Originally Posted by
bikesd
I am completely impressed by those of you who commute in any kind of inclement weather.
It was drizzly/misty when I rode in today and not only were the roads treacherous but the drivers were bonkers and I kept slipping off of my handlebar grips. I had to take my goggles off because I couldn't see through the wet but many of the other riders I saw were still wearing theirs. So now I have several questions:
1) How do I keep my goggles see-through in the rain? (Or do they just need to come off?)
2) What can I change on my handlebars to make them more grippy when wet? (They are currently a smooth leather decorative grip, not tape.)
3) Are there tires that are more stable in wet weather but also work for dry weather? (It's dry here 90% of the time.)
Do you have any other tips for riding when it's wet?
Thanks a bunch!
Two of my bikes were purchased specifically for rain commuting, a belt drive Alfine 11 Raleigh Misceo and a shaft drive Alfine 8 Dynamic Tempo.
Neither uses a chain or derailleurs and both are built for stability (that means they are HEAVY) and run 35 to 40 mm tires (Schwalbe Marathon Plus on the Raleigh and Kenda Courier on the Dynamic)
Both have flat bars with Ergon or Rideout grips -- no advantage to drop bars in a rain commute where IMO visibility is even more important than in dry conditions and where speed and aerodynamics are not even secondary considerations. Ride slow and be able to stop at will is the key in the rain or snow.
Both have full coverage fenders and are decked out with multiple spoke, seat stay, rack and headlights.
Both run disk brakes and I know the Raleigh has hydraulic Alfine brakes, I THINK the Dynamic has hydros too but they might be cable.
Eyewear is essential in the rain IMO as you will be blinded otherwise by rain in any significant descent. I use Tifosi glasses with water repellent lenses but there are many similar options. Don't think I would use full coverage goggles because of the fogging.
There are sacrifices made, both bikes are very heavy and run very heavy tires so they both get used mainly as winter bikes, I use much lighter and faster road and hybrid derailleur bikes for nice weather commuting.
I guess the point of my post is that to make winter/rain commuting enjoyable you either should consider a bike specifically set up for that purpose or be prepared to make significant modifications to your summer bike to get it ready for rain commuting, almost all of which will compromise the riding enjoyment of that summer bike compared to its summer setup.