Rain Commuting

[Biciclista]

Any tips for going down steep hills in the rain?

yeah, go slow

[Geonz]

Get internal brakes

My Sturmey-Archer hub has drum brakes and I luv luv luv them in wet. Otherwise I have to do as regular people do... keep braking to keep the speed down and clear the water from the rims. Frankly, I'd probably walk down. (We don't have hills )

[radacrider]

Any tips for going down steep hills in the rain?

Kinda depends on the hill - how much run out is there, can I see off in the distance a bit.

I will typically pulse my brakes, light pressure keeps the water off, then apply and release to maintain the speed I am comfortable with.

Also depending on the hill, I might have an alternate route for those times, or even those times when I am not up to a particular section. (I had one of those the other day, severe hip/back pain, so I rode my alternate, less climbing/steep route)

Good luck.

[buggy]

I'm new here and just wanted to say thanks for the useful thread. I've been in Pittsburgh for almost two years (I'm a native Floridian) and I was discouraged at first by the hills, traffic, inclement weather and poor road conditions. Gainesville had plenty of bike lanes and excellent weather. I finally fixed up my road bike with a rack and started riding to school quite a bit. I'm starting a new job downtown in a couple of months and I'm determined to bike. I've been a lazy rider and I want to step it up. I think all the suggestions and my new Surly Cross Check (which I am not so patiently waiting for) will help!

[VeganBikeChick]

Welcome! My family lives in PGH so I know how hilly it can be. Kudos to you. I keep wanting to move to FL for the great weather and flat roads . Post a pic of your bike when you get her.

[Grog]

Like Velocivixen, my first thought for a 2-mile commute was: "bike cape." And fenders. If I had a 2-mile commute, that's all I'd use.

[buggy]

I finally got my new Cross Check! I love it, but I'm concerned it's a bit too small for me. I'm about 5'6" with a short reach and got a 50 cm frame. I may end up with a black 52 if this one is too small. Anyone else ride a Cross Check? Any size advice would be much appreciated. Here she is on a short ride around the Southside!

[Velocivixen]

I test rode a 50 and a 52 and I felt more comfortable on the 52. Like my chest was more open (not splayed open like a fillet). I am 5'6" and have a 82.5 cm (32.5") inseam, 56 cm arms and 57.5 cm torso. The reach was not too long for me.
Personally I prefer the "Robin's Egg Blue" one.

[buggy]

Thanks! I like the blue too, but they only have black in 52 cm (at a different store than I got mine, unfortunately) and the blue ones are out of stock until June. I'm going to get sized and see if I can make it work.

[KnottedYet]

My Cross Check is a 52. I'm 5'8.

[buggy]

Thanks for the feedback. I am sticking with the 50. It's better with my T-Rex arms. I took my bike to a shop and they helped me fit it perfectly. I love it! Now, I've got to get a rack, fenders, and panniers to make it the perfect commuter bike.

[Kerry1976]

Did my first commute in the rain this a.m. Had front fender issues - wasn't tightened on the bike enough and got wobbly and wanted to fall off. Might have to stop at the LBS on my way home and see if they can tighten or re-install differently.

All in all though, the commute was fun. I took advantage of all the tips and tricks I've read on here and they made such a great difference in the preparation and experience.

[Geonz]

Mark your calendars, I got rained on this a.m. -- not yesterday's pre-rain spurts on both trips in (yes, it made me hearken back to Health Class in Junior High and why "early withdrawal" isn't effective family planning), but genuine downpour, and the wind wasn't even behind me. Oh, and I left the GOre-tex jacket at work.
That impulse-buy-'cause-it-was-on-sale raincoat worked very well and even the second rain pants did well, except for where I didn't zip the pocket and down by my ankles... so I may toodle down to the bookstore for some sweatpants...

[Melalvai]

yesterday's pre-rain spurts on both trips in (yes, it made me hearken back to Health Class in Junior High and why "early withdrawal" isn't effective family planning)

I will never see a pre-rain spurt quite the same way again.

My brother complained that he LIKED the wallpaper my parents put in his room--for about 5 minutes, until I said it looked like sperm, and then that's all he could think of every time he saw it. And he had to live in it for years. Just doing my job as a big sister!

[WindingRoad]

Jess what kind of bike is that in your post? The one with disc and road bars?