Wet Weather Cycling

Post date: Jan 30, 2012 11:29:28 PM

After the weekend's wet spin we've put a few pointers together that might help you for your next spin!

Dress to Stay Dry: The wetter you get the colder you are going to be. Being cold and wet is a quick way to get sick. Keep your core warm. A waterproof vest or jacket is essential for heavy conditions. Wear a wicking base layer to wick sweat away from the body. Cover your shoes with neoprene overshoes to insulate them when they are soaked, and use full fingered water- and wind-resistant gloves.

Clear Lenses: In low light, clear or yellow lenses for eye protection are critical. When riding in the rain, normal sunglasses cut out too much light and can make road obstacles hard to see. If you are still having issues seeing, a cycling cap placed under the helmet will shield some of the rain and road spray from hitting your glasses.

Puddles: It may be fun to speed through puddles but avoid them. More than one cyclist has broken a wheel on a submerged pothole in what appeared to be a harmless stretch of standing water.

Watch Those Brake Pads: A mixture of road grit and water turns out to be the fastest method to erode rubber brake pads. Pads that last a full season in the dry will run metal to metal on the rims in a month of wet-weather training rides. Also, most rims require a full revolution before the brake pads squeegee the water from the braking surface and begin stopping. Plan ahead and brake early.

Watch the Corners: Cornering in the rain can be tricky and dangerous. Shift as much of your weight on the outside pedal as possible. Use the body to keep the bike more upright when cornering. Lean your body more than the bike. By doing this, you will be able to corner with a reasonable amount of speed, as the body will tend to remain balanced over the bike when the tyres slide over painted lines and unseen oil patches.

Mudguards: We won’t go into all that again, but they are essential!

Chain Lubrication: Use a heavier chain lube. The lube won't penetrate into the links unless the chain is completely clean and dry when you apply it, do not use WD40 as a lubricant on your chain.

Racing In The Rain (2010 EXpert Mullingar 2-Day)