samsation7

Any links or info on this topic will be much appreciated.

tekhna

Why the hell would it?

EdZ

Yeah, so I can get home quicker. Everytime I have ridden in the rain, I've spent 10 times the amount of time cleaning the crap off of my bike.

samsation7

Please don't beg the question.

adun111

Yes, it goes faster because lower road friction = faster speed. No pesky ground slowing you down.

In addition, my fenders made me more aero so I gained 5% more speed just right there.

EventServices

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.

Machka 

No ... the water on the ground creates drag on your wheels.

Ever driven your car through a puddle and felt the sudden slowing of the car? That's what happens when you ride your bicycle in the rain.

Why do you ask?

Steev

My commute is always slower on wet days.

Nouia

It makes you crash faster, in my experience.

cydewaze

Slower, especially on the curves - not to mention a greater chance of flatting.

I_bRAD

It makes you stop slower... is that the same?

samsation7

I ride in the rain a lot and I find myself go faster in the rain. Naturally, I'm curious if some physical laws explain this phenomenon. Or maybe, I just speed up to get home more quickly.

hanny

there is no physical reason that you would go faster in the rain.

Domino Plus Red

do you really go to Stanford University?

hi565

No links or studies, but from personal expirence, I definetly know that I at least feel like im going faster. Its funny when I am riding in the rain I just go and dont pay attention to anything other than getting my ass from point A to point b. Especially if the rain is slightly cold. Then I feel like im pushing 30

waterrockets 

+1 it certainly feels faster. I know the rolling resistance is lower, but thinking about all the water being slung in the air, it takes a lot of energy to keep a pint of water in the air constantly. It really doesn't make sense -- certainly it should make enough difference to feel it, but I'd swear that I'm much faster in the rain.

I need to do a TT in the rain sometime. To see how it stacks up to my PR.

waterrockets 

lmao, I've certainly benefited from rain rides in races. One of my teammates used to race on slicks, and put his rain tires in the pit. When he smelled a rain coming, he'd get to the front, and start diving into the corners like a maniac.

Once it started raining, one of two things would happen:
-He'd be cornering so hard that nobody would stay with him, then he'd be off the front and start riding sane again, just to keep his lead.
-OR he'd be cornering so hard that he'd crash (essentially on purpose) and a couple goofballs would go down with him. He'd sprint to the wheel pit on his bike, swap to his rain tires, and get back in after his free lap. Then the race really started...

That guy could corner like Jalapert. I swear. It was amazing.

munkyv22

Riding on crack cocaine will make you MUCH faster.

operator

Experience says otherwise.

cocoasprinkles

the mu factor (i think that is what it's called) is what physicist call friction. When a road is wet it has about half the friction so in essence it should be easier. but u never know. in a straight line with no need for braking or turning and it isn't pouring to produce puddles to go through, my bet is on a wet road.

I always assume i'm getting better gas mileage on the wet road espeically on the highway at sustained speed.

Ritterview

I can vouch for that. Samsation7 is a Stanford undergraduate.

55/Rad

Every time it starts to rain, I have to pee. So yes, it does make me go faster.

nocondorfx

Makes me go faster. Usually trying to beat the rain cloud.

urbanknight

Don't forget the wet rain jacket sliding through the air faster and the extra weight of the water giving you more momentum.

Patriot

I don't really notice. I'm too busy listening to my new mp3 player.

There is something rather soulful about listening to The Who: Quadrophenia while riding home at midnight on a dark country road in pouring rain.

Only Love, can make it rain, the way the beach, gets kissed by the sea.....