[1Topodope]

<p>Hi Kicksters!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I tri newbie, I have been very lucky with weather on race day.  This morning my luck ran out.  As I was loading my bike I heard the thunder.  As I pulled out of the driveway the sky lit up with lightening.  I made the 45-minute drive to the race in rain like I haven't seen in a long time.  There were times when I could not see where I was going.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ten minutes before the race start my training partner and I were sitting in her car biting our nails.  The thunder and lightening had stopped.  The wind had died down a bit.  But the rain remained. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Neither of us have any experience riding in the rain.  In the end we both decided race day was not the day to start. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am totall bummed.  I am also determined to not let this happen again.  So, what do I need to know about riding in the rain (other than getting my ass out there and doing it)? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>- Do you vary tire pressure based on rain?</p>
<p>- Do you use your breaks more or less? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I believe I read on here that a bike path is a good place to start as far as riding in the rain.  Is that correct? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Any help will be greatly appreciated! </p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>Yeah, things are definitely more slippery when wet.  Railroad tracks, manhole covers, piles of leaves, even the road paint all become hazards in the rain.  Main thing is not to make any sharp turns or sudden stops on these things.  Otherwise it's pretty much just riding like normal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oh - wet tires tend to grab road debris (like little chunks of glass), so whenever I ride in the rain I make sure to bring 2 or 3 spare tubes instead of just the 1 that I normally carry.</p>

 

[slow_n_steady]

<p>Check for worms before you drink out of your water bottle. Give yourself a little extra time to brake. Make sure to clean and dry your bike really well after you get home. Have some warm, dry clothes waiting for you in the car.</p>

 

[jroden]

<p>just let some air out of the tires and take the turns a little slower.  stripes in the road applied with reflective tape, rail treacks and any sort of steel covers will be slick, same for parking lots with fresh blacktop sealant.  beyond that you just get soaked, if it's cool you need to wear some clothes to conserve heat, otherwise just ride. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The roads tends to be most slick the first 15 mins after the rain starts, as all the dirt and exhaust on the road floats up.  Your brakes will take longer to stop.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You should have just raced, it's no big deal.</p>

 

[MBannon]

<p><br>
What??  Do I even want to know what this is about?</p>
<p><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>slow_n_steady</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74803/riding-in-the-rain#post_2009435"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Check for worms before you drink out of your water bottle.</p>
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[MBannon]

<p>Especially the chain.  Hose it off, then spray some WD-40 on it to drive off the water.  Then give it a fresh coat of oil after the WD-40 has dried (probably the next day).  Pretty much any part that moves should get a squirt of the WD, too.</p>
<p><br><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>slow_n_steady</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74803/riding-in-the-rain#post_2009435"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p> Make sure to clean and dry your bike really well after you get home.</p>
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[slow_n_steady]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74803/riding-in-the-rain#post_2009509"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p><br>
What??  Do I even want to know what this is about?</p>
<p><br>
 </p>
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<p><br>
There always seems be be a lot of worm shrapnel stuck to my bike when it rains. You wouldn't want a piece of worm to end up in your mouth, would you? Just sayin'.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[1Topodope]

<p>Thanks for the feedback.  I will be sure to watch out for road paint, railroad tracks, manhole covers....and worms! </p>

 

[jroden]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>1Topodope</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74803/riding-in-the-rain#post_2009542"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Thanks for the feedback.  I will be sure to watch out for road paint, railroad tracks, manhole covers....and worms! </p>
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<br><br><p>The deal with slick stuff is you need to cross it going straight ahead, and for items like RR tracks, at a 90 degree angle, or even better flying through the air with a bunny hop.  People get in trouble when they try to brake or turn on a slick surface, which is why people constantly wipe out when turning on rural roads with piles of gravel in the turn.  You need not go all slow, but just modify your line so you go straight over the gravel, then turn the bike where the tires have something to grab.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When you want to change where the apex of the turn will fall, you need to change where you enter the turn.  To do this, you need to look ahead and check for stuff to avoid and decide how to play it.  Unlike running, there are a number of lines a cyclist can take through a turn to carry speed in real life situations</p>
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<p> </p>

 

[pcsronbo]

<p>if it's shiny - it's slick</p>
<p>as jroden said, go STRAIGHT on shiny</p>
<p> </p>
<p>practice it. rain is no reason not to ride. train in it and you'll be comfortable enough.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>lightning... that's a deal killer</p>

 

[1Topodope]

<p>Thanks everyone!  Now that I am determined to practice riding the rain we haven't had a drop!  Mother Nature can be a bitch sometimes <span><img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>

 

[jroden]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>1Topodope</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/74803/riding-in-the-rain#post_2010054"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Thanks everyone!  Now that I am determined to practice riding the rain we haven't had a drop!  Mother Nature can be a bitch sometimes <span><img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>
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<p>you can ride all winter in southern Ohio, one good winter on the grime line and you will fear no rain<br>
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