Last year’s snow storm
didn’t stop cyclists.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)
didn’t stop cyclists.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)
The crazy wind and relentless downpour we’re getting right now is the most severe weather I can remember since I moved to Portland in 2004.
Last winter many of you braved snowy conditions (see photo at right), but that seems tame compared to what’s going on out there today.
Did any of you brave the elements on your commute into work this morning? If so, do you have tips to share? We’d love to hear about your experiences…
Check out this photo from KATU-TV (sent in by reader Bob K.)
I’m about to head out into it myself…wish me luck!
Thanks for reading.
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It was wet but not half as windy as promised.
The rain is warm friendly too, unlike that cold rain last Wednesday night.
No problems today.
I would just say allow yourself more time and slow down a bit.. keep dry, good
layers that dont hold too much water..
also maybe sure bike is in tip/top shape
hands/feet/face.. 3 step process.. he he
enjoy,
Joe
Same here, out in Beaverton. Very wet – but warm wet – and the wind was much tamer than I was expecting. Very satisfying. With the warmth, I enjoyed myself. I saw other riders out too.
PS: It was a good stress test of my rain gear. Not everything passed (not surprised), but my Burley jacket continues to perform brilliantly.
Ditto #1. Especially liked the warmer temperatures and the tailwind that sped me along the Springwater corridor.
As long as the winds die down before I leave work, I\’ll be a happy camper. I\’d hate to see that lovely tailwind turns into a headwind.
I did – Burnside and 82nd to Lloyd Center area. Not that windy. I kept my speed down since I have rim brakes. Made sure I was well lit. I have two blinking red tail lights, three blinking head-lights, and one helmet-mounted Night Rider 10W Halogen. I bought seal-skin gloves last week and they worked fine today
Two words: disc brakes.
I am ashamed to say I took the easy way out when my husband offered to let me have the car if I took him to work. I\’m feeling ill and the thought of biking made me feel even more so. I was even more ashamed though when I saw the number of cyclists coming over the Broadway Bridge. It\’s fairly warm, so it may not have been that bad. Oh well. I\’m sure I\’ll have my fair share of nasty biking days in the months to come.
I made it a ways down the Springwater and then got a flat. Limped back to the house, patched the tube (it was a slower leak and luckily I was able to get back to the house before it went flat), and tried it again. The tailwind was nice. Riding in snow is more fun, but this is still an adventure 🙂
I was out between 7:30 and 8 with jeans, a wool cap, an old raincoat, a BMX w/ one brake…and Sweetpea smittens!
Maybe it was the formidable power of the smittens, but jeez…it wasn\’t bad at all out there.
My jeans might still be drying, but I say, \”Bring on the snow!\”
Finally got myself a pair of rubber boots, $15 at your friendly neighborhood supermarket. I recommend leaving the rainpants over the boots and sizing the boots generously.
Didn\’t ride today (took the MAX), but rode out to the USGP yesterday. It was dumping!
Super fun time out in the rain and wind, screaming at the riders. Love my big dumb rubber boots!
On the way home, not so much rain, but the headwinds were crazy!
Just wet and warm out in Gresham. A little more standing water than there has been this year. My rain gear worked great, but I had one too many layers on. I was pleased to notice most of the cars I crossed paths with noticed me and were very courteous. That\’s not always the case out here on the east side.
I\’m still basically useing the solution I came up with shortly after I moved to Portland at the end of last October. I went to REI, and asked for help. I ended up with bike tights, with gortex rain pants, and a long sleeved cycling jersy with a gortex jacket. I\’ve since added to this Specialized subzero gloves that have two layers of gloves that are both waterproof breathable. They only last for about 2 hours in rain like today before they are soaked, but I hear that is about the best you can get. I also wear a warm even when wet hat under my helmet, and gortex shoes with socks designed for gortex. The gap between the shoes, and the rainpants isn\’t an issue most of the time, but yesterday it was enough to let water into my shoes from the top. I\’m going to try to find something to fill that gap today.
My ride was great. The winds was light–I had fears of being buffeted as I crossed the Hawthorne bridge, but no problems! Need to get some of those disc brakes, though! And my raincoat leaked, but the warm mild rain was nice.
Warm rain is WAY better than cold.
Around 6AM I hit a lake in the saddle between Powell and Division on 92nd going south. I should have thought more than \”huh?\” when I saw a flare in the middle of 92nd approaching the puddle that spanned the width of 92nd and was just as long. Oblivious in my usual strategy to hump down the hill in order to get up the other side I\’m thinking \”its just a puddle; I\’m already wet\”. Well, that puddle went up to the axle and nearly up to my knees. Almost went for a swim but kept upright long enough to get a couple slow strokes in before getting to the other side. All I could do was laugh. And then I got thinking \”so that\’s why there aren\’t any cars here today….\”.
fawk that was a long ride today. but fully agree with \”warm rain\” comment above. Could have been a LOT worse.
