I've got a 50+ mile ride to work one way, over a 2-lane highway across three counties. There are only 2 small "towns" between where I live and where I work, and they are seperated by over 20 miles. So breaking down or finding shelter is not an option. There are no "shoulders" on this highway, so pulling over means that I'm parked IN the highway. The road has some moderate elevation changes (less than 40' difference from the highest peak to the lowest valley), but there are some very blind hills that I cannot park on the other side of safely.
I ride to work every day. I've been through hail (pea to marble sized) twice this year, and have been through countless thunderstorms, rainstorms and even had to make the run once during a Tornado Warning.
I have to wear business casual (no jeans 'cept on fridays and at least 3-button shirt). I keep my hair short, but it has to be combed (no crue-cut). My shift is from 1pm to 11:30am and if you figure the time it takes me to drive, I'll be going to work from approx Noon to 1pm, and driving home from midnight to 1am. So I'm going towards the sun in daylight on teh wy there, and obviously in the dark on the way home.
To get to work this is my routine:
I wear my business casual shirt, tucked into a pair of extra-long blue jeans. Then I wear a textile riding jacket, a pair of nice, over-the-ankle style boots that are acceptable for work and wather-resistant with a no-frills toe. A pair of Nike Interchange sunglasses with the dark lenses in, gauntlet-style gloves with chrome knuckles (not only for looks), and my normal helmet, clear visor.
In a backpack I keep a cheap ($80) 2-peice rain suit. The suit top is 2-sizes too large, so in a pinch, it will quickly fit over the top of my normal riding jacket without making me stand out in the storm on the side of the road trying to fight it on. The bottom has the little elastic strips that go through my boot bottoms so I can 'step into' them in a hurry. Also I keep a pair of leather dirtbike gloves in case its an extremely hot day, I can swap out for the stuffy gauntly-gloves, or, if it's GUARANTEED rain, I wear the dirtbike gloves as they dry MUCH faster. Plus my lunch, and my slacks for work, rolled (not folded...hold them upside down by the cuffs of the legs, smooth out the wrinkles and ROLL them into a log-shape. This will help them fit into a MUCH smaller area than folding, and they wont wrinkle nearly as bad. plus, if htey get wet...it'll only be in one portion..usually they wont get water all the way to the middle) and tied in a plastic grocery sack.
The chrome knuckles (or any type of hard knuckle protection) are NECESSARY when riding at night. June bugs, Flying Volkswagons, Japaneese Beetles, Birds and even fireflys can rip open a knuckle at 60 mph with dirtbike gloves on. And when riding between corn fields, bugs that havent' seen a light in hours will RADIATE towards a pair of high-beams...it's like the scene in Star Wars when they're going to Hyper-Warp or whatever.
The toe of your boots needs to be flat, as cleaning off all of the bugs when you get to work is MUCH easier in the bathroom if you dont have to dig any guts out of elaborately-designed leather creases. Also, those extra-long pants willl go down to cover the laces of your bootstrings so you wont have to clean them when you get in. Always tuck the loose loops of your knots inbetween your ankle and your boot. Dont let 'em flop.
For the ride home, the Nike Interchange comes with a pair of yellow (shooters) lenses that make everything seem twice as bright as it is. This helps me as my bike headlights aren't super-bright, and I have no idea how many times I've seen the Deer standing beside the road sooner than if I wasnt' riding with the yellow lenses. Haven't hit one yet (knock on verneer).
IF you HAVE to ride in the rain without a riding suit, I've found that using bar soap to coat the zippers of your regular jacket works well for about half an hour at keeping water from coming through. My Textile jacket is pretty water-proof except at the arm=pit vent zippers.
I get to work about 5 mins early to change my pants, comb my hair and get settled....that's all it takes.
Anyways...hope this helps.
The 'hopper
