Rain Gear and rain bike care?

[mstone]

fenders

[ejwillis62]

Getting fenders on Saturday, anything else?

[jwetzel]

If I ride in the rain, I move up my next scheduled chain clean and lube. I have a rain jacket shell layer, but still looking for a good pant solution.

[Arlingtonrider]

I have two rain jackets – the first is a bright red REI Novarra one that is not particularly well vented but ok for some weather. I rarely use it.

My favorite and by far most used one is this $24 jacket from Performancebike.com – http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10054_10551_1120930_-1_400070__400070.
It has venting all the way up the sides and along the bottom of the sleeves (venting is not evident from the photo unless you zoom in), a high neck, and a long apron in back. If mud spots get on your back, they can be wiped off with a sponge. It’s inexpensive enough that I bought it in two sizes, one for summer and a larger one for winter. If you handle the velcro front opening a little carefully, it will last a long time.

I also have REI Stratos rain pants, which are baggy but seem to work alright under most wet conditions. I haven’t tried them in a drenching rain though. There may be better options.

I try to give my chain a quick wipe down, lube, and another wipe down after riding in rain, although I don’t always get to the lube and after-lube wipedown right away.

I’ll add that I’m a short distance (8 mile) commuter. What works well for me is not a recommendation for more serious/faster/longer distance riders.

[vvill]

I also let the bike dry and then wipe and lube.

For clothing – generally I wear stuff that tends to be water resistant and more form-fitting, and if it really pours then I’ll just get wet. The only exception is a waterproof cycling jacket which I’ll wear it if it’s really pouring (it doesn’t let you breathe much). Certain MTB shorts + leg/knee warmers give a decent amount of water resistance on my legs.

The key for me is to have fans and old newspapers, etc at work so my cycling stuff will be dry by the time I leave at the end of the day. I also keep spare socks, etc at work in case they’re not. My hair dries fast.

[jwfisher3]

Liz – I’m sure that commuters more articulate than me (e.g. eminva, Greenbelt, Dirt, MG, to name a few) will have lots to share with you, but here’s a few thoughts – you’ve arranged to get fenders, and these will keep you remarkably drier than going without, and will be the best investment in all-weather cycling you could imagine. For gear – the important thing to keep in mind is the worst thing is to be cold AND wet simultaneously, that will lead to problems. Your usual gear to keep warm are the layers underneath some sort of water-resistant or water proof shell. You’ll be surprised how often you can get by with just a water resistant/repellent shell over your warm layers, esp. if you have fenders, even with commutes of an hour or so. If it’s really raining, then a waterproof shell is called for, and the main issue there is breathability. The cheaper the waterproof shell, the less it breathes, and you’ll get surprisingly warm (read clammy) even in temps below 40. Look at shells with vents, pitzips,etc, I’d suggest shopping sales. Many commuters don’t pay as much attention to shorts/tights/pants being weather proof, but there are lots of options there, too. Lastly, your hands and feet must stay as dry as you can make them in this “winter” weather, here GoreTex, WxB Barrier, etc. are necessary, but the good news is booties and weatherproof gloves are affordable, esp. if you have some from skiiing or some other winter sport that wants waterproofing. Be mindful that you’ll see lots better in the rain than will anyone driving behind the windshield of a car. Be highly visible – reflective, screaming yellow, well lighted, etc. The bike maintenance issue is – make sure your bike gets a going over when you get home to clean off the grit, etc. (once again, fenders are a big help) and your chain will need wiping clean/lube. Lubes that stand up to wet weather also tend to attract dirt/grit – your bike shop is a great source of advice on lubes. You riding on in the face of wet winter weather is a demarcation that you’re hard core. Congratulations!

[Terpfan]

I experimented some and realized the end trade off was I didn’t mind getting a little wet so long as it wasn’t drenching thunderstorms. That’s not to say I haven’t ran into those before–once soaked and I just usually keep going rather than trying to stay dry. I actually don’t use fenders, but they would help some. I just don’t end up caring quite too much, but I also plenty of space to hang stuff up to dry and usually a solid 9 hours between riding in and out.

[birddog]

The first thing to do in the rain is slow down – I’ve often laid my bike down in the rain because of wet conditions combined with recklessness and speed and it’s not fun.

You said you’re getting fenders – but don’t forget full-coverage gloves and a hood either connected to your jacket or one that goes over the collar of your jacket.

Then I’d say lights are important – it’s harder to see in the rain. One last thing to think about is the number of layers you’re wearing. The rain this week will bring cold, but not that much cold. Try not to triple-up on layers. Once the outer one is wet, it will get the other layers wet, then your kit gets heavier, you get slower, and you’re in the rain longer.

Good luck!

[arlrider]

I put my backpack in a kitchen trash bag and tie it up, drawstring side down. Then I rip two small slits, only enough to pull the straps through. Works great. The rest of me can get wet – it’s only water.

