy it, but it doesn't bother me much either (I do have a sick fascination with racing in the rain, though).

If you work in an office, preparedness is critical. I don't wear cycling shoes when I commute, so I have a spare pair of shoes and a towel in the office (no easy access to showers, though). If there's any chance of rain, I tuck a pair of MUSA knickers and a rain jacket in my panniers. I stay away from waterproof shells unless it's really cold because I just get too hot in the them.

The christmas that my wife agreed to finally buy me a kayak, she also bought me a book about kayaking. The biggest thing that I took away from that book was to not let weather (that you are prepared for)stop you from kayaking. So a few months later I was looing forward to a paddle afer work and it started to rain and I got a bit bummed. I then remembered teh book and deided to put on my raincoat and hat and go paddle anyways. Log story short, during that boat ride i saw 4 baby fox hanging around their den frolicking on the shore. Something I havent seen since. I have adopted this to bicycling as well, since I started commuting in August, I only drove to work 3 times due to weather and that was snow and ice that I did not have any real experience riding in and I think next year it wont be so much of an issue.

I always get frustraed when I hear people say, o its raining out we cant do something or its cold out, we have to stay inside. I would say the biggest thing is to be prepared and you can go out safely and relatively comfortable in any weather that Pittsburgh can throw at you. I have had my young kids out hiking in 10 degree weather and biking in pouring rain (they would not let me close the cover on their trailer, they were having so much fun) But we were prepared so it was cool.

So, while i cannot offer any suggestions as to gear to make someone more comfy, I can say that a bad day of biking (or being outside and active in general) is better than a day watching tv or doing chores!

perception is everything. i try to imagine the people who lived 100 years ago without gore tex working outside all day, that usually makes me feel a bit warmer in the winter months when there's precipitation.

i feel like i ride better in the rain in the summer, it keeps you cool and you can push harder. i guess for me the temperature makes a big difference. but it's been raining on humans since the beginning of humanity and i don't think it's hurt our progress, so ride on...

Remember that it always looks worse out that it really is- and the first few minutes will be the worst. I keep a change of clothes, including dry shoes and socks, at work and accept the fact that I may get soaked except for mu torso under my goretex jacket. If it is not too cold, I will not wear socks just so I don't have to deal with soaked ones at work.

i went for a ride last week and it started pouring. i saw only one other cyclist out, and both just had the biggest grins on our faces. it was the most fun i had on a bike all year. granted, it helps when it's 70 and rainy, rather then 38 and rainy.

As someone completely new to cycling (like, 2 months) and who has a swanky vehicle as well, I've had the same conversation with myself every time I thought about riding to work but feared the weather report for the trip home. My first ride in the rain was fairly miserable, mostly because it was after a 9 hour work day, pouring rain, cold, and no fenders. When I got home my number one priority was getting out of my soaked clothes and doing nothing at all.

But the other day when I was riding the Montour and I got caught in the rain, there was a period where I was totally alright with it. I was exhausted, but didn't mind the rain. I think partaking in inclimate outdoor activities is something you're capable of, like a few of you have said, when you're prepared for it (fenders, raingear) but also when you love what you're doing.

The more I ride my bike the more I can say I really love it, and I know the more I love it, the more I won't mind when its not the best time to hit the pedals.

Also, the beast: Being in a canoe/kayak when its raining is such a great experience. [warning: zen rant] Theres that joke that goes "Two fish are in the sea. One turns to the other and says 'What's this water thing people keep talking about?'". When you're in an every day situation, you're surrounded by elements than you wouldn't normally see or appreciate, but when you're above a few feet of water, with water coming down on you, the humidity is rising, you can hear the raindrops, feel it, taste it, smell it. Suddenly you're glued to the planet.

Alright, I'm done.

Old Norwegian saying: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing."

Garrison Keillor: "My ancestors were Norwegian, so they were never totally happy unless they were cold and wet and utterly miserable."

I used to think swimming in the rain (with no lightning) would be OK. When I was caught it a downpour once, the feeling of not being able to get my head really out of the water was (understatement) not nice.

Mick