I had to drive around 1500km this past weekend in a rented mini-van. I don’t own a car, so that’s probably more distance than I’ve covered in a motor vehicle in the past 5 years.
Today, back home and on my way to work, there was rather torrential rain, but I was still so thankful to be back on the bike.
I hate this false dichotomy: You don’t have to drive when it’s raining, but neither must you ride around with wet brakes, bad traction, and poor visibility.
You can just stay home.
I can’t really not go to work just because it’s raining. Not only would it fuck over my coworkers; I need the money.
It’s not like I’m made of salt, anyways :P With a raincoat and rain pants it’s really not that bad.
I’m amazed how many people, even daily cycling commuters just don’t know about rain pants. Couldn’t live without them personally.
You got recommendations? I get hot very easily. So if I wear rain pants on a ride that’s longer than a few miles, I’m gonna be wet anyway.
Not the person you asked but I just used to wear surf shorts and pack my pants in a water proof bag. Your skin will dry, and they may be cold initially but with the effort they warm up
That’s kinda how I do it now. But it’s gonna get cold soon, and even I am not immune to the cold and wind.
My go to for the Winter (snow) was a pair of old leather winterized motorcycle pants. They would breath better than Army Surplus rain pants, and the quilted padding inside provided good warmth.
Yeah, that’s out. I’m vegan, so no leather for me.
I’m vegan now, at the time I was vegetarian, and they were a coworkers pants he’d bought in the mid 70s, so I justified it as reuse rather than buying new products.
Just go to any local outdoor gear shop and get ones that are light weight gore-Tex or equivalent material. Though I will say I am somewhat of a freak in how little I sweat, so your experience might differ from mine. They definitely will not be as breathable as normal pants, but better than being soaked and wet. Helps if you cycle at a more leisurely pace.
Nice. I have trouble not riding fast. It’s too fun. But I do go slower in the rain. I’ll check out some gortex for sure