A pox on Mother Nature

[SadieKate]

They're predicting snow on Diablo again tomorrow.

[Tater]

So much for getting outside today ; it is gray, cloudy and threatening to rain. I am so getting tired of the trainer!!!

[uk elephant]

So much for getting outside today ; it is gray, cloudy and threatening to rain. I am so getting tired of the trainer!!!

Why would rain or clouds keep you from going out? Just wear some rain gear and head out. Real weather just makes you feel that much more alive in my opinion. Now if it was 80 degrees and sunny, then I might be more reluctant to go out.

[yellow]

Why would rain or clouds keep you from going out? Just wear some rain gear and head out. Real weather just makes you feel that much more alive in my opinion. Now if it was 80 degrees and sunny, then I might be more reluctant to go out.

Oh, as I think SadieKate once said:

wet rims =

That's my excuse, anyway, and I'm sticking to it! (That and having to pull the bike all apart and clean it. Ugh.)

[SadieKate]

Wet rims, destroyed equipment or hours and hours to clean it each and every time and . . . visibility. The drivers are challenged enough seeing me in clear weather I don't need to be hidden by the rain.

Also, here in the American West rain comes in buckets this time of year. Thank goodness, because it doesn't come in other seasons. Not to mention funnel clouds and lightening. I've never seen funnel clouds up Idaho-way but I've seen plenty of lightening. Both of these should keep everyone off their bikes. I'd just as soon not have to be clicking the heels of my ruby Sidis in a vain attempt to safely make it home.

[uk elephant]

... wet rims = ...

You mean you spend tons of money buying a piece of outdoor equipment and then it can't handle being outside?! That just sounds wrong to me! I bought the bike for riding outside, not for redecorating my house. I intend to use it outside. And I do not wait for "perfect" weather. If I can tolerate rain, so should the bike. If I can tolerate snow, so should the bike. My old bike did just fine. Commuting to work in all kinds of weather year round (snow, sleet, hail, rain, sun, whatever inbetween) for 15 years before needing a service!

[Tater]

Why would rain or clouds keep you from going out? Just wear some rain gear and head out. Real weather just makes you feel that much more alive in my opinion. Now if it was 80 degrees and sunny, then I might be more reluctant to go out.

I don't mind getting caught out in the rain at all, it is a part of the fun. And yes, I have the wet weather gear to do it. But, last year I had a spectacular wipeout on a rainy day with my road bike. Something about slick tires, a curve in the road, smooth pavement and down I went. A beautiful purple/red bruise on my hip and some road rash I earned. Now I am a bit more cautious about going out in the rain, at least on my road bike. The mountain bike is another story!

I agree with SadieKate as well, rain seems to pour from the skies this time of year and I am not visible enough to motorists in clear conditions, I don't want to push the envelope when limited visibility occurs.

And yes, wet rims = . Well said!!

[SadieKate]

Unless you're running disc brakes (which most road bikes don't have), your rims will not be happy when wet. Maybe the new ceramic ones are better but why should I buy a new set of wheels for an extra couple days of riding? Additionally, I like to have more than 2 square inches of rubber in contact with wet pavement, decaying leaves, mud, ripe olives, etc., etc.

My body will tolerate the rain just fine, but it won't tolerate the cars that hit it. Even a beater bike for rainy conditions won't change this.

So, you say, go mtbiking because you don't have these issues. I don't care to destroy someone' backbreaking trail building labor or start erosion problems.

As Tater said, getting caught in the rain is fine. Starting in the rain, no.

UK, check your bike's parts and specs. It is not completely sealed against the elements. Feel free to ride in the rain, but you will need to spend a lot of time over the years pulling parts, cleaning, lubing, checking the inside of the frame and replacing parts. If you're OK with this, have fun.

FYI, we had one 40 mile ride in the rain on our steel tandem. We found rust even in the eyelet holes for the bottle cages. It's fine but it brought home the fact that you have to strip the bike to the bare bones when you treat it this way. And, we don't even have salt on the roads like Idaho and Utah. Oy vey!

[yellow]

salt on the roads like Idaho and Utah. Oy vey!

That's my other excuse!

I think uk has a cyclocross bike so hers may be more suited for riding in wet conditions. Yes? My little road bike is not. And I have freely admitted many times on this forum that I am a fair weather rider. I'm a big wuss. I admit it. That being said, I have been "caught in the rain" and toughed it out just fine. But it's not enjoyable to me. If it's precipitating (is that a word?) of any sort, I'd rather be up in elev in the snow V2-ing up a gentle incline!

[uk elephant]

That's my other excuse!

I think uk has a cyclocross bike so hers may be more suited for riding in wet conditions. Yes?

I do have a cyclocross bike exactly for that reason. I refuse to be locked up indoors for 6 months a year (at least) just because it's raining/snowing/hailing/sleeting (or whatever else the skies may dump).

I am aware of salt being an issue, which is why my old bike finally gave up after 15 years. It had been fine up until year 14, then I brought it to Illinois. The first winter turned the bike to a big pile of rust. They must use more salt on the roads than in Norway.

[SadieKate]

Cyclocross bikes have the same issues. Depending on parts, the seals will be a bit better but you still have to do the same maintenance as you would a mtbike. Those cables will rust and jam up without it. The tire contact patch will be narrow-ish at best on pavement unless she is running road tires and then the contact patch will be small like a road bike. Cantilever breaks will be better in the rain but still not perfect. A cross bike will be a bit more weather durable but will still need lots of TLC. Think how much time we all put into cleaning our mtbikes? If you ride in the rain, invest in a ton of grease and use it liberally.

I can do so many other things with my time if I don't triple my bike cleaning time for the sake of a couple rides a year.

[Brandi]

No riding for us today! We just had hail and tons of rain. The sun keeps poking out then running away scared of the big dark clouds. I would love to see a funnel cloud! I got caught in a dust devil once in the street while I was walking. It was a neat sensation! my shirt almost flew over my head! You could walk with it too. Then it just disappered into the sky.

[Brandi]

No riding for us today! We just had hail and tons of rain. The sun keeps poking out then running away scared of the big dark clouds. I would love to see a funnel cloud! I got caught in a dust devil once in the street while I was walking. It was a neat sensation! my shirt almost flew over my head! You could walk with it too. Then it just disappered into the sky.