Boeshield is a good rust inhibitor. I have a few black finish fasteners on my wet weather bike, occasionally inspect them and clean with Boeshield. In the length needed, this was all I could get. Maybe I'll chase down replacing them with stainless, but so far, this has worked for me.

As a favor to many, I'm sure, could you please provide some info on the clamps near the crown of the fork being used to secure the front rack? Thanks. That is, if you happen to see this.

EDIT: I didn’t read Canklecat before I typed. He has some good stuff ... for a Floridian.

15 years or so of commuting in Central Florida ...

Lights and more lights.

Any clothing you wear will get soaked, either with rain or sweat. A nylon vest is okay for when it gets chilly ... which won’t be happening much more until November and hurricane season. Still, falling rain is cold (it comes from way high up) so a layer which will hold a little heat and block a little wind doesn’t hurt.

Summer is summer, but spring and fall, a cold front usually pushes out the rain. It won’t matter on an hour ride, but it might catch you out if you ride to, say, work.

Wrap everything you carry in two plastic bags. Wrap every piece tight—I found that condensation was not a problem this way (and I have ridden through hurricanes, and done cycle-touring. it has always worked for me.)

NEVER ride through puddles. if you can’t see the bottom, you could well end up seeing the gbottom of cars riding over you. In Florida, where there can be bursts of really heavy rain, water flow can create sand bars, leaf-and-pine-needle dams, and can move sticks and small rocks. hit that stuff without warning and you might hit the pavement.

I recommend taking the Whole lane when there is a big puddle. When a dozen cars build up, let them by, or they will try to squeeze by on both sides. Still, you are better off with ten cars honking than ten cars driving over your face.

I had no trouble crossing railroad tracks---perpendicular and slowly.

Manhole covers, painted lines ... add water, instant ice. Be really careful crossing paint in particular—it looks so harmless until you are skidding on it with your cheek.

Remember that drivers in cars in the rain are even less rational than normal drivers. They are warm and dry and listening to their favorite tunes, and feel like they are suffering, whole you are out riding in their spray in the pouring rain.

Give cars Lots of room. They cannot stop as well, the drivers cannot think as well, and they get tunnel vision.

As per DrLogic ... never corner hard or brake hard. Try not to lean. The difference between traction and crashing is so miniscule, and once past it, you cannot recover.

I assume you don’t run red lights or stop signs anyway ... otherwise, nice knowing you.

Wash your chain daily, lube it daily. Change it frequently, clean it thoroughly, dry it thoroughly, lube it and swap it. Your chain becomes an abrasive belt which will eat the rest of your drive train.

As DrLogic says, Dry your bike ... at least cables and drive train. wash it first—fine silt will work its way into the BB and wheel hubs and eat things. it will get into cable guides. it will push its way into pedals.

I find that after the first few miles, things get pretty enjoyable, and as you note, afterwards you feel like you climbed a small mountain—or in Florida, a highway overpass.

I agree, who has recommended not to ride in the rain? Your bicycle will handle rain very well just.

I am not a fan of fenders, makes cleaning bicycle a pain and your bicycle is going to get with without fenders anyway. I wear good, light weight cheap rain gear that keeps me dry so fenders do me no personal good. Keep eye on weather forecast and on days calling for rain I put the rain gear in the panniers.

You'd never survive in Florida, where three days of rain is not unusual.

Not sure i could do it now if i lived there ... wife would complain about three or four sets of clothing hanging and dripping in the garage.

Oh, in FL you simply need a 2nd set of shoes and gloves. It's rarely raining and cold, so gear is quite simple there. I could never live in FL: flat, hot, buggy, cultural backwater, and overrun by oldsters.

Saying that, I just spent 4 days in Tampa and will spend another 10 days in the Keys beginning next week.

We get rain regularly for about 2/3 of the year (although a few sunny days mixed in). But, no rain riding would mean parking the bike for far too long.

I think I've broken most of the "rules". Well, many of them

• No Fenders, Check
• Cotton, Check
• Breathable Jacket.. Ok, I do like Breathable CYCLING specific jackets
• Slick Tires, Check... have to have some fun
• Ride across angled RR tracks, Check (although I did manage to go down in the snow/slush )
• Cornering? I suppose I take it somewhat easy. Braking?? Brakes are also slower in the rain
• Wear prescription glasses, sometimes peer over the top of them.
• Regularly Lube Chain (sometimes daily)
• HELMET!!! As above, Breathable is important, unless you get below freezing in which case it isn't raining.
• No waterproof booties. Although, I have been wearing well worn by now Shimano MW-02 boots which are nice. Newer version is MW-81, I think.
• Lights only after dark. Considering some reelights, though.
• Lightening... Not much around here, but I've ridden in Missouri where it starts flashing in the middle of one's ride (with tornado sirens)... nothing to do but keep riding.
• LOOK AROUND & PAY ATTENTION. Good advice anytime.
• I'm not a kamikaze rider, but I do lights and stops pretty much the same rain or shine.
• Cell, Wallet, and other "dry" stuff goes into used grocery veggie bag, and inside of pack. Also note, my headlight battery packs (external) aren't waterproof, so the batteries are also wrapped in plastic bags then put into the pouches.
• Turtles?
• Drip Dry
• HAVE FUN

I'll ride any bike in the rain, but most of my riding is now with an old Litespeed Titanium Beater.


