Commuting in the Rain Question (?)
#1
Aussie Commuter
Thread Starter
Commuting in the Rain Question (?)
This time of year (Autumn) in Melbourne it rains. Sometimes heavy and sometimes just lightly on and off during the day. Last year I avoided commuting to work in the rain, but of course that meant sometimes weeks without riding my bike. I don't want to do that again this year, it's very frustrating.
My bike has fenders and a Gates belt drive and Brooks C17 All Weather saddle so it's equiped to be rained on, but I have a couple of questions if anyone would like to chime in please:-
- are there any bad affects to a bike being ridden in the rain?
- I have no idea what type of rain jacket to go for. I think something I can easily put on over my clothes if I'm suddenly caught. Like THIS ONE?
I'd really appreciate your feedback and experiences.
My bike has fenders and a Gates belt drive and Brooks C17 All Weather saddle so it's equiped to be rained on, but I have a couple of questions if anyone would like to chime in please:-
- are there any bad affects to a bike being ridden in the rain?
- I have no idea what type of rain jacket to go for. I think something I can easily put on over my clothes if I'm suddenly caught. Like THIS ONE?
I'd really appreciate your feedback and experiences.
#2
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I started using a cycling rain cape a few years ago. I made 2 out of ponchos. At some point I will buy one, but I am not commuting at the moment.
Cycling rain capes drape over your hands on the bars. They have internal straps you put your hands through to keep the cape draped over your hands and handlebars. They should also have an internal belt to keep the rear of the cape from flapping up.
The advantage of a rain cape is better ventilation, as the bottom is open and they keep your hands dry-ish. The disadvantage is that in heavy rain and wind you may get wet from side spray. Also, they can catch side winds, and make riding into the wind tougher.
But combined with a long front fender with a flap that just skims the pavement, I found riding with a rain cape to be very pleasant.
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...ape-1-2-a.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...0-success.html
Cycling rain capes drape over your hands on the bars. They have internal straps you put your hands through to keep the cape draped over your hands and handlebars. They should also have an internal belt to keep the rear of the cape from flapping up.
The advantage of a rain cape is better ventilation, as the bottom is open and they keep your hands dry-ish. The disadvantage is that in heavy rain and wind you may get wet from side spray. Also, they can catch side winds, and make riding into the wind tougher.
But combined with a long front fender with a flap that just skims the pavement, I found riding with a rain cape to be very pleasant.
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...ape-1-2-a.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...0-success.html
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Just MHO:
Not knowing what Melbourne temperatures are like, I'll have to share my experiences and you'll have to figure out what to do for your situation. I'm going to get wet if I'm riding in the rain. It'll be from the rain without a jacket, and sweat if I've got a jacket on. About 20C and above, forget about the jacket; below 15C, put up with the sweat to stay warm. In between, flip a coin. I settled long ago on a Showers Pass Transit jacket; the two way zipper and pit zips allow me some adjustability. Stop by your local bike shop and see what they've got.
Also FWIW, fancy breathable jackets work best for me below about 5C. Above that my sweat overwhelms the breathabilty aspect.
The biggest factor on bike maintenance is to wipe down the chain after a day's ride in the rain, let it dry, and apply and wipe before the next day's ride. Use oil (aka wet lube). If you forget the next day, the residual oil will provide some rust prevention. IME a good rainy ride with dry lube will start rusting the chain within a couple days unless you put some oil on as soon as it dries.
Two more things. Once a week or so wipe your rims clean with a paper towel or not-oily rag. It's amazing how much gunk accumulates on the braking surface when the roads are wet. Also you'll want to increase the frequency of lubing pivots on your brakes and derailers, and see if you can get a little oil into the working parts of your shifters/levers.
Not knowing what Melbourne temperatures are like, I'll have to share my experiences and you'll have to figure out what to do for your situation. I'm going to get wet if I'm riding in the rain. It'll be from the rain without a jacket, and sweat if I've got a jacket on. About 20C and above, forget about the jacket; below 15C, put up with the sweat to stay warm. In between, flip a coin. I settled long ago on a Showers Pass Transit jacket; the two way zipper and pit zips allow me some adjustability. Stop by your local bike shop and see what they've got.
Also FWIW, fancy breathable jackets work best for me below about 5C. Above that my sweat overwhelms the breathabilty aspect.
