If you do a regular route, it pays to notice where the dry areas under trees / large bushes / structures etc. are on the way. They make useful places to shelter temporarily on occasions like that.
I've done this several times, as have others.
There's about 4 miles of my commute which is through farm lanes high up with a sea view. No trees or anything much at all (apart from sheep).
When I was commuting in London, I rarely got really wet because I'd just nip into a garage forecourt or pop under a shop canopy until it passed.
Having done both city and country commuting, I'd say that on balance, city commuting is easier. The traffic may be a pain in the arse, but it's mainly slow moving and with the roads well lit, a front light is more for being seen than actually being able to see things.
With country commuting, on my way into work (5.45am), I rarely see a car and I sometimes wonder how long it would be before I was found if I had some kind of mishap? The roads I use are not gritted and we get more than our fair share of rain down here ("Sunny Devon" my arse). On the occasions where I do meet up with a car, very often they are driving like lunatics in the belief that they have empty roads all to themselves. I've had so many near misses from close passes recently that I've fitted a huge,cheap, rear facing action camera to my pannier rack to act as a deterrent.
The views are brilliant though and I do get to see some pretty impressive local wildlife. A Barn Owl overtook me on Thursday morning and then glided along the hedgerow in front of me for about 20 seconds. Huge wingspan.
Either way, it beats going to work on the tube.
