Rainy Road Bike Fun

Sewinman

Do any of you road bike commuters switch to other bikes on rainy days?

Last night was pretty wet and the road bike was twitchy to say the least. It occured to me that i could switch to the hybrid on such days and save a few grey hairs.

Anyone do this?

lost_in_thought

No!

Riding in the wet = great fun. No need to switch away from the usual steed. You go faster as well.

However, avoid manhole covers/ironworks in general. They get very slippery. :shock:

graeme_s-2

As lit says, steer clear of iron works, I'd also steer clear of painted road markings when possible, corner a little slower and allow greater stopping distances as your brakes won't be quite as sharp in the wet.

Basically be sensible, but there's no reason you can't ride a road bike in the wet!

Sewinman

Heh - i thought i would get that reaction. I have taken on board some tips from here already and feel a lot more comfortable.

Got home and spent half an hour cleaning and polishing my baby. Horrid dirt and grime all over the shop!

sem69

Nearly came off a few times last night, and considered using my MTB next time it's that wet, but think I'll stick with the road bike and just go slower.
Can anyone recommend any good road bike tyres for winter?

Crapaud

Graeme_S wrote:

As lit says, steer clear of iron works, I'd also steer clear of painted road markings when possible, corner a little slower and allow greater stopping distances as your brakes won't be quite as sharp in the wet.

Basically be sensible, but there's no reason you can't ride a road bike in the wet!

And, at this time of year, steer clear / be wary of wet leaves - I broke my pinkie finger coming off on wet leaves.

Greg T

and puddles,

Don't ride through puddles - you don't know what they are hiding.

Bassjunkieuk

Crapaud wrote:

Graeme_S wrote:

As lit says, steer clear of iron works, I'd also steer clear of painted road markings when possible, corner a little slower and allow greater stopping distances as your brakes won't be quite as sharp in the wet.

Basically be sensible, but there's no reason you can't ride a road bike in the wet!

And, at this time of year, steer clear / be wary of wet leaves - I broke my pinkie finger coming off on wet leaves.

Leaves are the bain of commuters, only last week one of the SCR gamers was hit in the face by a falling leaf. I think he's making a good recovery tho :-D

Up until my last service I was running with Koolstop Salmon brake blocks on my road bike and they worked great in the wet, unfortunately they got replaced with Shimano blocks during the service, so I'm trying to wear them down so I can replace them soon :-)

_Brun_

My biggest problem with rain is f*#king pedestrians with umbrellas so low they can barely see five feet infront of them, yet walk straight out into the road anyway. I nearly collected some bint last night, who completely froze when I shouted 'oi' and seemed determined to stand her ground and impale me.

spen666

Sewinman wrote:

Heh - i thought i would get that reaction. I have taken on board some tips from here already and feel a lot more comfortable.

Got home and spent half an hour cleaning and polishing my baby. Horrid dirt and grime all over the shop!

Shouldn't clean your bike in the shop then

spen666

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

[...
Leaves are the bain of commuters, only last week one of the SCR gamers was hit in the face by a falling leaf. I think he's making a good recovery tho :-D

...

You forgot to mention the leaf was stil attached to a 6' branch

Massimo

I'll be using my Tarmac throughout the whole of the winter. I've put race blades on it and have replaced the slick tyres with something more durable for the long winter months

biondino

Or stuck to the windscreen of an 18 wheeler.

chuckcork

Fractured left arm and right little finger due to wet slimy leaves on a corner, off the bike for 3 weeks.

Individual leaves aren't the problem, is when they organise! Never should have let them form a union...

Sewinman

chuckcork wrote:

Fractured left arm and right little finger due to wet slimy leaves on a corner, off the bike for 3 weeks.

Individual leaves aren't the problem, is when they organise! Never should have let them form a union...

Don't make enemies in the leaf peloton..... :twisted:

always_tyred

chuckcork wrote:

Fractured left arm and right little finger due to wet slimy leaves on a corner, off the bike for 3 weeks.

Individual leaves aren't the problem, is when they organise! Never should have let them form a union...

As Douglas Adams pointed out, they also make poor currency and would lead to massive inflation.

el_presidente

I can skid-stop the fixie in the wet, haven't quite mastered it in the dry yet

ansbaradigeidfran

Always Tyred wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

Fractured left arm and right little finger due to wet slimy leaves on a corner, off the bike for 3 weeks.

Individual leaves aren't the problem, is when they organise! Never should have let them form a union...

As Douglas Adams pointed out, they also make poor currency and would lead to massive inflation.

Inflation, depreciation, and deforestation!