Posts tagged “rain”  

Land and sea, or not, that bike just looks cool with it’s big, bulbous shapes. Likely those cycling in rain-drenched LA could use this for flooded intersections.

Uploaded by Nationaal Archief | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

At just over 700 fans, our Bike Hugger Facebook Fanpage is active with the comments. Last week, the topics included Bike Haters and what your Spring riding plans are.

Today, we asked “what keeps you riding in the rain?”

and the responses included

Garrett Kemnow: We are from the Pacific Northwest = raingear, What can stop us?

Bryce Shotwell: fenders are cool.

Cyndi Mundhenk: Peer pressure!

Brian Fung being able to smile as i ride past all the cars at a dead stop b/c of traffic and weather

Lang Davison Mist on my face is lovely

Michelle Rogers If we waited for the sun to shine we might not ever ride a bicycle again.

How about you readers? What keeps you riding in any weather?

I’ve ridden in sideways, full-frontal, deluge, drizzle, mist, freezing, bounce-off-the-top-tube-into-your-face rain. Snow, blizzard, freezing fog, and wet dust storms that spit mud drops. On one particularly epic Mt Rainer ride, a Forest Service Ranger handed me a plastic garbage bag so I could make it down the road a few thousand feet into warmer weather. I shivered so badly, the bike shook.

When the temps dip below 32, I don’t ride. Here in Seattle temperatures that low don’t last long. And I stop for hail too, it’s just really unpleasant. Wait a while and it’ll pass.

Related

• Riding in the Rain in Seattle
• Cold Weather Riding
• Committing to the Rain
• Riding in the Rain
• Rainy Season in Seattle
• Rain Tag

Earlier today I was at the Apple Store in University Village and overhead some employees talking abut riding to work in the rain. As you’d expect I engaged the conversation:

At the Apple Store answering questions about riding in the rain with their staff — via Twitter 4 hours ago.

The problem the staffers had was they loved riding to work in the Summer, Fall, but not so much in the rain. Yep — it sucks. Had to agree and explained they could make it much more tolerable with fenders (or at least a fender) and the right gear. I didn’t talk about spending on bike geek gear, just a wool liner, shell, and a change of clothes in a pack. For the budget conscious, a Filson jacket from a thrift store will work just fine, as discussed in this post earlier.

In lieu of my annual post on the wet weather and bike miles, readers how do you ride in the rain? What tips do you have for someone, like the Apple Store staffers, who are just riding to work?

While Byron globetrots, the rest of us are here in Seattle are in what we call the “rainy season(s)”. Late September through more or less May is WET. It’s worth bringing back Byron’s post on Riding in the Rain.

Wet weather across the country, has many cyclists anticipating their next ride.

Uploaded by Ramin Hossaini | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

I don't ride much at night and use this Princeton Tec Switchback mostly for safety in flash mode. Under gray, rainy, dreeping skies the max-bright LEDS indicate to the motorists my location.

On the occasion I find myself riding past dusk, flip it to high and the bike path is lit up like a solar flare.

Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Riding in the rain requires skill. You don’t want to ride through puddles and prolly shouldn’t do it while holding an umbrella.

This photo reminded me of all the craziness we’ve seen while riding in various Asian countries. Like this scooter-assist in Shanghai or this guy cooking a shoe or shiny human sculptures.

Noticed on RabatJoie a mostly NSFW site.

As connoisseurs of rain, we'll ride the MoSo this Saturday rain or shine. What type of rain does Texas get: pissing, drizzle, a deluge? Besides, we understand that Texas has been in a drought and needs it. I also fondly recall an old Trek ad showing Lance riding in the rain for 6 hours and then pulling into his garage. That motivated me more than once to ride in Seattle

Rain Plan

Urban Ride: 2 -- 4 PM, March 14th, ride as planned. We've got a gigantic tent at Brush Square Park to wait out any storm clouds. We'll group up, ride to Mellow Johnnys and then determine the best route.

BBQ: 4 -- 6PM, March 14th -- Our tent is protected from the elements and 50 degree temperatures are expected. We're there with music, food, beer, schwag and prize.

MOFO Rain

If the heavens open up, and it's a MOFO rain like this photo, we'll marvel at nature's power for a while, then ride . . .

Registration Reminder

See this post for all the details and register here

• Mobile Social SXSW -- Urban Ride
• Mobile Social SXSW -- BBQ

We'll announce how to get your name on the VIP list for the Mellow Johnnys After Party during the BBQ.

Photo Credit: DKR

From the Tour of California and of note because it’s not everyday you see a peloton riding across the Golden Gate Bridge. Wondering how the town liked that bridge shut down? Reports are they loved it.

Uploaded by limegreeney | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

This may have been a dare, a challenge, but I can say from experience that riding in floodwaters is really dangerous because you can’t see the road. Readers, not stopped by most conditions even snow, are you riding in floodwaters? Are we expecting locusts and frogs to fall from the sky next?

Photo credit: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

So the Seattle snow-pocalypse seems to be over, but the rain is rather heavy by local standards. Coming from Florida, the NW winter rains never seem that heavy, just incessant.

Living in a small apartment, I have to be careful how much water I bring inside with me. If I had a garage, I could just leave all the wet there. But since everything has to fit inside, I developed a system.

Wet bike goes on the wall hanger, all wet clothes hang on the bike. Shoes, socks, bag, and gloves go on the bamboo mat below. Then I put the floor fan on high to dry it all out.

Everything is usually dry in about 8-12hrs, and the cool air is better for the technical apparel than a clothes dryer (which I don’t have anyways).

Out of necessity, cyclists in rainy, wet climates use all sorts of inventive materials to create mud flaps for bike fenders. Old water bottles, duct tape, political signs, sump pump hose, and so on. Fender flaps are even a fashion statement. The purpose of the front flap is to protect your feet and in the back to protect your buddy from the spray, mud, and debris. On group rides, showing up without an adequate flap will result in a shunning to the back, strong comments, even getting yelled at because the spray from your rear wheel roostertails into the cyclist behind you.

Updated Update!

01/14/09 -- We've got the flaps back in and they are en route to Amazon.com for fulfillment. We pulled a few aside to ship directly for those of you that have been waiting.

01/26/09 -- the flaps are now available on Amazon.com.

The rainy season is back in Seattle with new wet-weather gear challenges for a longtail. I’ve got riding in the rain down to a science when touring, training, riding hard, and even racing. It’s a liner, windtex, outer shell, and fleece-lined knickers or tights. I don’t generate the heat riding a longtail in a urban enviroment, but also need to stay warm and not get to hot. I’m experimenting with

• Ibex Woolies Crew

• Ibex Vertigo — Loden — Jacket

• Ibex Silas Backcountry Pant

• Marmot PreCip Shell

• Salomon Shoes

• Windtek gloves

As you can see in the photo, I’m bundled up good with the PreCip hood up and over the helmet. Sitting up and seeing the world is great on the Bettie, but also means the driving rain drives right into your face. Got the campy hat with the bill to keep some of out of my eyes and the eyeware is for protection as well as glare. I wish someone made chaps for cyclists. Reports to follow on how this works out.

What are you wearing on your commute?

Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Riding to the Yahoo! Developer Summit, I met Chris from Ask.com, asked where to go, and he showed me the way. Chris told me about his urban assault commute in London and we rode in traffic, sidewalks, crossing roundabouts, and most of it was a blur, but I arrived intact and safely. It was raining, 40 degrees, and I felt right at home.

The wrong side of the road thing confuses me most at intersections and roundabouts, so I just wait for other cyclists and see where they go.

I’m in Vegas and just now getting reports of the deluge and flooding in Seattle. Anyone ride in that?

Photos from the West Seattle Blog.

The nice fall weather here in Seattle is bound to give way to rain soon enough, and you’re going to need to keep your legs dry. Full on rain pants are an option, but if you’re riding hard your pants or shorts may get as wet from the inside out as they do from the rain. Rain knickers help balance out the moisture inequity by being ‘open air’ where your legs are largely sheltered from the rain, and waterproof where you get the brunt of the precipitation. Khyungyokpo’s got your DIY solution photo documented up on flickr. DYI still to expensive? There are other options as well. If you’re looking for a high-quality pre made set take a look at some RainLegs.

For those of us that ride in the rain, the pouring rain, we’ve all got our lube techniques. Some clean and lube after every ride or wait until the chain squeaks. There are wet or dry lubes, paraffin-based, and new miracle lubes that may last about 1/2 a ride. There’s no better test case than a wet, grimy ride.

As I wrote about earlier this year, I use Lubriplate Chain and Cable Fluid. Cleaning up the rain bike for this weekend, I didn’t bother relubing from last year. It’s still gooey and smelly. I just wiped it down.

So what are your lubrication techniques? What works and doesn’t work?

Just a reminder to the masses out there. Riding in the rain is great. I did 3 hours today, got soaked mostly through, but still had a great ride. The only issue? - getting caught riding behind the guy with fenders…but no flap! The edge of his raceblade directed a constant flow of wet grit right into my teeth.

Riding in a group this winter? Get a buddy flap!

This is an updated and republished post from 05.

Last weekend was quintessential Seattle weather in October. Stunningly beautiful one day and rain the next. I mostly welcome the rain, it cleans the air, the city, and signals that Fall has arrived. The Fall is the time of year when I spend hours of my weekends riding the city, the suburbs, and country. When you ride in Seattle, you’ll need a rain bike and the proper gear.

My rain bike is a custom Davidson — it’s a touring/road bike with long-pull brakes and eyelets for mounting fenders and clearance. The frame material is titanium, for all-day riding comfort and the geometry is relaxed.

New for 07, I’ll also ride the Modal, a concept travel bike that’s equipped with Hed’s carbon commuters Jet 60 C2.