Anyone have a preference they care to pass along on what kinda of bike lube they use? got a feeling my ride is gonna need it when I get home.
I haven\’t gone out today but did a 15 mile loop NE yesterday. It was actually fairly warm and I\’ve discovered that I need some better layering clothes as my mid-layer jacket is just holding in too much moisture. My cheap $15 rainpants that worked well last year just did not hold up either and my legs were soaked by the end.
Still…it is always a blast to ride in the rain. 🙂
I ride a recumbent, so the head/tail winds don\’t get me so bad as the side winds. DANG. It was pretty fun though.
I did some scuba biking as well, like oldguyonabike. The water was above my rear axle, I\’m glad the BB is up high or pedaling would\’ve sucked.
Very pleasant actually, but coming from the east, I had the tail wind. I kept expecting the wind to turn and slap me in the face. Unless this wind storm hits East County, I guess I’ll get a head wind on the ride home. I think my Burley jacket is holding up as well, but I did get puddles inside my sleeves. I was wearing a T-shirt underneath so no problem, but I guess I should check the vent zips. My feet were submerged near 102 and Burnside and I was doused by a passing car at about 7th and Morrison. At this point Portland streets are probably running pure clean water so it was almost soothing to take a sheet of spray across the face while the rest of me stayed dry. Well, I didn\’t arrive completely dry, but completely happy to have today to ride.
Certainly nicer than last week’s wind driven sleet.
My garage flooded yesterday, so I am home dealing with the aftermath. I am happy to say that Park Tool work stands dry out just fine. 🙂
Wet, but so what? It\’s the cold east winds like last week that make for truly memorable commutes. Today was downright tropical – swear I could smell the pineapples. +1 on the Burley jacket. I wear thin tights over bike shorts and don\’t worry if they get wet – they dry quick. My old Burley shoe covers are wearing out though. Anyone know where I can get similar (non-neoprene) waterproof booties?
I underestimated the temperature and got more wet from the inside than the outside. The riding was damp but fun.
But something about the wind flipped the Motorist A**hole Switch … I was honked at no fewer than 3 times, dodged cars in the bike lane twice, and narrowly avoided a collision when, while turning left (and SIGNALING no less) a car tried to pass me.
not bad at all- wind picked up downtown only- and the puddles along ankeny weren\’t bad at all-
kind of tropical!
Well, I got my plastic bags out to cover my shoes, but other than that just another winter ride, but nice and warm. A good day to test gear, and gear is the whole deal…lit light a Christmas Tree and shedding water like a duck, the right gear makes winter ridiing a piece of cake. Until things freeze…then I am on the bus.
Mmann, try Campmor.com for non-neoprene booties:
here is the link
As with the Burley booties, make sure you tuck them inside whatever is covering your legs.
They\’re not absolutely waterproof – I get occasional tiny leaks from I\’m not sure where, but they still did very well this morning. The velcro cinches are a bit fiddly but I got used to them after a week. Overall I give them an A- to A grade. The yellow color is also a plus for enhanced visibility.
I get the campmor book, great deals inside all the time.. Sign up and get on the mailing list, get the free little
pocket book..
Joe
I also like the warmer rain, not that bad for me coming in from Tigard. I run with the castelli leg warmers and a nice castelli jacket. Although I am wet its warm under there. The only tip I have is neoprene booties for over the shoes.
P.S. Run is a metaphore… I was of course on my bike
the \”warm\” weather this morning was good… I was worried about the wind totally gusting. But It really wasn\’t that bad at all. I caught a little wind going by the boat house as you pass through the Ross Island concrete spot on Springwater… but mostly a nice tailwind going north on springwater I only saw 2 other cyclists this morning…
I rode my fixed for the first time this morning. I was so focused on the entirely new experience, I barely noticed the wind and rain!
I got dressed and geared up, opened the front door, and watch a trash can blow up the street. Assuming this would be my headwind, I wimped out and drove in.
This weekend the Mrs. and I rode out to PIR and had a great time. Definately felt good to ride by all the cars in line to get on the highway as we peddled along the top of the levee.
My wife\’s trusty old novara cycling jacket sprung some leeks, so we Nikwaxed it and started looking at the replacements. Liked the Burley and Showers Pass. Concensus on this site so far seems Burley. Any other suggestions?
what is this magical tailwind you speak of? Down here in LO I received the privilege of going against the wind the whole way to work, rather exciting really. Go rainy day commuters!
What a wet ride into work! It was a longer commute than usual – more stuff to put on (booties, hat, rain pants), and then slower riding. After the deaths and injuries from crashes that have happened over the last few months, I\’m a little skittish – even more so when it\’s dark, wet, and slippery in the morning.
It was a great commute, wet but warm. the key was to be well lit with the rain visibility is a issue.
Wind out of the south in my face the whole way in to town (from nopo), quite strong at times. Steady, but warm rain. Definitely soaked by the time I got in — but wore bike shorts and a Showerspass jacket, and all was good.
