Get Into Gear or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love Cycling in the Rain
It’s pretty easy to be a cyclist in Vancouver in the summer. The days are long and usually gorgeous and your routes are generally breathtakingly scenic.
However, part of what makes Vancouver so lushly technicolour green is the rain. But don’t let a little wet weather get in the way of cycling, just remember this:
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.
Be prepared! Just because it’s bucketing down with rain, doesn’t mean you must accept getting soaked. Here are a few key pieces that I recommend you invest in:
- A rain jacket. You’d think this is quite straight forward, but to ensure a comfortable ride, be sure your jacket is long at the back to cover your back. Otherwise you will find the back of your pants creates a nice gully to catch rain water. Make sure it’s breathable – don’t be so concerned about keeping out the rain that you become drenched from your own sweat. Good cycling jackets have vents that you can zip open or closed when you need it. I’ve been using lululemon’s See Me Ride commuter poncho. It’s lightweight, airy, the hood fits well over my helmet - the kimono style tie makes it look great on or off the bike. It’s on the pricey side but if you’re serious about cycling and are looking for versatility, it’s a great investment. I've also been impressed with cycling rain gear from MEC and Sugoi.
- Fenders: Just do it. Your clothes will thank you. There are some very reasonable bike fender options at MEC. If you’re concerned that fenders will intrude on the natural beauty of your bike, take a bit of time to explore the different types of fenders. For example, try jett grrl bike studio - Tracy does some amazing work.
- Rain pants: These are key! And again, makes sure they’re breathable. I’m currently wearing the lululemon See Me Ride Commuting pants and love the way they look. Again, MEC and Sugoi offer some great cycling rain pants that are worth checking out. Personally, I'm pleased to see MEC has moved on from their old cycling pants with the gortex in the front and spandex on the back. They were great in practice and theory, but I always felt self conscious wearing them.
- Rain booties: I heart these. I just got a pair from MEC and they fit right over my running shoes. They work like a charm even when there's a deluge outside. As an alternative, you could wear rubber boots or something else waterproof, but the bulkiness of that kind of shoe may interfere with your ability to cycle. And in wet weather conditions, you want to make sure your gear doesn't hamper your ability to react quickly.
- Gloves: Wet hands are soon cold hands. Invest in some lightweight neoprene gloves. This material isn’t bulky and allows you to easy break or change gears. You can get these at any sports shop.
And of course, it does help if you have a place to freshen up when you arrive to your destination.
What's one piece of wet weather cycling gear that you can’t live without? Share your thoughts below before November 15th and you could win $50!
Article photo courtesy of Flickr user 'jrodmanjr'