shyonelung

Great ride today and I'm dying - just dying - to get back out there tomorrow but we've rain in the forecast. I never thought I'd even think about riding in the rain but after seeing some folks cycling last week during a downpour, I'm starting to wonder if my fears are really justified. I know fresh rain can be slippery but if it's been raining for a few hours/days and the streets are soaked through, is it safe to ride? Is it any more dangerous than a dry surface? What do I need to know about riding in the rain?
Seems obvious that some traffic decals painted on the road might be slick when wet and that I should avoid getting caught riding over one during cornering or perhaps on a descent. My main fear is slipping and falling on turns or during downhills because the surface is extra thick. But should I worry? Do I need to slow down?

gregf83 

Slow down on corners and give yourself a little extra distance when braking as the brakes won't be as effective when wet and/or covered in muck.

chaadster

There is less traction in the wet, but you just back up on the aggressiveness and you'll be fine, by which I mean primarily, don't hit corners with such speed and resulting lean angles, brake a little earlier, and don't go crazy with the explosive, out-of-the-saddle sprints.

Just know traction is lower, and that 10/10ths is lower, and test roadholding gradually rather than suddenly.

shoota 

There are hundreds of resources on google for exactly this question.

KypD

us Florida boys probably ride in the rain as often as the dry in the summer.

the couple years I was commuting on the bike reliably meant some sketchy rides on roads near UCF (30,000 student drivers in the rain...asking for trouble). oh yeah, and if you're with a buddy....if you're pulling at least you don't have to deal with the rooster tail from his wheel!

justin1138

throw on some wool socks, avoid the paint when turning (manholes get slick too), and do what the other guys said.

f4rrest

Riding in the rain is a blast. As long as it's not at night. Visibility is horrible at night when everything is wet.

cycledogg

You are correct on being careful while riding in the rain. And the advice above is all good. But, one thing to consider about rain riding is the wear and tear it puts on the bike. A wet bike will collect more dirt and grime that will infuse into the drive train more easily than on a dry ride. Also, water will enter small areas such as bearings and other openings on the bike creating corrosion and removing lubricants. This is why a lot of folks who regularly ride in the rain get a dedicated "rain bike" or "beater bike". I know there may be times when an individual may get caught in rain but to do it intently, one should consider the effects of the rain on the bike components. The times I have been caught in the rain, once I return home I will dis-assemble the bike and clean/dry/re grease/oil/ the complete bike. A long task. I don't have a rain bike but someday I may.
Cheers

Slackerprince

I use a rain day to cross-train at the gym.

S

Kopsis

Don't worry about the effect of rain on you or the bike. You can easily adjust your riding to suit the available traction. The wear on the bike is negligible if you maintain good lube in the bearings and chain. Yeah, your next chain lube will need to come sooner but unless put in a lot of time in the rain, the rest of the bearings will be fine until their next maintenance cycle. Just make sure that once everything has had a chance to dry out, you do a short ride to circulate the grease in the bearings.

The big risk of riding in the rain is the effect on motorists. Visibility is reduced, braking distance is increased, speed disparity between cars is increased, and already distracted drivers are even more distracted feeling sorry for themselves about how wet they're going to get dashing into Starbucks. Mount your most powerful blinkie (or two or three), don your brightest kit, and turn the defensive riding knob up to 11

caloso

Tampa via PDX? You must get in a lot of cross training.

Slackerprince

LOL. Lived in PDX for a long time and got really tired of the cold and rain.
I guess I should have researched the heat and rain in Florida.
I was going to buy a trainer for rainy days here, but decided it would be
a great opportunity to use the community gym and do some weights.
I've even done it a few times!

S

PS-Today's weather:

https://weather.aol.com/forecast/toda...hapel/id/33544


OH YEAH!!!

