Rain riding
06-19-19, 04:12 AM
#51
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As a cycle commuter with convenient Commuter Rail alternative, I check Weather.com forecasts starting five days prior. On the day of a ride, if it looks questionable I check current Doppler to decide, and depending on the conditions if I ride in the rain I use my beater road bike.
For a recreational ride or extended training ride, I probably won’t go.
My preference for "dry" roads extends to those I consider "damp," with no puddles and no active rain.
The Doppler looked threatening, and sky was cloudy at 6 AM in Kenmore Square, so I took the beater bike and brought my rain gear to Norwood, but got no rain. In any case I have the rain bike to take home to keep the road bike clean if it still rains later.
Just this year [2009] inspired by BF I have accepted riding in the rain. I used to consider it a game: if I rode and it rained, or I didn't ride and it didn't rain, I lost; if I rode with no rain or didn't ride and it rained, I won. Now I win or lose depending if I ride with the appropriate bike: beater in the rain, road bike when dry.
Just this year [2009] inspired by BF I have accepted riding in the rain. I used to consider it a game: if I rode and it rained, or I didn't ride and it didn't rain, I lost; if I rode with no rain or didn't ride and it rained, I won. Now I win or lose depending if I ride with the appropriate bike: beater in the rain, road bike when dry.
"How do you guys deal with two days straight of rain/cold?"
Yes, maybe the rain falling from up above is pleasant, but what about road spray?
Yes, maybe the rain falling from up above is pleasant, but what about road spray?
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 06-19-19 at 06:52 AM.
06-19-19, 06:16 AM
#52
Senior Member
I hope some of the comments are jokes
Rain (precipitation) affects us physically and psychologically; and no one in their right mind would deny the significant change in physics involved while riding a bike (or any mechanical device) during a rainstorm or wet conditions.
Its also #1 when it comes to corrosion and significant damage to ALL materials -- metals, and composites. There's so much information to the contrary of positive, that it could fill a database. Basically, the opposite of some "good for you" statements.
"Of those deaths and injuries related to weather, 46% occurred during rainfall, and fully 73% occurred on wet roads. When you contrast those statistics with the 27% of accidents that occurred during snowy and icy road conditions, it is even clearer that wet road conditions are perhaps the single greatest weather-related accident risk factor today’s drivers face."
Rain (precipitation) affects us physically and psychologically; and no one in their right mind would deny the significant change in physics involved while riding a bike (or any mechanical device) during a rainstorm or wet conditions.
Its also #1 when it comes to corrosion and significant damage to ALL materials -- metals, and composites. There's so much information to the contrary of positive, that it could fill a database. Basically, the opposite of some "good for you" statements.
"Of those deaths and injuries related to weather, 46% occurred during rainfall, and fully 73% occurred on wet roads. When you contrast those statistics with the 27% of accidents that occurred during snowy and icy road conditions, it is even clearer that wet road conditions are perhaps the single greatest weather-related accident risk factor today’s drivers face."
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06-19-19, 06:28 AM
#53
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I have rain gear and I will commute in the rain, and put on all my lights and helmet lights. But if the sky really opens up and I think most car's wipers can't keep up with the rain, I won't ride, or if I'm already underway, I wait it out.
On the weekends I usually won'y ride for pleasure in the rain.
On the weekends I usually won'y ride for pleasure in the rain.
06-19-19, 06:45 AM
#54
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I have a system of only picking one of several environmental "evils" to deal with on my ride.
If I have to choose more than one, indoors ride instead or no ride.
These are:
-darkness
-high heat
-really cold
-precipitation
-heavy wind (zero points if combined with high heat or darkness)
So, with this logic it would go:
dark + cold = no
dark + rain = no
cold + rain/snow = no
If I have to choose more than one, indoors ride instead or no ride.
