Winter Riding
One of those days when all the car drivers were sitting smugly in their dry metal boxes, peering out at me sitting at the traffic lights while the rain sheeted in. My shoes already soaked through and rapidly filling with water, water running down my face and blood slowly withdrawing from my finger tips. A day at work spent squelching around in wet socks and my office looking like a laundry with rain jacket, pack cover and cycling clothes hanging out to dry. Just a few months ago I was looking for every bit of shade I could on the commute to work! Its time to unpack the shoe covers, waterproof pants and maybe invest in one of those high-vis vests.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Dickson on -
I agree re: the importance of having the right gear. I use:
- a lightweight merino wool (IceBreaker) thermal top (short sleeve or long sleeve depending on the temperature)
- my lightweight cycling jacket
- a Burley rain jacket (discontinued I think), which is high vis yellow, has large zippers under the arms, and can be opened right up a the chest/neck, so ventilation is good
- gloves if it's cold enough
- some fairly lightweight long knicks which don't absorb too much water
I also have good, cheap, waterproof panniers (http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Tioga-Waterproof-Rear-Pannier) and a rear rack, so it's no dramas at all taking heaps of spare clothes, towel etc.
Plus I have excellent lights so I can see and be seen on cold wintery days and nights.
With the right gear, riding in the rain is a pleasure.
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Permalink Reply by Darren Bosanko on -
Am I a lesser person for being a fair weather rider?
Went out for an early Sunday morning ride from City to Beach....Started raining at Marion rd so I made a bee line for home (hangs head in shame)
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on -
It depends.....I wouldnt ride in the rain with a mudguardless bike, unless I absolutely had too. I get wet enough as it is with mudguards on the bike, and getting to work with the dirty wet stripe up your back is not a lot of fun.
But as someone else pointed out, if you have the right gear (mudguards, waterproofs and overshoes) then riding in the rain can be quite enjoyable. No waterproofs will keep rain out forever and you do swaet alot inside waterproofs too, so either way you get wet to some extent. It always helps if you know you are heading to somewhere warm and dry.
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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on -
If you happen to be riding on road that hasnt been washed clean or has grit thrown into the bike lane by cars and you get that grit and water you can ruin components in 3 months. The water in the gutter lane is like liquid sandpaper and the lighter your groupset the worse this stuff cuts through alloys and titanium.
-=Think of valve grinding paste.=-
Water shooting up off the back wheel can make its way down the seatpost to the bottom bracket and out through the cranks shaft at best only ruining the BB bearings
some time when you have ridden distance in the rain turn you bike over and watch what comes out ... then rub some of that water between your fingers.. this is why I dont commute on my road bike and I have steel MTB with barely a deore quality groupo for days like today when i just got wet enough to make sand stick.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on -
Are they your first Cell goodies? I'm curious to know what their quality and sizing is like in general.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on
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My chest is about 40" and I like a snug fit, but being about 6"1' medium sizes are sometimes too short for me in the body and arms.
The winter jersey seems to be have gone black-only and up $10 since you bought it, but they have sizing diagrams which includes length, so I could check it against ones I already have. Good stuff!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on
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I have a really good Castelli winter jersey which is still going strong after a few years, and since it has a permanent streak of road grime up the back, I don't have to worry about keeping it too clean!
But when its time has come, I'll certainly look at Cell again - thanks for the info.
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on
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Just bought this:
and these waterproof socks:
from my friends at Wiggle
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Carla, not for everyone, but I made my own high visibility vest which is roomy enough to go over my backpack.
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Permalink Reply by Rob W on -
I picked up some super roubaix overpants from that shop on rundle st along with a long sleeve fleecy lined jeryey for a shade over $200. The jersey required nothing underneath on the cold thursday just gone, and the overpants were comfy and warm (even though they are a little too long for me).
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Permalink Reply by Michael Murray on -
For getting dry at work a `disabled' toilet (so you can be alone) with a hot air hand dryer does wonders. For the ride I am still wearing an old gortex suit (top and pants) bought in the 80s. I tried a netti rain proof top recently but not being goretex I got wetter from sweat with it on than rain with it off.
Michael
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Permalink Reply by Sambo on -
Hi Everyone,
I'm a big advocate of icebreaker gear. Similar to the ground effects, it's an NZ product.
It's pricy, but i think i get great value out of it.
I use a couple of layers for the commute to work, and 1 layer for the ride home.
If i need something waterproof i use a rain jacket over the top.
Some things are worth spending the money on
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