I don’t care if it’s raining, I would say I prefer it, because then there is not so much traffic on the bike lanes (we are forced to use them in Austria).
I don’t care much about rain, either, particularly in the hot summer days when rain can be a soothing counterpoint to brutal heat. I also don’t have any particular issue with snow in the winter; I sometimes even find the challenge of riding through snow fun.
Wind, OTOH, I could do without. It’s OK when it’s behind me; as Yahuda points out in an earlier strip, a tailwind can make you feel REALLY fast. However, whenever I get one, I’m always keenly aware that a tailwind generally means I’m going to have a headwind at SOME point in my ride, at least if I intend to get back home… :/
Before I had my drop bars, I used to REALLY hate wind. I’m still not keen on it, but at least the drops allow me to maintain a reasonable speed into a headwind.
Rain doesn’t bother me, wind is annoying (and sometimes just plain brutal) but thunderstorms get to me.
I once had lighning strike close enough that I felt the tingle. Dang near scared the crap out of me (literally), and left my ears ringing for the rest of the day.
The fun of inclement weather for me is the satisfaction of overcoming the challenge. My current limit is sustained wind over 30 MPH, snow over 3″ and still falling, or lightning (but that passes quickly).
Are riding to make a point and riding for enjoyment the only options?
I’m pretty sure I ride for transportation- you know, to get from one place to another? Enjoyment is often a side-effect, and I don’t mind incidentally making the point that bikes are safe, if ridden safely, and useful, but my reason for riding is that I’m too lazy to walk.
I can identify a lot with Yehuda — I have my own heavy clunky commuter cycle that I ride to work, in all weather. I’ve done rain, snow, temperatures down to 8 degrees not counting wind chill.
Funny thing about riding to work — here in the USA it’s considered a statement, i.e., “going green”; while elsewhere it’s considered a sensible lifestyle.
I have only been commuting for a month now, got caught in my first storm Monday. It was wonderful! It was on my way home, may not feel the same if it was on the way to work…
After I got fenders I didn’t mind a light rain, until I got hit at night in the rain…
I don’t mind T-storms either, as long as I can “surf” the outflow ahead of one. I did that one time on my old commuting bike and averaged 35 MPH on the way home, my usual speed was 14.
I live in Portland. If I didn’t ride in the rain, I’d be taking the bus for most of the winter. No way!
Getting a rain jacket has made it far more comfortable, of course. I’ll probably get rain pants before this fall, too.
….before I had my rain jacket, I once took a 20-minute ride in the pouring rain. With three layers on I was still soaked to the skin and dripping. I felt like I’d ridden my bike into a swimming pool.
I don’t mind a light rain, especially if it is just a shower and I can see the other side of it, but hail is another story. No fun, even in Washington where the hail is small.
Yehuda’s the man! Here are a couple of links to pics of a fun ride we did recently (that is, a ride motivated by nothing other than fun): http://tinyurl.com/2879ar
and http://tinyurl.com/47lhjg We have a few freinds who suffer from hydrocyclophobia, but we still love them! I think that my most extreme weather was the day I rode to work over a 1 1/2 mile long floating bridge in 40-50 mph winds. It may have been raining; it was hard to tell the difference, what with the waves breaking over the bridge. I had a blast, laughing my ass off all the way.
I don’t mind rain on the way home – feel less happy about on the way to work. On the bright side, when it rains (especially early in the morning) the bike rack is empty when I get to work and I can park WAY closer to my building.
It wasn’t the worst rain I’d ever ridden in, but I distinctly recall one commute where I had to steer slightly left while crossing one intersection TO CORRECT FOR THE CURRENT! Water spray was going up hub-high…. In a much more recent rainy riding episode, I nearly lost traction on the front because my front panniers were floating. And as for Joe holding a 650B, he’s probably refurbing a client’s 1980′s Schwinn Mirada come down from the rafters and pressed into “I’m not paying THAT for gas!” service as a commuter/shopper. I can hear him now — “You’re in luck. It’s a rare tire size, but we happen to have tubes and tires in stock.”
I don’t care if it’s raining, I would say I prefer it, because then there is not so much traffic on the bike lanes (we are forced to use them in Austria).
I don’t care much about rain, either, particularly in the hot summer days when rain can be a soothing counterpoint to brutal heat. I also don’t have any particular issue with snow in the winter; I sometimes even find the challenge of riding through snow fun.
Wind, OTOH, I could do without. It’s OK when it’s behind me; as Yahuda points out in an earlier strip, a tailwind can make you feel REALLY fast. However, whenever I get one, I’m always keenly aware that a tailwind generally means I’m going to have a headwind at SOME point in my ride, at least if I intend to get back home… :/
Before I had my drop bars, I used to REALLY hate wind. I’m still not keen on it, but at least the drops allow me to maintain a reasonable speed into a headwind.
Rain doesn’t bother me, wind is annoying (and sometimes just plain brutal) but thunderstorms get to me.
