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As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?
by freefal 7y ago
As someone who bikes to work most days and thinks cycling infrastructure like this is great, what do the people profiled in this article do when it rains?
- airza 7y agoBike through it :) It's certainly quite rainy and windy some days, though.
- Jackim 7y agoIf your bike has fenders and you dress as you normally would in the rain, it's not that bad! http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2014/11/its-raining-its-pouring.html http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2014/11/its-raining-its-p...
- n4r9 7y agoI cycle to work almost every day come rain or shine. I wear cycling shorts and vest, a light waterproof fluorescent jacket, a rucksack with a foldout waterproof covering, an underhelmet cap, and I've just invested in some overshoes to protect my shoes and socks. I change into that in the morning, and when I get to work I change into clothes from my rucksack and hang the cycling clothes somewhere to dry if need be. Only when it's absolutely bucketing it down will I consider taking the bus.
- gonzus 7y agoIt is just a fact of life. Not enjoyable, of course, but so what. Of course, if the bike ride is really long, it might become unfeasible.
- sgwil 7y agoYou're not made of sugar.
- teekert 7y agoAs my mother used to say when I complained about rain haha, I say the same to my kids now :)
- BiggusDijkus 7y agoCan't get Dutchier than "Wij zijn niet van suiker" :)
- novok 7y agoFenders Normal rain jacket backpack with a rain cover And if you really want to stay dry, something like these leg covers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainlegs-Black-Waterproof-Leg-Protector/dp/B003YCTEM6?th=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainlegs-Black-Waterproof-Leg-Prote...
- teekert 7y agoA hoodie (not the sweater-type but a cover for the head attached to a rain-proof coat). Also, clothes dry remarkably quick in a heated office. Many of my colleagues have rain suits, like these: [0] [0] https://www.google.com/search?q=regenpak&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK6u_utcTlAhXCZVAKHQ1YD0IQ_AUIuAEoAQ&biw=1525&bih=787 https://www.google.com/search?q=regenpak&client=firefox-b-d&...
- huseyinkeles 7y agoI live in Amsterdam, I have my winter gear, water-proof shoes, pant cover etc. I never stopped cycling to work during the winter, even if it was snowing :) my commute is only 8 minutes though. I hate wind more than rain and snow tbh.
- crispyambulance 7y agoIt's totally possible with the right gear, time, attitude, skills and facilities to handle almost any weather scenarios. There are somethings that are a no-go, however, like ice-storms or maybe C-F combinations like night-time + heavy precip + extreme cold. These things can also be no-go for cars-- or should be.
- KingMachiavelli 7y ago> my commute is only 8 minutes though I bet that's the secret. I just commented comparing the Netherland's climate to Denver and while they are comparable at the end of the day it seem it must be the commute distance that really makes it work in Amsterdam. In this case, you're commute is about as long as it takes me to walk to work after I park my car.
- oftenwrong 7y agoThe best-kept secret of Dutch biking: the Dutch hardly bike at all: https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best-kept-secret-dutch-biking-dutch-hardly-bike/ https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best-kept-secret-dutch-bikin... edit: (I decided to submit this article: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21399793 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21399793 )
- huseyinkeles 7y agoIt's not the case for everyone in Amsterdam, I decided to live in a studio in the city center, while majority of my colleagues live in the outskirts, big houses with the same rent I pay, commuting around 20-30 minutes, and still cycle :)
- davidw 7y agoThat's part of it. In most places in Europe, it's legal to build housing, every-day amenities like grocery stores and cafes, and offices in close proximity.
- ht_th 7y agoTwo things: Either move your departure slightly, or, if that is not an option, use a rainsuit. These rainsuits are very good and easy enough to take with you. I always have one in my bicycle bags which are fastened on the rear rack of my bike.
- KingMachiavelli 7y agoRain? I'd be more worried about snow. Looking at climate data just on Wikipedia, the Netherlands gets about the same number of 'snowy' days as Denver and it gets more total precipitation. It's winter average temperatures are also a tad lower which really makes me wonder what they do when there is snow & ice on the streets. I'd certainly wouldn't want to be riding my bike in Denver today (the front range got >1ft of snow over the past few days).
- teekert 7y agoI think in the last 5 years I was bothered by snow about 2 times.
- hb0ss 7y agoUsually the government is pretty good at clearing the snow and ice. Small roads you have to cycle carefully. I have slipped and fallen on icy roads numerous times when I was younger, just part of the cycling deal is what I always thought.
- pletnes 7y agoGet winter tires with spikes. Work great on snow.
- lumberjack 7y agoYou bike, just the same. Some people wear raincoats or waterproof clothing, but most will just go in their usual attire plus a hooded jacket.
- mbrock 7y agoI love to bike with my waterproof poncho. https://www.thepeoples.co https://www.thepeoples.co
- Steltek 7y agoSecond this! Ponchos provide unparalleled air flow and weigh very little compared to conventional rain gear. I'm also able to stretch mine over the front basket, protecting any cargo as well. I'm never going back to regular rain jackets or pants again!
- spodek 7y agoBesides the practical, physical advice from others on equipment and gear, I recommend a mindset reset that billions of people around the world ride bikes rain or shine every day -- old, young, rich, poor, male, female, etc -- and have for generations. I remember riding in Vietnam during monsoon season. When the rain started, everyone pulled over a few seconds to put on their ponchos and started riding again. I suspect that we who don't ride regularly are the exception. Here's a podcast episode of mine of a school principal who wrote his bike to school every day in Alaska, often below 0F http://joshuaspodek.com/guests/jethro-jones http://joshuaspodek.com/guests/jethro-jones. He was pretty fun about it.
- baud147258 7y agoI've taken a bike daily for years, for one commute the alternative was walking, which took around twice longer. So between getting wet on a bike and spending a longer time walking and getting wet, it didn't change much. And once at school, clothing dried quickly enough that it wasn't much of a bother. Later, when I had switched my commute to bike + train, the other option was to take a bus, but I never did it, because I just couldn't stand to wait for the bus and risk missing my train and getting late to school/work.
- pletnes 7y agoI bike in rain, fog, sleet, snow, and -20C. Get wool underwear and a raincoat + pants. It’s a habit, so I just get up in the morning and do it. Oh, and I have a child seat and a trailer, so I bring all 3 kids to kindergarden, too. I did get an electric bike to go with the 3. child though. If someone thinks I’m a die hard environmentalist, idealist or nut job: the bike is cheap and the commute is faster as I don’t have to wait for other cars, the bus to come, etc. It’s just the best solution for me, hands down, on all fronts.
- sAbakumoff 7y agolet's face it - it basically rains every other day and it never stops traffic on bycicle lanes.