Search
Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Wet road

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-29-17 | 05:32 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 104
Likes: 4
From: Salem, OR

Bikes: 2014 Bianchi Volpe and 15 Yr Old Schwinn Mountain Bike.

Wet road

I went out this morning around 8:30 .The temperature was 53 and so I wore the long bike pants. It was a good idea as I later found out. There was a fine mist of rain; the type that you don’t see much of anymore. I love riding in weather like this. At one point I was making a sharp turn and the bike went out from under me on the wet ground. I was not travelling fast. The bike was fine but I landed on my left arm and leg. I later found that I had slightly skinned them both. Had it been summer and I'd been wearing shorts and a t-shirt it would have been worse. Of course, had it been summer the ground would have been dry and I probably wouldn't gone down. I was a bit sore but nothing was damaged too much. My left wrist is a bit strained. That's the one that I keep injuring. A couple of Ibuprofin seems to have helped.

I was sore enough to pack it in and headed home. The fun of the ride had left me for the moment. . I am very careful when it comes to leaves but was fooled by the wet ground. It should be dry and I should be healed by the time Tuesday rolls around.
cobolman is offline  
Reply
Old 10-29-17 | 06:23 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 236

Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo

I did that on ice once turning not a good move. Broke my hip landed right on it. Lucky me not displaced but 3 screws able to go back running in 12 weeks. Spinning on bike in trainer 4 days after surgery. Be careful!
deacon mark is offline  
Reply
Old 10-29-17 | 07:03 PM
  #3  
Machka's Avatar
In Real Life
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52,159
Likes: 773
From: Down under down under

Bikes: Lots

Originally Posted by cobolman
There was a fine mist of rain; the type that you don’t see much of anymore.
That describes most of the rain we have had around here since July.

Yes, you do need to be careful on wet roads, that type of rain dampens any dust or dirt on the road and makes it really slick.

I hope you feel better soon.
Machka is offline  
Reply
Old 10-29-17 | 08:58 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,305
Likes: 9,837
From: Utah

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Exactly right, the roads can be like ice when I light mist brings all the old oil up off the surface.

Years ago while doing a driving course at Summit Point Racetrack they misted one area by the skidpad and had us walk on it. Hard to stay upright.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is online now  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 04:03 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,959
Likes: 1,380
From: SW Fl.

Bikes: 1999 DAHON Mariner, Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser

Glad you AND THE BIKE, not necessarily in that order , came out OK.

Wet road + slight mist = no bike riding for myself and my bikes.
OldTryGuy is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 05:08 AM
  #6  
Maelochs's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,917
Likes: 3,944

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

I guess I need to consider getting a trike as my rain ride.
Maelochs is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 09:36 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 302
Originally Posted by jamesdak
Exactly right, the roads can be like ice when I light mist brings all the old oil up off the surface.

Especially after a long dry spell (speaking from experience).
rando_couche is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 09:40 AM
  #8  
bikemig's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 21,777
Likes: 5,689
From: Middle Earth (aka IA)

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Fall brings leaves which can be tough once they get wet.

I tend to take my turns square when the ground is dodgy. Rather than lean into a turn (where the wheel can slip out from underneath you if wet), I just take it more upright. Yeah it's slower but the bike won't slide out from underneath you.

I also start to ride my fat tire bikes in the fall as a fatter tire run at lower pressure helps deal with poor road conditions like lots and lots of leaves.
bikemig is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 10:18 AM
  #9  
1nterceptor's Avatar
LET'S ROLL
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,789
Likes: 59
From: NEW YORK, NY - USA

Bikes: 2014 BMC Gran Fondo, 2013 Brompton S6L-X

Watch out too for the white painted stripes and any metal plates.
I usually go slower than my regular speed around corners/turns
and brake earlier:
1nterceptor is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 10:26 AM
  #10  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

the sharp corner may have been the problem, Paint does not help or steel plates & manhole covers..
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 11:12 AM
  #11  
DiabloScott's Avatar
It's MY mountain
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 4,229
From: Mt.Diablo

Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek

Originally Posted by rando_couche
Especially after a long dry spell (speaking from experience).
First rain of the season is always the scariest.
DiabloScott is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 11:14 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 664
From: Massachusetts
Not just turning - braking too. And if you aren't smooth and careful with weight, climbing too. (I'm ignoring sprints for town lines....)