I once had lighning strike close enough that I felt the tingle. Dang near scared the crap out of me (literally), and left my ears ringing for the rest of the day.
That was NOT an experience I’d care to repeat.
Rain, wind, cold. I’ll do any combination of 2 of those…but when it’s 40 (F), with a 30 MPH headwind and driving rain…I stay home.
The fun of inclement weather for me is the satisfaction of overcoming the challenge. My current limit is sustained wind over 30 MPH, snow over 3″ and still falling, or lightning (but that passes quickly).
Are riding to make a point and riding for enjoyment the only options?
I’m pretty sure I ride for transportation- you know, to get from one place to another? Enjoyment is often a side-effect, and I don’t mind incidentally making the point that bikes are safe, if ridden safely, and useful, but my reason for riding is that I’m too lazy to walk.
I can identify a lot with Yehuda — I have my own heavy clunky commuter cycle that I ride to work, in all weather. I’ve done rain, snow, temperatures down to 8 degrees not counting wind chill.
Funny thing about riding to work — here in the USA it’s considered a statement, i.e., “going green”; while elsewhere it’s considered a sensible lifestyle.
I like bike commuting in the cold. I don’t worry about getting sweaty and smelly.
Riding in the rain is fine. Snow and hail aren’t all that fun, though. Ice is right out for me.
When will folding bikes make their way into the comic?
I have only been commuting for a month now, got caught in my first storm Monday. It was wonderful! It was on my way home, may not feel the same if it was on the way to work…
Hmmm… it’s just the sort of rain outside that’s nice to ride in. Maybe I’ll go for a ride.
It’s been raining so much lately in Iowa that it’s really rather hard to get out often enough without riding in the rain.
joe is knowingly holding a 650b tire?
I wish I was Yehuda, but I’m totally Joe. If it’s raining I just take the bus.
Goal for this summer is to ride even on the rainy days.
After I got fenders I didn’t mind a light rain, until I got hit at night in the rain…
I don’t mind T-storms either, as long as I can “surf” the outflow ahead of one. I did that one time on my old commuting bike and averaged 35 MPH on the way home, my usual speed was 14.
Sometimes, the rain stops and I don’t even notice. I guess it’s because I don’t mind the rain.
I live in Portland. If I didn’t ride in the rain, I’d be taking the bus for most of the winter. No way!
Getting a rain jacket has made it far more comfortable, of course. I’ll probably get rain pants before this fall, too.
….before I had my rain jacket, I once took a 20-minute ride in the pouring rain. With three layers on I was still soaked to the skin and dripping. I felt like I’d ridden my bike into a swimming pool.
i prefer riding in the rain. It’s cooler, i don’t arrive sweaty, and have that belief that it’s actually good for my hair.
Anything is better than a cloudless, sunny day. God. THAT is misery on a bike for me.
Does your character share the name with Eliezer Ben-Yehuda? Just as the earlier promoted Hebrew our modern day Yehuda promotes commuting?
Is Joe going 650B?
I don’t mind a light rain, especially if it is just a shower and I can see the other side of it, but hail is another story. No fun, even in Washington where the hail is small.
I’m with you WJC, I think Joe is secretly building up a transportation bike.
My drivetrain mainly doesn’t like the rain.
Yehuda — maybe nothing more than a meshuggene luftmensch.
Yehuda’s the man! Here are a couple of links to pics of a fun ride we did recently (that is, a ride motivated by nothing other than fun): http://tinyurl.com/2879ar
and http://tinyurl.com/47lhjg We have a few freinds who suffer from hydrocyclophobia, but we still love them! I think that my most extreme weather was the day I rode to work over a 1 1/2 mile long floating bridge in 40-50 mph winds. It may have been raining; it was hard to tell the difference, what with the waves breaking over the bridge. I had a blast, laughing my ass off all the way.
I’m with Howard Abts — I ride because I need to travel. Sun, rain, snow, anything. However, the sense of accomplishment is rather fun.
I don’t mind rain on the way home – feel less happy about on the way to work. On the bright side, when it rains (especially early in the morning) the bike rack is empty when I get to work and I can park WAY closer to my building.
It wasn’t the worst rain I’d ever ridden in, but I distinctly recall one commute where I had to steer slightly left while crossing one intersection TO CORRECT FOR THE CURRENT! Water spray was going up hub-high…. In a much more recent rainy riding episode, I nearly lost traction on the front because my front panniers were floating. And as for Joe holding a 650B, he’s probably refurbing a client’s 1980′s Schwinn Mirada come down from the rafters and pressed into “I’m not paying THAT for gas!” service as a commuter/shopper. I can hear him now — “You’re in luck. It’s a rare tire size, but we happen to have tubes and tires in stock.”
I have done twelve miles in eight inch snow. That was a slow slog, but I did it. I do get a strong sense of accomplishment in overcoming the elements.