Cycling in the rain

twinsen

Hi guys

Just a quick question. Do you cycle in the rain or just dont bother?
I am trying to cycle as often as possible but in a recent few days it seems impossible, and wonder that maybe I should cycle no matter what weather is outside.

Let me know what you think

Reesy

Me, I only use the bike for commuting & stuff, and if it's wet in the morning I'll get the bus in to work. Don't mind cycling home in the rain though, as long as it's not too cold.

Incidentally, when I leave the bike at work on a showery day, I cover the saddle with a hotel shower cap (saved for the purpose). Anybody else do that?

kenmc

we raced in the rain last night
htfu

smacl

Yes, though setting out in the rain is a hardship once you're out there its ok. The last few days the wind would have been more of an issue, so I've been out running instead.

Dermot Illogical

twinsen wrote: »

I am trying to cycle as often as possible but in a recent few days it seems impossible, and wonder that maybe I should cycle no matter what weather is outside.

No ice on the ground? Proceed...

Beasty

... and if there is ice, proceed a little more carefully

Lumen

I commute by bike whatever the weather and even when I'm feeling unwell (unless I'm so sick that I can't work).

It's easier when you don't think about it and just do it. Suitable clothing makes a massive difference.

Popoutman

As a kayaker, I'm not afraid of the cold or damp. I'm more worried about losing wheelgrip on a roundabout with oblivious traffic behind me. I'm happy to get wet and cold when cycling, as long as I'm not out for 3 hours in it...

Tonyandthewhale

Yes, if I have to get somewhere I'll go pretty much regardless of the weather. Mudguards in the rain, ice tyres in the ice and drop bars in the wind make things easier as do suitable clothing. Once you're used to it and you know how to dress appropriately then there's nothing particularly unpleasant about cycling in bad weather.

When people find out that my bicycle is my primary means of transport they often ask me what I do when it rains, I generally just stare back blankly and refuse to acknowledge that as a sensible question.

petethedrummer

I cycle in it all the time, but it takes a while to figure out what to wear. Also. It doesn't usually rain for much more than a half an hour at a time. Despite how grey it is when you look out the window, an awful lot of the time it's not actually raining.

You are better off trying to keep warm rather than trying to keep dry.

Oink

I don't mind too much, as long as it's not too warm. If it's hot and sticky AND raining it takes the fun out of it for me.

But cycling in torrential rain is actually quite fun. The last time it happened I smiled and laughed all the way like a kid .

EDIT: Simulpost. Like Pete said as well. rain is rarely a problem.

Jawgap

Cycle. The only time I don't is if I need the car for work.

someone posted up a quote from Sean Kelly that probably sums it up best - the essence was that if it is raining you should cycle, then decide it was too wet to cycle.

Here's some tips from a chap in Seattle about cycling / commuting in the rain, but I'm not sure what someone from that city would know about rain........

sled driver

There's no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes !!!

De Bhál

I commute everyday.

I don't mind the rain but manhole covers are lethal when wet.

Also I cross the Samuel Beckett Bridge in the morning and as you just cross from the bridge back to normal road (south bank) there's a steel contraction joint (I assume) and it's very dangerous.
Anyone who crosses will know what I'm on about.

macnab

Best thing to do is try it yourself, if you hate it then you either have the wrong cycling clothes or you just plain and simple hate cycling in the rain.

Stark

With waterproof pants and jacket, it's fine. Better than fine as you're not stuck for ages in traffic with all the idiots who forget how to drive when it's a bit wet outside. Don't like cycling in strong winds in traffic though.

seamus

Don't mind commuting in the rain. Rainjacket + overshoes + mudguards mean that I stay dry for the time it takes to get in and out of work. It doesn't rain that much anyway.

Going out for a proper spin requires more motivation. There's a requirement to accept the fact that you will be wet and deal with it according. I can do this on a warm summers day (anything over 12c in reality), as any wetness eventually fades, but on a colder day you will spend the whole day wet. Good bib tights work well, keep you well insulated even when they're soaked.

Route is important too. Going for Sally Gap when it's 2C, you're soaked to the bone and there's a headwind and fog whipping across that plain, is just plain miserable; The headwind prevents you from making any kind of progress, and you can't muster up the energy to fight it and warm up.

Lawrence1895

Don't mind the rain, I have waterproof rain gear. The only annoying part can be raindrops on my glasses, and light reflections in the dark on top of that.

