Slackerprince

It looks like it is going to rain EVERY SINGLE DAY in Tampa until who knows when.
Used to be, it would just rain for 15-20 minutes around 3:00 and then things would dry out.
All through July, and the start of this month, it just rains, sunshine, then rains again, etc.
So, I was wondering what everyone does for rain bikes.
Do you get a semi-beater and just ride it on wet streets and then hang it up, or what?
I'm getting tired of cleaning the grit off and drying my good bike after a rainy ride.
Wouldn't mind a $200-$300 aluminum Craigslist bike that I could ride on wet streets and then just park, but I think my OCD would take over and I'd have to do some kind of post-ride maintenance on it.
So, how do you treat your rain bike?

S

cbresciani

I wish I could give you some good advice but living in Phoenix Arizona pretty much eliminates the whole need for a rain bike.

But if I did live someplace with a lot of rain I would probably go with one I didn't have to worry about cleaning after every ride.

Vingleik Vaagal

Use the same bike in wet conditions as dry. Just give it a proper wash after every ride (and of course the after-wash treatment).

Slackerprince

What do you do for "after-wash treatment?"

S

merlinextraligh

Buy a bottle of pro link and a rag.

It's a tool, not a jewel.

knobster

I live in Oregon and while I don't ride my "race" bike in the Winter, it's not because it would hurt it. I don't ride it because it doesn't have fender eyelets. My Soma ES I can put fenders on it so it's my "rain" bike. But I ride it in the Summer as well. I would only get a rain bike if it was too difficult to put fenders on it.

I likes me some fenders....

Vingleik Vaagal

In my opinion fenders shouldn't come near any road bike.

Slackerprince

Should I go industrial size?:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...NERR60PPQC6Z90

You must be dealing with the same type of weather where you are.
So, just dry and lube?

S

Vingleik Vaagal

Wash bike, wash cassette, chain etc (at least every other time). Apply oil.

merlinextraligh

yes. I'm really not fastidious about bike maintenance.

Wipe down the drivetrain, and lube it, and you're good to go.

2 minute process.

Slackerprince

So much for ridiculous excuses to get another bike.

S

jon c. 

I feel your pain. Been the same way in Tallahassee. I normally just don't ride in the rain, but I've been caught a few times with thunderstorms that pop up out of nowhere. The radar looks clear and half an hour into the ride the dark clouds suddenly amass.

Vingleik Vaagal

Remember the rules.

knobster

Move to Oregon. You'll either change your opinion or you'll not ride for 9 months out of the year.... I'd rather ride.

Vingleik Vaagal

I dont know, with an average of 240 rain days a year where I live now I feel my experience with rain is adequate.

Nachoman

Well if you ride even less than half of those days, according to your post above, you'd be giving it a "proper wash" and a post ride "wash treatment" more than 100 times per year.

That sounds like A LOT of unnecessary work.

olds cool

My old Benotto 3000 was my rain bike for awhile when I was riding my Pinarello Treviso back through the 90's . It shows and need a total restoration which is under way. My Giant Advanced is CF so I don't mind getting it wet. After im done I just slap a park chain cleaning tool with some citrus cleaner to get the chain and a rag with dish soap to get the rest of the sand/crud off everything else and rinse. Takes about 10-15 min. Dry with a towel or light compressed air and lube with T-9. But yes we are getting hammered with the afternoon storms. You guys worse then me over here west of St.pete by Madeira Beach.

BykOfALesserGod

This. Just wash it with clean water and lube afterward.

"Rain bike" There are some very smart marketing guys out there in the bike world. Invent a problem and sell the solution.

cbresciani

^ Maybe, but it gives you a reason to buy another bike and then tell your significant other, "I really did need a rain bike."

Jseis 

I ride my MTB (with fenders) almost exclusively in winter when wet (like usually nearly all the time from Nov- March). Roads/C&V's dry nice days.

fstshrk

Get a cyclocross or a touring bike and put on fenders.

stilltooslow

Well this is where I differ. I love the idea of having a rain bike and a fair weather bike. Kinda like having a Ferrari in the garage for nice days. I ride my Guru in nice weather which is most of the time, but have my still solid Cervelo or Gios for the slop. Gives me the luxury of not even thinking twice about it. Yeah, I suppose I'm a little obsessive, enough that I even have two fixes, a Spicer for rainy fixie rides and a Colnago for sun.

That said, I'm not a clean freak, as all rides are a bit dirty but the drivetrain is always tuned and lubed to perfection.

FLvector

You can't live in FL and not get stuck in the rain if you put in enough miles. It's that time of year for the daily late afternoon showers, and is when I try to get in a ride after work. This last week was bad, with some wicked thunderstorms, which I'll avoid due to the frequent lightening. But if radar looks clear when you depart, don't be surprised to see the buildups happen quickly and give you a rain soaked ride. Early morning rides are usually dry on most days.

I do have a backup bike, but never use it. I thought I would, but it only takes a brief 10-15 minutes to do a light spray with the hose to get off the grit and grime, then towel dry and relube he chain. I sweat like a pig, so its good to do this anyway about once a week to get the salt off the bike components. Once August passes, the daily rains start to drop off a bit, so less cleaning required. Just be sure everything is properly lubed.

floridamtb

I live in Fort Lauderdale and I ride 20 miles almost every weekday in the morning and then 40-50 Saturday and Sunday. With that much riding if I wake up and it's raining I'll take a rest day. A few times this year I've had too many consecutive rest days so that's when I pull out the mountain bike (with 1.5" hybrid tires) and do my ride.

jerrycan42

"Rain bike" is what you tell your spouse when you "need" another bike... n+1 4 eva.