I'll think of fenders sometime, but for now, I just let the mud fly. Around here, we also get the roads sanded for snow and ice, which makes its way to the shoulders to make a nasty mess. Fortunately no salt.



That photo was a bit over a year ago. The bike changes a bit. I have a pair of black Tannus tires on it now... NO FLATS , but still a bit odd to ride.

The cold does not bother me. I will ride in sub-zero Farenheit temps as long as the roads are dry and the wind is not above 20mph. I broke my collar bone in a 2015 bike crash while riding in the rain. Took a right turn on a newly paved road, and my front tire slipped out from under me. Thousands of dollars in ER and medical bills later... I decided not to ride in the rain anymore. The boring ole stationary bike for me when its raining.

Must be nice to have a "beater" much nicer than most other folks' best rides.

That is a pretty horrendous "Frankenbike".

That sad thing is that if you go to a place like REI, you'd be hard pressed to find a new Hybrid worth less than the Litespeed.

One other thing is when riding, try avoiding the painted lines on the road in the wet, they can get really slippery. Also same for wet leaves. Always try to do all your braking in the straight line before the turn.

Once you get warm riding it's comfortable. What you need to watch out for is if your clothes can breath... it's not fun when your water proof from the rain, but all wet from your sweat. It's a fine balance. The only thing that makes me cringe when I ride in the rain is if I don't have fenders and your but crack gets soaked. Second thing is if your socks get soaked and your squishing every single pedal stroke. So I would always try to put on booties and wear merino wool socks and base layers. It makes it more comfortable.

Where shoe covers. Wet socks are miserable.

Bring two spare tubes. Rain moves debris around which makes flats _much_ more likely during the rainy season, and you really don't want to deal with patching in the rain.

Expect to replace your rear derailleur shift housing loop more often - they gunk up in wet weather.

Chains which get wet need lubrication much more often, although I follow the same schedule I do in dry weather - wipe it off and add lube when it ceases to run silently.

I like riding when it`s raining

CliffordK,

Yikes!! If your Litespeed is your beater, what is your "nice" bike? ROFL.....

Wouldn't it be ironic if you got old some day and people called you names because of it?


-Tim-

Oh, it is older than the hills.
All rusty.
Paint faded and flaking off.

Maybe. It's most likely that I'll die in a mountain bike crash before then. If not, I won't be in Florida, waiting in line for the 'early bird' buffet discount...

Sorry, but I don't do rain. I use a stationary bike indoors. Not only do I not like riding in rain, but I worry about the less than good drivers out there that can't see and/or stop for cyclists. Not worth the risk.

as long as it's not acid rain...

Or purple rain.

Riding in the rain is not much different. Some folks actually like it. Here's some tips for it:

- Use a decent rain jacket. Mine acts like two layers. So I can omit a layer in the colder months.
- Wrap work clothes in a plastic bag (if you carry them). My backpack can leak at times so this helps.
- Try a big shower cap. You can use it on your helmet and then the seat if you lock your bike outside.
- If no showercap, then bring an extra plastic bag to cover the saddle. Its a little ghetto, but it works...
- Try using fenders if your bike can fit them.
- Try a traditional cycling cap with a visor under your helmet. The visor will help keep the water out of your eyes.
- Try a shoe cover that's stretchy and more water resistant. If nothing else, it will keep the road grime off of your shoes.
- Use bright front and tail lights. You will need them more in the rain (or overcast days).
- Stay on top of your drivetrain. Check chain stretch with metal ruler, wipe chain after every ride. Lube chain when it looks dry or makes noise. No special lube needed. I use air tool oil.
- Leave cycling glasses in backpack or at home. It will be a pain to clean them in the rain. Try contact lenses if you need glasses to see.
- Many tires that work well in dry should be ok in rain. Pick your favorite.
- Try less air in the tires. I usually have 5-10 psi less.
- Use decent brake shoes. I like the Kool Stop Salmon or Swisstop black pads so far. Give yourself more time to stop at lights, etc.
- Like others above, I avoid metal objects on the road (grates, manholes, bumpy sidewalk pads, curb cover, etc) and some paint. Got a spectacular blowout once from a metal curb cover (from rear wheel sliding across it and then catching the concrete). Also ruined the tire.

It depends on the kind of riding you want to do. If it's a short commute on a roadster you take an umbrella, and a mud flap on the front fender will help for the puddles. For really heavy rain you can take a poncho that goes over the handlebars.

If you want to go fast and sweaty on a road cycle, it's probably important to stay warm when you get wet, and a little fender for the spray the rear wheel aims precisely at your crack will make it more comfortable. I don't have much experience with that kind of cycling, but in general look on what kind of surace your going, white lines are slippery but also regular tarmac corners with a negative cant can be dangerous in the wet. Some pavements are much more slippery than others, usually if it looks a bit like a mirror it grips like mirror, but find out from the safe side. As long as you keep the bike about vertical and the wheels don't lock there's no problem, so brake on the straight and corner slowly. Go easy on the front brake, if the front wheel locks up on a slippery surface, you're probably going down, a rear wheel lock up can be corrected.

Rain happens if you commute by bike on a regular basis. I just dress for the weather and pedal.

Just ride. You'll get wet and dirty no matter what. When you stop caring you'll have fun. A cycling cap and glasses are my only must haves in the rain.

As others have stated, don't ride too quickly in the rain, I have definitely had my fair shares of falls.