And +1 to birddog above – I ride SO SLOWLY in the rain it’s not even funny. But I have wiped out enough to know what’s good for me. Be especially careful around manhole covers, grates, and other metal things; they can get really slick.

[Greenbelt]

Lane “paint” — which is usually a sort of plastic-ish strip these days, not actually paint — can also be quite slippery when wet. Also, wood bridges.

Just don’t overcook any turns on the trails, double up on your lights, and ride extra defensively, since drivers sometimes can’t see well, underestimate their stopping distances, have bald tires and bad wipers etc.

Also, although it may sound counter intuitive, make sure to fill your water bottles. Gets thirsty out there in the rain working a little harder than usual, and you may be sweating more if your rain jacket gets too warm underneath. (I don’t wear rain jackets any more, but I do put on a Gore-Tex pants shell sometimes — it’s my legs that can get colder in the rain, not my upper body.) And the extra water is useful for cleaning off rain-splattered glasses etc.

[thecyclingeconomist]

+1 for evading the dreaded manhole cover! Those things are as bad as black-ice! I learned that earlier this season (luckily, I didn’t go down, but it was VERY close)

If you run a rear rack, I find that i don’t really need a rear fender. I just run an SKS fender on the front. REI sells waterproof backpack covers (osprey), and they work great. I prefer waterproof panniers, so that is what I have gone with.

If your bike frame is steel, then you should really consider:
1. treating your frame with Boeshield’s frame-saver.
2. doing a wipe-down to get the standing water off immediately after your wet-ride.

If your bike frame is aluminum, then as long as you are running a wet-lube (something like Finishline’s wet), you don’t have to worry too much about drying things off. Just do as the others say and make sure to do regular wipe-downs and light cleaning of your drive-train to keep the grit to a minimum. If you don’t clean/re-lube, you’ll end up replacing your chain, chainrings, cassette within a couple months of wet-riding because your shifting will become inaccurate and your chain may start skipping over the teeth on your chainrings due to excessive wear (shark-fining).

Good luck, safe riding and God bless!

[KS1G]

Trickiest bits for me are keeping head, hands, and feet comfortable. Rain jacket takes care of core, and windproof tights work well enough for legs. I have a sealskinz skull cap (helmet light precludes using a helmet cover). Waterproof overgloves, although rain may get in under the cuffs. Gloves never dry out during day so I keep a spare at work. Mixed results with shoe covers and regular (MTB) shoes, or winter shoes (Lake), and waterproof socks (something probikekit was selling and there’s a picture of someone standing in a acquarium tank wearing them). The socks work, but if water trickles down my legs, they stay in the socks! Spare set at work as they don’t dry quickly, either. Rain covers for bag/pannier and anything that cannot get wet is in it’s own plastic bag. Concur on lights – be visible to drivers, and enough to illuminate puddles, other debris & hazards, and ninja walkers!

You’ll feel awesome when coworkers ask “did you REALL ride in TODAY?”.

[KLizotte]

Don’t laugh but a really cheap, super light, effective rain cover for your helmet is one of those freebie shower caps you get in hotels. They squish up to nothing and are made of clear plastic so hardly visible when on. They have an elastic band so they easily slip on the helmet and stay put. Unfortunately they aren’t very durable but they are so light I keep one in my emergency bag at all times wrapped in an elastic band. They would probably work okay as shoe covers in a pinch too.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@KLizotte 40245 wrote:

Don’t laugh but a really cheap, super light, effective rain cover for your helmet is one of those freebie shower caps you get in hotels. They squish up to nothing and are made of clear plastic so hardly visible when on. They have an elastic band so they easily slip on the helmet and stay put. Unfortunately they aren’t very durable but they are so light I keep one in my emergency bag at all times wrapped in an elastic band. They would probably work okay as shoe covers in a pinch too.

I love this tip! I NEVER wanted to pay $25 for a stupid helmet cover, after all; my head is usually wet from sweat when it isn’t raining. In a cold down pore, this is a fun, super cheap solution.

I’ve still never found a better waterproof shoe cover than a standard plastic shopping bag (properly fitted and tied so that rain pants go over the top). You can clip in right through the bag. However, if you are unclipping and putting your feet down a lot, you’ll probably wear holes in the bottom.

[adamx]

agree with all already mentioned and i too have hotel shower caps hidden in rain jackets, saddle bags etc. rain gear is a lot of trial and error and depends on how much you want to spend and don’t limit yourself to ‘cycling specific’. try to give the bike a wipe down when you get to work and certainly the chain when you get home.

AND..someone mentioned newspaper…it is the ‘quick dry solution’. stuff in your shoes and wrap shoes in them…they’ll dry while you are the office or over night!!!

i’d like someone to invent a waterproof rain/shawl/vest thingy. kind of like a vest that covers the shoulders and makes it down your back and has just 3/4 length arms

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