PatrickGSR94

My friend convinced me to sign up for my local Tour de Cure ride this coming Saturday, doing the metric century 62-mile course. Having never ridden that far I figured it could be fun, and would be a nice accomplishment.

Problem is, when I signed up back in February, I did not realize that the ride happens the same day as a local BBQ festival that historically almost always has rain, or some other less than ideal weather on that day (cold, hail/tornadoes, etc). Well sure enough, the forecast is saying sun/clouds on Friday, sun/clouds on Sunday, and 60% chance of rain on Saturday.

I don't know about this. I don't own any sort of rain riding gear. I have no fenders on any of my bikes. And 62 miles in the area where the ride is going will take me over 5 hours for sure, probably 6 with stops. That doesn't sound very fun to me. Also I'm not so sure about subjecting my new bike to those conditions for that distance/length of time.

Thoughts? What would you do?

StanSeven

Don't worry about the bike. Just wipe it down good - maybe a wash if the roads are gritty, and lube the drive train. As long as it's not cold, riding in the rain isn't bad. In fact it's fun if you can see and traffic isn't dangerous. Go ahead and enjoy yourself

LesterOfPuppets

Yes, I would.

That's just a metric century, anyways. Even I could do that solo in 4 hours easy. Get on some fast pacelines, and you should be looking @ 2:30 or so.

Get some Race Blades and go riding.

Vlaam4ever

are you scared?

Rain gear is pointless for 60 miles. either you get wet from the rain or you get wet from the sweat. ride it anyway. If you complete it you can brag about it for years, if you chicken out, you're a chicken.

slowride454

HTFU. I've done century rides in the rain and sleet. Sure I was cold and wet, but the sense of accomplishment is 1000X higher than a fair weather ride.

Clipped_in

What a bunch of self important tools!

LesterOfPuppets

Utah. No one there rides in the rain.

RoadMike

I did a solo century this winter through sleet and freezing rain. Was it fun? No. Am I glad I did it? Hell yeah!

StanSeven

Yeah, nothing like a brisk 24 mph paceline in the rain for 60 miles. It's be over with so fast, you don't need to stop for anything - open your mouth for water and pee on the bike and the rain washes you clean.

FrenchFit 

I would do it for $100 a mile. Alright, maybe $50, but only if using someone else's gear.

LesterOfPuppets

It's only 60% chance of rain. But I guess I'm self important cuz there's wet pavement here approx 300 days per year

Young Version

If it was warm (50+), sure. If it was cold, probably not.

I'd probably ride a metric under either circumstance.

rangerdavid

if it's fun for you, do it. I wouldn't, but you might like it.

LesterOfPuppets

Yeah, same here on the temperature situation. If it's 38 degrees out, then I'd probably wuss out and opt for Hot Cocoa and chick flicks at home.

LesterOfPuppets

The NOAA graphs on weatherspark.com don't have any Precip Rates showing up on Saturday, which probably means quick, passing showers.

There is lightning, though...

StanSeven

My good friend lived in Seattle. The first year he hardly went out for rain. The second year he said the rain didn't bother him much. After that he ignored the rain.

Young Version

Living in the Pacific Northwest, you either suck it up and ride in the rain or resign yourself to being weak and slow.

Jeepnut22 

Yes...

Doooo it. Dooo it...

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=P9pa_...%3DP9pa_8-WdlU

bianchi10

I hate riding in the rain at all. Not sure if I would wuss out or not for a full century. I have a century coming up in 26 days that I'm signed up for. been thinking about if I want to do it if i wake up and its pouring out. Call me a wuss all you want, I simply dont enjoy riding in the rain.

LesterOfPuppets

As for the new bike angle, as long as you don't crash riding in the rain doesn't change much. Hopefully they greased all threads when they put your bike together.

You might have to replace your chain a week earlier than if you didn't do this ride but that's many miles from now... Same for your cassette but that's even more miles away from now.

Jakedatc

Me and a friend had it downpour exactly 50mi in to a full century.. we rode for a while, ducked under a storefront for our scheduled lunch break anyway.. it eventually lightened up and we saw hardly any drop in our time from a few weeks beforehand on the same route. I'd rather not start riding in the rain but if i get caught in it then i suck it up. Metric. with only a chance of showers.. no problem. 6 hrs for a metric?

eja_ bottecchia

Last November I rode 44 miles in the Santa Barbara edition of the Tour de Cure. They only offered three ride distances, a 67 miles hilly ride, a 40 miles less hilly ride and a family 10 miles ride. I had originally signed up for the 67 mile ride but it was raining so hard that I did not want to hazard some of the steep descents on those wet roads. So I did the 40 miles ride (I made a wrong turn and ended up riding an extra four miles).

It rained from beginning to end with gusting winds. By the time that I finished my ride I was soaked to the bone.

I did the ride on my brand new Colnago C59.

Would I do it again? Without a doubt YES I would do it again. I love to ride in the rain. There is something cathartic about a good soaking while riding your bike. But I am an experienced rider and I have ridden may times in the rain (not that it rains all that much in So. Cal.)

OP, I do not know how much riding experience you have, but if this is your first time riding over a significant distance, then in my opinion you should bail out.

Riding in the rain calls for a whole set of bike riding skills that a first time century rider may not have. Riding in the rain can be dangerous, uncomfortable and not a real fun experience for a noob long distance rider.

A lot of guys here like to act tough, but take it from me there are a lot of better ways to show what a tough hombre you are.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

So my advice is...stay home and try another time.





PS: Don't worry about your bike getting wet....it will be fine. My C59 loves the rain.

alexaschwanden

Its a great way to test out the bikes performance abilities in bad weather.

coasting 

I would. I did an unpleasant rain ride recently and hated it, but afterwards i felt like superman. Do it and then brag about it until you pee everyone off. You earned the right.

eja_ bottecchia

Define "unpleasant ride."