Road Cycling In The Rain

Tips on Cycling in the Rain. Why would you road cycle in the rain? Well some people have no choice, if the bike is their only commute vehicle, or others on a training program might not want to miss a ride. Either way, cycling in the rain can be rather unpleasant, so here are a few tips in no particular order, to make the whole experience a bit more pleasant and safer.

Obviously a good waterproof jacket is a must, if you plan on riding often in the wet, then consider spending some money on a Gore-Tex or similar, which are waterproof and breathable. Most jackets aren’t fully waterproof, and chances are you’ll get wet, but if you wear a base layer of merino wool or polyprop, at least you’ll stay warm.

Wear a peaked cap under your helmet, to keep your head dry, and to keep at least a bit of the rain of your face.

Wear clear or yellow lenses in your glasses to help with visibility, yellow lens especially help when the conditions are gloomy, and to stop them misting up, which can be a real problem, use a drop of washing up liquid on the inside of the lens to coat them and polish off with a dry rag.

Consider waterproof three quarter or full length pants over your standard clothing. Not really suitable if your race training, but otherwise worth a thought. They are light weight and pack up small.

Attach fenders or mudguards to both front and back wheels. You can actually get wetter from the spray coming off your wheels than from the rain itself.

Wear neoprene waterproof booties over your shoes. Chances are, even with these your feet will still get wet, but the longer you can prolong that inevitable consequence the better you will feel.

Wet roads are at their most treacherous just after the rain has started, especially if it hasn’t rained for awhile, as fresh rain brings all the oil and grime to the surface. So take extra care at this time. Avoid areas where vehicles are likely to stop, such as the centre of the lane at traffic lights, as this is where any oil leaking from cars will sit.

When cycling in the rain, brakes are far less efficient than when dry, and stopping distances will greatly increase. So brake early, and pump your brakes gently to try and dry the rims as much as possible. Be on the lookout for metal manhole covers, and other metal covers, and avoid at all costs as these will be very slippery. The same goes for white road markings.

Cornering can be tricky in the wet, so approach with caution, brake gently before the corner, and release the brakes as you go around.

If the conditions are gloomy consider using lights front and rear. Use the new super bright flashing LED models for maximum visibility. Vehicles in the rain will have vision problems seeing you, so the brighter you are the better.

So there’s a few tips to help in surviving wet weather riding.