Cycling in the rain: some quick tips.

It’s raining outside today, and though I don’t have a ride scheduled, I got to thinking about rain cycling. As long as it’s not too chilly (and in Gainesville, we rarely have to worry about that), cycling in the rain can be very enjoyable. Also, in races we don’t get the luxury of choosing our weather conditions, so it’s important to get experience cycling in the rain under relatively controlled conditions.

Some tips:

1. Bring a rain jacket. Even if it’s warm, the wind and rain can chill you more than you expect. And, if you double flat and get stranded until your roomate/partner/ambulance picks you up, you’ll appreciate the warmth and protection. Don’t overdress, though–you’ll be carrying around layers of sopping wet clothes, which will make you chilled.
2. Give yourself more braking room. Especially if you’re using rim brakes, which require a few extra turns of the wheel to gain full stopping power. Also, Motorized Killing Machines (oops, I mean cars) have less visibility in rain, so watch out.
3. Use less tire pressure. Hopefully, you’re not pumping your tires up to more than 120psi (unless you’re a Clyde) anyway. But, in rain, go as low as 80 or 90psi for a bit of extra grip.
4. Some would tell you to avoid deep dish carbon and disc wheels due to the rigidity of the wheels, but I haven’t seen the actual data so I can’t really comment on that.
5. Ride a bike with fenders. This will save a lot of wear and tear on your drivetrain, and keep your legs drier.
6. MOST IMPORTANTLY, clean your drivetrain after riding in the rain. This means at LEAST wiping down with a dry cloth, lubing the chain and degreasing the derailleurs. Chains rust, derailleurs get gunked up and cables deteriorate when you ride in the rain. If you clean your drivetrain after it gets wet, you will get a lot more life out of your components.
7. Don’t wear white shorts, unless you’re feeling particularly ballsy.