Besides the practical, physical advice from others on equipment and gear, I recommend a mindset reset that billions of people around the world ride bikes rain or shine every day -- old, young, rich, poor, male, female, etc -- and have for generations.

I remember riding in Vietnam during monsoon season. When the rain started, everyone pulled over a few seconds to put on their ponchos and started riding again.

I suspect that we who don't ride regularly are the exception.

Here's a podcast episode of mine of a school principal who wrote his bike to school every day in Alaska, often below 0F http://joshuaspodek.com/guests/jethro-jones. He was pretty fun about it.

A hoodie (not the sweater-type but a cover for the head attached to a rain-proof coat).

Also, clothes dry remarkably quick in a heated office. Many of my colleagues have rain suits, like these: [0]

[0] https://www.google.com/search?q=regenpak&client=firefox-b-d&...

If your bike has fenders and you dress as you normally would in the rain, it's not that bad!

http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2014/11/its-raining-its-p...

I cycle to work almost every day come rain or shine. I wear cycling shorts and vest, a light waterproof fluorescent jacket, a rucksack with a foldout waterproof covering, an underhelmet cap, and I've just invested in some overshoes to protect my shoes and socks. I change into that in the morning, and when I get to work I change into clothes from my rucksack and hang the cycling clothes somewhere to dry if need be. Only when it's absolutely bucketing it down will I consider taking the bus.

I live in Amsterdam, I have my winter gear, water-proof shoes, pant cover etc.

I never stopped cycling to work during the winter, even if it was snowing :) my commute is only 8 minutes though.

I hate wind more than rain and snow tbh.

> my commute is only 8 minutes though

I bet that's the secret. I just commented comparing the Netherland's climate to Denver and while they are comparable at the end of the day it seem it must be the commute distance that really makes it work in Amsterdam. In this case, you're commute is about as long as it takes me to walk to work after I park my car.

The best-kept secret of Dutch biking: the Dutch hardly bike at all:

https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/best-kept-secret-dutch-bikin...

edit: (I decided to submit this article: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21399793 )

It's not the case for everyone in Amsterdam, I decided to live in a studio in the city center, while majority of my colleagues live in the outskirts, big houses with the same rent I pay, commuting around 20-30 minutes, and still cycle :)

You can easily have a commute that short in Denver if it's important to you. Mine is just fifteen minutes on foot from Uptown to CBD, too short for even a bike to be worth the effort most days. It's probably one of the most bike-commute-friendly cities in America.

That's part of it. In most places in Europe, it's legal to build housing, every-day amenities like grocery stores and cafes, and offices in close proximity.

It's totally possible with the right gear, time, attitude, skills and facilities to handle almost any weather scenarios.

There are somethings that are a no-go, however, like ice-storms or maybe C-F combinations like night-time + heavy precip + extreme cold. These things can also be no-go for cars-- or should be.

Rain? I'd be more worried about snow. Looking at climate data just on Wikipedia, the Netherlands gets about the same number of 'snowy' days as Denver and it gets more total precipitation. It's winter average temperatures are also a tad lower which really makes me wonder what they do when there is snow & ice on the streets. I'd certainly wouldn't want to be riding my bike in Denver today (the front range got >1ft of snow over the past few days).

Usually the government is pretty good at clearing the snow and ice. Small roads you have to cycle carefully. I have slipped and fallen on icy roads numerous times when I was younger, just part of the cycling deal is what I always thought.

I think in the last 5 years I was bothered by snow about 2 times.

Get winter tires with spikes. Work great on snow.

I bike in rain, fog, sleet, snow, and -20C. Get wool underwear and a raincoat + pants. It’s a habit, so I just get up in the morning and do it.

Oh, and I have a child seat and a trailer, so I bring all 3 kids to kindergarden, too. I did get an electric bike to go with the 3. child though.

If someone thinks I’m a die hard environmentalist, idealist or nut job: the bike is cheap and the commute is faster as I don’t have to wait for other cars, the bus to come, etc.

It’s just the best solution for me, hands down, on all fronts.

Bike through it :) It's certainly quite rainy and windy some days, though.

Two things: Either move your departure slightly, or, if that is not an option, use a rainsuit. These rainsuits are very good and easy enough to take with you. I always have one in my bicycle bags which are fastened on the rear rack of my bike.

You're not made of sugar.

As my mother used to say when I complained about rain haha, I say the same to my kids now :)

Can't get Dutchier than "Wij zijn niet van suiker" :)

I've taken a bike daily for years, for one commute the alternative was walking, which took around twice longer. So between getting wet on a bike and spending a longer time walking and getting wet, it didn't change much. And once at school, clothing dried quickly enough that it wasn't much of a bother. Later, when I had switched my commute to bike + train, the other option was to take a bus, but I never did it, because I just couldn't stand to wait for the bus and risk missing my train and getting late to school/work.

You bike, just the same. Some people wear raincoats or waterproof clothing, but most will just go in their usual attire plus a hooded jacket.

It is just a fact of life. Not enjoyable, of course, but so what. Of course, if the bike ride is really long, it might become unfeasible.

I love to bike with my waterproof poncho.

https://www.thepeoples.co

Second this! Ponchos provide unparalleled air flow and weigh very little compared to conventional rain gear. I'm also able to stretch mine over the front basket, protecting any cargo as well. I'm never going back to regular rain jackets or pants again!

Fenders

Normal rain jacket

backpack with a rain cover

And if you really want to stay dry, something like these leg covers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainlegs-Black-Waterproof-Leg-Prote...

let's face it - it basically rains every other day and it never stops traffic on bycicle lanes.