Fending off the weather is an inevitable aspect of the cycling life. What cyclist doesn\’t get caught in the rain occasionally? Or, depending on where you live, it might be quite often!

Fenders don\’t keep you dry, but they do keep you from getting a dirty stripe up the back of your jersey. That\’s the drawback to my road bike: no fenders.

A poncho can keep the worst of the rain off, especially if it\’s not too windy. Unfortunately a poncho can also billow out to the sides, making it difficult or impossible to see what might be coming up from behind. A flapping poncho also slows you down.

A rain suit looks like it would offer more complete cover, without the billowing of a poncho. I suspect that a rain suit can get a rider really hot and sweaty; and neither rain suit nor poncho protect the feet.

Shoe covers would be nice, especially if it\’s cold. Wet, cold feet make a body quite miserable. Waterproof gloves would also be nice. The problem is, exactly what does \”waterproof\” mean? In the kind of heavy rain we can get where I live, nothing seems to be waterproof!

Lights are an important component of cycling gear. That\’s true even in clear daylight. If it\’s raining — especially if it\’s also dark — lights are even more vital. Ever notice how hard it is to see a car that doesn\’t have its lights on in a downpour? A cyclist without lights would be even harder to see. On a related note, a reflective vest is also a good idea; day or night, clear or otherwise.

Or maybe forget about fending off the weather, and just ride in the rain; even if you don\’t sing while you\’re at it.