Riding in the Rain

antsmithmk

Rode London to MK today for the BHF. Very light drizzle turned to an epic downpour after a mile. It rained really heavily for 15-20 mons, the heaviest rain I had ridden in. I was impressed by the following kit-
Endura baa baa merino wool peaked under helmet hat - head was warm and dry.
DHB winter socks - feet were warm thanks to
Louis Garneau Overshoes
DHB eq2.5 rain jacket - simply awesome!!!
Castelli dialuvio gloves - again amazing bits of kit for the price

arran77

Don't really mind riding in the rain to be honest, something strangely nice about it as long as I stay warm, don't like all the shite that runs off the fields into the roads though!

Certainly easier to motivate yourself to go out in the rain if you know you're meeting up with others for a ride.

rowlers

I like riding in the rain and dark.
Only issue I have is being able to see. Water on the lenses, red lights = riding blind!
Still not discovered a way around this and don't really like riding without glasses....

Barbarossa

Buckled my front wheel today when I hit a pothole that I couldn't see under the surface water :-(

keef66

Did the Wymondham 50 yesterday. Expecting intermittent light rain. Instead there was a very heavy cloudburst after 18 miles which continued for the next 10 miles or so. Everyone was soaked to the skin, and the frequently narrow rural Norfolk lanes turned into rivers of orange water / horse sh1t slurry. I had full mudguards but still had to empty my shoes and wring out my socks at the feed stop. This morning I have some rather alarming stomach cramps, so I'm wondering if I've ingested some of the aforementioned slurry

Still enjoyed the ride though!

jordan_217

If it ain't raining, it ain't training

Bozman

I enjoy riding in the rain, part of that may be down to the slower pace but I'd rather be out there than stuck on the turbo.
Add a strong wind though and I will choose the turbo.

diamonddog

Out yesterday afternoon, very windy, some rain and thunder and happily a lack of crazy drivers, funny thing is I really enjoyed it. :shock:

Htron

Riding in the rain does not bother me at all (I commute to work every day no matter the weather). What I do hate is the reduced grip (had a moment this morning despite not pushing hard on said corner). I am also tired of cleaning rims and pads all the time, and the incredible rim and pad wear as brakes and wheels get coated in grit. I had less than 1500 miles out of my last set of Koolstop salmons on the wet weather bike and I am not heavy at 77kg.

Disc brakes look like my solution, have been eyeing a PlanetX Kaffenback (spelling?).

barrowmatt

There is definitely something perversely satisfying about riding/running in the rain or bad weather, I guess it feels like more of an achievement.

Still, I take the car when it's raining :?

Bozman

Looking at the long range weather forecast I think that we're going to have to get used to it, apart from tomorrow it's looking wet and windy for a while to come.

goonz

Just got rained on, wasnt too cold today so not an issue.

Only ball ache is the wet shoes and socks which are now attempting to be dry by the end of the day.

Buckie2k5

wet shoes is a nightmare, radiator drying hoping there dry for the next day cant be good for them.

e999sam

I'm surprised no one has quoted Rule #9

socistep

I commute also all weather and have no problems with bad weather, I'd much rather a commute on a wet and windy bike then attempting public transport

I do have a spare set of kit at work but I've tended just to cycle home in the damp kit, to be honest I'm sure I can survive a 6 mile commute home, then dry overnight.

I've recently bought some defeet socks which have made a difference, even though they are soaking wet underneath overshoes I've been comfortable and warm - no issues cycling home in wet socks for me

I am thinking of what to do on longer weekend rides and getting some 'better' kit for that

I do agree though with a couple of posts around extra cleaning overhead and also extra prep time but if you asked me to sit on a bus/train/traffic in a car I'd hate it!

goonz

Seconded, id much rather brave the rain than be on public transport. A bus on a cold wet day is a real grimy place...***shudders***

BAma86

socistep wrote:

I do agree though with a couple of posts around extra cleaning overhead and also extra prep time but if you asked me to sit on a bus/train/traffic I'd hate it!

Agreed.

Cycling is much better than being packed into a small space very tightly with a whole heap of strangers while travelling to & from your destination, in my case the destination is work.

rickeverett

Going to be interesting for those on Monday in the hurricane that's forecast!

feemackenzie

I love a cycle in the rain. But it's improved as I acquired sensible cycling kit.

- dhb waterproof that packs small so can go with me
- overshoes (cheap decathlon ones have died after a year)
- mudguards , keep bike clean and ar@e dry

And then a good cuppa tea on return.

The weather shouldn't stop you.

the_spooks

Kinda enjoy it, the thought of actually going out in it is far worse than actually doing it. At least you can dress for it, the wind on the other hand........ Hate it. Did 100km in the abysmal rain and high wind today, returned bone dry, apart from feet, and had no issues riding in it...did swear at the wind a lot

Gadge

Overshoes!

Plastic bags but only from Waitrose.
You don't want to look as though you are a cheapskate!

topcattim

Buckie2k5 wrote:

wet shoes is a nightmare, radiator drying hoping there dry for the next day cant be good for them.

As well as overshoes while you're wearing them, you may find it helpful to put rolled up newspaper inside your shoes when you're waiting for them to dry - it "leeches" out the moisture much faster than air ventilation does.

mlgt

Would overshoes be fine on trainers?

I dont have any cycling shoes yet and my trainers were soaked on my commute to work this morning

topcattim

mlgt wrote:

Would overshoes be fine on trainers?

I dont have any cycling shoes yet and my trainers were soaked on my commute to work this morning

They'll be fine on the upper parts, and will keep them as dry as they would any normal pair of cycling shoes. But overshoes tend to have a strap that goes across the sole of the shoe, just to keep them in position. On cycling shoes this isn't a problem as the cleat keeps your shoe in contact with the pedal and therefore keeps the pedal out of contact with the overshoe strap. If you are wearing trainers, and don't centre the ball of your foot (i.e. where the overshoe strap isn't) on the pedal, you may find yourself wearing the overshoe strap out rather quickly.

mlgt

Great feedback. Thanks for that advice. I will go and have a view at the lbs. I will hunt for some newspaper during my lunchbreak to dry my trainers and socks.

R

goonz

Oh and cycling shoes dry quicker than trainers so perhaps just get some cycling shoes...

markyone

If it rains while I am out no probs,if it's raining when I am getting my kit on I don't go :oops:

Frank the tank

markyone wrote:

If it rains while I am out no probs,if it's raining when I am getting my kit on I don't go :oops:

I fall into this catagory, however, riding in the rain is strangely liberating.

Mikey1976

Left for a 60 mile ride yesterday, forecast dry but very windy.

Went out in the same gear as the previous weekend, no overshoes, 3/4 gloves, bib trousers, baselayer and wind stopper.

No matter what I did I couldn't get warm, the wind was very bitter. My feet and hands felt like blocks of ice.

45 miles in the rain came and of biblical proportions. Every part of me was soaked, from the skin outwards. The bitter wind was gusting straight into me for the last 15 miles, I have never felt so cold or demoralised.

Ive been out in all conditions throughout all the seasons but ive never felt as bad as yesterdays ride.

chsantiago

I dont like rain and biking on roads. Been a while since i did distance on my bike, a short 35km ride.
Was on my 2km mark but the rain poured and I was thinking of turning back. The sun showed up afterwards and I continued my ride. 500meters to my house the rain poured again hard, I rode anyway.