These are:
-darkness
-high heat
-really cold
-precipitation
-heavy wind (zero points if combined with high heat or darkness)
So, with this logic it would go:
dark + cold = no
dark + rain = no
cold + rain/snow = no
06-19-19, 06:50 AM
#55
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I make it a point to never ride in tsunamis, no matter what the ambient temperature.
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06-19-19, 10:15 AM
#56
Portland Fred
A lot of schmucks go through 2-3 chains and sets of tires alone every single year. Not only does that cost hundreds of dollars, but their tires look like carp. But if you don't ride your bike, those tires will still look like new 12 months later!
It's great for resale value too -- you'll easily get twice as much if your bike looks new than if it's dinged up. KA-CHING!
06-19-19, 10:34 AM
#57
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My primary goal in riding my bike is to maintain/increase my fitness. With that in mind, when it is going to rain or the roads are extremely wet, I'll just get on the trainer. I've done plenty of rain rides (did a century 3 weeks ago where the first 2 hours were in a steady rain), and it's just annoying to constantly have to deep-clean my bike. For whatever reason the headset bearings in my bike also tend to fail very quickly when I've done a couple of rain rides, so it's just not worth the trouble/expense to me.
06-19-19, 11:44 AM
#58
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I agree with the Mighty KraneXL---most cyclists aren't smart enough to ride well in the rain. After all, between a fifth and a third of accidents involving cyclists supposedly happened in the rain.
Oh, wait ... those are numbers for Automobiles. So ... more bogus data.
Also ... death and injuries related to weather ... so if weather made you crash, in your car, it likely wasn't a tornado ... Brilliant! Yeah, rain and snow are pretty much All the "weather" which most drivers face .... so yeah, if weather is a factor, rain or snow would be the prime suspects. Not tsunamis, I guess.
As I mentioned in another post, I rode pretty much daily for nearly two decades in the cycling-death capital of the country (at that time.) I rode when I had to, regardless of weather.
You know who else does that stuff? Kids. So if children can handle it, I guess I can be childish.
Yeah, you do have to take the lane a lot more, and you have to be extra cautious around cars, and you can't storm into corners like a racer. But I rode steel rims for quite a while (because they were cheap, and that's what came on the cheap bikes I pulled from the trash and Frankensteined together.) So the idea that no one can stop in the rain ...
Say, who here as never heard of "bicycle racing"?
Racers go downhill at ridiculous speeds, wet or dry. And they do it (for the most part) safely. If no one could stop in the rain, every rainy stage would be postponed or canceled. And there is ample evidence that racers race in the rain ... so ...
Yeah, if people are Afraid of riding in the rain, that is legitimate, and I respect those people for recognizing their limitations ("A good man knows his limitations," Mr. Eastwood told us.) I have had to face my fear-based limitations both in road-riding and more particularly in MTB riding. We all want to be Mr. Macho, but sometimes I would stop at the top of a drop-in and just say "No." I know that if I am afraid enough, I won't have the fine motor control to pull off the descent, and I will crash--I learned the heard (-headed) way. So for those people afraid to ride in the rain---bravo.
But don't try to sell the rest of the world on the idea that it is impossible just because you choose not to do it. Some people even enjoy it. You aren't wrong---and neither are they.
I just missed a week of riding because every day I waited to see if it would rain and by the time it either did or didn't I had missed my window of riding time. No more. I am ready to hit the road regardless.
Oh, wait ... those are numbers for Automobiles. So ... more bogus data.
Also ... death and injuries related to weather ... so if weather made you crash, in your car, it likely wasn't a tornado ... Brilliant! Yeah, rain and snow are pretty much All the "weather" which most drivers face .... so yeah, if weather is a factor, rain or snow would be the prime suspects. Not tsunamis, I guess.
As I mentioned in another post, I rode pretty much daily for nearly two decades in the cycling-death capital of the country (at that time.) I rode when I had to, regardless of weather.
You know who else does that stuff? Kids. So if children can handle it, I guess I can be childish.
