Riding in the rain.......its great!!!

wilfus

With all the bad weather we've been having, the last few rides me and the brother in law have done have ended up with us soaked to the skin and head to toe in mud, and I can honestly say its been great!!!

Riding in the rain and mud is so much more fun than when its dry. Its more challenging trying to stay on the bike and gives you a much better work out trying to power through the mud.

The last one was last night when it was glorious sunshine and boiling hot when we set off, both in shorts and short sleeve tops. (i had my waterproofs in my bag just in case as always).

A quarter of the way into the 15 mile route it began to drizzle a little and we both commented on how refreshing the fine rain was and how hot we would have been if it hadn't been raining. The ground was still muddy from previous rain showers and we were getting pretty muddy from the start. The further we got into the ride the heavier the rain got yet it was still too warm to want to put a jacket on so we both just kept going, getting wetter and muddier as we went. We were slipping and sliding all over, up hill and downhill but we were having a great time.

By the time I got home I was saturated, covered in mud and knackered, but enjoyed every minute of it. For anyone who stays in because its raining, get out and give it a try, you'll love it!!

fletch8928

good riding.

I had been wet and muddy for alot of july, the only thing that got me was the fact that the bike took more cleaning than in winter. thiker gloopier mud but thats part of mountin biking.

The problem is when its lashing down as you set off or think about setting off and its just too hot for jackets. It is fun once you are wet, its just the first few mins till you are wet then its hit the trails with a "i dont give a damn" attitude.

Must admit to staying in on 2/3 times but that was due to lightening. (open moors + metal bike + me on bike = potential shocking situation)

projectsome

my trainers pong, they look ruined. i'll have to chuck em in the washing machine and hope for the best.


good fun though

vinnn

Totally agree,

I love cycling in the rain so long as I'm wearing the right gear. It's the crappy wind that usually puts me off going for a ride.

Raymondavalon

Did a 35 mile blacktop training ride on the "road MTB" last Saturday and it bcuketed down
Just to add to my joys, I picked up a flat even though I had a Panaracer Kevlar lining in the tire, thanks to a brand spanking new carpet nail that some ingrain scrote had put on the cycle path.
When I got home I was soaked under my warterproof jacket from perspiration. The end result was that I had a great ride, although not quite offroad..
Would I ride in the pouring rain again? Abso****inglutely yes.. bring it on..

Northwind

It's especially nice when it's hot... Lovely cooling rain. But round here most of my favourite roots are rooty as hell, so it all gets a bit deadly in the rain. Not much fun really. Depends a lot on your terrain, I reckon glentress is better immediately after a bit of rain frinstance.

Flenser

projectsome wrote:

my trainers pong, they look ruined. i'll have to chuck em in the washing machine and hope for the best.


good fun though

My Puma Clydes went in the washing machine this afternoon. Luckily I have a spare pair.

landranger

Riding in the mud and rain makes a refreshing change and it's a good way of introducing you to new skills however, it's boring now!!! I've ridden the rain and mud thing to death this year.
There have been so few dry days I'm getting really fed up. I so badly want to go flying down a dry trail with no puddles and muddy corners slowing me down. All these glorious videos I'm subjected to show bone dry fast flowing runs, where's mine? When am I gonna get to do that this year I've got summer tyres on cos I'm saving up for a winter set, I need the bloody things now. Soooo frustrating.

fletch8928

cheer up its nearly autumn. must be drier then. my run today was full of dry holes and the only puddle i saw was called a ford

fcumok

vinnn wrote:

Totally agree,

I love cycling in the rain so long as I'm wearing the right gear. It's the crappy wind that usually puts me off going for a ride.

Same here I hate wind more than any other weather. Don't enjoy cleaning my bike from mud mind.

Chaz.Harding

Northwind wrote:

But round here most of my favourite roots are rooty as hell, so it all gets a bit deadly in the rain.

Hehehe, I don't know many roots that are... er.. smooth, lol.

Routes maybe...

Yes, I am probably the only one who found that funny... And yes, I am apparently a child

fletch8928

bigchazrocks wrote:

Northwind wrote:

But round here most of my favourite roots are rooty as hell, so it all gets a bit deadly in the rain.

Hehehe, I don't know many roots that are... er.. smooth, lol.

Routes maybe...

Yes, I am probably the only one who found that funny... And yes, I am apparently a child

timthetinyhorse

did the whole c2c in serious rain for the 1st two days last week and it was great, no waterproof as it was too warm so got soaked but hell once your wet through youir wet through, just made that end of day pint taste even better

we all love the rain realy, its in the UK DNA

i hope it lashes down for my 7am ride home

bring it on

rob

Anonymous

i cannot bear riding in the rain, i know skin is waterproof and we are meant to be british and used to it and we are all proper mtb riders so arent phased by weather etc etc blah blah but i absolutely hate riding in the rain, and in the winter months especially

Northwind

bigchazrocks wrote:

Hehehe, I don't know many roots that are... er.. smooth, lol.
:

Glentress Pie Run, the roots have become polished

timthetinyhorse

Northwind wrote:

bigchazrocks wrote:

Hehehe, I don't know many roots that are... er.. smooth, lol.
:

Glentress Pie Run, the roots have become polished

your too right they are

great test of agility

rob

Northwind

There was some talk today of getting that grip paint they're using on the logrides on the main climb, and resurfacing the roots Interesting idea...

timthetinyhorse

interesting yes.......but taking the skill and chalenge away from riding what nature has provided would to me appear to defeat the object

i know it would make the trails easier for novice riders etc but thats what trail grades are for

i know that sounds like a killjoy rant but its just my view

rob

Northwind

Except that nature's not provided them like they are, they used to be covered in bark and massively more grippy til the bikes knocked all the bark off and wore them down. So giving them some grip back would be more natural, not less.

Talking about nature on a hand-built bike trail always strikes me as funny I do know what you mean but it's only wear and tear that's made them like they are.

timthetinyhorse

Northwind wrote:

Except that nature's not provided them like they are, they used to be covered in bark and massively more grippy til the bikes knocked all the bark off and wore them down. So giving them some grip back would be more natural, not less.

Talking about nature on a hand-built bike trail always strikes me as funny I do know what you mean but it's only wear and tear that's made them like they are.

yeh i can see where your coming from there like but on the trail centre point its nice to still have aspects of natural trails alongside the man made stuff although yes fair play i agree the routes are nolonger in a natural state 8)

anyhow i do belive we are getting off topic here

back to riding in the rain......................

rob

jstanman

love it in the rain once your wet your wet,and don,t give a damn :twisted: :twisted: