Rain riding
 

So what are your "rules of thumb" for deciding to ride in the rain or not? Silly question I know...
We've had a ton of rain here this year and it's hampering my ride time. When I was younger I'd just go. Being older I find my motivation level dropping with less than ideal conditions. Is it age or pussitus? I'm thinking the latter. Anyway, when do you all decide that the rain is too hard, too wet or whatever to go ride in?

I ask myself if it looks like I will have fun riding. If the answer is no, I don't ride.

Biggest thing for me is temperature. Cold rain can make riding miserable.

Temperature, distance, intensity of rain, ride length, solo or group, all are factors. Probably temp as above biggest driver.

If the roads are wet, I skip it and my fellow riding buddies are in agreement.

If it looks like it’ll dry out in an hour, then we go and take it easy. If it’s outright raining, No.

I’ve gone down a result of an off camber turn on a wet road, my fault but it’s a turn I take frequently, with a wet surface making it dangerous. Wasn’t hurt but why take a chance ?, I’m not racing and can’t justify the fitness vs. injury.

Plus if it’s a wet ride I have to service the bike.

This is accurate to a degree. I know that if I get out there and jsut do it, after the first ten minutes I will be glad I am riding. But more and more I tend not to ride if it is steadily raining---I don't mind getting caught in it, but i can rarely get myself psyched to head out in it. This is the other thing. I used to commute, so I rode 5-6 days a week, regardless. I don't Have to any more, and it is hard to convince myself that the discomfort isn't that bad. And cold rain is pretty miserable. Hard to dress for it too---either I am hot and drenched is sweat with some soaked and frigid portions, or I am soaked and frozen.

My rule of thumb: if it's raining, don't ride.

If there is even a hint of rain, I will not ride.

Lately I’m having a hard time getting motivated to ride, so less than ideal conditions are an excuse for me to not ride.

Like was said above though, after I’m out for 10 minutes I’m glad I decided to ride. But never in the rain, or winds above 20 mph. I hate the wind.

Temperature is the primary deciding factor for me. Above 65 Fahrenheit, and away we go. Secondarily, I avoid high likelihood of lightning. Having said all that, because I am fortunate enough to own a dedicated rain bike, Al frame, 42 cm. tires and full fenders, disc brakes, I don’t mind the rain. I would not take any of my fancier racing bikes out in the wet.

It depends. I am getting softer but I have also started a tradition of Black Friday rides. In western Oregon, that date can be very wet. I ride those on my winter bike, 35c tires (or more), fenders, Phil Wood hubs, etc. I wear enough clothing to be warm all day wet. A pannier to stash clothes.

I'm a huge fan of good modern thermals (REI, Patagonia, etc.) that work very well when soaking wet so if I bring enough, I don't have to worry how wet I get, (It is important to slow down the water change though, You used your body heat to warm that water. If it runs off and you have to warm the new water, you are losing heat.). Also the very rideable Showers Pass jackets.

Ben

Outside of chain lube, how?

I hear all kinds of horror stories about the damage of riding in the rain, but most of it seems like nonsense.
One of my bikes is a 1979 Fuji America, originally my grandfather's. He rode it a couple thousand miles back in the day, then left it in a shed for several decades, where it underwent tons of dew and frost cycles. Over the last few years I've ridden it several thousand miles including lots of rain riding on gritty roads, and some freeway driving with it on my car rack in the rain. Not long ago, I took apart the unsealed adjustable bottom bracket - you know, the kind of vintage BB that will supposedly asplode if you don't repack it after every rainy ride- for its first overhaul ever. It took a while to clean up all of the ancient peanut butter grease, but the races are still in excellent condition.

I suppose things could get pretty gross if you're not using well-designed fenders.

1 - Is there snow in the mountains? If yes, I'm skiing. (So not in August, but it doesn't rain in August anymore.)

2 - How long has it been since I rode, even is my next chance after today?

3 - Am I bored or cabin feverish?

love a good rain ride when the temps are mid-seventies or higher. drop the tire pressure a little bit, wear my worse (but visible) kit,
watch out for the thick white road striping paint, metal grates and manhole covers and avoid going full speed (which is, unfortunately,
not as big of a problem as i would like). gives me a nudge to clean/relube the bike properly post-ride since i've likely been putting it off anyway.

but yah, cold temps are generally a no-go, esp for a ride longer than an hour.

I usually switch to my hybrid with 700x32 or 700x42 all terrain tires, either Conti Speed Rides or Sport Contact II. Good grip on wet roads.

I've been caught in unexpected rain on the road bikes with slick tires, both Schwalbe One V-Guards and Conti Ultra Sport II, but I wouldn't choose to do that. Just popped up midway through a long ride. Grip actually wasn't bad but I was extra careful.