Yeah, you do have to take the lane a lot more, and you have to be extra cautious around cars, and you can't storm into corners like a racer. But I rode steel rims for quite a while (because they were cheap, and that's what came on the cheap bikes I pulled from the trash and Frankensteined together.) So the idea that no one can stop in the rain ...
Say, who here as never heard of "bicycle racing"?
Racers go downhill at ridiculous speeds, wet or dry. And they do it (for the most part) safely. If no one could stop in the rain, every rainy stage would be postponed or canceled. And there is ample evidence that racers race in the rain ... so ...
Yeah, if people are Afraid of riding in the rain, that is legitimate, and I respect those people for recognizing their limitations ("A good man knows his limitations," Mr. Eastwood told us.) I have had to face my fear-based limitations both in road-riding and more particularly in MTB riding. We all want to be Mr. Macho, but sometimes I would stop at the top of a drop-in and just say "No." I know that if I am afraid enough, I won't have the fine motor control to pull off the descent, and I will crash--I learned the heard (-headed) way. So for those people afraid to ride in the rain---bravo.
But don't try to sell the rest of the world on the idea that it is impossible just because you choose not to do it. Some people even enjoy it. You aren't wrong---and neither are they.
I just missed a week of riding because every day I waited to see if it would rain and by the time it either did or didn't I had missed my window of riding time. No more. I am ready to hit the road regardless.
06-19-19, 01:25 PM
#59
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I'm about to run an errand on the bike in some light drizzle. It's been nice knowing you all!
P.S. I survived, against all odds. I got frightfully damp, though.
P.S. I survived, against all odds. I got frightfully damp, though.
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 06-19-19 at 06:44 PM.
06-20-19, 09:00 AM
#60
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Sure, it's totally possible to ride in the rain and do so safely. But it's a heck of a lot easier for a professional than for an amateur enthusiast.
06-20-19, 11:29 AM
#61
Senior Member
People ride a lot on other than dry smooth pavement. Some ride 1000's of miles a year in gravel, dust, and and dirt with or without moisture or water and mud. You are not telling them something they do not already know or deal with and have direct experience with. They are not dying off and spending any appreciable amount more money keeping their gear going. Someone telling me I am lucky to be alive or I am bankrupting myself or spending to much time keeping it going does not make sense. I ride the bike and think of my enjoyment and experience first, I don't care what the chain, cassette, or some random bearing is going though. Until that chain or cassette eventually impacts my experience then I will deal with it and it's cheap and quick to resolve myself. Me first, bike second. In my case, I'll just get wet or dirty. Decent workout/biking clothes can only hold a finite amount of water and its not much. I am not commuting. On that note though.. I was in Puget Sound for about 6 months and rode my bike back and forth to work (plus a ferry ride), maybe 5 miles each way. I swear it rained every single day I was there. I paid $25 for the bike when I got there and sold it for $25 when I left. I don't recall doing anything to it but topping off with air and some chain lube.
Last edited by u235; 06-20-19 at 01:16 PM.
06-20-19, 12:00 PM
#62
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Yesterday I got caught in one of the thunder-downpours with high winds (28 mph) where the raindrops come in horizontally with eyeball-bruising force. I was fine except for the very worst gusts, where slick pavement and gusty winds had me weaving a little---so i downshifted and rode on the grass until the road curved a little and i was not head-on into the gusts. Otherwise, it was just riding .... I coped easily with rain, wind, traffic, ... and enjoyed the whole thing immensely.
My point about pros is that they ride in the rain .... even in the snow if it comes mid-course .... and they don't just keel over and die.
Anyone who feels s/he is not competent to ride in given conditions should pull ove rand park, or stay home. I agree. I however, though not a pro or even a particularly good rider, have proven able to navigate near hurricanes, tremendous downpours, bitter cold, blazing heat (both with and without humidity) and I am just some fat old guy. I don't understand why just anybody could not manage riding iin the rain.