AScoda

Something else to keep in mind, rain is often cold and will get in your shoe vents. Wet feet, cold or not, sucks. Toe covers will keep feet dryer.

pdedes

and if you're riding with others, do them the courtesy, and yourself the benefit, of riding with fenders. get some full coverage clip ons and your rain riding pleasure will increase exponentially

Homebrew01

I just got caught in some drizzle. The garden hose was frozen, so my bike got the fancy shower today

shoota 

Did you ride today?? I rode this morning at 7:30 and it might as well have been raining! The fog was so thick I was soaked to the bone, but at least it was 70F

Gatorfreak

Haha! I gotta do that just to see my wife's reaction.

Jiggle

I love riding in the rain, but only on a CX bike, and only with the one that has Tiagra.

RollCNY

White lines and manhole covers have been mentioned, but train tracks also become treacherous. Blinky lights are your friend. Your water bottle will get covered in grunge, so adjust drinking style as needed (in NY the grunge is road salt, so this may not apply elsewhere).

1nterceptor

A lot of cyclists ride in the rain. Be careful with puddles; you don't know if there's a pothole
or drainage grate hiding underneath. Reduce your normal speed for turns; brake early. Here
I am on my roadbike with 700 X 25 cheap Serfas or Vittoria tires(can't remember which one
I got from REI that was cheapest at the time - maybe around $25):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfc...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hheUc...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

Carbonfiberboy 

In the PNW one rides in the rain a lot if one is going to ride regularly. Don't worry about the bike: most folks wash their bikes, right? Riding in a good rain will leave it fairly clean except for the rims. A bike gets far dirtier riding in the dry on wet roads. So scrub your rims after a wet ride, or wipe them with alcohol. Some tires hold better in the wet than others which hold just fine in the dry. Water will get into cup-and-cone wheel and bottom bracket bearings. Luckily, we don't have to ride those anymore. Save vintage bikes for the dry.

Clothing is important. There are many threads about that. I will ride in the rain only down to ~37° now. Colder than that really isn't any fun for me anymore.

People do have rain bikes: I have one. It's very similar to my dry road bikes. Same components (Ultegra), similar wheels and hubs. It has an aluminum frame. Carbon would also be good. However, it has permanently mounted full-coverage fenders and long mudflaps. It's also different in that it has Mavic OpenPro ceramic rims, so no rim wear from grit. Very, very sadly Mavic no longer makes them and there is no equivalent replacement made.

Slackerprince

Sorry for the late reply. I rode around 3:00 at Flatwoods and it was gorgeous. TONS of people out there.
Nice ride, nap, then Super Bowl. Sweet.
It's been warm every day and I'm loving it.

S

Niloc

jeez just ride in rain. Sure it's nicer when it's sunny but you make it sound like the rain is made of terrifying acid that's going to melt your tires or something.

Ride a little slower until you get used to the traction. Skinny road bike tires actually do great in the wet because there's a lot of PSI on the small contact patch and they get right through to the ground. Definitely use fenders to keep the muck off you and allow you to ride in a paceline. I mount full fenders on my bike sometime in the fall and take 'em off in spring. I'm in Seattle and not riding in the rain would be kind of a problem. Watch out for the first rain of the fall or after a long dry period, that first bit of moisture brings up all the motor oil and other gunk on the road and makes it slippery. After a good downpour though that stuff is washed off.

Black Beer

<A cycling cap under your helmet will help keep the rain out of your eyes.
<Some brake pads work better than others in the rain. I like Koolstop salmon.
<A light squeeze on the brakes before clamping down can help clear some of the crap from your rims.
<Tri shoes dump water pretty well and are made to be worn without socks.
<Don't wear your good jersey. wear that crappy one you got for Christmas last year. It'll look great with a dirt stripe down the center of your back.
<If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.

You live in Florida now. If you ride in the Summer you are going to get wet. It's usually not long or cold so learn to embrace the wet. Another local knowledge thing, drawbridges. They are like riding over a giant, slick cheesegrater. Be careful.