Comments on: Biking in the rain safely http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: michael http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-109478 michael Sat, 02 May 2009 13:19:44 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-109478 How do you treat the bike after riding in the rain. Just wipe it off and oil the chain and pivot points on brakes, derailers, and shifters? Also, for a road bike, what do you do when the tape on the bars get soaked? Can they just air dry? Michael How do you treat the bike after riding in the rain. Just wipe it off and oil the chain and pivot points on brakes, derailers, and shifters?
Also, for a road bike, what do you do when the tape on the bars get soaked? Can they just air dry?

Michael

]]> By: Phil http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97390 Phil Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:53:32 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97390 Car driver education is very important. However, there will always be impaired drivers (and cyclists, for that matter). We lost over 6 in 2007 and two to three in 2008 so far. Most of the cyclists were wearing reflective gear at minimum. Most of the deaths were in early morning hours. The last two I mentioned were both professionals in their 40's. One had reflectors and lights. The other I'm not sure of. One driver was drunk and hit the guy with lights and reflectors. I still don't know why the other driver drifted into the other lane and hit the cyclist from behind (cyclist heading against flow of traffic on dark streets in early morning hour). I'm often the butt of bad jokes when I'm in my high vis clothes and have my lights on. The usual bad joke is "Gee, I didn't see you!" Well, if that's their joke, I guess I stand out - and all the better when I'm on the road. :-) Meanwhile, I'm looking at snow and rain this weekend. WooHoo! Should be fun to get out and get wet/snowy for the first time this season... Car driver education is very important. However, there will always be impaired drivers (and cyclists, for that matter). We lost over 6 in 2007 and two to three in 2008 so far. Most of the cyclists were wearing reflective gear at minimum. Most of the deaths were in early morning hours. The last two I mentioned were both professionals in their 40′s. One had reflectors and lights. The other I’m not sure of. One driver was drunk and hit the guy with lights and reflectors. I still don’t know why the other driver drifted into the other lane and hit the cyclist from behind (cyclist heading against flow of traffic on dark streets in early morning hour).

I’m often the butt of bad jokes when I’m in my high vis clothes and have my lights on. The usual bad joke is “Gee, I didn’t see you!” Well, if that’s their joke, I guess I stand out – and all the better when I’m on the road. :-)

Meanwhile, I’m looking at snow and rain this weekend. WooHoo! Should be fun to get out and get wet/snowy for the first time this season…

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97387 Fritz Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:56:59 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97387 Did the cyclists lose their lives because they rode unsafely? I'm coming from the perspective the cycling is generally safe as long as you don't ride like an idiot (e.g. wrong way, blowing through red lights). There are certainly reasonable steps we can take to manage the risks and policy changes we should push for, but I also believe in the long term that drivers should be trained to watch for cyclists no matter what we're wearing. Cycling in darkness and rain <i>is</i> significantly more dangerous than riding in clear daylight conditions, hence we should take more care. I'm a generally risk averse person, but I try not to get too uptight about people who don't hew to my standards of safety. I used to do that and I was a real drag at parties. These days I'm a drag because I just go on in monotone about the 700 cyclist deaths per year in the United States. Did the cyclists lose their lives because they rode unsafely?

I’m coming from the perspective the cycling is generally safe as long as you don’t ride like an idiot (e.g. wrong way, blowing through red lights). There are certainly reasonable steps we can take to manage the risks and policy changes we should push for, but I also believe in the long term that drivers should be trained to watch for cyclists no matter what we’re wearing.

Cycling in darkness and rain is significantly more dangerous than riding in clear daylight conditions, hence we should take more care.

I’m a generally risk averse person, but I try not to get too uptight about people who don’t hew to my standards of safety. I used to do that and I was a real drag at parties. These days I’m a drag because I just go on in monotone about the 700 cyclist deaths per year in the United States.

]]> By: Phil http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97385 Phil Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:48:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97385 Riot on, Fritz... I'm most definitely a safety ninny. We've lost a couple of cyclists in our region recently and the issue of safety is very much appreciated. Thanks for bringing up this topic. :-) Riot on, Fritz… I’m most definitely a safety ninny. We’ve lost a couple of cyclists in our region recently and the issue of safety is very much appreciated. Thanks for bringing up this topic. :-)

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97380 Fritz Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:07:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97380 You're a riot, Phil. Thanks for the encouraging word. You’re a riot, Phil. Thanks for the encouraging word.

]]> By: Phil http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97379 Phil Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:03:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97379 "I'm not normally a safety ninny..." If not a safety ninny, then what? Insurance statistic? Practice safe/visible riding all the time, no matter what the weather. “I’m not normally a safety ninny…”

If not a safety ninny, then what? Insurance statistic? Practice safe/visible riding all the time, no matter what the weather.

]]> By: Dave http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97377 Dave Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:23:52 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97377 I am from Wisconsin but I had to pass on a tip I learned for cold weather. My toes would get very cold regardless of what I was had on. I the hunting section of a the local hardware store they had chemical toe warmers. I tried them and the worked great. They sell for about $1 for two and last 6 hours. I am from Wisconsin but I had to pass on a tip I learned for cold weather. My toes would get very cold regardless of what I was had on. I the hunting section of a the local hardware store they had chemical toe warmers. I tried them and the worked great. They sell for about $1 for two and last 6 hours.

]]> By: ethan http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97371 ethan Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:01:28 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97371 I'm on board with everything mentioned in your article. I also want to second Paul's "Slow down!" remark. I’m on board with everything mentioned in your article. I also want to second Paul’s “Slow down!” remark.

]]> By: Roger http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97365 Roger Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:39:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97365 Mostly harmless. Mostly harmless.

]]> By: Paul http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/11/07/biking-in-the-rain-safely/comment-page-1/#comment-97364 Paul Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:38:57 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2884#comment-97364 As a Seattlite, let me add a few things. Lights - yes, absolutely necessary. Wear wool, it really is the best material. Laminated waterproof fabrics work well if you ride slow enough where you're not moving at a aerobic pace, or it's cold enough (35 F or below for me). Otherwise you just turn into a sauna. Fenders are a near necessity. Full fenders, not those silly clip on things or blades. Slow down! I generally ride 2 - 3 mph slower when it's wet and/or raining. Between the lessened braking power, debris, puddles, slippery surfaces (metal, painted road markings, leaves, etc.). A couple of good falls will teach you that, but better to just avoid it. Booties if you are riding in the rain for more than half an hour. As a Seattlite, let me add a few things.

Lights – yes, absolutely necessary.

Wear wool, it really is the best material.

Laminated waterproof fabrics work well if you ride slow enough where you’re not moving at a aerobic pace, or it’s cold enough (35 F or below for me). Otherwise you just turn into a sauna.

Fenders are a near necessity. Full fenders, not those silly clip on things or blades.

Slow down! I generally ride 2 – 3 mph slower when it’s wet and/or raining. Between the lessened braking power, debris, puddles, slippery surfaces (metal, painted road markings, leaves, etc.). A couple of good falls will teach you that, but better to just avoid it.

Booties if you are riding in the rain for more than half an hour.

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