Fair Weather friends

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CamDS on February 23, 2011 at 10:09am

For me it really depends on what gear I have to take home with me. Most days I commute with a laptop and if it's raining I usually don't take it with me. If I'm already at the office and it starts raining I'll cycle home leaving my gear there.

 

Although last week I did manage to cycle home with all my gear and it stayed dry while I got completely soaked.

 

My commuting bike is pretty old though (old Apollo road bike), but if it's raining I normally take my townie which is a bit safer on slippery roads.

Permalink Reply by DamianM on February 23, 2011 at 10:10am

You're a wuss! (kidding)

I rode today, but I've noticed that in Brisbane people tend not to ride in the rain. I certainly saw a lot fewer people out today.

Having moved up from Sydney where rain was a lot more frequent it doesn't bother me at all, but last February when the rain started i saw NOBODY else out riding. I'm guessing that given the wet year we had people would have gotten a little more used to it though.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Rasmussen on February 23, 2011 at 10:39am

I have a friend who has an old bike for riding on wet days. 

 

Riding to work is pretty much my only exercise option at the moment, so I try not to let rain stop me getting out on the bike. I tend to at least change my route in the wet to ride on quieter roads/more bikepaths (sometimes almost doubling trip time). If I didn't have the quieter options, I'd ride in the rain less. When I have my daughter with me I'll resort to public transport if it's really bucketing down, as the trailer isn't particularly waterproof.

 

A good waterproof pannier makes it easier for me. I also carry a cheap pair of safety glasses for riding in the rain at night.

 

I think my friend has the answer though, if you're lucky enough to have a new bike to be worried about getting wet, then get yourself a $50 clunker for riding in the rain.

 

I don't think wussiness really comes into it. If it's important enough to you, you'll work out how to do it..

Permalink Reply by DamianM on February 23, 2011 at 10:48am

A while ago I bought a Banjo Brothers backpack. This thing is awesome. Fits everything (including laptop, shoes, clothes) and is totally waterproof. Highly recommended.

Permalink Reply by CamDS on February 23, 2011 at 10:52am

Yeah I've got a top peak one that clips onto a rack at the back which kept all my gear dry in that downpour last week but I just try and avoid riding with my laptop in the rain if I can.

Permalink Reply by DamianM on February 23, 2011 at 10:52am

Also, if you find that the rain makes it impossible to see (even with glasses) get a cycling cap. For me they keep the rain of my cycling glasses enough that it's not an issue anymore.

 

I like these, handmade in Australia :)

Permalink Reply by Paul Martin on February 23, 2011 at 10:58am

It depends on my destination. If I'm heading home I don't mind getting wet. In fact, riding in the summer rain is one of life's great pleasures.

 

However, if I'm riding to a location where I don't want to be soaking wet I have some waterproof (and very thin) overclothes which I put over the clothes I'm wearing. I also have some waterproof covers for my shoes and the jacket has a hood to keep rain from my eyes. I find that if it is a warm day I have to slow down a little otherwise I'll be as wet from sweat as I would be from the rain! So far this works really well for me.

 

The shoe covers, pants & jacket all roll up into a tiny package which sits neatly in the corner of my Waterproof pannier.

 

If it stops raining but I still have a way to go, I remove all the overclothes, roll them into a tight package and strap them to my rear rack. This way I don't put wet items into my pannier bag with my dry gear.

 

I feel just as safe in the wet as the dry and I modify my behaviour accordingly - a slower journey essentially. I'm also more mindful of places where debris & oil collects on the road and I avoid riding through puddles on bitumen (could be a pothole). I usually don't ride in the rain with glasses of any sort on - they often fog up and water drops on the lens impairs vision.

 

My bike has excellent hub brakes (& hub gears) which work no matter how wet it is and it has very low mudguards to keep the road grime off me (and cyclists behind me!). A chainguard keeps the chain very clean so it rarely needs attention. In fact, my bike is so well designed for riding in bad weather it is a pleasure to do so! :)

 

I rode to work this morning with my rain gear and arrived nice and dry and so did the contents of my pannier. I have different (Basil & Ortlieb brand) panniers depending on the weather. If I'm expecting heavy rain I take the waterproof ones. If it is only going to rain lightly I just put the waterproof cover over the pannier.

 

Hope this is of some use.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Rasmussen on February 23, 2011 at 11:33am

Ah, mudguards. Anyone have tips on full size 26" mudguards? Would like to reduce spray back onto the trailer.

Permalink Reply by Paul Martin on February 23, 2011 at 11:36am

Try these:

 

 

This is David Hembrow's online shop. You can email him for advice and he's very helpful.

 

He also sells chainguards & coatguards :)

Permalink Reply by Aaron Ball on February 23, 2011 at 4:10pm

Andrew I find with my daughter's trailer that most mudguards don't go low enough to prevent the spray going onto the trailer.  Even with a good long guard like the one Paul has posted, you may have to fashion an old-style leather flap to get extended coverage.  You could probably get an offcut of thick leather from a shoe repairer, and just pop-rivet it to the bottom of the mudguard.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Rasmussen on February 23, 2011 at 4:27pm

Thank you gentlemen. Very useful.

Permalink Reply by Philip Blackler on December 16, 2011 at 2:40pm

If it is a 26" try 29" mudguards or cruiser mudguards, they cover much more of the wheel.  The big Dummy has 180 degree coverage.

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