rugerben

I'm sitting in class right now. I rode my commuter bike here (like I always do), but left it tied up to the bike rack outside because it wasn't supposed to rain till 3:00 and I'm going to be out of class by then. Well, now it's POURING and has been doing so for the last 30 minutes. All I can do is sit here in class and listen to this absolute dounpour and think about my poor bike out there in the middle of it all. I'm just glad I keep everything greased/oiled/lubed properly so that the chain, gears, and cables are all protected. It's not like I baby the bike, or get really bothered if she gets wet, but still, I hate leaving the bike out in the rain.
It's frustrating when all I can do is listen to it. Class ends in 10 min though, so I can ride her home and towel her off. Next class isn't till this evening, so i hope all will be well by then.

ItsJustMe

Well, except for the seat, it'd be getting just as wet if you were out riding in it.

rugerben

Oh yeah, i know she'd get just as wet were I riding her (errr....), and I am not overly afraid of rust because the frame is aluminum, and the components are protected as mentioned.
I just hate the helpless feeling of listening to the the rain pound on my bike when I'm stuck in class and can't do crap about it.

Edit to add: I'm back from class, already toweled her off and we're good to go. I just felt like voicing the frustration.

deez

If it were raining when you had arrived at class what would you have done differently? Do you carry a cover for it or something or would you just bring it inside to class?

rugerben

There's a spot inside the building where I sometimes park. We're technically not supposed to so I only park there when i have to. They don't bother me (or some of the others who park there) as long as we are respectful and don't make it a habit to park there.

Andy_K 

I leave my bikes out in the rain all the time--too much competition for the covered parking spots here at work. Anyway, it builds character...and maintenance skills.

angelaharms

May I suggest the possibility that the problem isn't the rain or the bike, but the fact that you're trapped in a room when you'd rather be with her (the bike, of course). Just a thought.

rugerben

Yeah, but that's ALWAYS part of the equation. This law school nonsense is really getting in the way of riding time!!!

Lizzylou

It's ok for the bike to get wet while your riding it, because it is then getting wet for a purpose, but just getting wet because it's sitting there is irritating.

A friend offered to drive me home from work because of the rain. The bike would have gone in the back of his pick-up truck. And since the bike was going to get soaked either way, I figured I might as well make it a worthwhile soaking, so I told him no. Of course, the rain stopped before the ride home. Good timing God!

rugerben

Thank you. I couldn't find the words. That's precisely the problem....and just that I wanted to be out riding. Even if it was pouring.

Artkansas 

A bike's got to do, what a bike's got to do.

Roody

And confirmed by the fact that he's posting on a bicycle forum DURING the class.

rugerben

Hello. My name is Ben, and I'm a bike-aholic.

keiththesnake

Ben, dude, I feel your pain. I've recently suffered similarly. I really like my bikes, and I don't like them getting rained on. It's just so pathetic to see a trusted bike getting soaked and there's nothing much you can do about it.

capejohn

Were you posting from Boston by any chance yesterday. Quite a storm passed over around noontime.

But biking in the rain isn't so bad in the summer.