I would add just one more tip. Strap your bike into the bed of your friends pickup truck and have him haul you into work.
I was in Chicago in March once and froze my ass off. It was colder than Philly in January.
OK, seriously, the biggest problem I have in the rain, other than traffic is visibility. My face shield fogs, followed by rain on the shield and once my glasses get fogged or wet, I'm blind. So, don't wear glasses. Find an anti-fog shield for your helmet. Buy a pair of gloves with the little index-finger wiper to clear off the water droplets from your face shield.
But, between rain, idiot drivers, pot holes, oil and other debris on the roads I'd leave the bike home and find another way to work. If you have covered parking at work and the weather is clear in the morning you can time the ride home or get a ride when it rains.
I was in Chicago in March once and froze my ass off. It was colder than Philly in January.
OK, seriously, the biggest problem I have in the rain, other than traffic is visibility. My face shield fogs, followed by rain on the shield and once my glasses get fogged or wet, I'm blind. So, don't wear glasses. Find an anti-fog shield for your helmet. Buy a pair of gloves with the little index-finger wiper to clear off the water droplets from your face shield.
But, between rain, idiot drivers, pot holes, oil and other debris on the roads I'd leave the bike home and find another way to work. If you have covered parking at work and the weather is clear in the morning you can time the ride home or get a ride when it rains.