Beasty

Nothing better than cycling with the rain on your back pushing you along to a KOM*

... I've actually enjoyed the last few days - was heading towards the heavy clouds and could see the storm approaching on the way home last night, but still wasn't put off going the long way to get a few more kms in. I would have loved giving the racing a go on Tuesday in the rain (I was hoping that being used to riding in strong winds and rain may give me an advantage over some and discourage some of the others from turning up), but alas it wasn't to be (despite all my efforts on here to try and stop the race being cancelled)

But as has already been said, having gear that keeps you warm (if not dry) is very important


* OK, I may be exaggerating a bit

ednwireland

Beasty wrote: »

... I've actually enjoyed the last few days

its rained in the last few days ?????

lennymc

sometimes you just cant beat a good ride in the wet.

@ beasty - i raced last week in the wet and it was great craic.

Beasty

lennymc wrote: »

sometimes you just cant beat a good ride in the wet.

... please - too much detail!!!

a148pro

What should I wear then, bearing in mind I'm on a road bike without mudguards and I'd most likely be hitting Dublin Mountains / wicklow?

My choice of stuff that I have is:

leggings
padded shorts
long / short sleeved technical tops
lightweight breathable jacket (not waterproof but water resistant)
heavier altura jacket (fully waterproof but not ideal for going up hills unless it was already close to zero I imagine)

I just can't see how cycling hills while wet can ever be balanced with a suitably breathable jacket. Or could ever be fun in non waterproof gear.

But I need to cycle regardless of weather.

kenmc

just get wet. cycling kit dries out quickly, it'll be dry the next day after washing it

triggermortis

I cycle my commute week whatever the weather and my week off I'll get out as often as I can regardless of the weather. As everyone has already said, get the right clothing and you'll be fine

cantalach

a148pro wrote: »

What should I wear then, bearing in mind I'm on a road bike without mudguards and I'd most likely be hitting Dublin Mountains / wicklow?

My choice of stuff that I have is:
...
...

Chamois cream is vital in the wet. When the chamois gets wet and gritty from the spray off your back tyre, it becomes quite abrasive. Not pleasant. So lash on plenty of chamois cream beforehand and it makes for a sort of barrier. Vaseline has worked well for me in the past too. Other than that though, I quite like cycling in the rain. Especially solo...it's almost meditative.

Seweryn

Lumen wrote: »

I commute by bike whatever the weather and even when I'm feeling unwell (unless I'm so sick that I can't work).

It's easier when you don't think about it and just do it. Suitable clothing makes a massive difference.

Exactly same here, not much to add really. I recently purchased a good rain jacket, but I am thinking about going back to my winter windproof one, as it just works better for me.

a148pro

Eh, what's chamois? I thought it was one of those goats you see in the alps...:)

Also, how do you keep your fecking feet dry do I recall someone suggesting putting plastic bags on your paws before getting into your boots?

Seweryn

a148pro wrote: »

Eh, what's chamois? I thought it was one of those goats you see in the alps...:)

When cycling shorts were made of wool they had padded inserts made of chamois leather. It is historic term...

a148pro wrote: »

Also, how do you keep your fecking feet dry do I recall someone suggesting putting plastic bags on your paws before getting into your boots?

Just get a good pair of overshoes and they will sort you out .

twinsen

Would gore tex jacket be suitable for this or just normal waterproof layer?

Seweryn

twinsen wrote: »

Would gore tex jacket be suitable for this or just normal waterproof layer?

Gore Tex would be fine. Here are some on sale.

lisaj

Today seems like a good day for cycling home in the rain. This is only the second time I've cycled to work (48k one way), and am starting to get a bit nervous about the cycle home now. This board has set my mind more at ease. Any tips (apart from putting in my contact lenses) ?

buffalo

lisaj wrote: »

Today seems like a good day for cycling home in the rain. This is only the second time I've cycled to work (48k one way), and am starting to get a bit nervous about the cycle home now. This board has set my mind more at ease. Any tips (apart from putting in my contact lenses) ?

Remember visibility for drivers isn't as good in the rain, and your brakes won't be quite as responsive, so be a bit more cautious. Other than that, you'll be home in the same amount of time, unlike the car drivers who'll be stuck in traffic for extra long!

RossieMan

Cycling in the rain, what am i? :rolleyes:

lisaj

I have a high vis gilet. I lost my light somewhere this morning... My Dad wants to pick me up halfway where the commuting paths converge, so we'll see how that works out.

kenmc

lisaj wrote: »

I have a high vis gilet. I lost my light somewhere this morning... My Dad wants to pick me up halfway where the commuting paths converge, so we'll see how that works out.

