Performance Tips: Riding in the Rain

Here is you no-nonsense guide to cycling in the rain. Here are some tips to ensure your satefy and enjoyment of wet weather riding:

1. Think warm, not waterproof -- When riding in cold rain, if you try to be completely waterproof, you will sweat inside the waterproof gear, and end up cold and wet. Plastic rain capes are great for a complete downpour or descent, but you sweat up a storm (no pun intended).



2. Road Muck in Face -- Rainy group rides mean that you will get road muck in your eyes. Either go to the front or draft someone with a fender. Consider wearing a visor or cap under your helmet to shield your eyes from rain and dirt



3. Visibility -- Wear bright yellow or orange to make yourself more visible. Consider reflectors or lights for your bicycle.



4. Technique -- Braking in the rain or anytime your rims are wet, remember that the first few revolutions will only dry the rims and pads. Allow yourself more stopping distance. Once the rims and pads are dry you may find yourself suddenly stopping, be ready to loosen your grip. Skidding can result if you are not careful.



5. Tires -- Keeping your tires slightly under inflated increases contact with the road.



6. Fenders -- Fenders maybe a good investment, especially if you commute. They are fairly effective at keeping the rain and dirt off of you and your bike. Keeping your bicycle in good form, by waxing the frame and keeping the drivetrain well lubricated you can help prevent some of the wear and tear of the weather. Also, servicing your bike immediately upon completion of a ride will help.



7. Brake Early and Often -- Allow plenty of stopping distance. Gently squeeze your brakes in the rain to clear the water from you brake pads before you need to stop.



8. Avoid Some Painted and Steel Road Surfaces and Leaves -- Steel plates, sewer covers, grates and other metal can be very slick in the rain. Avoid using your brakes or turning on painted surfaces and on leaves and oily spots. The video of Lance Armstrong winning Worlds in 1993 in a downpour dramatically illustrates this guideline, with lots of pros slipping and sliding.

   For another example, Christophe Mengin rode like a legend. The crowds along the final 20 kilometers were deafening, shouting “Christophe! Christophe!” But everything else was against him. Everything couldn’t have been working out better until that last kilometer. With one rider up the road having the ride of his life through his hometown. Then it happened. Christophe pushed really hard at the turn to home on wet road. Stage 6 of the 2005 Tour de France where the leader first crashed on the white paint and a dozen other cyclists (sprinters) into him. The number one rule of making a breakaway is that you never, ever look behind you. While it's good to know where the chase is, the very gesture suggests defeat, a lack of confidence in your own abilities. If that confidence wavers for even a moment, if you hesitate, the race is lost.
   
   Christophe Mengin did not look back today. Instead, he put every bit of his considerable skill as a bike racer into winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France. And it still was not enough.
   
   Mengin looked to become the first successful breakaway at this year's race when he slid out in the final corner, skidding across the road into the barriers within sight of the finish line.

   Christophe Mengin lay in the gutter bleeding from a wound sustained in a crash 900m from the finish.

   His Francaise des Jeux team director Marc Madiot was in tears at the finish. “It’s a sad end,” he murmured. “To see the effort of Christophe come to an end in such unfortunate circumstances is awful. He demonstrated his courage all day but it ended in the worst possible way.”

   Only a matter of seconds after Mengin lost control and slammed into the crowd control barricades, the peloton arrived at the same turn. Hordes of bunch sprint contenders ended their bid for honors in the same way as the main protagonist of the stage from Troyes to Nancy. As the stage leader and local star lay motionless after his crash, many other riders lost control at exactly the same place.



9. Stay Out of the Puddles -- While it is tempting to splash through puddles especially if you have really good rain gear, a puddle can disguise a very deep pothole.



10. Slow Down on Newly Wet Roads -- That first rain brings all the oil on the road to the surface making for a slippery ride. This is especially true after a long dry spell. Give yourself longer stopping distances and keep a firmer grip on your handlebars. This means: A small sprinkle brings oil out on the road; a downpour washes it away. So, the more it rains, the less slick the road surface can be! But be careful when you corner, no matter how hard it is raining.



11. Extra Tube -- Rubber cuts much easier when it's wet, so bring an extra tube and a powerbar wrapper or dollar bill. If you get a cut in your tire, place the PB wrapper or dollar bill in between your tube and the tire when you're changing the tube. This way the tube won't sneak out of the cut and explode 2 revolutions after you start up again.



12. Lube -- A good downpour will wash the lubricant off your chain, causing rust and deterioration. Carry a small container of chain lube, and a rag to wipe dirt and water off your chain before you oil it.



13. Jacket -- For serious riders investing in rain gear may also be an option for personal cleanliness.



14. Stay Dry and Warm -- You don’t need the latest and greatest cycling gear to get around town by bicycle. A decent rain jacket and pants are your best defense. They both cut down on wind and keep you dry. If you can afford it, GoreTex or other breathable fabric will keep the rain out and keep you from feeling clammy. Fenders are also a very good investment – they keep your clothes from getting gritty and dirty. Nice extras include waterproof gloves, a snug hood or cap, a synthetic layer next to your skin to wick away moisture, and rain booties to go over your shoes.



15. Ater Ride -- Just wipe the bike down with a towel and lubricate the chain. Some prefer using a water dispersing spray on houses, cables, gear and pivots of the brakes.



16. Dry Your Shoes -- Remove the inserts, ball up newspaper, and shove the newspaper in your shoes.

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