Not saying anyone Should ... but people who are afraid need to separate their fears, which are irrational and internal and totally personal, from the conditions under which those fears arrise.
Look, some people are afraid of the dark.That doesn't mean I cannot ride at night---safely.
06-20-19, 04:02 PM
#63
Senior Member
If I'm training for something, need to get miles, and there's no viable window in the forecast, I ride. If I'm good on miles but want a workout, I'll go to spin class, swim, do yoga or something else.
When I lived on the North Coast, I'd ride in the rain all the time (or else you just don't ride much). Now, I put up with it early in the season, knowing by midsummer it will be scorchingly dry and everything will be on fire. It's hard for anyone out west to really begrudge rain these days, though I still found myself complaining this year with our exceptionally wet May.
When I lived on the North Coast, I'd ride in the rain all the time (or else you just don't ride much). Now, I put up with it early in the season, knowing by midsummer it will be scorchingly dry and everything will be on fire. It's hard for anyone out west to really begrudge rain these days, though I still found myself complaining this year with our exceptionally wet May.
06-23-19, 03:37 PM
#64
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06-23-19, 06:32 PM
#65
☢
Yesterday I got caught in one of the thunder-downpours with high winds (28 mph) where the raindrops come in horizontally with eyeball-bruising force. I was fine except for the very worst gusts, where slick pavement and gusty winds had me weaving a little---so i downshifted and rode on the grass until the road curved a little and i was not head-on into the gusts. Otherwise, it was just riding .... I coped easily with rain, wind, traffic, ... and enjoyed the whole thing immensely.
My point about pros is that they ride in the rain .... even in the snow if it comes mid-course .... and they don't just keel over and die.
Anyone who feels s/he is not competent to ride in given conditions should pull ove rand park, or stay home. I agree. I however, though not a pro or even a particularly good rider, have proven able to navigate near hurricanes, tremendous downpours, bitter cold, blazing heat (both with and without humidity) and I am just some fat old guy. I don't understand why just anybody could not manage riding iin the rain.
Not saying anyone Should ... but people who are afraid need to separate their fears, which are irrational and internal and totally personal, from the conditions under which those fears arrise.
Look, some people are afraid of the dark.That doesn't mean I cannot ride at night---safely.
My point about pros is that they ride in the rain .... even in the snow if it comes mid-course .... and they don't just keel over and die.
Anyone who feels s/he is not competent to ride in given conditions should pull ove rand park, or stay home. I agree. I however, though not a pro or even a particularly good rider, have proven able to navigate near hurricanes, tremendous downpours, bitter cold, blazing heat (both with and without humidity) and I am just some fat old guy. I don't understand why just anybody could not manage riding iin the rain.
Not saying anyone Should ... but people who are afraid need to separate their fears, which are irrational and internal and totally personal, from the conditions under which those fears arrise.
Look, some people are afraid of the dark.That doesn't mean I cannot ride at night---safely.
06-23-19, 09:30 PM
#66
Senior Member
As it is, as a weekend recreational rider, I already give my bike a full cleaning/detail after each ride which takes enough time as it is. The thought of also cleaning actual muck and dirt off, no thanks. Just the other day I found myself slowly rolling through some water that trickled across an MUP which was a bit of a drag, had a little extra cleaning to do when I got home.
So no, I don't ride in rain...BUT...I love rain, love running in it, and if I could bring myself to not care about either of my bikes, I would actually look forward to going out in the cold, dark, sloppy weather.
Oh, but wind? Never. F that. No enjoyment either running or cycling in wind, at all. Guess I should buy myself some deep carbon wheels.
So no, I don't ride in rain...BUT...I love rain, love running in it, and if I could bring myself to not care about either of my bikes, I would actually look forward to going out in the cold, dark, sloppy weather.
Oh, but wind? Never. F that. No enjoyment either running or cycling in wind, at all. Guess I should buy myself some deep carbon wheels.
