Fifty Plus (50+) - Rain

We had our first rain here in the desert - it's hard to describe the elated feeling I get from the sound of raindrops, the gray skies and clean air, the enhanced smells of sage and rosemary growing in my garden after the showers. Unlike my British counterparts, I am a "chicken" when it comes to riding in the rain, and shy away from wet road conditions (being both dangerous and requiring a thorough bike clean at the end of the ride). Luckily I put in a 70 miler yesterday and don't terribly mind the rest.

If I did not ride in the rain- I would not ride very much in the winter. The only Time I will not ride is if it is raining and the temp gets near freezing or if it is accompanied by high winds.. Can sometimes get a circular route in the wind and rain in which the start of the ride is sheltered but is at my back on the way home, but that doesn't happen often. This morning temp is about 55 and it is trying to rain. Will probably get out today for a quick blast to check the bike for tomorrow, as tomorrow should be OK.

Big advantage of rain is that it washes the bike down- I have done rides in muddy conditions where on leaving the hills- I and the bike are plastered. By the time I get home, all I and the bike need are a quick hose down and a spray of lubricant. WD 40 in the bikes case.

As stapfam says we "Brits" wouldn't get out much if we didn't ride in the rain.

But at this time of the year I hate leaves on the roads, worse than ice. Wet and slimy just waiting to take you off.

george

Riding here, in Israel, on most intercity routes, is pretty much a game of Russian roulette (except early Sat morning).
With rain it becomes closer to suicidal, especially the first rain when the oil slick is not completely washed off the roads. I never had the pleasure of coming back from a ride in the rain here and being washed off, more like coming straight out of a muddy off road ride. I do remember riding through Europe in the rain on several occasions and the experience was much like what you (Stapfam) describe.

>>> Riding here, in Israel. . .rain it becomes closer to suicidal

Holy Moley! In a life so far punctuated with too many Close Encounters with the Grim Reaper, I count just DRIVING in Israel and surviving the experience a kind indulgence of a Benevolent Providence. Well done. . .and do be careful.

Rain content: there's just something magic about being "out there" in the weather, the realization that it's only rain, increased solitude, the incredible sounds and scents of rain in the trees, the delicious feeling of well-being after a warm wash up, and [well Hell] it's the best time for a shot of schnapps.

I live in the Seattle area and I agree with the Brits. Rain is a regular component of Fall, Winter and Spring riding. Our marine weather is very British. The leaves... bad.

I think rain separates the cyclists from the guys that happen to ride bikes. I really like riding in the rain, but I just hate having to replace a punctured tube in the rain.

Years ago, I lived in Northern California. Nobody used fenders, and club training rides would be cancelled if there was a 40% chance of rain. I'm convinced that bike racers who live in the Pac Northwest are way "tougher" than those who live in California, and I've always been suspect of bike components designed and built in California. I remember way back in the 70's, Bicycling Magazine used to have a technical editor named Richard Jow, who lived in Marin County. He once wrote in one of his columns that he had wanted to road test a set of the new Avocet hubs or something, but that he couldn't because it was raining...

Riding up a 1200' hill to university up here, I twice wore out a set of Phil Wood hubs in less than a month (back in the 70's). In the warranty correspondence, it turned out that Phil Wood tested their hubs by spinning them underwater. Obviously the water was clean, no bits of fine grit or road salt like there is in real British Columbia winter road spray.

However, I am seeing more bikies out there commuting to work in the rain. But the component makers still haven't figured out that stuff has to be waterproof. I just spent $26 on the new technology 1-watt LED headlight by Planet Bike. Two days of riding in the rain, and it's got water inside of it...

- L.

I think rain separates the cyclists from the guys that happen to ride bikes. I really like riding in the rain, but I just hate having to replace a punctured tube in the rain.

Years ago, I lived in Northern California. Nobody used fenders, and club training rides would be cancelled if there was a 40% chance of rain. I'm convinced that bike racers who live in the Pac Northwest are way "tougher" than those who live in California, and I've always been suspect of bike components designed and built in California. I remember way back in the 70's, Bicycling Magazine used to have a technical editor named Richard Jow, who lived in Marin County. He once wrote in one of his columns that he had wanted to road test a set of the new Avocet hubs or something, but that he couldn't because it was raining...

Riding up a 1200' hill to university up here, I twice wore out a set of Phil Wood hubs in less than a month (back in the 70's). In the warranty correspondence, it turned out that Phil Wood tested their hubs by spinning them underwater. Obviously the water was clean, no bits of fine grit or road salt like there is in real British Columbia winter road spray.

However, I am seeing more bikies out there commuting to work in the rain. But the component makers still haven't figured out that stuff has to be waterproof. I just spent $26 on the new technology 1-watt LED headlight by Planet Bike. Two days of riding in the rain, and it's got water inside of it...

- L.

This is taken as a generalistaion of equipment from a few years ago, but I think some of the underlying facts still hold true today. Northern European equipment has to be designed to cope with Rain and Mud. Bike frames have to give clearance between wheels and forks to stop mud collecting. Headsets have to be waterproof. Pedals have to be sealed against the elements. If they are not designed to withstand the elements they fail- and very quickly.
For a long time- US equipment was looked on for Fairweather riding only, but this has changed somewhat over the past few years. However- The drivetrain- whether it be Shimano or Campy was made elsewhere with a worldwide market so had to withstand wet- cold- dirt and Heat. UK manufactured parts have to be weatherproofed. So Extra engineering skills and cost to put the extra seals in to stop water. Good equipment but expensive (Even with the rip off we have on imported items).

I have a lot of HOPE parts fitted to my bikes. It can cope with the Water, and the mud, and the grit as it is sealed against it. What it cannot cope with though is Sand. Ride a bike in the UK in sandy conditions and the seals break down very quickly and before you know it, Worn out bearings.

In parts of the US you rarely see rain or mud so some bikes are designed for those conditions. Why make a hub that can withstand water if you rarely get any rain. Wheras over here- If it is not sealed against water- it will fail. Proof came in May with my Hope Hubs. water above the hub level- lots of mud and no problems. Only problem I had was trying to cope with the slippery conditions and keeping the drivetrain clean. Not a fault of the equipment, but the riders could have done with a bit better weatherproffing on that day- We ran out of dry clothes and there is nothing worse than putting on 4th change of clothes when you only started with 3.