Gonna head to the BG with a gift certificate to get some shoe covers today, since my shoes were the only thing that were really wet after todays ride.
Don\’t much care for the wind, but the warm rain was really nice.
@Spencer: if you can find a Burley, get it (they don\’t make them anymore, afaik). I have a Showerspass, and it is almost as good as a Burley, but not quite as durable or well made, imho.
I switched from a Novara to the Showerspass after like 2 rides.
I am always on the lookout for truely waterproof gloves. I have yet to find some that do exactly what they say on the packaging. Any suggestions like Dan\’s are very welcome!
And to second some other BikePortland readers\’ suggestions – rubber boots are where it\’s AT! They are cheap (about $20 from Freddies), and they are completely, totally, utterly waterproof. You can walk through 6 inch puddles in the things, let your bike fenders splash you, you name it! They have amazing traction on the pedals and on sidewalks, and are a great, economical and fun solution to having totally dry feet.
If you get ones with pink ponies, or polka dots on too, you get a lot of smiles from drivers too 🙂
@Stripes: Do the make them SPD compatible?
That sounds like a fun project — put an SPD insert into some cheap rubber boots.
🙂
Based on a recommendation in the Forums I went to Andy & Bax this weekend and picked up poly glove liners and a pair of neoprene gloves for ~$20. Hands were a little damp after 40\” in this morning\’s monsoon.
2.5 miles SE belmont to SE Industrial commute….it was fine, nice warm rain. One thing I want to toss out there, waterproof booties kick ass. I rode 5 winters without them cuz I thought they were unnecessary. Now I am a dry and happy convert.
Ron,
I was riding with a friend to the USGP yesterday, and we were talking about doing a rubber boot/SPD conversion. Obviously the problem is that you\’re cutting into the boot to mount the cleat.
But you\’re right, sounds like a fun project!
I like my Sugoi booties the best though. The boots worked for a short ride, but for something longer, I like the booties.
My ride in was not too bad,
I decided on the ski shell and Marmot \”work gloves\” which are leather palmed ski gloves. Felt like I was at ski bowl.
Here\’s to hoping the wind dies down for the afternoon.
@TonyT: yeah, I think if you got the boots a size too big, then found some 1/8\” thick stiff plastic to mount the cleats to, cut a whole in the boot where the cleats would go, and then put a nice Dr. Scholls insert over the top of the plastic inside, you\’d be set!
And once you have the inserts made, you can just cut cleat holes in a new pair of boots as necessary.
Definitely gonna have to try this.
Today was an exercise in *not* overheating. Reminds me of winter storms in Florida. But when cold & wet coincide, opt for cheap wool gloves. The magic combo for me is to put summer cycling gloves over the wool = grip and warmth.
rode to work as always..
just a few issues with puddle dodging. since they collect typically in the bike lanes, in attempt to avoid riding into oncoming traffic lanes or pushing out drivers, I ended up on the sidewalk once or twice for a block or two…no big deal. braking distance was an issue, but just take it slow.
the plastic racing rain coat had to make an appearance..but I\’ve ridden in worse.
be careful of the wind on the way home, its forecast to get worse!!
I\’m so glad my office has showers and a locker room!
The warm weather is a welcome change, even if it comes with lots of water. Count me as one more happy Burley wearer.
There sure are a lot of gigantic puddles caused by plugged stormdrains, and they\’re not going to be any smaller for the evening commute. Watch out for that standing water, and remember that wet brakes make for longer stopping distances.
Booties,
A few years back, before the Canadian Peso achieved parody with the dollar, I would buy all things MEC. MEC is essentially the Canadian REI, but still with the old member oriented ethos.
Short of it all, is that they have terrific cycle clothing at a great price. My favorite things are my codura booties. These things are heavy duty, go on over any shoe, and are clipliss compatible. They are a lot easier to use than the tight fitting booties, and so far has lasted 4 years, including alot of mountain biking.
Even with the exchange rate, their gear and prices are pretty competitive. http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618318&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692723&bmUID=1195953349439
Dag!
Discretion being the better part of arriving equal parts sweatwet and rainwet, I caged it today. Even worse: Ran the A/C to keep the windows nice and clear for my starbord-side checks.
If anybody wants a pull on the way home, I\’ll be the White GTI crawling up Williams. 😉
I. Am. Not. Worthy.
_DA
we zoobombed all night in it. it was sweeeet. kinda like being shot in the face with needles doing 40mph downhill in the dark with no visibility and six inch puddles. yummmy!
Solid, that sounds like almost as much fun as crashing the Upper Bowl. Ah to be young again,… and slightly nuts.
Head winds are the worst, after ice. For all of you headed south this afternoon, good luck. My ride is SW in AM, NE in PM, so I am set to catch a tailwind home.
Is this April Fools Day and I missed it? Seemed like a garden-variety Portland rainy day to me…particularly wet, sure, and with a few clogged up drains, but nothing extraordinary.
my advice? Stay in bed…..wish I had.