Pad for wet/slushy bike
#1
Joe
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Pad for wet/slushy bike
I commuted over the summer/fall and would avoid days where it was raining in the morning, so I never had to worry about my bike being wet when I got to work (I was more concerned about me being wet to tell ya the truth). I'm going to start riding again soon, in the snow and slush of Wisconsin, and I'll end up parking my bike in my carpeted office at work. How do those of you that commute in rainy/slushy conditions and store your bike indoors handle cleaning your bike, or otherwise containing the mess that will run off of it? Do any of you have a special 'pad' you park on to help contain the mess, or do you clean it all off before entering the building (which I'm sure would still result in at least a little being left)? I imagine my custodial staff will go ballistic if I just park it on the carpet and let the salty slush run off...
#2
Sensible shoes.
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I use a ribbed, rubber bottomed door mat. They are $15 at a home center. Get a charcoal gray or dark brown one.
#3
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My company changed out their non-skid mats used in wet locations. I was allowed to take several and use one for bike parking. The fibrous top surface will hold quite a bit of water.
Last edited by ken cummings; 12-13-07 at 04:48 PM. Reason: spellong
#4
Rando commuter
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I use a piece of rubber matting I got from a hardware store (a few dollars a foot?) . Works great for rain. Cheap, quick, and easy.
I'd expect that snow would end up dropping a larger volume of water on the mat, at which point you'd want something with raised edges (like a huge pan) to contain it.
Snow? What's that?
I'd expect that snow would end up dropping a larger volume of water on the mat, at which point you'd want something with raised edges (like a huge pan) to contain it.
Snow? What's that?
#5
Call me The Breeze
Good mudflaps will keep a lot of the slop off your bike, then just give them each a little kick as you go into work. One of those rented mats is a great idea, but I've used boot trays under each wheel too.
#6
Plays in traffic
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I use a trainer mat from Performance.
#7
Belt drive!
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Cheap rubber automotive floor mats, laid out in a line, overlapping one another. Using them right now. There's brown slush under the bottom bracket, and the mats are full of water.
I keep meaning to get one those runners you see in businesses, but I haven't ever found one in my travels.
I keep meaning to get one those runners you see in businesses, but I haven't ever found one in my travels.
#8
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I bounce the bike a couple of times outside to knock off the big drops, then park on a couple of carpet strips I acquired when we changed the office carpet a couple of years ago.
#9
Joe
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I hadn't considered a carpet 'runner'. I think that could be my best bet, as the rubber base will save the underlying office carpeting, but the carpet top will absorb the runoff. Our building is sealed, and very dry, so the carpet will undoubtedly dry within a day. Thanks for the ideas!
#11
Pedaled too far.
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The floor at work is linoleum, so I don't worry too much, but I clean the floor on occasion. But at home each bike has its own piece of runner carpet from KMart. They are about 18" by 6' and have a rubberized bottom and come in a variety of patterns to match your decor.