Commuting - That's my rain bike

On my way home, I stopped off at Performance Bike Shop to get a new chain. While waiting for service, the guy next to me was just receiving his new bike. It was a Redline Cyclocross with VeloMax wheels and knobbies and disc brakes...

He said..."That's my new rain bike"? Musta cost $3,500 :eek: That's a phrase I hadn't heard around here! I tried hard not to laugh - like people, it rains here all the time! He's a retired racer, and mountain bikes. Guess he knows what he's doing.

Where is there a performance in seattle?
I can't think of a way that that bike cost $3500, unless it had full a campy record gruppo. More like $1000-1500.

You could be right. It looked like this plus Disk brakes, around !,399. The shop in Bellevue.

http://www.bicycleblowout.com/Redline.htm

A pretty good choice for a rain bike, IMO. If you have the cash. That bike cost more than all of my bikes put together.
Ability to run fenders and wide tires, even cross tires... sounds like a good commuter/rain bike to me...

Here's mine (rain bike that is).

sounds like a rich eastsider to me, VR. I'd take odds he doesn't bike commute to work. If he rides Northwest, he's already GOT a rain bike!

Hmm my commuter is my rain bike but it is also a lot like a cross bike. Cantis, ability to have big tires and fenders, but I get a flat bar....and man do I need fenders. I got soaked yesterday on the way home from work.

Here's mine (rain bike that is).Is that the '05 Ferris Oxide? ;)

Here's mine (rain bike that is).

Exactly. I'm surprised that someone would buy an exclusive bike for rain...spend over $1k for a new bike just to ride it through the sand.

I'm sure he knows what he's doing...cuz his bike will look just like ollo's (or mine). ...but a separate new rain bike just surprised me.

I didn't think Performance sold Redline bikes, unless he was just getting stuff for it.

Sorry if it's a negative statement, but- that's lame. Rain bike? Does he have a sleet bike and a snow bike, and a hail bike too? What about a thunderstorm bike made of all carbon and no metal?

Besides, the logic is goofy. If you're a commuter, you have to be ready for rain- anytime. That usually doesn't allow you to run home to get your 'rain bike'.

If you want a rainbike, you add fenders and lights. Not a bad idea to have rack so you can carry a raincoat, too. Knobbies? for what? they don't tread water better, and if anything, spray more up.

The rust factor? It's overrated. It's not a car. Cars only rust from salt, anyway. Or if you live in the jungle. If you don't care enough about your bike to wipe off crap, then you probably don't care enough if it rusts away either,,,

So, if this is his 'rainbike', what's his 'other' bike? A road bike that doesn't allow for fenders or a rack,,, or a mountain bike???

I think he's just got some money to burn and came up with a goofy reason. Why not just be honest? You think the cyclocross bikes are an awesome concept and you want one to make yourself happy? : )

Is that the '05 Ferris Oxide? ;)
Around here we call them 'Mud Puppies". If you commute in the NorthWest, you spend a lot of time on wet roads and the idea of a low cost, sacrificial rain bike makes sense. I have to agree that it sounds like an "East Sider" though, it's just not the same as picking up your daily rider at a thrift store or swap meet. Don

Isn't every bike in Seattle a rain bike?

Do bicycles really rust out that badly in the Northwest that they become unrideable? I mean, holes in the tubes? I've visited Portland, and I know I was impressed by the old cars with only superficial surface rust. This is unlike the Rustbelt that Chicago lies in. So I can see if you spent like 3,000 dollars on an show winning Italian bike or something that you might be afraid to ride it all, much less in the rain. But really, am I missing something?

p.s. I think I'm coming across as too sarcastic, and apologize.

If we're talking commuter bikes, then I'd imagine fenders are pure necessity in the NW. I've got some on my aging Volpe, and they're a god send. Especially last year which was one of the wettest on record in this area. Fenders + cheap bike = lasting enjoyment on the bike.

Isn't every bike in Seattle a rain bike?

My point exactly. Yes we have dry days and months. Some days it's not raining but the moisture in air actually condensates on my clothes and bike. You can see the droplets on the black tights/shorts etc.

Re: East Sider. Yeah I'd say he was an East sider. He wanted the bike for gravel and muddy trails and the shop was totally setting up the bike for rain...Thing was the "rain bike" walked out of the store with no fenders/lights!

So, if this is his 'rainbike', what's his 'other' bike? A road bike that doesn't allow for fenders or a rack,,, or a mountain bike???

I think he's just got some money to burn and came up with a goofy reason. Why not just be honest? You think the cyclocross bikes are an awesome concept and you want one to make yourself happy? : )

The 'other bike' is his racer for dry days ;) Just checking....if a bike can't do rain, what good is it? Do they cancel the TDF due to rain?

