Rain, Rain, Rain & Wait...Wait...Nope, More Rain

MattJPaul

I've heard many pleas to MTFU when it comes to riding in the rain, but does anyone actually do so regularly? I've been caught in a deluge before and it made the ride fairly harrowing, to say the least (this was on a Giant Defy 4, though, which hardly inspired confidence).

I may finally be in a position to get a bike soon but the wet summer has made me consider if it's worth spending so much on something I can only stare at most days.

Thoughts, GO.

P.S Yes, I realise I've walked right into replies of MTFU.

Cleat Eastwood

I don't mind being caught out in it, infact I quite like it but its a different matter setting off in it, i think its to with having to don wet weather gear, its like cycling with a set of sails attached to you. Also the roads round here become more gritty and hazardous in the wet. But yeah....MTFU.

Rich Hcp

If you get caught, then that's the way it is.

Biggest weather problem this year is blustery wind!

And it's cold for June too

Aggieboy

Rich Hcp wrote:

If you get caught, then that's the way it is.

Biggest weather problem this year is blustery wind!

And it's cold for June too

I've got some news for you.

CRAIGO5000

lulz.

I agree with the wind bit though...

Brommers76

Love wet weather riding so long as you are not two hours from home and you are not on the best bike. my winter bike was a defy2 and with crudguards on and a gilet there are few things better than hammering along in the rain.

MattJPaul

Brommers76 wrote:

Love wet weather riding so long as you are not two hours from home and you are not on the best bike. my winter bike was a defy2 and with crudguards on and a gilet there are few things better than hammering along in the rain.

Which tyres were you running because you were clearly confident on them. I always liked the idea of bombing along in the rain but the few times I got caught out seemed to make the old Defy 4 rental moonwalk all over the road (running stock Kenda tyres).

ShutUpLegs

If you wait for a still sunny day in this country you'll never ride

Fenred

^^ This.

But yep, rain is pain. Wind is worse tho :evil:

cougie

It's not that rainy in the uk. Just get out and ride - it would have to be torrential when I set out to make me think again. If you get caught out in it when you're riding - it's really not that bad. Unless youre made of sugar ?

MattJPaul

So the general consensus seems to be ride whatever the weather (bar torrential downpours or swarm of locusts), which is what I thought. I suppose it was like the melting carbon thing: just wanted to know if people actually rode in the rain or just talked the talk.

I'll run with something better than stock Kenda tyres next time.

Blancmange

I wouldn't set out on ride if was actually raining. If however, it looked like it was
there was chance of it raining half way through a planned ride, it wouldn't deter me.

On the subject of the amount of rain we've had lately; I didn't think we'd had very
much - well, not where I live, anyway.

The windy weather is bonus for us real men, as it makes for tougher riders...,
so we're infinitely more attractive to nubile women.

danowat

I commute all year round, rain, wind, hail, sleet, snow (I draw the line at ice), I also train, race, audax etc etc, whatever the weather, it really doesn't bother me in the least.

The worse thing to do is (IMO) not got out when the weather is inclement, if you don't your get into a bit of a situation where weather starts to mindf**k you, and once that happens, you've had it!!!

Rich Hcp

Aggieboy wrote:

Rich Hcp wrote:

If you get caught, then that's the way it is.

Biggest weather problem this year is blustery wind!

And it's cold for June too

I've got some news for you.

:oops: :oops:

Even worse for July!

cyberknight

danowat wrote:

I commute all year round, rain, wind, hail, sleet, snow (I draw the line at ice), I also train, race, audax etc etc, whatever the weather, it really doesn't bother me in the least.

The worse thing to do is (IMO) not got out when the weather is inclement, if you don't your get into a bit of a situation where weather starts to mindf**k you, and once that happens, you've had it!!!

+1, all year commuter, i draw the line for the snow, i mean real snow that freezes on the only part of the route i have to use a cycle path for like the winter we just had when it was - 12 as it was downright dangerous on 23 mm slicks.
Apart from that its all systems go, got caught in the torrential downpour on the way to work on friday and although i was drenched i keep spare kit at work so i can always have dry ish clothes for the return trip.

mikebikemike

I don't mind getting wet but I've surprised myself about how protective over my road bike I am. Every rainy biking morning I've reached for the mountain bike in order to preserve the "new" look on the Giant.

MattJPaul

Do 25 over 23mm tyres make a discernible difference in the wet? I can't say I've ever used them and 2mm seems to be more of a psychological benefit.

fungus_the_muffin_man

One of the plus things about riding in the rain is that when the car hits you as it's vision is impaired by the rain :roll: it helps you slide away on the ground with minimal road rash.

desweller

I love riding in warm summer rain, the biggest problem is keeping the water off my glasses.

Don't worry about getting wet. If you're giving it enough stick you'd be soaked with sweat anyway.

Ezy Rider

what about the positive weather solutions forecast which the express published saying we had a summer comparable to the 1976 scorcher coming our way :roll:

so far this summer has been total shat, last years was total shat and the one before that was total shat too. im convinced our summer has become a wet season, our summer must be a laughing stock around the world.

a_n_t

dont worry, when global warming comes we'll be laughing. :roll:

desweller

What are you talking about? June was a bit wet but spring was super for riding and the last three weekends have been proper toasty (down here anyway).