fairweather cyclists of the world unite

magicbastarder

i don't enjoy cycling in the rain. there. i said it. but i haven't been out on the bike since wednesday - partly due to other commitments, and partly due to the weather.

what would be the items i'd need/things to bear in mind, to deal with cycling in the wet that don't crop up if you're kitted out for cycling in the dry?

bazermc

You haven't been out since Wednesday? You don't realise how lucky you are.

C3PO

If you don't have any sort of mudguards then gritty spray from your arse to the top of your head is the biggest problem IMHO ... and my personal hate is getting my shoes manky ... so wear overshoes most of the time!!

Lumen

Punctures.

tacklemore

Phone, money (and car key if applicable) in a zip lock bag or resealable bag.
I have a packable rain jacket as well. Came in particularly useful during my cycle yesterday.
No need to drink water, just open your mouth, job done!

Unknown Soldier

I slightly dislike summer cycling, I love winter foul weather cycling.

There, I said it.

I'm a ginger.

Way too much crap involved before heading out on the bike during summer IMO.

I'm thinking I am in the minority here...

magicbastarder

i wouldn't mind but i set the alarm for 6am on fri morning, looked at the rainfall radar and went back to sleep. and the rain never reached us.

OleRodrigo

Can't beat a drop of rain....too much vitamin D will give you cancer.

magicbastarder

Lumen wrote: »

Punctures.

what causes punctures in the wet? reduced visibility in the rain?

i wouldn't mind, but i used to cycle from blanchardstown to leopardstown 14 years ago for my work commute and would boast that the rain didn't bother me, but the wind would.

Raam

magicbastarder wrote: »

what causes punctures in the wet?

Glass rain.

Boscoirl

https://www.facebook.com/marreybikes/posts/10154113240640767:0

Lumen

magicbastarder wrote: »

what causes punctures in the wet?

Crap sticks to the tyres.

brianomc

Overshoes without a doubt, my feet got soaked on the commute home on Friday and my shoes weren't quite dry by the time I left for work Saturday. Got soaked too on the way home Saturday.
Wore the neoprene overshoes on the way in this morning, bone dry feet when I landed in work. Wet clothes I can deal with, soggy/squelchy socks I just can't!

Everything else will dry quick enough (or keep spares in work, home, anywhere else you can think of). Needless to say my "work" overshoes were at home both those days.

crosstownk

The worst thing about getting punctures in the wet is standing at the side of the road getting cold while replacing a tube.

I managed to avoid today's showers but then I got a puncture and right on cue, the heavens opened. Lovely.

magicbastarder

brianomc wrote: »

Overshoes without a doubt, my feet got soaked on the commute home on Friday and my shoes weren't quite dry by the time I left for work Saturday.

when i was commuting, the one thing i would do in the wet was get myself soaked as soon as possible. because the wet clothes i was wearing - once they had warmed up - would act as a barrier in a sense to fresh cold water. but yeah, i was familiar with donning wet clothes from time to time.

that said, where i work now has a drying room. they boxed off one of the outlets from the air conditioning, so you can leave your wet cycle gear up to hang and by the evening, they're dry again.

Wishbone Ash

magicbastarder wrote: »

what causes punctures in the wet? reduced visibility in the rain?....

I was just remarking to a fellow club member on the WW200 today about the excessive number of cyclists getting punctures. He claimed that the rubber gets a bit weaker when wet and is more susceptible to penetration.

07Lapierre

Heavy rain washes crap onto the road.
Wet tyres are softer/easier to penetrate
Water acts as a lubricant and assists items to penetrate soft tyres.
Under inflated tyres puncture easier when wet.

saccades

magicbastarder wrote: »

i don't enjoy cycling in the rain. there. i said it. but i haven't been out on the bike since wednesday - partly due to other commitments, and partly due to the weather.

what would be the items i'd need/things to bear in mind, to deal with cycling in the wet that don't crop up if you're kitted out for cycling in the dry?

Depends - I sweat (a lot) so I wear stuff to keep the wind off and keep me warm, rather than keeping dry.

thermal/compression top under ss club top, 3/4 bib tights, gilet if windy and pearl izumi wonter gloves and winter socks with over shoes.

cdaly_

brianomc wrote: »

Wet clothes I can deal with, soggy/squelchy socks I just can't!

Sandals ftw...

tomasrojo

Front mudflaps really make a difference. Getting them tricky; getting nice-looking ones even trickier. My home-made ones (milk jug cut up) aren't pretty.

triggermortis

I don't mind the rain as I've enough decent gear to keep warm (keeping dry is never going to happen), but I'm not so keen on riding in the wind

smacl

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I was just remarking to a fellow club member on the WW200 today about the excessive number of cyclists getting punctures. He claimed that the rubber gets a bit weaker when wet and is more susceptible to penetration.

Got one myself yesterday, which on inspection was a blackthorn from a trimmed hedge. Bugger to get out of the tyre without a pliers, ended up using my teeth which may have looked a bit bizarre to those passing. Inspecting the tyre I found two more which were thankfully easier to remove. Seemed like there was someone fixing a puncture every couple of hundred metres.

As for cycling in the wet in summer, I quite like it. Outside of what's been said in terms of preparation, if it is sunny and rainy, don't put any sun cream over your eyebrow area as is stings like feck when the rain washes it into your eyes. Peaked cap is also handy if you wear specs.

tomasrojo

smacl wrote: »

Bugger to get out of the tyre without a pliers, ended up using my teeth which may have looked a bit bizarre to those passing.

