Rainpants

As a friend of mine recently wrote, when bike commuting, the weather is rarely as bad as it seems once you get rolling. For those that wish to replace the climate-controlled convenience of a car, sometimes it really is "that bad". For those times, there's rain pants.

Move the hyphen and is Aqua No-Pants

Rain pants are to cycling as the cover is to a Jeep. Usually, you don't need it, and you have lots of fun. When the weather gets nasty, if you don't have it, suddenly the fun evaporates and the misery sets in. Just visualize a cyclist in the rain, and the first thing that pops into your head probably makes you feel bad for whatever schmuck is slogging their way to work on their ill-fitting Next with their ratty Jansport backpack in the pouring rain.

Add rain pants to the mix, and BAM you've got a sophisticated cyclist using his self-powered transportation as the leatherman of commuting tools. No waiting at the bus stop with an umbrella or spending the day in wet socks for this guy. He's the spitting image of dedication and preparedness, and it only took $40 bucks and 3 minutes.

One shouldn't have to follow rule #5 when commuting. It should be as casual and convenient as the car, with the added benefits of exercise, scenery, and fun times.

Next topic: Rain pants as a fashion statement.