Newbies in wet whether?

[light_sabe_r]

Shock horror! I've just bought a Jamis Tangier Women's specific hybrid last week! (first bike since 13) after 2 months of serching for the perfect bike! (who would've thought it would be at anaconda... A camping store)

Anyhue... I've now reached a dilema! It's been raining all week and I haven't been able to take him for a spin since! it's also winter here so the chill factor is another deterrant!

That being said I really want to take him out! The tyres I got with the bike have EXCELLENT tread for wet weather... (Maxxis I think...) And I would like to see how I do.

So my question is... Does anyone reccommend any training tips in this whether? Should I be taking my bike out at all? Is there anything I can wear on my legs other than tights to stop me from getting wet?? And finally Should I go it alone since noone else wants to come?

[Fredwina]

I guess I'll wade in here.
Most people will only ride in rain if it's needed. Since the chain is exposed, the lube can come off. Maybe some of the more mechanically inclined gals can help.
I general, Riding in rain means you need to be more vigilant. If you have rim brakes, you won't be able to stop as fast. And you probably won't be able to handle as well
Practice. I would wait till you get caught out in, which will probably happen sooner or later.

[salsabike]

We ride in rain here all through the winter, and almost never does the rain stop a planned ride (speaking for me and spouse). You can get waterproof rain pants and shoe covers, which also serve double duty in keeping you warm. I just use the same caution I do in driving a car in the rain--allow more stopping time, don't brake suddenly and hard, etc.

[Grog]

Same as Salsabike says.

I always ride a planned ride in the rain, I ride through rain in the winter, and often in the summer (including a lot of rain last weekend - the Gulf Islands are unpredictable!!). My bike club (in Vancouver) only cancels a ride if it's below freezing level about 3 hours before the beginning of the ride (because the frozen pavement is not very good with road bikes).

Good maintenance and care of your wet bike is important, although you shouldn't loose sleep over it. Obviously lubing is important, and cleaning up too. You can hose down the big grit (unless you're very concerned about grit going deeper into your cogs, but I find this to be less of a problem than a very dirty bike) and make sure you reapply lube whenever it's been wet. Some lubes are better than others for the wet weather but if it's not a frequent event for you it doesn't matter that much. I also inspect my tires more because rain tends to bring more grit on the road.

Rain gear is important, especially in cooler weather, so you don't get cold. Wool is great.

But for a one-time thing... just go and ride, and laugh!

[uk elephant]

I must admit, I never let weather stop me (except maybe when its above 30C and sunny and humid in which case I will have passed out anyway). If it's wet and cold, put on some rain gear, an extra layer of wool underneath until you warm up and bring a dry shirt for when you stop. No reason to let a bit of water stop you. Just be a bit more careful as you would if you were driving in rain. We have a saying in Norway (which my dad is very fond of): there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.

[Nanci]

May as well ride in the rain...When ever I take my bike somewhere by car, it inevitably rains there and back- so she ends up getting soaked. I just re-lube the chain. I think constant rain is hard on the cables, though.

If rain is cold, I wear a rain jacket with pitzips and venting in the back, a helmet cover (I _love_ that!!!) toe covers, and either these wind/rain resistant tights from Performance or, I have a new pair of actual rain pants, but it, of course, hasn't rained since I got them...I also carry dry socks and gloves. I also have a pair of waterproof, warm gloves, but I usually don't wear them.

If the rain is warm, I just wear my normal clothes, and sandals so I don't have to worry about my shoes getting ruined (and trying to dry out wet feet!!).

Carry some ziplocks all the time so you can protect your cell phone and camera if it rains unexpectedly.

Be careful of wet leaves- very slippery. People say you flat more in the rain, so make sure you're prepared for that. It's nice to have a red LED tail light so traffic can see you. And maybe a reflective vest or jacket.

Nanci

[kelownagirl]

May as well ride in the rain...When ever I take my bike somewhere by car, it inevitably rains there and back- so she ends up getting soaked. I just re-lube the chain. I think constant rain is hard on the cables, though.

If rain is cold, I wear a rain jacket with pitzips and venting in the back, a helmet cover (I _love_ that!!!) toe covers, and either these wind/rain resistant tights from Performance or, I have a new pair of actual rain pants, but it, of course, hasn't rained since I got them...I also carry dry socks and gloves. I also have a pair of waterproof, warm gloves, but I usually don't wear them.

If the rain is warm, I just wear my normal clothes, and sandals so I don't have to worry about my shoes getting ruined (and trying to dry out wet feet!!).

Carry some ziplocks all the time so you can protect your cell phone and camera if it rains unexpectedly.

Be careful of wet leaves- very slippery. People say you flat more in the rain, so make sure you're prepared for that. It's nice to have a red LED tail light so traffic can see you. And maybe a reflective vest or jacket.

Nanci

I've been riding in the rain as well, unless it is absolutly pouring out when I'm planning to leave. Does anyone have trouble with their compuner though? Mine (Cat Eye) stops working when it gets too wet and I ahve to stop, take it off and dry the touch points. Maybe I need one that's better quality? I have my cheapie HRM watch strapped to my handlebars and it's definitely not made to take the rain. I can't read the top part of the digital numbers anymore...