The biggest factor on bike maintenance is to wipe down the chain after a day's ride in the rain, let it dry, and apply and wipe before the next day's ride. Use oil (aka wet lube). If you forget the next day, the residual oil will provide some rust prevention. IME a good rainy ride with dry lube will start rusting the chain within a couple days unless you put some oil on as soon as it dries.
Two more things. Once a week or so wipe your rims clean with a paper towel or not-oily rag. It's amazing how much gunk accumulates on the braking surface when the roads are wet. Also you'll want to increase the frequency of lubing pivots on your brakes and derailers, and see if you can get a little oil into the working parts of your shifters/levers.
#4
Senior Member
I have a full rain gear kit from J&G, gortex booties and a gortex cycling hat. My ride is only 6 miles one way (hilly), but I find it pretty nice. The only thing I can say is if it is hot and raining, you are going to sweat. Keep that in mind. Bicycles are all made for rain as far as I know. Never had an issue with any of my bikes. Keep them waxed and clean.
J&G. https://www.bicycleclothing.com
This hat is GREAT and keeps rain off glasses.
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/c7...BoC6toQAvD_BwE
shoe covers
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...xoCebYQAvD_BwE
J&G. https://www.bicycleclothing.com
This hat is GREAT and keeps rain off glasses.
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/c7...BoC6toQAvD_BwE
shoe covers
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...xoCebYQAvD_BwE
#5
Full Member
Shoes can tend to get soaked. When I commuted in Seattle I used to have a spare pair, along with dry socks, in the office.
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#6
Senior Member
Again, it depends on the temperature.
For the head, I wear a thin fabric baseball cap under my bike helmet to keep the rain off my glasses. Make sure the brim is longer than the helmet sun visor.
For my body, in warm weather, I wear a garbage bag and bare arms and bare legs. It's easier to just wipe off the water than deciding what to do with wet clothes.
If it's cold, I wear a breathable, ventilated MEC gortex raincoat. For the legs, rain pants.
But you'll still get as wet inside due to sweat so wear long sleeves inside. Forget about going fast.
For the feet, if it's warm, Croc Swiftwater Mesh Deck Sandals
https://www.crocs.com/p/mens-swiftwater-mesh-deck-sandal/205289.html?cgid=beach-shoes&cid=206#start=18
and neoprene diving socks. Tilley quick drying socks help.
If it's cold, wool socks inside a plastic bag before you wear your shoes.
For the head, I wear a thin fabric baseball cap under my bike helmet to keep the rain off my glasses. Make sure the brim is longer than the helmet sun visor.
For my body, in warm weather, I wear a garbage bag and bare arms and bare legs. It's easier to just wipe off the water than deciding what to do with wet clothes.
If it's cold, I wear a breathable, ventilated MEC gortex raincoat. For the legs, rain pants.
But you'll still get as wet inside due to sweat so wear long sleeves inside. Forget about going fast.
For the feet, if it's warm, Croc Swiftwater Mesh Deck Sandals
https://www.crocs.com/p/mens-swiftwater-mesh-deck-sandal/205289.html?cgid=beach-shoes&cid=206#start=18
and neoprene diving socks. Tilley quick drying socks help.
If it's cold, wool socks inside a plastic bag before you wear your shoes.
Last edited by Daniel4; 04-09-21 at 01:24 PM.
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Good quality bikes have well sealed bearings and should be fine ridden in the rain, as long as the parts don't get submerged. Use a 'wet' lube (some type of oil, not wax), and wipe down and lightly re-lube after a rainy ride.
ALso, if you have rim brakes, wipe off the rims and pads occasionally during the wet season or the road grit applied by the water will wear through your rim sidewalls until they fail. Disc brakes don't require this step.
ALso, if you have rim brakes, wipe off the rims and pads occasionally during the wet season or the road grit applied by the water will wear through your rim sidewalls until they fail. Disc brakes don't require this step.
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#8
Aussie Commuter
Thread Starter
So I bought the Azur jacket today. I only plan on riding if it's light rain or on and off showers so I think this will do fine.
Thanks for your help everyone.
Thanks for your help everyone.
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I don't get to ride in the rain very often but when I do get caught out, I find that my rain slicker is only going to keep water off my torso and my pants and shoes still get rained on. I should probably pack a plastic sheet poncho. If you have a roadgoing bike, full fenders with a front mudflap that dangles down nearly to the road is a great help. I used to ride with a setup like that but I ride on mixed surfaces; my front fender ate a twig and wadded up and I swore it off. On my MTB with its mudguards on the fork and downtube, I still get some on my shoes in puddles and turning, and the drivetrain gets little protection.
