Advice for biking in the rain

[Oblivious Recidivist]

I was very conflicted today: I needed the “fix” of a nice long commute into work, and I’ve biked in the rain before, although it’s always when I’ve been caught in the rain mid-ride, or biked into work and needed to get wet to get home.

I had a 90 minute ride in the rain last Thursday night going home, and I wasn’t uncomfortable. The soft shell jacket kept me warm and the helmet kept the rain off my head … but the bike did squeak and make more noise near the end, and that got me wondering: If I’m going to be truly hardcore and bike to and from work on rainy days like today, what measures should I be taking?

* Anything special to rain-proof the bike?
* Maintenance I should do more frequently?
* Recommended rain gear?
* Special safety measures?

I did take a slightly longer route home on Thursday to avoid a very narrow shoulder on a dark rainy road (Bradley Blvd), but as a newbie, I’m sure there’s more I should be doing.

Thanks for any advice!
Brian

Topic

[sam_aye_am]

@hozn 101772 wrote:

Isn’t that only lime 2500 miles? The belt didn’t even last as long as a chain?

2745 Miles with ~ 200k of climbing on a 35 lb bike through snow, rain, mud, and lots of dirt. Think this guy averaged 160 miles /day. While not speaking to longevity, he also placed in the top 10 of the 2010 single speed worlds on a belt drive.

From the article : Eds Note: Typically, a Gates Carbon Drive belt will last twice as long as a chain, which proved true through the Tour Divide as other competitors had to do multiple chain replacements.

Gates: Do you think your belt drive was a factor in your victory?

Ollie: Definitely. The big time saving is the lack of lube. Craig would have to stop and lube his chain three or four times per day. Craig also changed his chain twice. It’s a psychological boost as well, knowing that you can keep riding without having to stop.

[Author]

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