Help! Bicycle commuting!

This is for all you experienced hardcore cyclists out there.

In light of the terrible economy and rising gas prices, not to mention my own fitness, I've found it much more reasonable to bike to work every day. I don't have a very long commute, around 1.5 miles (soon to be 3, though) and I have bike lanes pretty much all the way there (I live in a very bike-friendly area, which I am thankful for!).

My questions are more around what to do when the weather gets crappy. Right now, it barely rains in the summer and the most I need at night is a light jacket for a windbreaker. However, it rains pretty much all winter, and I would like some tips from the more seasoned riders on what to wear and how to outfit my bike for the weather.

For example, how do I keep the rain off my head? Do you wear a helmet cover, or wear a hood under it? I'm already thinking of investing in a REALLY nice raincoat, windproof, light, lined, and breatheable, but what about pants and shoes? Bringing a full change of clothes with me is not really an option, although I suppose I could leave a dry pair of shoes in my office.

Any tips/experiences would be welcomed!

The first thing is fenders.  There are a number of different kinds available, depending upon what kind of bike you have and whether or not it has bosses to attach them or not.  I have a set of SKS Race Blades for my road bike, and they should be sufficient to cut down the spray somewhat, but they're nowhere near as good as full-coverage fenders with mud flaps.

The next thing is lights.  You're not as visible in the rain, so blinkies rule.  For the truly hardcore, dynamo-powered lights are even better.  Peter White will build a wheel around the Schmidt hub dynamo (best option), or you can get a wheel built around a Shimano hub dynamo (next best), or go with a bottle brush generator (cheapest option, most drag, driven by friction against the tire sidewall).

For pants, there are any number of rain pant options for cyclists.  Check Nashbar, Performance Bike, or your local bike shop.  Most of them are made to fit over bike shorts, not slacks or khakis, however, so you may end up buying a size larger if your intent is to strip off the rain layer and just sit right down at your desk.

There are also shoe covers available, but again, they are made to fit over bicycle shoes, not sneakers or dress shoes, though the typical rain booties that you can get for those could work, though they won't breathe.  Keeping at least a dry pair of socks at work (your feet are going to sweat if you go the rubber bootie route) makes sense.

I am usually dripping in sweat by the time I get to work. .. thank goodness I can have a shower when I get there!

Then again I do have a 10 km ride each way

First off, congratulations on becoming a bicycle commuter! 

I bike to work (12 miles each way) every day and find it's a really great way to get exercise in without taking too much time out of my already crazy schedule.  

I'm a HUGE fan of pit zips (the zippers that extend from the under side of your jacket sleeve to just below your armpits) that you can open up when it's kind of chilly or rainy, but you're still working up a sweat.  

Another great bike addition for commuters are panniers which are kind of like little saddlebags that you can mount on your back tire to hold a change of clothes, deodorant (a must) and even files or documents. 

As for rain, I have a visor on my helmet that helps keep it out of my eyes and I always wear gloves (halfsies in summer, full fingers in winter) which helps keep your hands from slipping on the handlebars.  To keep your head a bit drier and if you have pretty short hair, my brother uses a kind of skullcap thing that absorbs sweat but also keeps his head dry when rain comes between his helmet slots.  And if you're not too afraid to look a little geeky, you can stash a showercap in your camelbak and put that over your helmet when it starts to pour. 

Original Post by risza:

I am usually dripping in sweat by the time I get to work. .. thank goodness I can have a shower when I get there!

 

Then again I do have a 10 km ride each way

Heh.  I commute 11 miles each way, here in summer in Austin, TX.  It's 80F by 7AM, and although I'm sweating by the time I get to work, I'm not dripping if I keep the power output low (around 100 Watts) along the way, and I don't have access to a shower.  In the A/C, I stop sweating pretty quickly, and I'm presentable in 20-30 minutes.

On the way home, it's over 100F, and I can shower, so I go as hard as I want.