One advantage of rain for cyclists and pedestrians is air quality. Rain cleanses the air and rainy fronts that bring rain with them push out the stale, poisonous air for fresher, cleaner air by capturing and washing away various types of pollutants. Breathing this air as you are at work on your wheel is highly invigorating and even rewarding to the senses as well as one’s mental wellness.
On a rainy morning, I rolled out of the parking lot on my commuter workhorse pulling a trailer with extra gear and equipment as I always do this time of week.
Only today it was raining heavily. This was the kind of rain that makes puddles quickly and splashes in the puddles. Small rivers flow from the heavy rain along roads and create larger puddles. If gutters get clogged by leaves or other debris, the large puddles become flood waters that can cause great damage. Keeping gutters clear of debris can prevent this damage.
I saw two other riders who were wearing capes or ponchos with hoods as they pedaled on their bikes. These garments are advantageous because they can cover backpack or messenger bag on the back as the bicyclist rides.
I wear a trusty raincoat by Columbia that has kept me dry for a number of hours at a time. It has a hood that I wear under my helmet. This not only keeps my head and neck dry but also warm from drafts and cold rain.
When it comes to rain, I do my best to keep my bicycles out of the rain when I’m not working. If I can’t do that, I wipe down with a clean rag the brakes, especially the cables, and drive train right after getting the bicycle indoors where I protect it from the harsh elements.
Without this attention after a ride in the rain, inter alia, the chain will begin to rust, the brakes will stick and the shifters may also stick and fail if I don’t wipe down their cables as well.
Of course when we are dealing with a mix of rain, snow or ice, I highly recommend using winter tires with studs. The pavement can turn to ice very quickly as temperatures drop and rain turns to snow or visa versa. Studded tires, especially the Marathon Winter Plus, handle the ice and slush well.
I broke my finger instinctively trying to brake my fall after inattentively hitting a scattered patch of black ice in November long before any significant snow fall or freezing. I learned the hard way to swap in a winter tire when ice or snow is in the forecast. Peace of mind.