Bike frames in the NW don't seem to rust out. Some of mine are 25 years old or more & still going. The problem is the dirt & road grit that end up all over everything. It wears out your drive train, chain, brakes & rims. Fenders & mudflaps help but there are days when its nice to have an alternate just so the "new one" doesn't get all crudded up & worn out right away. Still agree with VR, it seems odd to delibrately buy a new bike just to abuse it in bad weather. I have 3 bikes that are pretty much Summer riders. Sure I've been caught in rain showers on them but no big deal. I just wouldn't choose to commute on one during the Winter rainy season. Don

You are comming across as snyde and judgemental -

I'm a East-side two biker, and they're both really nice bikes. My rain bike: C'dale badboy ultra with fenders and a niterider light system. This bike is a weapon, with an aluminum mtb frame, disc brakes, and a headshock that can be locked out. My nice bike: custom landshark with 04 Chourus and tubular tires. Why two? Man, it gets dirty dirty dirty in the rain here, and for some reason there is more tire flattening debris on the roads from Nov to March here. The BadBoy gets this miserable work done without incident, since I am ususally riding to work and home in the dark (I live 4 miles from the office but I ususally add a lake loop on the way in to make the morning ride in a 25 mile event). When it gets too dirty I just hose it off. Chain lube is gushed on whenever I begin to hear the drivetrain. By Mid-feb it is filthy. I don't do a majority of my yearly miles on this bike but the miles it gets are hard ones. By contrast my Landshark stays as clean as possible and I wring every last bit of speed out if it I can. I commute on it as well (summer) but its job is primarily long mid-day and weekend rides.

Why not a beater? One, I am not afraid of locking up my bike and having it stolen (it is either in its rack at home or outside my office), and two I can afford it - should I pilot a piece of crap just to be "cool" and "real"? Isn't that the same flavor of eliteist BS that you hate the team-jersey fancy bike latte boys for? I'll put the Odometer of my rain bike against yours any day - these bikes get used, and used well.

Don't judge someone for what they have or what you DON'T have ... like my coach used to say, "Race your own race and it will turn out to be just another ride - the other guy doesn't make you go faster."

You are comming across as snyde and judgemental
...and envious and inexperienced. Rain bikes are pretty common the world over.



Why not a beater? One, I am not afraid of locking up my bike and having it stolen (it is either in its rack at home or outside my office), and two I can afford it - should I pilot a piece of crap just to be "cool" and "real"? Isn't that the same flavor of eliteist BS that you hate the team-jersey fancy bike latte boys for? I'll put the Odometer of my rain bike against yours any day - these bikes get used, and used well.

Don't judge someone for what they have or what you DON'T have ...


What he said.

There are those of the biking proletariat, and then, there are cycling bourgeoisie. If you are riding a Redline Conquest Pro, or a Cannondale Bad Boy ULTRA as your "rain" bike, you are certainely of the bourgeoisie. What did you do to your other rain bike? A rain bike is usually the most beater bike in the stable.

There are those of the biking proletariat, and then, there are cycling bourgeoisie. If you are riding a Redline Conquest Pro, or a Cannondale Bad Boy ULTRA as your "rain" bike, you are certainely of the bourgeoisie. What did you do to your other rain bike? A rain bike is usually the most beater bike in the stable.

the last rain bike was a Klein Attitude Pro ... bought it because I thought I'd get into the dirt scene out here but the road kept calling me.

I've never owned a beater ... from my first non-department store bike when I was 14 (Soma Prestige, sliver w/red tape...shudder of joy!) I spent my hard earned $$ on good gear and have taken care of it. This includes bringing my bike into class with me in college (19 years ago when it definately wasn't chic), choosing bike gear instead of ___ (insert pointless non-bike purchases such as food, clothing, etc), and having to actually hang out in bike shops to have these convesations instead of doing it online.

So if earning my way to a point of having non-***** gear and taking good enough care of my equipment to where it never becomes a "beater" is bourgeoise then I'll wear that label with pride. You know what we called people who let any bike get relegated to "beater" status? Losers who don't respect their gear.

My "rain/snow/slush/wet-salty road" bike is a Specialized Crossroads Elite XC. My regular commuter/group-ride is a Bianchi san remo light touring bike (with fenders in case it rains). My race/fast group-ride road bike is a Felt F-30 and my tri-bike is a Cervelo Dual. If that makes me part of the cycling bourgeoisie so be it. I like bikes, I've got cash, my wife lets me spend it, and I ride a lot. Not as much as some, more than many. I have a bike for any type of riding that I'll likely do. I'm missing the part where this is a bad thing.

Here in Seattle - it would be nice to have a commuter with disc brakes. Communting home in the dark in a monsoon gets dangerous even if you clean off the rims after every ride....

Have a good ride!

The brakes he had appeared very light weight i.e., didn't appear to bog down the bike. He said that for his particular riding style, he tends to go through brake pads easily and complained that the discs were actually "heavy" but would probably work better in the rain.

He seemed surprised that with my hilly commute that brake pads are not an issue.

It's cheaper than a car. Besides, in Seattle traffic, it works much better than a car, up to about 5 miles.

Paul

(who did graduate work in Seattle)

It's cheaper than a car. Besides, in Seattle traffic, it works much better than a car, up to about 5 miles.

Paul

(who did graduate work in Seattle)

Thats exactally what I was thinking. Lets see a nice rain bike for $3500 or a car for $35,000. Do the math.


So the guy has a nice rain bike it will last him for ever, break down less, be a hell of a lot safer there by reducing medical bills, rotating between bikes saves longevity etc... He is actually saving money in that respect. Plus I doubt the Redline costs $3500. You may be surprised at how hard some folks work to get there nice equipment.