Cycling in the rain
11-16-10, 04:49 PM
#51
Pedaled too far.
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Too true. When I lived there, it seemed like L.A. drivers sped up in the rain, trying to get home before their cars got wet.
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11-16-10, 04:52 PM
#52
Pedaled too far.
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Awww. Once I got to swim in a heated pool during a snowstorm. That was fun. And half of the pool was indoors so you could get out and still be warm.
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11-16-10, 08:03 PM
#53
Je pose, donc je suis.
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P.S. Don't listen to nonsense from roadies about "base layers" and other crap like that.
Roadies overdress because they don't seem to think they're exercising unless they're a sweaty mess at the end of riding, but the nice thing about cold is it can balance out the extra body heat you're generating so you don't have to sweat while riding.
You could ride naked down to about freezing. Below that a single layer of "expedition weight" polyester or wool ski thermals along with a good pair of earmuffs and a good pair of gloves is all that's needed in most parts of the US.
Roadies overdress because they don't seem to think they're exercising unless they're a sweaty mess at the end of riding, but the nice thing about cold is it can balance out the extra body heat you're generating so you don't have to sweat while riding.
You could ride naked down to about freezing. Below that a single layer of "expedition weight" polyester or wool ski thermals along with a good pair of earmuffs and a good pair of gloves is all that's needed in most parts of the US.
11-16-10, 08:04 PM
#54
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Most people never get to know what it's like to ride a bike on a "perfect" day because they're stuck in their cars. I pity these ones! Even in michigan, which is famous for "bad" weather, we get at least 5 nice days for every crappy one. The thing is, if you have a car, you're in it for the good and the bad days--and the same with a bike--you have to take the bad with the good. That's what life is all about.
If you ride in a snow storm, you have something to brag about and something to whine about. And bragging and whining are two of the funnest things in life!
If you ride in a snow storm, you have something to brag about and something to whine about. And bragging and whining are two of the funnest things in life!
For all of the rest fighting over Seattle vs. Mobile, move to Denmark for a while and get back to me... ;-)
11-16-10, 09:23 PM
#56
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P.S. Don't listen to nonsense from roadies about "base layers" and other crap like that.
Roadies overdress because they don't seem to think they're exercising unless they're a sweaty mess at the end of riding, but the nice thing about cold is it can balance out the extra body heat you're generating so you don't have to sweat while riding.
You could ride naked down to about freezing. Below that a single layer of "expedition weight" polyester or wool ski thermals along with a good pair of earmuffs and a good pair of gloves is all that's needed in most parts of the US.
Roadies overdress because they don't seem to think they're exercising unless they're a sweaty mess at the end of riding, but the nice thing about cold is it can balance out the extra body heat you're generating so you don't have to sweat while riding.
You could ride naked down to about freezing. Below that a single layer of "expedition weight" polyester or wool ski thermals along with a good pair of earmuffs and a good pair of gloves is all that's needed in most parts of the US.
Last edited by oban_kobi; 11-16-10 at 09:24 PM. Reason: friends
11-16-10, 10:21 PM
#57
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11-17-10, 04:09 PM
#58
Prefers Cicero
Rode home in heavy rain and strong gusts with the temperature at about 5C (40 F) last night. I had winter ski mitts, a cape, a flannel jacket, and a polyester or lycra earband under my helmet.
The head band and jacket worked fine. Some rain got in the helmet vents to my scalp, but not enough to bother me.
The mitts were my biggest worry - once they get soaked they lose all insulation, but these ones held up well, and although they looked drenched, they were reasonably dry inside right to the end of the ride. However if it were any longer a ride, they wouldn't have stayed dry inside. In fact they were soaked inside this a.m., as the moisture that got into the outer layers, had perfused throughout during the night.
Although the cape covers my upper body, the gusts caused it to flap up enough that my thighs got a bit damp, and even with fenders my lower legs, shoes and socks got soaked. My feet were pretty cold at the end.
So those are my two hardest parts to keep dry and warm - hands and feet.
The head band and jacket worked fine. Some rain got in the helmet vents to my scalp, but not enough to bother me.
The mitts were my biggest worry - once they get soaked they lose all insulation, but these ones held up well, and although they looked drenched, they were reasonably dry inside right to the end of the ride. However if it were any longer a ride, they wouldn't have stayed dry inside. In fact they were soaked inside this a.m., as the moisture that got into the outer layers, had perfused throughout during the night.
Although the cape covers my upper body, the gusts caused it to flap up enough that my thighs got a bit damp, and even with fenders my lower legs, shoes and socks got soaked. My feet were pretty cold at the end.
So those are my two hardest parts to keep dry and warm - hands and feet.
11-17-10, 04:13 PM
#59
Senior Member
The cape is not as well suited to cold rain as it is warm rain. In cold rain, for long rides, I wear waterproof jacket, pants, and gaitors. To avoid getting wet inside the suit I ride slow. Just leave your house a littler earlier than normal. Also, a shower cap works well over a helmet as a waterproofer and insulator.
11-17-10, 05:36 PM
#60
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The cape is not as well suited to cold rain as it is warm rain. In cold rain, for long rides, I wear waterproof jacket, pants, and gaitors. To avoid getting wet inside the suit I ride slow. Just leave your house a littler earlier than normal. Also, a shower cap works well over a helmet as a waterproofer and insulator.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
11-18-10, 12:29 PM
#62
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But with the miles I have been putting in over the last two years sooner or later I am bound to get caught in a heavy mist. Still I have considered not staying home on the few days we do get rain and have been considering a rain jacket and some kind of foot covers to use with my MTB and Backup road bike.
