Wear bright yellow or orange to be visible to motorists.

Put a visor or cap under your helmet to keep rain out of your eyes.
Keep your frame waxed (liquid furniture polish) and your drive train well lubricated.

Use wide, slightly under-inflated tires to increase contact with the road.
Don’t ride through a puddle if you can avoid it. It’s not uncommon to find a gaping hole under the water.

Cross railroad tracks near the side of the road. It’s less worn there than in the center. Always cross with your wheels perpendicular to the rails, and be extremely careful if they’re wet.

When you’re braking in the rain or anytime your rims are wet, remember that the first few wheel revolutions will only dry the rim and pads, so allow yourself at least 25 percent more stopping distance. Once dry, the brakes may suddenly take hold. Be ready to loosen your grip on the levers as soon as you feel the grab, or you would skid. Ouch.

The key to making it safely through unexpected patches of sand or gravel or a puddle is to stay relaxed. Resist the temptation to jam on the brakes, and give the bike enough freedom to drift in the direction it wants. Or, better yet avoid it.

If forced from the road onto a soft shoulder, react instantly by sliding back on the saddle, reducing your cadence, and maintaining a firm yet sensitive grip on the handlebar. Continue on the shoulder until you find a safe and convenient “on-ramp” back to the pavement.

Reduce your need to brake on descents by sitting up to let your body catch the wind. This can take 5-10 MPH off your speed.

During long descents on wet roads, maintain slight brake pad contact with the rims to keep them free of excess water and allow quicker stopping.

When descending, your bike will be more stable if your are pedaling, not just coasting. Always descend in high gear to retain the ability to accelerate if the situation calls for it.

Don’t ride the brakes on a long descent. Doing so will heat the rims and could cause a tire to blow off. Instead, apply the brakes briefly and firmly to slow your speed, then coast until you want to slow again. This way the rims and brake pads will cool between applications.

To stop front-end shimmy when descending, accelerate or decelerate from the point where it occurs. It also helps to lean forward, putting more weight on the front wheel, and to clamp the top tube between your knees.

When you end your rainy day ride, immediately wipe your bike down with a towel, then lubricate the chain and use a water-dispersing spray, such as WD-40, on all cables, housings, and the pivot points of the brake and gear systems.
Always, bring a change of clothes with you. You need to get out of your cycling clothing as soon as possible. It increases comfort as you cool down, yet allows your mind and body to relax in any environment you chose after a challenging day’s ride.

SHOES:

Don’t dry soaked shoes near a heat source, it may cause them to shrink or become brittle. Instead, remove the insoles and stuff the shoes with crumpled newspaper, changing it after a couple of hours.

BURNING CALORIES:

If you’re interested in losing a few pounds, schedule your rides for midday. Not only will you burn calories, but the exercise will also suppress your appetite, letting you be satisfied with an apple or a cup of low-fat yogurt for lunch.
To estimate the number of calories burned while cycling, use this formula: a 150 pound adult riding at 15 MPH burn 12 calories per a minute. For each 15 pounds above 150, add 1.2 calories per minute. For each 15 pounds under 150, subtract 1.2 calories per minute.

I HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL MOTIVATE YOU TO RIDE AND TO RIDE OFTEN.