It doesn't rain that much here so I haven't bought fenders yet. Planning to though..

[DebW]

Does anyone have trouble with their compuner though? Mine (Cat Eye) stops working when it gets too wet and I ahve to stop, take it off and dry the touch points. Maybe I need one that's better quality?

Sometimes that is a good thing. Mine tells me that my max speed is 99 mph when I ride in the rain. Wouldn't you like to claim that?

The Cateye Astrale claimed to be water resistant. Anyone ride in the rain with that unit?

[mimitabby]

I see that the Pacific Northwest part of the North American continent is well represented here.
We spend a lot of money on rain gear; including booties for our feet.
But you know, if you just want to take the bike for a spin, go for it.
If rain isn't a big problem where you are; you don't need all that fancy rain gear; but if it DOES rain often for whatever season;
rain coat, rain paints, booties, extra gloves, and a helmet cover! I need one of those!

Our family tradition is that we hate to START a ride in the rain but if it rains
during the ride we just deal with it.

[Gentian]

What about thunderstorms? Isn't that dangerous?

[mimitabby]

What about thunderstorms? Isn't that dangerous?

I think it is, yes. I wouldn't ride in a thunderstorm!
We don't have many of them in Seattle, but even so we always hear about someone getting hit by lightning out running or something.

[light_sabe_r]

Thanks Girls. because I drove home in the torrential rain last night and couldn't see through my windscreen... I decided I couldn't actually do it. That and it was dark by 4:30pm.

HOWEVER when I woke up this morning there was no rain so I gave it a spin... Other than putting the back wheel on too close to the frame (stupid newbie mistake... ) I had no problems. After a quick adjustment i was off again and It was GREAT to see how the bike handled the slippery surfaces... especially since the roads, dead grass and footpaths were still totally saturated!! I am going to invest in arm warmers and leg warmers though. Considering I thought it was cold and it was only 14degrees C... (that's 64degrees F I guess) Must of been the chill factor. the leggings I wore just didn't do the trick.

Gentian... In Brissie we get a thunderstorm every two or three nights in summer. As long as it isn't hailing people still get about and do stuff since we're used to it. That being said I think riding in our morning humidity is what's going to kill me.

Nanci I got one of those LED flashers for the back. i can't believe how bright that little thing is... Got a two pack thrown in with the bike. The front one is JUST as bright! They're FANTASTIC.

Fredwina Thank-you for reminding me about the lube on the chain. It's something I wouldn't have thought of... I put a small amount of lube back on it and cleaned off any debri.

[DebW]

In addition to lubing the obvious external parts (chain, derailleurs) remember that your bearings (hubs, bottom bracket, headset) need extra care if you ride in the rain very much. Make sure you get them repacked at least once per year, and preferrably twice, if you do alot of wet riding (unless you have sealed bearings of course). A good syn grease will stay in place a long time, but not as long in wet conditions. If you take the bike to a shop for an overhaul, be very specific that you want all your bearings repacked. Then take the bike home and feel what a well lubed hub, BB, and headset feel like (remove the wheels to feel the hubs). When they don't feel like that anymore, it's time for another relube.

[MomOnBike]

Having grown up in a very dry part of the US, I think of water falling right down out of the sky is a bit weird, but I deal and ride in it anyway.

Anything from a mist to a good heavy drizzle can be enjoyable, as the rain clears the bike paths nicely, and isn't overly uncomfortable. Anything more is just no fun - but I've done it and lived to tell about it.

Actually, come to think about it, I'd rather ride in a cool rain than heat and high humidity.

My cateye Astrale 8 seems to be waterproof, but it is hidden behind my fairing, which keeps a good deal of the rain off.

[Kitsune06]

I used to regularly commute through Eugenian winters, and had to buy my gear on a relatively tight budget. Bear in mind, I'm more a hobbyist mtn biker, so weight wasn't necessarily one of my concerns...

Head to toe:
Helmet- relatively decent bell helmet with all-important visor. Onto this, at night, I would snap a little 2-LED light on, in addition to my waterproof cat-eye. Waterproof as in, I've submerged this puppy with no negative effects.
Under helmet, I had an REI-brand beanie carefully put on around my ears (unless it was warm, then it could be folded up) or if it was really cold, my microfleece balaclava.

Jacket- REI (again) riding jacket (guide yellow and grey, dunno the name of the model, though). Very, very nice and handy. It's never let me down.

Gloves- Just the norm. Wet hands don't bother me. In the winter, I use REI winter riding gloves or nitrile gloves under my normies.

Pants- I cheaped out here and got $10 colombia rainpants. They snap at the ankles and have never given me problems, though the crotch is a little low and likes to hang up on the saddle a little.

Boots- I just wear my well-oiled Doc Martins, or (more recently) my Danner police boots. Very waterproof, very stiff-soled.

ziplock baggies are your best friend for things that can't be wet!~

Special things for my bike- Shockboards are good fenders, I think... and my chain/cable/derailleur lube of choice is Prolink. I won't use anything else.