Rain Rides

Lately, in Flagstaff, we've had abnormal amounts of rain. I know if you live in the northwest US, or the  midwest in the spring/fall, you will be riding in the rain a lot.

Tips for a better ride: If it's a cool rain, where a BREATHABLE rain jacket, or you'll defeat its purpose. Your sweat will soak through to your core, and you'll be just as wet as you would've been had you ridden without it. Also, wear bike booties, or tape a plastic bag around your feet (again, only if it's a cold rain), to keep your feet from being puddles of cold wetness that make them numb. You'll also want eyewear (preferably lighter tinted lenses) because rain drops flying into your eyeballs at 30+ mph does NOT feel good.

QUADRUPLE check that your brakes are closed. I have had so many occasions with loading/unloading from a bike rack, where the wheels have been reattached, but the brakes were never closed. Especially in the rain, that is bad stuff.

If you're riding on an ascent, and have to descend afterwards, your sweat and the rain will make you wet and tired on the way up. Turning around in that can cause dangerously cold temperatures for riders on the descent, especially for women. If you're cold on the descent, know that you may find it really difficult to break...not because your brakes give out, but because your hands are too cold to pull the levers with enough strength to slow you down well. Been there, done that, and it scared the daylights out of me! My only solution at that point, is to turn around and start climbing for a few minutes again, just to get me warmer.

Check your tires. Sounds weird, but it makes sense. Spin each one slowly to make sure the threads aren't showing through, and that nothing has massively punctured it somewhere. Usually in the rain, the roads get really, really messy. Debris is everywhere, and your cause will be hopeless with thin, old tires.

When you're done with your ride for the day, rinse your bike off! Your parts will rust and the bike will start making all kinds of noises if  you don't get the rain and road water, mud, and dirt off of your bike. When you're finished rinsing, LUBE your chain! Let it set, then wipe it off. The squeaks really start in your derailleur, bottom bracket, and chain when the rain settles over them.

Avoid Gravel on the curves like they're the plague. Under normal conditions, gravel is dangerous for riding; the bike can  come out from under you faster than lightning!  But when it's raining, it's a lose-lose situation most of the time. Steer clear!

Last, but not least, give the rider in front of you a TON of room for stopping time. Your brake pads will get covered in gummed-up-road-goodness, and will stop working effectively in the rain. Giving yourself more room than you think you'll need is super important for preventing a mega wipe out.

Enjoy riding!
Kel