5 ms·

Rain isn't really a problem with the appropriate clothing. (Speaking as someone that rides year round for transportation in Wisconsin.) The only problem I've ha

Rain isn't really a problem with the appropriate clothing. (Speaking as someone that rides year round for transportation in Wisconsin.) The only problem I've had is downpours can soak your shoes but I just have an extra pair of shoes at work and at home.

endisneigh 4y ago
I agree that rain isn't really a huge problem (though I still consider it a problem), but without enclosure you're unlikely to take random trips as you might not be able to change.
eyelidlessness 4y ago
Rain is definitely a problem for a vehicle which depends on lateral tilt to turn and which depends on inertia to stay upright. Speaking as someone who has ridden many years round in Seattle, where the roads lean along with the hills even where the hills aren’t that steep. Those turns are a mistake or an unexpected cross vehicle away from a crash on our driest days, but the rain really amplifies that danger.
- snuxoll 4y ago
  Rain wouldn't be such a problem if we had dedicated biking infrastructure ala The Netherlands. We need to rethink the design of our cities to move away from this car-dependent box we've put ourselves in, because just adopting EVs isn't enough.
- wenc 4y ago
  I've driven in Seattle in the rain, and some streets (especially near Pike Place Market) are so steep that once my wheels lost their grip and slipped and rolled downhill a little at an intersection. I'm not sure why it's even safe to design an intersection on a very steep road that's difficult to stop at. Water and slopes are not a good combination for road safety even for four-wheelers.
  - eyelidlessness 4y ago
    > I'm not sure why it's even safe to design an intersection on a very steep road that's difficult to stop at. If you want to know the alternative, cross reference the Denny regrade (for historical precedent of making the hills safer to scale) and the West Seattle Bridge (for current frame of reference of how a relatively small infrastructure project has a huge impact). Nearly all of the roads heading east out of downtown have a high grade somewhere uphill that drivers struggle with even on dry days. Gratefully most of the worst car routes aren’t major bike routes.
- Schroedingersat 4y ago
  Dedicated infrastructure and sane speeds solve this problem neatly.
DangitBobby 4y ago
What are you wearing to keep your head from turning into a block of ice? We always end staying off the bike for the coldest months of the year.
- asdff 4y ago
  You could switch to a ski helmet, those have removeable insulation pads. Otherwise a tight fitting thermal cap should do if you are huffing and puffing.

endisneigh 4y ago

I agree that rain isn't really a huge problem (though I still consider it a problem), but without enclosure you're unlikely to take random trips as you might not be able to change.

eyelidlessness 4y ago

Rain is definitely a problem for a vehicle which depends on lateral tilt to turn and which depends on inertia to stay upright. Speaking as someone who has ridden many years round in Seattle, where the roads lean along with the hills even where the hills aren’t that steep. Those turns are a mistake or an unexpected cross vehicle away from a crash on our driest days, but the rain really amplifies that danger.

snuxoll 4y ago
Rain wouldn't be such a problem if we had dedicated biking infrastructure ala The Netherlands. We need to rethink the design of our cities to move away from this car-dependent box we've put ourselves in, because just adopting EVs isn't enough.
wenc 4y ago
I've driven in Seattle in the rain, and some streets (especially near Pike Place Market) are so steep that once my wheels lost their grip and slipped and rolled downhill a little at an intersection. I'm not sure why it's even safe to design an intersection on a very steep road that's difficult to stop at. Water and slopes are not a good combination for road safety even for four-wheelers.
- eyelidlessness 4y ago
  > I'm not sure why it's even safe to design an intersection on a very steep road that's difficult to stop at. If you want to know the alternative, cross reference the Denny regrade (for historical precedent of making the hills safer to scale) and the West Seattle Bridge (for current frame of reference of how a relatively small infrastructure project has a huge impact). Nearly all of the roads heading east out of downtown have a high grade somewhere uphill that drivers struggle with even on dry days. Gratefully most of the worst car routes aren’t major bike routes.
Schroedingersat 4y ago
Dedicated infrastructure and sane speeds solve this problem neatly.

DangitBobby 4y ago

What are you wearing to keep your head from turning into a block of ice? We always end staying off the bike for the coldest months of the year.

asdff 4y ago
You could switch to a ski helmet, those have removeable insulation pads. Otherwise a tight fitting thermal cap should do if you are huffing and puffing.