Reluctant to use bike in the Rain

[Stu Smith]

I'm reluctant to use my bike in the rain,not that I'm bothered about myself getting wet, I read numerous advertisement's selling second hand cycles and they inculde the sentance never been rode in the wet. Am I being over protective of my trusty stead ?

I have thought about buying a second bike so I have one for the wet !!!

Any thoughts?

 

[potsy]

A lot of people have a bike specifically for wet/winter weather, but I wouldn't worry about getting your best bike wet, it won't melt
Some people even enjoy spending hours cleaning them afterwards (I'm not one of them)

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm reluctant to use my bike in the rain,not that I'm bothered about myself getting wet, I read numerous advertisement's selling second hand cycles and they inculde the sentance never been rode in the wet. Am I being over protective of my trusty stead ?

I have thought about buying a second bike so I have one for the wet !!!

Any thoughts?

Just get out there and ride, it's a bike FFS they're designed for the great outdoors

 

[ianrauk]

^^ as above.
Just ride the bleedin' thing. After a wet ride just give it a good old clean.

 

[Psycolist]

My own thoughts are that because there are so many places on a bike that water and grit can get into, but without a total strip down, you cant, that I am one who has a "bad weather beast" as well as one for best. I really dont see the fun in spending shed loads of hard earned wonga on the best equipment I can afford to then abuse it when theres no need to. It also means that you get a second bike to fettle and fiddle with I also find it a good place to try out different ideas at very little expense before buying 'good stuff' for the good bike.

 

[HLaB]

A lot of people have a bike specifically for wet/winter weather, but I wouldn't worry about getting your best bike wet, it won't melt

Blasphemy , if the OP has a carbon bike of course it'll melt; I think mine has melted hundred's of times, the strange thing is it always reassembles itself (nano technology)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Riding your bike in the rain won't hurt it as long as it properly maintained. If it bothers you, get a cheap bike for those wet rides. I've got one myself which I use for rides into town, muddy lanes, muddy off road stuff and general larking about.

If the weather is really bad I tend to use the cheap one rather than the best bike, but the best bike still gets used in some occasionally harsh conditions and is still going strong after 14 years so a bit of rain & mud can't be that harmful.

With respect to the adverts you have mentioned, I see two possibilities: 1) The bike was bought coz it was the "in" thing and probably hasn't been used. 2) They are lying.

 

[Fab Foodie]

My own thoughts are that because there are so many places on a bike that water and grit can get into, but without a total strip down, you cant, that I am one who has a "bad weather beast" as well as one for best. I really dont see the fun in spending shed loads of hard earned wonga on the best equipment I can afford to then abuse it when theres no need to. It also means that you get a second bike to fettle and fiddle with I also find it a good place to try out different ideas at very little expense before buying 'good stuff' for the good bike.

C'mon, that's bull. A decent bike will withstand plenty of weather with a quick rinse down afterwards and plenty chain lube.
I Ride my 2004 TCR with Ultegra in all weathers summer and winter and it still looks pristine and unlike ianrauk, I'm not a cleaning fetishist either .

 

[Andy_R]

Blasphemy , if the OP has a carbon bike of course it'll melt; I think mine has melted hundred's of times, the strange thing is it always reassembles itself (nano technology)

I think you'll find it's not nano technology, but actually Nana technology. If you install spy cams in your shed/garage/wherever the bike's stored, you'll see little old ladies knitting carbon fibre tubing and then assembling them using decoupage techniques handed down from generation to generation.

 

[Andrew_P]

^^ as above.
Just ride the bleedin' thing. After a wet ride just give it a good old clean.

or maybe like me after a week of it! Took ages today to all the grub off the bike, all nice and clean now.

 

[Andrew_P]

I also made the mistake of N+1 for winter, done 1200 miles on it. It has not seen the light of day since I discovered Raceblade longs, and no doubt will be up for sale in Septemeber when I think people will looking for a winter bike. One really best bike is all you need and follow the instructions on my avatar!

 

[JozeeB]

I'm reluctant to use my bike in the rain,not that I'm bothered about myself getting wet

Any thoughts?

Ha ha! I'm a girl.... I don't like getting my hair wet.... so none of these dilemmas!

 

[RoadBikeRecommendation]

I don't have a bad weather bike. Just give mine a good clean after a 'mucky' ride and don't forget your muc-off bike spray to out water in awkward to reach places.

 

[Davidc]

Wot FF sez

 

[potsy]

Blasphemy , if the OP has a carbon bike of course it'll melt; I think mine has melted hundred's of times, the strange thing is it always reassembles itself (nano technology)

Well, if you will insist on buying plastic bikes

Once a week clean should be enough, with a quick 'mickle' of the chain after a wet ride