Cycling in the rain: the complete Dutch guide

More than 200 rainy days a year, near-daily drizzle and around 40 proper downpours. KNMI calls the Netherlands a temperate maritime climate, but to a cyclist it simply feels like a permanent chance of a shower. The peak months run from October to February.

Statistically, a Dutch commuter rides home wet three times a week. That is too often to simply swap the bike for the car: anyone who cycles regularly has to accept that rain gear is part of the basic kit, like a lock or a light.

The good news: Dutch rain is rarely icy and almost never a hard tropical downpour. Drizzle, mist and light showers are the norm, and modern fabrics handle those easily.

Start at the top and work down. Torso first (jacket), then lower body (trousers), then luggage (bags), then bike (fenders), and finally feet (overshoes). This order gives the biggest dryness gain per euro.

• 1. Rain jacket: an actual cycling rain jacket (not a hiking jacket) with a long back, elastic cuffs and underarm vents. Budget 90 to 180 euros. The AGU Essential Prime is the Dutch standard.
• 2. Rain trousers: worn over normal trousers, with ankle zippers so you can pull them on over shoes. From 50 euros.
• 3. Waterproof bags: Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic is the gold standard. Fully sealed, roll-top closure, 40 liters total.
• 4. Fenders: a surprising number of Dutch riders cycle without proper fenders. SKS Bluemels keep your back and shoes 80 percent drier.
• 5. Overshoes: neoprene or waterproof overshoes give you the last 20 percent of dry feet.

In rain, a car driver loses roughly 40 percent of visibility due to wipers, fogged windows and reflecting street lights. A cyclist in a dark-blue jacket is then effectively invisible up to ten meters away.

Always choose reflective material over purely bright colors. Fluorescent yellow is excellent during the day, but fades at dusk. 3M Scotchlite reflectors and Proviz Reflect360 jackets light up brilliantly in headlights precisely then.

Also always run your rear light on flashing mode when it rains, even in daytime. A solid rear light blends into the red brake lights of cars; a flashing light demands far more attention. Add reflective strips to spokes, pedals and helmet.

The biggest mistake is parking the bike wet in the shed and picking it up again the next day. Within twelve hours, surface rust forms on the chain, derailleur parts and around every bolt touched by the salt-water mix.

Dry the chain with an old tea towel and re-lube it with wet lube. Check the brake pads: in rain, V-brakes and hydraulic disc brakes wear noticeably faster thanks to the grinding effect of grit and water. Replace pads in time.

Also wipe the display, battery contacts and handlebar buttons dry. Modern e-bikes are rated IPX4 or higher, but long exposure of electronics to water never ends well. Leave the frame in a heated space for half an hour so moisture can escape from seams.

E-bikes need extra attention in the rain because of their electronics. The battery contacts are the weakest point: moisture between the pins can cause corrosion and, over time, charging errors. After a wet week, spray the contacts clean with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner (not regular WD-40).

Invest in a display cover or silicone sleeve if your display is not integrated. A Bosch Intuvia, for example, is IPX5 rated but the buttons age faster without protection. Smart displays with touchscreens (Kiox, Nyon) also respond poorly to damp fingers: wipe them dry before use.

During long rainy spells, consider keeping the battery indoors even if you ride daily. Starting a battery at room temperature is more efficient than inserting a cold wet battery into the slot. Around freezing, that can mean 10 to 15 percent more range.