Passersby might have thought you were practising for a shot at Michel Lotito's record (18 is the score to beat).

magicbastarder

smacl wrote: »

Got one myself yesterday, which on inspection was a blackthorn from a trimmed hedge.

it's illegal to trim hedges this time of year. was it done for the safety of the cyclists, i wonder?
if so, that sounds like a spectacular backfire.

Moflojo

magicbastarder wrote: »

what causes punctures in the wet? reduced visibility in the rain?

Firstly it's almost impossible to see, and therefore avoid, glass on a wet road.

The second big factor is that the moisture acts as a lubricant and helps debris to penetrate further into the tyre than it might if it was dry.

But look on the bright side; it's easier to find the puncture on a wet tube than a dry one - just look for the air bubbles!

eeeee

magicbastarder wrote: »

it's illegal to trim hedges this time of year. was it done for the safety of the cyclists, i wonder?
if so, that sounds like a spectacular backfire.

No it's too do with nesting birds. You can still cut hedges for certain agricultural purposes, and the council's trim ditches still too when the road is getting overgrown (less than they should in many places)

smacl

nee wrote: »

No it's too do with nesting birds. You can still cut hedges for certain agricultural purposes, and the council's trim ditches still too when the road is getting overgrown (less than they should in many places)

I know that local authorities will cut hedges on an ad hoc basis whenever they consider them to interfere with sight lines on dangerous corners, which is no bad thing. The odd puncture as a result is just part of rural cycling.

C3PO

Moflojo wrote: »

Firstly it's almost impossible to see, and therefore avoid, glass on a wet road.

The second big factor is that the moisture acts as a lubricant and helps debris to penetrate further into the tyre than it might if it was dry!

Also potholes (particularly on the Rock Road!!) fill up with water and are much harder to see!

Wishbone Ash

Moflojo wrote: »

Firstly it's almost impossible to see, and therefore avoid, glass on a wet road....

If you can see the glass, it's unlikely to cause a puncture. It the tiny fragments that are the size of a grain of sand, which you won't see regardless of conditions, which become embedded in the tyre and cause punctures.

Lumen

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

If you can see the glass, it's unlikely to cause a puncture. It the tiny fragments that are the size of a grain of sand, which you won't see regardless of conditions, which become embedded in the tyre and cause punctures.

That's true, but I'd imagine there's a good chance of finding small bits of glass near big bits of glass.

Fian

Most important tip imo is not to wear "wet gear".

Shorts/tights and a cycling top are not uncomfortable when wet, surrounding yourself with an impermeable layer of plastic is. Would rather be wet with rain than damp with sweat.

It is warm enough that being wet does not mean being cold and miserable. I quite enjoy cycling in lashing rain when i am not cold. Once you are soaked through the rain ceases to be an issue.

Different in winter ofc, then a rain jacket is a good idea at least. I still don['t wear rain trousers though, would rather just let my tights get wet.

C3PO

Fian wrote: »

Most important tip imo is not to wear "wet gear".

Shorts/tights and a cycling top are not uncomfortable when wet, surrounding yourself with an impermeable layer of plastic is. Would rather be wet with rain than damp with sweat.

Couldn't agree more .... wet is fine as long as you're not cold too! Got soaked to the skin on the MTB on Saturday and again on this mornings commute but still didn't envy the guys in their waterproof trousers and heavy rain jackets! "Light and Fast" is best IMHO!

Vincenzo Nibbly

Once you've got the clothing and overshoes ticked so you're not cold; the next most useful item in the rain is a simple cycling cap. The peak has the psychological effect of keeping you out of the rain, even though you're clearly still out in the rain.

tomasrojo

I'm ok with wet gear. I have it with me at all times anyway, as I'm usually walking when I'm not cycling, so I just have very light rain gear (trousers, very light rain coat and rain hat) that keeps you dry through a shower, and keeps you warmish when you really get wet. I keep a spare top in my pannier in a large sandwich bag for when I really get wet.

I've never worn cycling-specific clothing, and I very probably am not going to start, so I do need something that goes over "normal" clothes.

Wet shoes used to be a problem, but hiking shoes and a front mudflap took care of that.

smacl

tomasrojo wrote: »

I'm ok with wet gear.

Problem is if you're a sweaty type like myself, you get just as wet in the wet gear with the added bonus of being smellier too. Even the breathable stuff isn't that breathable on a warm rainy day.

tomasrojo

Yeah, the spare top does often get called into service, even when I don't get that rained on.

DanDublin1982

07Lapierre wrote: »

Heavy rain washes crap onto the road.
Wet tyres are softer/easier to penetrate
Water acts as a lubricant and assists items to penetrate soft tyres.
Under inflated tyres puncture easier when wet.

I feel like I jinxed myself by reading this yesterday. Picked up a puncture on the conmute this morning.

triggermortis

I've had 2 puntures this week to add to my miserable month for tyres and tubes. I've used 2 tyres and 3 tubes on 2 bikes so far in the past few weeks

07Lapierre

DanDublin1982 wrote: »

I feel like I jinxed myself by reading this yesterday. Picked up a puncture on the conmute this morning.

Buy a new Bike! You'll feel much, much better!