More cycling progressions

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Dave Feucht

It seems that one of the biggest deterrents to cycling in Portland has been rain. It seems a bit strange, since it rains quite often, and people feel perfectly comfortable walking in the rain, often without umbrellas. In any case, it seems like this has been changing lately, and I’ve been seeing normal spring numbers of people out on bikes, on days when it has been alternating between dumping rain, hail, and sunshowers all day. For instance, in this set of photos, taken on my way home from work yesterday, it had been dumping hail so hard you could barely see about 15 minutes prior to me taking the pictures. Really, rain is no big deal. Put on a hat, put on a raincoat or poncho, off you go. Have a lovely day!

Rainy-day cycling

Rainy-day cycling

Rainy-day cycling

Rainy-day cycling

Rainy-day cycling

Rainy-day cycling

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  • Alicia

    Hooray for fenders!

  • portlandize.com

    Yes, indeed! That is one problem we do still have, and part of my ride home yesterday I had to follow way behind this one guy, because he was spraying me in the face (no fenders). I think people don't really realize that fenders aren't just for keeping you dry, they also help keep the people behind you dry :)

  • Anne

    After a whole fall and winter and now most of a spring of cycle commuting every day in Portland, I've concluded that it doesn't rain nearly as much here as I believed (and I'm a native).

    I've said it elsewhere, but I don't mind repeating myself: there are hundreds of "rainy days" a year in Portland, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've been soaked riding my bike. Fact is, we have a lot of cloudy days, a lot of drizzly moments, a hell of a lot of scattered showers, but the vast majority of it is nothing that, as you say, a hat and a raincoat can't handle.

    I'm a fan of quick-dry skirts and trousers, too, for the days when I really do get a little more than damp.

  • portlandize.com

    @Anne: Yup, exactly. The number of days I get really drenched is very minimal, and like you, I'm out on my bike or walking probably 350 days of the year. I just keep a big poncho in my bag that I pull out and throw over all my regular clothes if it's really dumping, and that's worked great. It goes over the handlebars, so it keeps my legs dry too, down to my feet (almost). After being drenched a couple times, though, the light sprinkle seems hardly noticeable :)

  • Eli

    oh dear, in Las Vegas our biggest foe is the heat. In the summer you'd fry, people ride at night.

  • MamaVee

    fenders rock! Down the block from us there is a house that has some strange pump going on since we had flooding last month. I thought he was still pumping his basment but it can't be- so it must be a perm fixture now. anyway it runs tons of water on the sidewalk and street. On a clear cloudless day there is always tons of water right there. A kid on my block who was riding to school complained and swtiched to his scooter b/c he was tired of a wet strip down his back. His dad told me… his dad is a cyclist and we began to talk about how much we love our fenders and how maybe the kid's bike needs some fenders. I mean unless you are racing- fenders are the BOMB. And even then if I have a fast-ish bike with fenders I'd do a sprint tri with it. I had a guy pass me last summer with a bike with rear rack and front metal basket. He even had a radio tied to the basket since no ear phones were allowed I wish I could have kept up with him.

  • portlandize.com

    @Eli: I bet – I was just commenting on Let's Go Ride A Bike recently that I'm sure in some places, on some days, you just don't want to go outside, much less exert any energy. Considering I have a hard time with 90 degrees, LV is definitely not the place for me :) Cheers!

  • portlandize.com

    @MamaVee: hah! That's awesome about the racing guy with rack and basket! Well, you know, people used to race steel bikes with internal gears and fenders and lights and chain cases. It's not impossible. Fenders are one of those things that anyone who rides their bike for transportation really should have, they make such a huge difference. Cheers!

  • Richard

    I think I need a poncho. Just rode in to work in Madison, where it's pouring. Soaked to the skin. I'll be honest, I'll take the cold of a January commute in Wisconsin over the wet of a May commute any day. So what kind of poncho do I need?

  • portlandize.com

    Richard, the one I have actually came from the Netherlands, but this one is fairly similar – basically, it just goes over the handlebars, so it also keeps your legs dry. Depending on what kind of bike you have, this one may be too long in front (mine is shorter), though I suppose you could just trim off the front part a little.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/BIKE-RAIN-PONCHO-Yellow-Waterproof-Bicycle-Gear-Jacket-/400084620360

    There are some more expensive options from Carradice (waxed cotton), but unfortunately, there is a distinct shortage of poncho options in the U.S. That's about it as far as I can tell.

    It's a bummer, because I find it incredibly convenient to just be able to throw on the poncho over my regular clothes, and then just take it off when I arrive, and that's it. If you try out the one I linked to, let me know how you like it!

  • Richard

    Thanks for the quick response!

  • Jim Nariel

    I agree – a bit of rain never hurt anybody and its fun getting wet (the madness of me). Great pictures – thanks for posting

    http://cyclingframes.blogspot.com