Rain

[JLZimrmn]

It has been raining non-stop since July 1. My hours in the saddle are really suffering. So I have a question....do any of you go out in any weather? I am tempted to just saddle up when it is raining but I hate being wet. Will it hurt my bike?

What type of gear should I wear?

[Grog]

In Vancouver most roadies have a "winter bike" and I'm sure Seattle is the same. Fenders on both wheels are quite important here because the road is very gritty in the middle of the winter, and all that junk will end up in your drivetrain if you don't have the fenders on. They also spare your behind (you don't want to look like a skunk, because as we now know it can get you killed!!!) and saves your riding partners from having their mouth full of muddy water.

I don't have a winter bike but I do put fenders on, and my wheel hubs are sealed.

If you ride on relatively clean roads, and don't mind the very dirty laundry, then proper lubing and cleaning will be sufficient. Make sure you wipe your bike when you get home, and wipe the chain to remove the gunk if necessary. Assess the damage and clean if necessary! But truly a ride in the rain happens once in a while no matter what, so don't worry too much about it!

[mimitabby]

lots of us ride in the rain. even COLD rain. But I wouldn't ride in a thunderstorm.
there's lots of great gear you can buy to wear while riding in the rain

[Eden]

I ride in the rain a fair amount out of necessesity (another Seattleite here). I have fenders on my winter bike (you can get "speed fenders" that attatch with rubber bumpers and are relatively easy to take on and off). My post ride routine is generally to hose off (NOT with pressure - just gently running water) all the grit, take the bike down to the basement and dry it thouroughly - especially the drive train and relube the chain - then all my wet clothes go into the washer..... yup bike comes first, since I know if I get comfy I won't want to go back and dry the bike...
As far as dressing goes - my rides are usually in the wet and cold so I probably dress a little more heavily than you'd want at this time of the year. I usually wear a warm cap under my helmet, tights, water resistant jacket, long fingered gloves, waterproof socks, shoe covers......
back a long time ago when I lived on the east coast I remember riding in the rain without anything special and having it feel nice (when its been 90 out and it starts to rain aaaaaah...)

[Torrilin]

I ride in the rain. Farmer's market days happen whether it rains or not, and that's where we get most of our groceries. My rain jacket and fenders make it pretty comfortable for short distances.

Plus, I *like* getting wet. Rain isn't as good as swimming, but I'll take what I can get

[Tri Girl]

Since we had 21 straight days of rain, I HAD to ride in the rain recently. Not fun, but training doesn't stop because of the weather (and I'll be dam'd if I'm going to sit on a trainer for more than an hour). Went out for a 2.5 hour ride in the pouring rain. Had on a sleeveless jersey (because it was a wee bit warm) and arm warmers and shorts. Besides the muddy brown streak down my back and butt- it wasn't too bad. Poor bike had dirt everywhere. Washed it really good when I got home, lubed the chain and she's good as new.

Go ahead and hit the wet roads- just be extra careful. I made sure to have my super bright jersey on and extra blinky lights on me and the bike just so drivers would be able to see me better.

[Tater]

Hey, could you guys send some rain up this way? Kano and I could really use some gentle, spring-like rain to put out these wildfires around the area. None of those thunderstorms that scare the bejesus out of the dog and start more fires with the lightning, though. Thanks!

[Kano]

In Vancouver most roadies have a "winter bike" and I'm sure Seattle is the same. Fenders on both wheels are quite important here because the road is very gritty in the middle of the winter, and all that junk will end up in your drivetrain if you don't have the fenders on. They also spare your behind...

So, I read about fenders and how they keep the crud off your drivetrain, and before I got to "sparing our behinds," I thought, Hmmmm, I've never heard it referred to as a drivetrain before!

I kind of like having a substantial drivetrain -- feels better than knowing I've got a big butt!

Karen in Boise

[pooks]

I rode for an hour in a light rain last week and LOVED it. The only thing I found I didn't like about the fenders is that when I rode through a few puddles, I wanted my feet to get wet and they didn't. (I was wearing Keen sandals.)

[anakiwa]

I'll ride in the rain- but flash flood warnings all over the state today was a little too much!