Updated: Leave it to the real bloggers and journalists to investigate and report on this topic.

Until yesterday, Portland had experienced less than a half inch of rain in December (usually by now we've enjoyed over 4 inches). I can't remember the last December that I saw the sun so much.

This morning brought me back to much more familiar December commuting weather. When bike commuters are asked about biking in the rain the common response is 'that all you need is the right gear.'

It's easy to get great bike rain gear and it's easy to spend a lot of money.

We've written before about cheap winter bike commuting gear. Here's another cheap accessory: kitchen dish gloves.

I have a lot of gloves perfumed w/ aroma of mildew from riding with them in the rain. While not breathable, kitchen gloves are 100 percent water repellent and dry easily. I learned on my inaugural ride that they're not the best at repelling the cold, so I would suggest a pair of glove liners to keep your hands warm.