11-29-10, 05:07 AM
#63
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But what about those of us riding to work, or who have to go to work meetings (or in my case - I am a journalist- do interviews)? It is one thing to ride in civilian clothes and get a bit sweaty, nothing an inconspicuous spare shirt rolled into my bag and one minute in any toilet cannot handle, but arriving in a soaking, muddy, sweaty mess in conditions nothing short of a full bath and new change of clothes will repair is just not an option on a working day... Weekend/fitness rides are a different beast, sure, but I still haven't found clothes I can ride in on a rainy day that still make me look some kind of business casual without 15 minutes in a changing room.
Plus, I don't know about where you live, but biking in a busy, bike-unfriendly city in the rain (Buenos Aires, Argentina, in my case) can get pretty unsafe: most of my close calls with cars have been on rainy days, when they ride more dangerously, the traffic is heavier and my handling/braking on the bike is affected by more slippery streets, puddles and the like. I do most of my riding in busy/downtown areas without bike lanes, which only makes matters worse.
I don't own a car and hate buses/subways, but in those days I suck it up and ride public transport...
Plus, I don't know about where you live, but biking in a busy, bike-unfriendly city in the rain (Buenos Aires, Argentina, in my case) can get pretty unsafe: most of my close calls with cars have been on rainy days, when they ride more dangerously, the traffic is heavier and my handling/braking on the bike is affected by more slippery streets, puddles and the like. I do most of my riding in busy/downtown areas without bike lanes, which only makes matters worse.
I don't own a car and hate buses/subways, but in those days I suck it up and ride public transport...
If you don't have a changing room, that is a problem. No need to shower, just change clothes and use a small towel. But you doo need a changing room and a place to let the clothes dry.
11-29-10, 05:45 AM
#64
Senior Member
I find rain suits leak at the seams.. Best luck is water proofed tights.. Plus they breath better . During the rainy winter.. That sure makes Arizona not seem so bad..
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11-29-10, 02:03 PM
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I suggest you do some research on hypothermia. It doesn't require freezing temperatures. And getting wet (from rain) can accelerate the onset.
11-29-10, 05:19 PM
#67
Sophomoric Member
You're technically right, but have you ever heard of a fit, non-demented adult getting hypothermia while riding around town?
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11-30-10, 08:56 AM
#68
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I know from my own experience and experiments that wearing minimal cover, above freezing, maintaining heart rate at or above 110 BPM, temps 32F and up, rainy and wet, 36 mile commute each way... no hypothermia. Hands and feet get a little achey, but that is it.
Everybody's relative climatic stress is different, but it's my opinion that most people would be quite surprised if they just gave it a try.
11-30-10, 11:56 AM
#69
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After sixty eight posts and no one mentioned the wear and tear on the equipment.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
12-01-10, 01:03 AM
#70
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After sixty eight posts and no one mentioned the wear and tear on the equipment.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
Since the Rohloff and disc brake were installed, wear and tear is a fraction of what it was. I've got about 20,000 km on the wheels (back one is still a rim brake) and there is lots of life left in them.
As for changing a tire in the rain, I lived in Vancouver for six years and only changed a flat in the rain once.
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12-01-10, 01:34 AM
#71
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Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
I also agree that wear and tear in the winter is far more severe than during nice weather. However, it's still a lot less expensive than driving a car. And very regular maintenance & cleaning can lengthen the life of many components. In winter, I clean my rims and drive train about once a week. I still have to replace my rims every 18-24 months, get a new cassette every 24 months, a new chain every 6-12 months, and new brake pads every 3-4 months, but if I didn't do the weekly cleaning it would be even more often. I consider this a small price to pay in exchange for the benefits that a mostly car-free life provides, along with the greater feeling of control that comes with managing a much simpler, more elegant machine.
12-01-10, 04:01 AM
#72
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After sixty eight posts and no one mentioned the wear and tear on the equipment.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
Moving parts can let water in more than a bicycle that is just getting rained on. I was on two bike tours this year where we had one full day of rain each tour. After taking apart my hubs the ball bearings were in a brown rusty grease that pitted one of my cones. Shimano does not have any extra stock of that particular cone, and I have to wait 4 months until the back order is filled.
Flat tires on one tour increased so dramatically the support people ran out of tubes. Wet tires tend to keep objects stuck to them longer and tires tend to puncture more often in wet conditions. Changing a tire in the pouring rain is not a fun task.
Wear and tear alone is not enough to keep me from riding in the rain, but I would be lying if it did not influence my thought process. Higher wear and tear on parts is something you will have to deal with when riding in the rain and should be discussed as well as clothing.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
12-01-10, 12:59 PM
#73
Sophomoric Member
Wear and tear is part of normal use and I am sure it does increase some during wet weather. This is one of the reasons my bikes have fenders and chain cases and guards as well as using IG hubs. I use the marine type (boat trailer) waterproof grease in my wheels, headset and bottom bracket and have never had a problem.
Aaron
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12-01-10, 08:16 PM
#74
In the right lane
In winter, I clean my rims and drive train about once a week. I still have to replace my rims every 18-24 months, get a new cassette every 24 months, a new chain every 6-12 months, and new brake pads every 3-4 months, but if I didn't do the weekly cleaning it would be even more often.
I agree about the cassette. If I get 4000 miles out of a cassette, it's toast...
New brake pads? Every 2000 - 3000 miles.
12-01-10, 09:48 PM
#75
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Not necessarily. The grit that's present on the road that gets thrown up onto the rims (especially the rear rim) is nasty. Add a few steep hills, Wet Coast Style, ten thousand km or so, and that's a recipe for rim replacement.
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