Does riding in the rain make you go faster????
12-10-06, 09:08 AM
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A few questions for the Stanford-attending original poster:
- How much of a speed difference have you measured?
- How much would the rain have to reduce the rolling resistance in order for you to be able to measure that difference in speed all other things being equal?
- What are you doing to ensure that your power output is the same from ride to ride so as to be able to rule out psychological or body-heat-related factors?
--Steve
- How much of a speed difference have you measured?
- How much would the rain have to reduce the rolling resistance in order for you to be able to measure that difference in speed all other things being equal?
- What are you doing to ensure that your power output is the same from ride to ride so as to be able to rule out psychological or body-heat-related factors?
--Steve
12-11-06, 12:19 AM
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actually, rain breaks the surface tension of the air and allows you to ride in the slipstream of the raindrops, but often the raindrops fill up the speed holes in your bike and stuff so that slows you down. bummer.
all kidding aside, I've noticed the illusion of riding faster in the rain. since things that pass you more closely seem to move faster, I think the raindrops closest to you create an illusion of higher speed. but it's all in your head.
all kidding aside, I've noticed the illusion of riding faster in the rain. since things that pass you more closely seem to move faster, I think the raindrops closest to you create an illusion of higher speed. but it's all in your head.
12-11-06, 02:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Old Breadbutt
actually, rain breaks the surface tension of the air and allows you to ride in the slipstream of the raindrops, but often the raindrops fill up the speed holes in your bike and stuff so that slows you down. bummer.
all kidding aside, I've noticed the illusion of riding faster in the rain. since things that pass you more closely seem to move faster, I think the raindrops closest to you create an illusion of higher speed. but it's all in your head.
all kidding aside, I've noticed the illusion of riding faster in the rain. since things that pass you more closely seem to move faster, I think the raindrops closest to you create an illusion of higher speed. but it's all in your head.
12-11-06, 02:45 AM
#54
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not me. I slow down because I do not like the sensation of lowered traction when stopping.
12-11-06, 09:31 AM
#55
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Originally Posted by samsation7
Any links or info on this topic will be much appreciated.
Some of the questions posted on this forum seem rather odd. But then cycling can seem a complex and daunting sport at first. I never recall wondering about half this stuff 20+ years ago when it was new to me however.
12-11-06, 09:41 AM
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I'd imagine that any decrease in rolling resistance will be counterbalanced by a decrease in linear momentum (you're riding along continually running into raindrops). My conclusion: riding in the rain won't make you a damned bit faster.
To the OP, how are those greek mythology classes going at Stamford?
To the OP, how are those greek mythology classes going at Stamford?
12-11-06, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
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"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
12-11-06, 10:14 AM
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I think the largest components of this would be the increased mass of the system (bike + rider). when everything gets damp, you are increaasing the mass of the tires (requiring increased energy for changes in speed) as well as your mass, so going uphill should become more difficult. Conversely, it is harder to stop, so if you are going downhill, while you should not go faster, you will require harder braking to slow down, not to mention reduced friction between the tire and brake pad.
Really i think it is just an illusion of going faster.
Really i think it is just an illusion of going faster.
12-11-06, 12:27 PM
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Riding in the rain, I generally go slower, because:
1. I'm riding my rain bike.
2. I can hardly see.
3. I'm wearing waterproofs and don't want to be wearing a sauna.
4. I'm worried that the tires might slip.
I'm suprised any of you think that rain riding is faster. There are two small effects to make you slower:
1. You have to accelerate all the water that you run into.
2. Your tire has to displace some water and that increases rolling resistance.
I imagine these two effects are negligible. But the reduced coefficient of friction between the tire and the ground does not result in higher speed. Tire rolling resistance comes from heat losses in flexing the sidewall of the tire. Unless there is actual slippage between the tire and the road, there is no relative motion between the two and, thus, no energy lost.
1. I'm riding my rain bike.
2. I can hardly see.
3. I'm wearing waterproofs and don't want to be wearing a sauna.
4. I'm worried that the tires might slip.
I'm suprised any of you think that rain riding is faster. There are two small effects to make you slower:
1. You have to accelerate all the water that you run into.
2. Your tire has to displace some water and that increases rolling resistance.
I imagine these two effects are negligible. But the reduced coefficient of friction between the tire and the ground does not result in higher speed. Tire rolling resistance comes from heat losses in flexing the sidewall of the tire. Unless there is actual slippage between the tire and the road, there is no relative motion between the two and, thus, no energy lost.
12-11-06, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by labrat_62
you will require harder braking to slow down, not to mention reduced friction between the tire and brake pad.
12-11-06, 12:34 PM
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Riding in the rain makes me go faster...I don't want to melt!
Oh what a world, what a world....
Oh what a world, what a world....
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-04-19, 03:41 PM
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Yes it will
Rain brings with it low pressure, if this is combined with a bit of heat & humidity along with low air pressure the conditions will be very fast. Light rain ideally, before or after a storm should be faster than normal in most cases.
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10-04-19, 05:21 PM
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I attest that heat and humidity will bring about a slower rider, thus a slower ride.
10-04-19, 05:30 PM
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It's a total non-issue for me because I can never see what's on the road in front of me when it's really raining. Def slower.
10-04-19, 05:33 PM
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Perhaps from a physical perspective ie, you may be more tired in these conditions. But not from a speed perspective. In heat you will be faster. Humidity increases resistance only marginally, but this is overridden by temperature.
10-04-19, 05:36 PM
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10-04-19, 05:47 PM
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Are you suggesting that a person’s physical condition has no bearing on the speed at which he can propel a bicycle?
Last edited by pickettt; 10-04-19 at 07:25 PM.
10-04-19, 06:28 PM
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I gain a lot of weight when I get soaked, it's uncomfortable, hard to stop or turn, and generally sucks.
Nice zombie thread, btw.
Nice zombie thread, btw.
10-04-19, 07:58 PM
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It makes you faster than riders who DON'T ride in the rain. So yes.
I mean, if we're trying to be faster, I will assume that we're racing against someone else.
If I train in the rain, I learn how to ride in the rain.
If my opponent doesn't train in the rain, he'll likely ease up in the rain.
When I'm in a race, I attack with everything I've got the instant it starts raining. The field usually splits into two distinct groups: those who train in the rain, and those who don't.
I mean, if we're trying to be faster, I will assume that we're racing against someone else.
If I train in the rain, I learn how to ride in the rain.
If my opponent doesn't train in the rain, he'll likely ease up in the rain.
When I'm in a race, I attack with everything I've got the instant it starts raining. The field usually splits into two distinct groups: those who train in the rain, and those who don't.
10-04-19, 08:36 PM
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I heard that it makes you really wet. It's thunder and lightning that spook me.
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10-04-19, 08:43 PM
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As much as I enjoyed seeing a Chipcom post this is a 13 year old zombie.
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Last edited by BillyD; 10-05-19 at 06:40 PM.
10-05-19, 12:44 PM
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