I have a dedicated rain bike also. It has disc brakes and full fenders with mud flaps that almost reach the ground. Not only keeps me dry, it also keeps crud from the front wheel from flying up into the drivetrain.

November-March - No ride(unless it's a commute)

April-October - No problem

My rules in southern California...

Is it dark? Then no.

Did I recently wash the bikes? Then no.

Could I benefit from a day off? Then no.

Are the fenders already on the old bike? May as well...

If it's raining or even drizzling, I won't start a ride.
But if it begins to rain while I'm out riding, I just ignore and keep riding.

Road grit, dirt, etc on frame. Just means it needs cleaning earlier. It’s not a big deal, I’ve ridden a touring bike for weeks with rain, just no need on “fun” rides in my opinion. Forgot to mention you are more prone to flats on wet days and they ain’t fun changing when it’s cold and wet out.

Only around here can someone sound tough and bold by saying "I NEVER go out in the RAIN!" :lol:

I’ve been caught out in the pouring rain a few times. ST least it was warm enough and I was on the way home. Just wiped down the bike afterwards and cleaned and lubed the chain. I worry more about my phone getting wet.

Hybrid city bike = weather doesn't matter at all
MTB = don't start a ride if it's raining, but if it rains mid-ride, no problem
Road bike = do not ride in the rain

OP, get some fenders if you don't have them. Fenders expanded my riding time (and enthusiasm on wet days) because the bike is kept cleaner so I don't think about it - and they keep the road grime and snail guts off me. I did a group ride this morning - last half hour we got showers, but it was reasonably warm and wound-up about as damp as I would be on a humid day. I carry a couple plastic bags for my phone, etc.

Wider tires with a file tread work pretty well on wet roads - still need to be careful.

Pouring rain or cold rain is a no-go.

Sometimes its nice to do a rain ride on purpose.

The topic reminds me of this iPhone commercial. I would be hesitant to ride in lightning but thought the advertisement was cool anyway. Whomever made is is clearly a cyclist.



-Tim-

Light rain or on and off showers and I’ll still ride. I’ve ridden in heavy cold wind driven rain before and have no desire to to that again. Temperature above 50 if rain, above freezing if not, although I’ll go out in the 20’s if the paved trail near me is snow and ice free.

High winds will keep me from riding more than temperature or rain.

I don’t, because there is no need for me too. If it’s raining, I’ll jump on my floating smart rollers and ZWIFT or do some structured training on them. I can get a lot more doing it that way in a controlled environment vs. trying to do it outside dealing with traffic and stop signs. Riding floating smart rollers never leaves me wanting in terms of not being able to ride outside because I am riding my bike. There is no artificiality of being locked in to a stationary trainer. I can drift left or right and the bike can float forwards and backwards underneath me when I get out of the saddle or the onset of a lot of power in the saddle. If it’s not raining but there is a possibility, and there is a group ride I want to be on, I’ll use my old bike. I have a lot of friends who think outside miles are better than inside miles and they ride their bikes in the rain and they get nothing out of the ride other than being outside. You do need to keep on top of maintenance regularly riding in the rain.

Zero problems riding in the rain, not even a factor in my decision to ride if it's above maybe 65F. I enjoy it at times compared to maybe 95F and 90% humidity. Thunderstorms I may or not go but they are usually quick and isolated. Where I ride changes with rain. I am very picky about the space and traffic on that road and will always skip sharing a lane in almost all cases. Luckily where I live there are a lot of options including wide open MUPs and I can use them in stead.
Never understood fenders in a heavy rain, you are as wet from above as you can get, how much less saturated can you be with a fender? Most of the summer my clothes is as wet as it can get from sweat. Rain would be better. Maybe you get less road splashed grit on you but it washes right off just the same in your post shower. Commuting yes, not a work out ride.

Simple, avoid it at all costs. I simply won't go out in the rain or if its forecast and likely, its just too dangerous. Nevertheless, when I would commute and had no driving alternative I'd leave home well ahead of time and "creep" to work. Its the only time I'd ride on the sidewalk.

For the record, "rain" means many things to different people depending on what region you live in. I mean there are northwestern misty "drizzle all day rain". And then there's mid-western and southern rains where the rains are mini hurricanes.

Believe me when I say you do not want to get caught out in the open when a southern-style thunderstorm hits. Flooded streets within minutes, where you have no idea what's beneath those waters. Or a bus or semi passes you and the spray in your face or waves knock you over.

You get to work covered in rancid street spray with squish shoes and socks. You'd better have the ability to shower and change clothes lest the biological fermentation from the rain water will send you workmates scurrying for refuge as far away from you as possible. The last thing the workplace "commuting cyclist wants to be known for.

i wouldn't worry too much about it. workplace hygiene levels aren't as strict/disqualifying as they should be. now if there's someone you're trying to impress at work, that's a different story.