In our privileged stables of bikes, it ranks towards the bottom of the heap as Bike #2 or lower, but the Rain Bike is no slouch. This is, after all, the bike we rely on in bad weather, trusting it to carry us safely through what typically amounts to the most dangerous conditions we ride in. Provided you ride year-round, you likely ride this machine more often than your Number One – assuming you live in an environment that isn’t a tropical island (I’m looking at you @gianni) or classified as a desert. It follows, then, that this is a machine to be curated with great care and several factors should be kept in mind when selecting the machine for this wet and dirty work.
The first consideration is the material. I hope I’m not spoiling anyone’s fantasy by pointing out that rain isn’t actually made of the sweat falling from Merckx’s guns as he pedals high up on Mount Velomis; it is mostly water, mixed with some acids and other crap. Rain water can cause certain kinds of materials to become compromised in one way or another. Steel, for example, is particularly prone to this through rusting. Calfee’s bamboo frames might be susceptible to becoming soggy – I’m not sure. For a bike which is to be ridden primarily in wet conditions, choose a durable, non-corrosive material like titanium, aluminum or carbon.
The second consideration is the components. Here’s the other news flash about riding in the rain: the roads are less pristine than they are in the dry. Road grit gets in your drivetrain and on on your rims, acting like coarse sandpaper to accelerate wear. Since you’ll be replacing some parts more often than on a bike ridden in the dry, this is a bike for which to get economical about gear selection; you aren’t going to want to replace your full titanium Super-Record cassette and chain after it wears out in 1/3 the time. The shifters, brakes, crankset, and derailleurs don’t have to be greatly affected provided you maintain the bike in the style of a velominatus, but the wheels, bottom bracket, derailleur pulleys, chain, cassette and freehub will certainly feel the strain. Anything that moves, has a bearing, or lets water in is a candidate for accelerated wear.
Third, this has to be a bike you’re going to love riding, not some beater that gets abused and you tolerate throwing your leg over. As much as riding in Rule #9 conditions is badass and an invigorating experience, it does get a bit tiresome when you ride in the rain every day from October to March (or May, for you Pacific-Northwesterners). If your position isn’t right and if the bike isn’t a pleasure to ride, it’s not going to make getting cold and wet any more enjoyable.
Lastly, this bike will be taking abuse, so remember that your safety is entrusted to this machine in conditions when visibility is low, stopping distances increased, and road surfaces slick. Maintain this bike more diligently than any other machine; check the brake pads and rims for dangerous wear, check the metal bits for rust and cracks, and keep a close eye on the chain and cables. Resist the temptation to spray it down with the garden hose as the pressure can lodge the grit deeper into bearings and other nooks and crannies on the bike. After each ride, clean the braking surfaces carefully, wipe the chain down (or, better yet, use a Cyclone with soapy water to get the grit out from in between the links) and always use a wax-based lubricant to keep the dirt from sticking to it more than with traditional oil-based lubes.
But most of all, remember that the best kind of ride is the one you’ll be able to do again; stay safe and ride carefully. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/LVV Rain Bike/”/]
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@the Engine
As I read the rules for the first time a few months back, I discovered that my ownership of one of these represented my first rule violation (that I was aware of). I bought one the day I bought my bike. I have to say, they are very cleverly designed pieces of kit.
Serendipitous timing: in the past week I have started to fret madly about what I will ride when the rain, snow, and most worrisomely, the salt appear on the roads of Ottawa. Great food for thought here.
@mouse The Hope light comes with the warning "Class 2 LED. Don not look directly at the beam. Permanent eye damage could result."
It's got a fairly neat bayonet fixing so you can whip it off and pop it in your pocket or leave it at home on nice days and a 50 to 100 hour burn time on the strobe (the setting that would get you noticed) depending on which battery you use.
There's a you tube clip of Hope running it over with a car and treating it roughly in the factory. Bombproof. Highly recommended.
@the Engine
I have one and I like it. It shine good light; it's compact; it says fizik; it's very sleek. All good things. A flashing rear light is much more pro than lying bleeding in the ditch after being side-swiped.
@brett
You're on a total roll!
1. Questioning the premise of a rain bike and, now,
2. condoning an EPMS.
I'm beginning to understand why G'Phant got saddled with a mirror. But also starting to question my fundamental understanding of my place with the Rules.
I have a dinotte rear light, it's like an afterburner and is beautifully made. Can't recommend it enough. Lights shouldn't be in the rules as they tend to be in the more important rules: ones enforced by the cops and ones that keep you alive. Some events I've done insist on solid (ie non flashing) rear and front lights. Might be worth checking.
@brett Jeebus mate. I thought you've worked out the crazy shit one thinks when they're trying to stop smoking and drugs. I guess not. If I felt it was worth my time I'd go through these archives and find the posts of me talking about the elegance of the fizik EPMS and then the likes of you flaming me. Boy, we have a short memory don't we? Maybe it's old age and not years of drug abuse. I don't know, but you're losing your shit.
As far as the fizik EPMS goes it is as good as they come and quite elegant - I know, elegant EPMS is a bit of an oxymoron. And while I've stopped using mine in warm temps - even for long gravel rides, I'll throw it under my Antares in cold weather to make room for extra layer, more food, what have you in my jersey.
Told!
@the Engine
I've got a silver one that sits on there permanently & then for proper Rule #9 days or when I'll be riding in the dark there's a much stronger strobe effect light on the seatpost.
If I followed this rule, it would mean this year I would have ridden my best bike 2 or 3 times such is the shiteness of our British Spring/Summer. April-October-best bike/November-March-winter bike. Life's too short to worry about a bit of wet n grit.
I am now firmly convinced that Frank has a little spinning arrow next to his computer which he flicks when he sits down to write an article.
One side says Sublime, and if it lands there we get some Krabbesque prose about tunnels of souplesse or an ode to some Flandrian hardman.
The other side says Ridiculous, and if it lands there we get illogical and improbable thoughts about the Schlecks or how steel bikes are going to melt in the rain and mudguards make Merckx cry.
Variety being the spice of life, I'm not complaining, but I do reserve the right to utterly ignore the crazy bits.
I feel they are obiter dicta rather than strict precedent.