The biggest problem is different slippery on different parts of the road. PAINT, metal, lubricants, rubberized asphalt sealer, leaves, pine needles, and of course, wet or dry - acorns.

-mr. bill
mr_bill is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 12:47 PM
  #13  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 104
Likes: 4
From: Salem, OR

Bikes: 2014 Bianchi Volpe and 15 Yr Old Schwinn Mountain Bike.

Ibuprofin seems to have helped. My hand/wrist is a little sore this morning but no swelling. I rode down to the post office to pick up the mail. It's a beautiful fall day.
cobolman is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 01:44 PM
  #14  
MidSouthBiker's Avatar
Full Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 358
Likes: 16
From: MidSouth

Bikes: Mr.White Mr.Green Mr.Orange Mr.Red

Originally Posted by cobolman
Ibuprofin seems to have helped. My hand/wrist is a little sore this morning but no swelling. I rode down to the post office to pick up the mail. It's a beautiful fall day.
Glad all is okay.

This episode reinforces why I won't ride, even if the rain has stopped, but the roads are still wet. I don't want to take the chance of me getting hurt or damaging my bike. There are just too many dry days to ride, so why chance it (for me anyway)?

Hoping for your full recovery.
MidSouthBiker is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 01:47 PM
  #15  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

Originally Posted by DiabloScott
First rain of the season is always the scariest.
Yea the cars leave oil and grease on the pavement.. but after all those years that should be no surprise..


fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 02:48 PM
  #16  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Originally Posted by DiabloScott
First rain of the season is always the scariest.
Yep. In addition to the seeped up oil, Sacramento drivers seem to lose their minds the first rainy day of the season.
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 03:08 PM
  #17  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 104
Likes: 4
From: Salem, OR

Bikes: 2014 Bianchi Volpe and 15 Yr Old Schwinn Mountain Bike.

Originally Posted by MidSouthBiker
Glad all is okay.

This episode reinforces why I won't ride, even if the rain has stopped, but the roads are still wet. I don't want to take the chance of me getting hurt or damaging my bike. There are just too many dry days to ride, so why chance it (for me anyway)?

Hoping for your full recovery.
I live in Salem Oregon where the winters are wet. I rarely ride in the rain unless I get caught in it but if I waited for a dry sunny day I'd never get out on the bike. Misty rain is fine although we don't receive much of that anymore. The ground can be wet to some degree from November through March. The summers are dry and that may have lead to the problem that I had with the wet road. After riding on dry roads for most of the summer and fall I forget that wet ground is slippery. I intend to be more carefull i the future. I ride all year round and am looking forward to the upcoming winter, except for the snow.
cobolman is offline  
Reply
Old 10-30-17 | 07:17 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 109
From: Oahu, HI

Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride

Originally Posted by fietsbob
the sharp corner may have been the problem, Paint does not help or steel plates & manhole covers..

Had some rain on the ride a week ago and almost went down on the paint. I was starting at a light and across the intersection I had to decide to ride either left or right of the paint. I was indecisive and eventually decided to go from left side to right, skidded on the paint. Fortunately I was somewhat ready for it and was able to keep it up.

I did go straight down once crossing an area that was pretty much always wet and I think there was algae on the road due to the wetness. The wet area was no more than 3 feet long but it was like I never knew what happened. Once second riding the next skidding down the road.

scott s.
scott967 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-31-17 | 01:46 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 302
Originally Posted by DiabloScott
First rain of the season is always the scariest.


Especially when it spends the whole day "not quite raining".
rando_couche is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
deacon mark
Fifty Plus (50+)
14
11-02-17 08:49 PM
jrickards
Commuting
4
08-26-13 07:50 PM
SPECELIZEDRIDER
Commuting
18
01-29-13 07:28 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.