xRyan

Hello all,
I'm planning on doing my first oganized ride tomorrow its a short 12 miles; but there's an 80% chance of rain in that area. Ive never gone on a ride in the rain so I'm looking for some tips or advice. Should I just not do the ride?

Will the rain affect my bike I'm anyway? Or do I just need a good cleaning afterwards?

Thanks!

american psycho 

Ride in front to avoid tire spray.

Go fast, have fun.

icepick_trotsky 

Is it a race or an organized ride for fun? If the latter, you'll be fine! Don't follow anyone too closely, and remember:

CAUTION
********
Wet rims
require
increased
stopping
distance
*******

3speedslow

Stay off or avoid painted surfaces when turning sharply or braking hard. They be slippery.

Have fun, it's only water. Your rims are alloy, right ?

SJX426 

I would be very cautious. I ride Michelin Pro 2 Race on my commuter because that what was on the bike when I bought it. In the rain, they can be very fast to dump you. Don't know if tread really makes a difference or not but wet leaves, painted surfaces, etc. would negate any edge of traction a tread might provide.

I might consider taping the BB opening if I knew there was going to be a lot of rain. Same for the steerer tube opening on the fork crown.

francophile 

It's fall, beware of leaves, either singular large ones or patches of them. They're as slippery as road stripes dry or wet, if not more slippery. Thing about the fact you may be getting pelted in the face, I'd pack a lightweight balaclava, you can get one for under $10.

Ex Pres 

You only get wet once.

dailycommute

I tend to avoid group rides in rain, too many unpredictables--much depends on group and skill level. For normal rainy commuting fenders are a must, they help protect the bike (and rider) but even so rain riding results in lots of sand/grit spray and resulting grinding on your bike's hardware. Therefore I do not regularly ride bikes I love in the rain (except the rainy commuter, which I do love!) unless unavoidable.

Bugstomper2000

Not very much water will fly up your fork, but if you are really worried there are also these magical things called rubber o-rings in the headset. And your bb should be fine unless you're this dude...

mattk42

Haha! Can you say, complete bearing overhaul?

66Satellite

I ride in the rain every day--fenders and proper tires (Conti 4 Seasons 700 x 28s at 90 psi) make it no big deal. But if you've never ridden much in the rain and you've never done a group ride I'd say that sounds like a bad combo.

Velocivixen

I ride in Oregon, so in addition to all of the aforementioned advice Ill add: Suck it up Buttercup!

Phil_gretz

Pay attention to spacing with the folks around you. Leave room around your front wheel.

Watch out for other slippery surfaces (metal gratings, metal tracks, wood surfaces of any kind) as have been mentioned above.

It's a 12-mile ride. Don't overdress, allow for whatever ventilation you can, and bring a change of clothes for afterward.

plonz 

I certainly would not let the rain stop me from doing a ride I was looking forward to. That said, I hate dealing with the clean up afterward. Road grit in all the drive train takes time to clean up but it's not a deal breaker.

Like others have mentioned, keep your distance from the wheel in front of you. Your stopping distance increases when wet and that rear tire is going to keep you hydrated!

superdex

make sure you have gloves and shoes that are good in the wet. Even for an hour, cold and wet flippers are no fun.

Best part about riding in the rain? The hot shower afterwards. Have fun!

gaucho777 

Lots of good advice above.

Races are not to be confused with organized group rides. It sounds like this is a group ride, in which case many group rides have provisions for rain cancellation (i.e., 30% chance of rain=cancellation). If it's 80% chance of rain, make sure the ride is actually going to happen.

More to the point of not overlapping: Be careful not to put your front wheel to the outside of another rider's rear wheel around corners, or you'll almost certainly take a fall if the other rider does.

francophile 

PS - Amazon.com : SKS X-Tra Dry Rear Bicycle Fender for 26 inch wheels : Bike Fenders : Sports & Outdoors

xRyan

Thanks for all the info it's good stuff!
Sorry for the confusion it's not a race, it's just an organized ride. I'm hopping it's a little competitive though

79pmooney

Three tips. Tire pressure should be a little less than you would normally ride. Does mean you have to be more careful re: potholes and stones as pinch flats happen more easily, but losing traction often means going down. Pinch flats hurt less. Two, hit the rear brake quickly and hard early on. Does itr lock up fast? Well, now you know and you have due respect for your traction and can plan accordingly.

And three: shoes should have holes between the ball and your toes to drain the water that comes in the tops. 12 miles is no big deal, but for the fun of it, take a look at your shoes. My first "real" race was 100 miles in pouring rain. As wet as it gets. After the race, I listened to the woes of those with soles without holes. Mile had a triangle of three. I'd pull out the 1/4" bit and add those holes if I were doing that again and my shoes didn't have them.

Have fun!

Ben

gaucho777 

There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition on group rides. However, not all group rides are the same. Some have highly contested sprints for county lines, and all-out grudge matches for the crest of each climb. But I would not expect that type of competition on a 12-mile ride. In my experience, 12-mile organized rides are intended for more leisurely riders who might actually resent excessive competition, especially in the rain. My advice is to take the cue on pace and competitiveness from regular riders if this is your first time riding with this group.

shoota 

Ugh, why does everyone insist on calling every group ride a race? Anyway, there's no way in hell I'd ride in the rain for a 12 mile ride. And I can tell you, it won't be competitive, it'll take the majority of the ride just to warm up. It'll be over before you know it.

SloButWide 

Perhaps when you're new to the sport, the distinction between fun ride, group ride, and race isn't as clear? Similarly, a group event (as opposed to an organized training ride) means more to someone who's never done one, as opposed to someone who has done dozens. It's like runners and 5K's; those first few t-shirts mean something. By the 10th, or 20th you wear it once and give it away.

shoota 

I suppose you're right but it's always baffled me how people will ask our group if we're racing while we're stopped at a red light. I just look at them and think, where have you ever seen a race of any kind that stops in the middle of it? (not accidental things mind you). Maybe it's just a lack of verbage on their part, they just don't know what else to call it?

gaucho777 

+1. My future brother-in-law does it in reference to charity rides and such. As a former racer, it drives me nuts.

dweenk

In my neck of the woods that would most likely be salt water. I can almost hear the bike rusting.