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If your experience is similar to mine, as you ease yourself into wet-weather riding, you will develop a much better sense of your local weather, including which local forecasts you believe, and will be able to further extend your comfort zone while also limiting your gear to the stuff that you absolutely need. I started out with carrying full rain jacket and pants every single day, in case the weather changed during the day. Today, I rarely carry any gear unless it's actually raining when I leave my house. The weather is the same, I still don't love to get soaked, but I rarely get caught off guard by rain any more.
For shoes, when it gets warm enough, I just wear sandals or flip flops and carry my shoes in a bag.
For shoes, when it gets warm enough, I just wear sandals or flip flops and carry my shoes in a bag.
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#12
Aussie Commuter
Thread Starter
If your experience is similar to mine, as you ease yourself into wet-weather riding, you will develop a much better sense of your local weather, including which local forecasts you believe, and will be able to further extend your comfort zone while also limiting your gear to the stuff that you absolutely need. I started out with carrying full rain jacket and pants every single day, in case the weather changed during the day. Today, I rarely carry any gear unless it's actually raining when I leave my house. The weather is the same, I still don't love to get soaked, but I rarely get caught off guard by rain any more.
For shoes, when it gets warm enough, I just wear sandals or flip flops and carry my shoes in a bag.
For shoes, when it gets warm enough, I just wear sandals or flip flops and carry my shoes in a bag.
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I think you're right there. Because I decided not to ride in the rain last year there were days that turned out to be just overcast and had me wishing I'd rode into work. That's one of the reasons why I decided to get a rain jacket of some kind, for those days that I misjudge the weather. I'm certainly going to give it a good try this year.
Of course in the southern hemisphere, morning is evening, or something like that, can't quite remember.
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I commuted in Seattle for 3 years on a recumbent. Recumbents are arguably worse than uprights for weather protection, but I used a jacket (and pants) that was essentially just a waterproof shell. That was good from about 55F to about 65F (above that, I just enjoy the rain). Below that, I would add layers under the shell and adjust as needed.
Now I have a velomobile.
Now I have a velomobile.
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My cycling jacket does well, thin. I also would look into frogg toggs. I just focus on keeping the core warm. Also use Merino wool sox.
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Your bike will get dirty, it will need a clean. Make sure it is well greased and oiled. I bike with a good rain coat and waterproof pants. Generally this works, occasionally the pants sit over my shoes so all the water runs into my shoes. Lovely. I just have spare socks at work and dry my shoes out. Its okay because I sit alone. Rain booties would help.
#17
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I just purchased a Cleverhood rain poncho to try with one of my bikes. It has to be better than the rain gear I've been using, which leaks a lot. Of course, it probably won't rain now for about two months. Just because I'm prepared.
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Has anyone tried Cleverhood's bike-specific Rover Cape? I've heard good things about them. Not cheap, but as they say, buy the best and cry once.
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My attire for rougher weather is the Tucano Urbano Magic Parka. When it starts raining you just move a few zippers, without stopping. You also get a lining that makes it work down to -20C, the lowest I tried so far. Lightweight gloves are incorporated into the sleeves, etc. When it goes on sale you can grab it at 80 euros or so.
From https://www.fahrzeit.si/2019/11/21/t...zur-regencape/
From https://www.fahrzeit.si/2019/11/21/t...zur-regencape/
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Just MHO:
Not knowing what Melbourne temperatures are like, I'll have to share my experiences and you'll have to figure out what to do for your situation. I'm going to get wet if I'm riding in the rain. It'll be from the rain without a jacket, and sweat if I've got a jacket on. About 20C and above, forget about the jacket; below 15C, put up with the sweat to stay warm. In between, flip a coin. I settled long ago on a Showers Pass Transit jacket; the two way zipper and pit zips allow me some adjustability. Stop by your local bike shop and see what they've got.
Also FWIW, fancy breathable jackets work best for me below about 5C. Above that my sweat overwhelms the breathabilty aspect.
The biggest factor on bike maintenance is to wipe down the chain after a day's ride in the rain, let it dry, and apply and wipe before the next day's ride. Use oil (aka wet lube). If you forget the next day, the residual oil will provide some rust prevention. IME a good rainy ride with dry lube will start rusting the chain within a couple days unless you put some oil on as soon as it dries.
Two more things. Once a week or so wipe your rims clean with a paper towel or not-oily rag. It's amazing how much gunk accumulates on the braking surface when the roads are wet. Also you'll want to increase the frequency of lubing pivots on your brakes and derailers, and see if you can get a little oil into the working parts of your shifters/levers.
