Fair weather cyclist? Too bl**dy right!

batch78

Well on my road bike anyway!

Have ridden mountain bikes for the past 18yrs, only twice had serious moments in poor weather, once I failed to spot the greasy manhole cover whilst turning at speed the other was black ice.

So to my point!

Last month I decided to buy a road bike, secretly something I've wanted for years, don't tell the MTB lot!

Have enjoyed about 200 miles of dry rides, no problems, go out this past weekend, little damp under tyre, incident after incident, loose grit, wet leaves, off camber greasy roads, lack of braking force, all too much for me so back to the bouncer for the winter.

Went out last night to confirm its not me, nope, 18miles, half on road, on the mountain bike not even one slightly hairy moment.

Much respect to all you who ride year round on Britains shoddy roads.

dodgy

Great care needs to be taken on a road bike in wet weather, but it's something you adapt to, you have to think much further ahead.

Having said that, I don't go out in bad weather, but there's always a risk of wet roads this time of year.

Dave.

webbhost

Ok yes wet weather with loverly slick racing tyres does increase braking distance considerably.. - particually because I do not want to risk touching my front brakes!

However, I dont really tend to find that "grip" is effected much. I just avoid pot holes, and ensure that my tyre PSI is nice and solid. I used to ride road tyres at about 40-50 PSI not realising how "out" they were however, and when I was doing that, I had to slow down to about 5-10 mph around corners because I didn't dare to turn!

webbhost

have had a few encounters with black ice through - not nice stuff.

gavintc

Wet roads are fine. IMO, you don't need to adjust your riding style too much. Just watch out for manhole covers and remember it takes longer to stop. But apart from that just blast on. It is ice that scares me.

jimycooper

i like road rides in wet! more exciting! keeps you cool and harder training.
there you go then, thats why road rides are fun in the rain

SCR Pedro

Hey there,

Riding in the rain can be fun, but you have to be so careful at this time of year because the tractors drag so much dirt onto the roads, which turns to sludge when wet, and could easily see you sliding along on your ass.

I crashed on the ice last year. I could see that it was sheet ice, and there was no way around it, and the way back was just as bad. Needless to say I slid further than my bike. After that I decided to stay off the bike on frosty days, because there are so many parts of my loop that the sun doesn't shine directly on. It's not worth the risk, so I'll just hit the weights room instead.

cheers
Pedro

feel

Are you going to sell the road bike then? Is it going cheap

seriously though is it set up right - better tyres may well improve some of the wet road handling problems and decent brake pads will improve the stopping in the rain - a few modifications could sort out your probs.

Patrick1.0

Just go slower on the descents and be a bit more careful in town areas where cars do just pull right out in front of you - happened to me today... again. I had my back tyre sliding around all over the place.

But actually, most of the accidents I have had haven't been in the wet. Just stupid things like not seeing a corner at speed andtaking my eyes off the road in front of me. In the wet, I tend to concentrate all the time.

boybiker

I just love riding in the rain, OK you need to be more careful but there is nothing like having got completely and utterly soaking wet and then sitting at the cake stop gently steaming while huge puddles form round your feet.If it rains hard enough you don't even have to clean your bike when you get home, just hose it down and re-apply the oil which has been washed off.Wet manhole covers are just God's way of telling you to look where you are going.