rjs0702

I was wondering if it is ok to ride your bike in the rain? Lately here it has been nothing but rain and wind, and I haven't ever rode in the rain because I don't know what it would do to my bike. So I guess is it ok to ride in the rain? and if so, when I get done what should I do to make sure my bike is taken care of and in shape? I want to ride but don't want to mess my bike up. Any tips would be helpful. thanks.

Busta Quad

No! Do not ride your bike in the rain. It will melt right out from under you and you will

DIE

peterot

So true.

i r yo

Kinda like carbon bikes....right?

Tapeworm21

Squeaky chains, slippery roads, and cold loins. Be careful on corners, avoid sewer lids, and watch out for painted lines. Enjoy.

kpeex

Wet manhole covers = very, very bad news.

Like greased lightning.

mattm

just get some fenders, at least a rear one for your butt.

and a jacket. you'll be fine.

wipe down the chain afterwards, and relube if needed.

fauxto nick

is funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Randochap

Riding in the rain is against the law in some jurisdictions. Phone your local police department.

thirdin77

The rain will get your bike filthy as the water will attract grime. In particular, it will leave your drivetrain filthy, maybe filthy enough that you can actually hear the chain as it moves over your cogs and rings. It might wash the lube right off your chain unless you use a wet lube. I'm not sure what it will do to your bearings in your wheels or bottom bracket; mine don't seem to have died a watery death. The rain, when mixed with brake pad emission, will form a scum which will easily get on your hands when you change flats. Keep your gloves on .

Use some half fenders like the ones Topeak makes, the "Defenders" as they will at least stop most of the spray thrown from your tires.

You'll probably have to wash your bike after every ride.

I suggest you ride on some wider tires, 700x25's or even 700x28's if you can fit them.

As always, do a search to read a few of the zillion posts on this thread or do a web search as some people have written tutorials.

Then go for a ride. You bought your bike so you could ride it, after all.

Oh yeah, watch out for potholes concealed by puddles:

rjs0702

Thanks. I didn't know what exactly to watchout for or anything really. I just know all of this friggin rain is getting annoying cause i want to ride before i leave for basic training. Thanks guys.

timster

Also watch out for painted lines on the road. Especially going around corners. They get real slick when they get wet.

roadiejorge 

The cleaning part can get a bit tedious but the important things to be aware of are road surfaces because that can be really tricky. If you ride on quiet country roads then you don't have much to worry about, but urban environments present all sorts of challenges. The wet manhole covers are something I dread, worse when you have to maneuver quickly then there's those big metal plates they put to cover large holes, anything but riding over them perfectly straight will have you eating pavement in a hurry.

patentcad

Pcad's Rules for Rain Riding:

1) You can't stay dry. You can only stay warm. If you stay warm, it's like a swimming in a comfortable pool.

2) Wear booties. Key. Wear gloves. Key.

3) Watch the painted lines and manhole covers. Treat them as if they are like ice. They can be in the rain.

4.) Allow 20-30 mins to clean, dry and lube your bicycle after the ride, you'll need it.

I've ridden a zillion miles and hours in the rain. Heavy rain. 38º rain. I know what I'm talking about. Trust me on all this.

Yes you can ride in the rain. Hard, windy rain sucks 10x worse than light or moderate rain. And you should overdress for rainy conditions, they feel much colder, particularly on sub 50º rainy days. It's hard to overdress in the rain unless it's over 80º.

JoelS

When the parts come in, I'll be building up a CF frame with some components I scrounged off another bike and wheels extra wheels I have. Then I'll put on a rear clip-on fender. That's my rain bike. I'm hoping everything is in this week.

Impulse666

thats over nine thousand!!!!

patentcad

I was being conservative.

ptle

I rode in the pouring rain while it was around 50*F. It was a bit miserable compared to nice weather, but nothing you can't handle. Being cold was the worst part. I had forgotten my gloves.

Just be careful on turns and slippery things on the road like other people have mentioned. You may also want to dress warmer than usual. I had on a base layer, bibs, jersey, knee warmers, sock, shoes, and a really thin wind breaker. It was pretty cold, but once you start moving its not bad.

Oh I should add that glasses help. I wore my yellow tint "sun"glasses.

cicleto

eyeglasses...

Randochap

Today, I went for a short ride (30km) in the rain. It was just above freezing. I have the flu.

I had to let a doofus on a Bion-x-assisted "bicycle" pass me on a steep highway overpass.

The humiliation of it all!

RideCO

Riding in the rain is a blast, just do it.

You might want to watch out for the rear brake though if you do any big descending.

leakysieve

What???!!!

caloso

Get fenders.
Get a cycling cap to go under your helmet.
Get wool underwear.
Get booties.
Get your ass out there and ride your bike.

myclem

Riding in the rain is like riding in Seattle.

BengeBoy 

...or even a baseball cap. . The larger the bill, the more rain you can keep out of your eyes.