euphoria

No, but it's a huge pain to repack the HS and BB after a few dousings.

merlinextraligh

Rain starts in a middle of ride; Act of God.

Start a ride in the rain; Act of a fool.

'nother

I don't feel compelled to answer these directly. People have different motivations for riding. Some people like to tell war stories about riding bajillions of miles, through rain sleet and snow, uphill both ways, etc.

But some people just like to have an enjoyable time when they choose to go out for a ride -- which, while not impossible, is something that can be a lot harder to accomplish while battling foul weather. Not everyone is in a quest for as many miles as possible, and there's nothing wrong with that approach.

Besides, where I live, skipping the worst of the rainy days as I do results in a loss of maybe a dozen days per year, tops. I miss more riding days by tending to daily life (children, work, other hobbies).

Machka 

I've ridden in a lot of rain, but I don't believe I've ever had my HS and BB repacked ... but then, I think mine are sealed.

jfblodi

Well said.

Machka 

I agree entirely that it is up to the person, and that there is nothing wrong with making the decision to avoid riding in the rain. During the dry years in Manitoba, I'd take rain days as my rest days because they'd only come along once or twice a month. And in your case, you are quite fortunate to have as few rain days as that.

... but I just wonder sometimes if some people think they can't ride in the rain or that something horrible will happen to them or their bicycles if they do.

Riding in the rain can be a lot of fun! Especially if you're dressed for it, and especially if it is a warm rain. In fact, I've been on many rides where I wished it would rain to cool things off a bit or to dampen down the dust.

GuitarWizard

I have a sealed headset, and while schlepping my bike down to Myrtle Beach back in December for vacation on the bike rack (attached to the trailer hitch), I found water in everything.....frame, fork, front wheel, and headset. Came pouring out of my headset actually. Had to remove my seatpost to drain the frame. Good times.

Time for an overhaul.

bbattle

I wouldn't go out in the rain but if it started while I was riding, I'd probably keep going. Winter is supposed to return here next week and I've got the clothing for it. Ice all over the roads would also keep me inside.

I once got caught in a rain storm and the worst part was not being able to see; my glasses got fogged and covered with water drops. I finally took them off and rode home that way.

the beef

The roads are covered right now in snow/black ice. Ride = no.

Corsaire

I'd hate to drain out all the water collected inside the frame. It has happened like three times already when riding out in the rain.

Corsaire

patentcad

Yeah, that's how I used to think. Funny how physical pain changes your perspective. Now on rainy days my arthritis (back) is worse, I need the ride even more. So I ride. Up to a point. Like I said earlier light or moderate rain I can handle, if it's heavy rain I don't ride. But I'd say that 80% of the time when it's raining it's rideable for me these days. Rain riding is actually only tough for the first 10 minutes. After that it's like riding in a warm car wash (as long as you're dressed right and you stay warm). And unless it REALLY starts hammering or gets real windy, I find that even heavy rain is rideable. You can't stay dry, but the key is to stay WARM. And the only part of my body that doesn't stay warm in a cold rain (say <45º) are my toes. I'm hoping the Sidi Toasters (heated insoles, allegedly waterproof) help with that. We'll see.

Pearl Izumi Amfib shoe covers by the way in the rain or on wet roads regardless of temps.

By the way one of the best parts of riding in the rain is that other cyclists think you're insane to do it. But getting your ride in is the best revenge : ).

EventServices

I say that it's the dedicated rider who will ride out of the driveway in a downpour.

The only things that will stop me are ice or bad visibility. If I'm riding when drivers can't see me, THAT'S the act of a fool.

'nother

Dedicated to what?

Stallionforce

Well I am pretty much nuts because I will ride in almost anything. The only thing that stops me is ice on the road. Even then I usually put on my knobbly 28's on my cross bike and have at 'er. I'm lucky enough to live about 2 km's from the ocean; and, generally, the routes next to the ocean don't ice-up. I've yet to go down anyway.

Victoria, and the West Coast in particular, has been having bizarre weather this year. Endless windstorms, two snow storms. This cold snap appears to be settling in to about a week.

CerveloNW

Yeah - Too many patches of black ice to ride in the PNW this week. Rain doesn't bother me, but high winds and/or icy conditions will keep me inside for safety reasons. I just healed up from a broken clavicle, and don't want to go through that again anytime soon

waterrockets 

If there's not much ice on the road, I'm on it. I grew up in Denver, and commuted and trained year-round. Heavy snow accumulation would keep me off the roads too -- but I'm fine riding when it's snowing in general. I've trained 32 miles at -5F.

So pretty much any weather that doesn't prevent a bike from locomoting will keep me off the road.

I got 4th in Bikes-n-Bumps at A-Basin in 1995 -- I like winter riding

Going the other direction... here in Austin, I have trouble if it gets much over 105F. I've ridden hotter, but my body was shutting down -- no power.

FIVE ONE SIX

i'll ride in the rain with friends, but not by myself. i really hate doing the 120 point check after riding in the rain though, it takes longer to properly clean the bike than it did to ride...

as far as the cold goes, it's been pretty mild this winter, and this is my first winter riding. i haven't not gone out for a ride because it was too cold yet, but the coldest it's been is a bit above freezing, and i wouldn't really consider that cold. this sunday, it's supposed to drop down to the low to mid 20's, and honestly that may be a bit too cold for me, but i'll wait until then and see how it is...

John Wilke

I'll ride in light rain down to 50 F, the road bike down to 32 F, the MTB below 32. If there's snow ... I'm skiing!



jw

mezza

I won't ride if its raining sharpened steel.

TheKillerPenguin

Cycing, I'd imagine.

Machka 

That's what I'd imagine too .... the willlingness to put in the extra effort, in all kinds of weather, in order to achieve a personal cycling goal.

BrianG79

Ice or possible ice keeps me off the roads. Especially since that night I bit it right in from of someone. Thankfully the ice kept me from tearing up my clothes when I slid down the road.

I love riding in the rain.

catherine96821

Wind gusts over 25 mph

Too hot (over 90)

Too cold (under 70)

bccycleguy

I don't ride my steel-framed Lemond in the rain if I can possibly help it.

Wet riding is done with my Al framed Trek hybrid commuter. In the Spring, I draw the line at 0 degrees C (32F) and/or ice on the road because I have wiped out a couple of times on ice (minor). Wet weather and lots of leaves on the road in the fall also scare me. I once took a low-speed fall on a corner and ended up side-ways in a big puddle and almost knocked myself out when my head hit the curb.

Bob Ross

+1

Well, alright, that's not the *only* reason... I also don't ride in the rain simply because I hate riding in the rain. I just don't find it fun. In fact, I hate doing anything in the rain.

So I draw the line at precipitation, either actively falling or collected on the road surface.

I used to think I had a temperature threshold, but this year I keep pushing it farther down with no (permanent) ill effects, so I'm not sure cold could keep me off the bike anymore. But wet, yep.