Not knowing what Melbourne temperatures are like, I'll have to share my experiences and you'll have to figure out what to do for your situation. I'm going to get wet if I'm riding in the rain. It'll be from the rain without a jacket, and sweat if I've got a jacket on. About 20C and above, forget about the jacket; below 15C, put up with the sweat to stay warm. In between, flip a coin. I settled long ago on a Showers Pass Transit jacket; the two way zipper and pit zips allow me some adjustability. Stop by your local bike shop and see what they've got.
Also FWIW, fancy breathable jackets work best for me below about 5C. Above that my sweat overwhelms the breathabilty aspect.
The biggest factor on bike maintenance is to wipe down the chain after a day's ride in the rain, let it dry, and apply and wipe before the next day's ride. Use oil (aka wet lube). If you forget the next day, the residual oil will provide some rust prevention. IME a good rainy ride with dry lube will start rusting the chain within a couple days unless you put some oil on as soon as it dries.
Two more things. Once a week or so wipe your rims clean with a paper towel or not-oily rag. It's amazing how much gunk accumulates on the braking surface when the roads are wet. Also you'll want to increase the frequency of lubing pivots on your brakes and derailers, and see if you can get a little oil into the working parts of your shifters/levers.
I wax my chain, but I also find components to wear fast and need more care when your riding in the wet.
#21
Full Member
Has anyone tried Cleverhood's bike-specific Rover Cape? I've heard good things about them. Not cheap, but as they say, buy the best and cry once.
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#22
Senior Member
I ride in the rain pretty often and the main bike issues are vbrakes and chains. They both wear out a lot faster when riding in the rain. As for clothes i use a pair of pants, a rain jacket , motorcycle gloves and i've recently added some rain overshoes to keep my shoes dry.
If you have the right gear (bike and clothing) you will have no issues riding in the rain.
If you have the right gear (bike and clothing) you will have no issues riding in the rain.
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I'm in Sydney and also have a belt-drive bike. I bought it two years ago to be my rain bike, but have only just come to grips with the whole riding in the rain thing.
Sydney is currently in the middle of a giant La Nina inspired rainy season, and I'm commuting through it without a care in the world, every day. It recently dawned on me that cycling shorts and jersey are basically the same thing as swimming trunks. There are geriatrics in Sydney who swim in the ocean throughout the year, with no ill effects, in fact, quite the contrary.
So, I leave the house every morning (before sunrise) wearing my "swimming trunks" and carrying a water-proof backpack, and I swim to work. There are hills and I go hard and I have somehow developed a way to ignore cold and discomfort. Mind you, the temp has yet to dip below 12˚C. I may have to add a layer of some sort in July/August. We'll see.
I don't think I'd be doing it if I didn't have the belty.
Sydney is currently in the middle of a giant La Nina inspired rainy season, and I'm commuting through it without a care in the world, every day. It recently dawned on me that cycling shorts and jersey are basically the same thing as swimming trunks. There are geriatrics in Sydney who swim in the ocean throughout the year, with no ill effects, in fact, quite the contrary.
So, I leave the house every morning (before sunrise) wearing my "swimming trunks" and carrying a water-proof backpack, and I swim to work. There are hills and I go hard and I have somehow developed a way to ignore cold and discomfort. Mind you, the temp has yet to dip below 12˚C. I may have to add a layer of some sort in July/August. We'll see.
I don't think I'd be doing it if I didn't have the belty.
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Bikes withstand rain very well. You may need to increase maintenance frequency for your drivetrain a little. On a chain drive, I would clean and lube the chain more regularly if I were riding in wet conditions frequently. For a belt drive, I don't know what that entails.
For clothing; breathable, and impenetrable from any angle. As you're moving forward through the rain, the apparent angle at which the rain will strike you (assuming no wind) will shift from above to forward of you. So your legs will get wetter than you might anticipate. Some breathable rain pants and a breathable rain parka that doesn't interfere with your wheels would be best.
You've already got this covered, but fenders are an essential.
For clothing; breathable, and impenetrable from any angle. As you're moving forward through the rain, the apparent angle at which the rain will strike you (assuming no wind) will shift from above to forward of you. So your legs will get wetter than you might anticipate. Some breathable rain pants and a breathable rain parka that doesn't interfere with your wheels would be best.
You've already got this covered, but fenders are an essential.