Meet him halfway, and race him. see who wins.

lisaj

Unfortunately he would win there, the last part is the 20k or so of just main road. I would totally win the first part though!

seamus

Yeah, just remember that when it rains people get a bit more frazzled and frustrated and make more mistakes. Some people also seem to completely lose it and drive faster and more dangerously when it rains. So just make an effort to keep a better lookout and give yourself more time to do things like indicate to ensure that people have actually seen you.

Gavin

If you can change at the end of your journey, waterproof overlayers are a waste of time. Either they aren't great and you get wet anyway, or they are ok, but you get soaked from sweating inside them.

If it's warm out, as it is now, the handiest is just to cycle in light clothes. Cycle shorts and a jersey is all you need. (+ mudguards). You get wet, and then just change when you get to home or work, no big deal. It's better than getting a bus, where you might get drenched to or from the bus and not have a change of clothes.

The only time I've used the waterproof stuff is when I had to get a train as part of my commute and sitting in wet cycling gear would have been uncomfortable.

piston

My only real issue when cycling in the rain is that sometimes it can be difficult to see due to rain/mist/condensation on my glasses and I am basically blind without them.

Proper mudguards with a decent mudflap are a must.

awec

Is Goretex really worth the extra cost?

I have a waterpoof/resistant jacket but I wear it more for the fact it's bright yellow and reflective rather than for staying dry. I find I get just as wet with sweat.

Presumably goretex would be better than my cheapo jacket but is it that much better to justify the much higher cost?

colm_gti

Watch out for manhole covers...lethal!

Mycroft H

colm_gti wrote: »

Watch out for manhole covers...lethal!

And line paint.... And new tarmac.

JayRoc

Hopping for a spin on a road bike when it's raining is fine, as said already, once you've the right gear.

But I don't bother commuting in the rain because it's simply not worth the hassle.
The added time of getting in and out of rain gear at both ends, and more importantly, being soaked from sweat from the extra layers make it impractical.
Breathable gear doesn't ever seem truly waterproof, and waterproofs kill me with the heat. In fairness, I overheat very easily on the bike, always have.
More than a single layer, even in winter, and I'm cooked by the time I'm in work.

I've no problem cycling home if it's pissing down though, quite fun actually

Dubba

colm_gti wrote: »

Watch out for manhole covers...lethal!

I think there ok to cycle straight over but if you're turning they're very slippy.

I saw a guy at a sportive last year hit the deck at speed because he saw a MH cover late and swerved to avoid it but turned while on top of it and down he went..ouch.

levitronix

Puff Rain ! Its two hours on the trainer for me

Crow92

Dubba wrote: »

I think there ok to cycle straight over but if you're turning they're very slippy.

I saw a guy at a sportive last year hit the deck at speed because he saw a MH cover late and swerved to avoid it but turned while on top of it and down he went..ouch.

Really can depends, if it's a flat sort one with tiny little ripples it's ok to go straight over.

But some of them have very big bosses rising up significantly are deathly even when going over them straight =/

Qualitymark

The most dangerous thing about cycling in the rain is the drivers - if their car is fogged up and the windscreen wipers are going like billy-o, they just don't see you, no matter how fluorescent you are.

Mycroft H

Qualitymark wrote: »

The most dangerous thing about cycling in the rain is the drivers - if their car is fogged up and the windscreen wipers are going like billy-o, they just don't see you, no matter how fluorescent you are.

One solution is decent lights. The hapf watt led blinkers front and back help cut through the gloom.

Something like this http://www.probikekit.com/eu/smart-lunar-1-watt-rear-cycle-led-light.html

cdaly_

awec wrote: »

Is Goretex really worth the extra cost?

I have a waterpoof/resistant jacket but I wear it more for the fact it's bright yellow and reflective rather than for staying dry. I find I get just as wet with sweat.

Presumably goretex would be better than my cheapo jacket but is it that much better to justify the much higher cost?

JayRoc wrote: »

The added time of getting in and out of rain gear at both ends, and more importantly, being soaked from sweat from the extra layers make it impractical.
Breathable gear doesn't ever seem truly waterproof, and waterproofs kill me with the heat. In fairness, I overheat very easily on the bike, always have.
More than a single layer, even in winter, and I'm cooked by the time I'm in work.

I use a Gore 'Windstopper' rain jacket instead of a jersey for serious rain. Front panels are pretty much waterproof, rest is breathable fabric/mesh. Cost about €80 IIRC. I end up with dry torso and damp arms. Same shorts/bibs in rain or dry; they dry out pretty fast anyway...