My best friend, BJ aka Will, has recently begun bike commuting as well - except he is doing it in the sweltering heat and humidity of the South. He is a 24-year-old aerospace engineer in Huntsville, AL, with a similar cycling background as myself. I asked him to write about riding in the rain, so here goes, courtesy of BJ aka Will:---
So, you have decided to help your world, your community and yourself by shedding the four-door motorized covered wagon in exchange for the smaller, pedal-powered uncovered bicycle. Great! But inevitably, your will will be tested by certain road blocks that will try to force you back into the convenience of a car. One of these obstacles I recently came in contact with was Mother Nature, the very entity I am trying to protect. During my morning routine before work, I checked the weather because I thought it looked a little darker outside than usual. Sure enough, the reports called for a 100% chance of rain all day long. What do I do now? I finished up my routine, hopped on my bike, and pedaled to work like normal. It was my first commute into the rain, and I definitely learned a few things, like cars don’t care if they splash a biker with puddle water. So, I would like to pass these tips onto you so that your first ride in the rain goes smoothly and safely.
- Make yourself visible.
This one is arguably the most important. Rain generally involves low visibility and while most drivers remember to turn their lights on at night, they forget that the law states they must have their lights on when their wipers are on. Make sure you have at least (more is better) one blinking light attached to you or your bike. RoadID makes a great little blinking light in multiple colors that I use called the Firefly Supernova. You can clip it to your backpack or seat bag and it is highly visible even during the daytime. Also, wear lighter colored clothing that has reflective material in it. - Keep your stuff dry.
If you are like me, you carry all of your work clothes with you on your daily commute. Needless to say that wearing soaking wet clothes around the office sure wont impress the boss, even if he knows you are riding your bike to work. There are a couple of options you can use here. Almost all Timbuk2 bags are made with a waterproof liner that will keep your stuff from getting soaked, plus they look cool. Don’t feel like carrying stuff on your back? If your bike can accommodate, strap on some waterproof panniers to carry your gear and keep it dry. Don’t feel like spending any more money? Use your regular backpack and/or panniers but shove all your stuff into a trashbag (preferably a clean, new one) from under the sink first.
As far as your body goes, I prefer to not use a rain jacket. They can become steamy and uncomfortable during the summer months and you will generally be wet (from sweat or rain) by the time you arrive anyway. Plus, I shower when I arrive at my destination, so I am getting wet either way. If you don’t shower when you arrive at your destination, then use the rain as a chance to cool off and rinse off the sweat (just be sure to pack a towel in your trashbag).
However, if you don’t shower AND you wear your off-the-bike clothes while you are on the bike, then be sure and pick up a set of cycling-specific outerwear. Come to think of it, I may pick some of this up to prepare for winter riding… - Wear eye protection.
Sun glasses, swimming goggles, whatever, but you need something to keep the rain drops from stinging your eyes and making you lose sight of what's important... the road. If you normally wear sunglasses while you ride, pick up some clear lenses to replace your darker ones while you ride in the darkened conditions of the rain. - Be more cautious.
If it’s raining, you may have a tendency to go faster so that you can get out of the rain more quickly. This may not be the best move. The roads are slicker, traffic is worse and your own visibility can be poor. So slow down. Be more attentive to the road conditions. Watch for rear-approaching headlights and be ready to make quick moves to avoid accidents. Be careful riding through puddles as there may be underlying potholes ready to give you a flat or bump you into traffic. Also, your braking ability will be slightly deteriorated due to wet rims and brake pads, so leave ample room to slow down when approaching stop signs and red lights. - Use common sense.
If you look out the window before you head out, and you can’t see five feet into your yard because the rain is so thick, don’t go out. Stick around inside for a few minutes to see if it will lighten up. Pay close attention to the weather radar and look for any breaks in the storm, so that you can make your ride safer.
If you are already out on your bike and it really starts to pour and lightning is striking all around you, duck into a nearby gas station or grocery store. If you aren’t near any public areas, hide out on a nearby front porch of a house until the rain subsides. I’m sure the owner of the house won’t mind if you hang out there for a few minutes (just use your better judgment). And if they do, just move down to the next house.
If none of these options exist or the rain just seems like it will never let up, always have a backup plan. Have a cell phone or a few quarters for a pay phone so that you can call someone to come pick you up.
And don’t worry about being late to work, your boss will be more than happy to see you arrive a little late than not at all.
Well, those are a few of the lessons I learned during my first couple of excursions through the rain. Hopefully they will help your next soggy ride go smoothly and safely.
