Categories: Accessories and GearLa Vie VelominatusThe BikesThe Rules

La Vie Velominatus: The Rain Bike

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/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Anatomy of a Photo: 1986 Milan-San Remo »

Previous « Into The Tunnel

View Comments

the Engine says:

Jun 22 2012 at 3:51 pm

@snoov

Using an HTC Desire S

I've got last year's Google branded HTC desire and Strava seems to be objecting to the version of Android its running - mind you the signal here is intermittent at best - I'll give that a try too.
RedRanger says:

Jun 22 2012 at 3:55 pm

@the Engine yes
meursault says:

Jun 22 2012 at 4:00 pm

@the Engine

@meursault

@The Engine

Strava won't work on my Android device - what should I do?

As long as you can save the gps file in say gpx format, you can upload to strava from your hard drive. I have win 7 phone so no compatible strava app here, but uploads file fine.

I'm nearly 50 and this may as well be in Cuneiform - I'll look at it again tomorrow and see if I can pick my way through it.

I am 46! Just saying that the gps (gpx) file that saves on your phone, can be uploaded to Strava using their 'upload from my computer' option. Once you transfer said file to your PC. Bit long winded, but that is what I have to do as no Strava app for my win 7 phone.
the Engine says:

Jun 22 2012 at 4:04 pm

@meursault

@the Engine

@meursault

@The Engine

Strava won't work on my Android device - what should I do?

As long as you can save the gps file in say gpx format, you can upload to strava from your hard drive. I have win 7 phone so no compatible strava app here, but uploads file fine.

I'm nearly 50 and this may as well be in Cuneiform - I'll look at it again tomorrow and see if I can pick my way through it.

I am 46! Just saying that the gps (gpx) file that saves on your phone, can be uploaded to Strava using their 'upload from my computer' option. Once you transfer said file to your PC. Bit long winded, but that is what I have to do as no Strava app for my win 7 phone.

Ah - I'll look for the USB cable in the morning...
Albert says:

Jun 22 2012 at 4:46 pm

@frank

@Albert

Given that visibility is generally lower when it rains, a good rain bike should feature lights.

Correct. Its hard to see, but I have one mounted on my seat stay. I like to keep the light on a point that is as far out as possible to buy myself a bigger swath from passing traffic. In winter, or on especially rainy/dark rides, I will also mount a flasher on my traffic-side drop on my bars. And, of course, a white flasher on the front.

Again, the best kind of ride is the one you come home from safely.

The added benefit of that mounting location is that the rear wheel isn't constantly spraying road wash onto the light. I find Superflash lights tend to let water in on the seam near the switch, which happens to be on the bottom.
xyxax says:

Jun 22 2012 at 4:50 pm

@RedRanger

Hey RR, Aeroflot called. They're pissed you took their best plane.
brett says:

Jun 22 2012 at 5:22 pm

@frank

@scaler911

@RedRanger

@frank

@RedRanger

@frank didn't you get #3 to race with? What's going on with that?

I'm behind on everything because there's this website that eats up heaps of my time. Still aiming to race this year, probably starting in July or so. We'll have to see. CX for sure.

Bummer.

Having hung out at Casa de Frank, you people (myself included) eat up a shit ton of his time (and Merckx bless him for it). But don't feel bad; he loves it.

I do love it, I wouldn't do it otherwise. Its the whole narcissistic feedback loop inherent to the internet. "Of course people care about what I have to say, so I'm going to say it...SHUT UP MOM, I'M BUSY!!!! AND BRING ME FRESH CHOCOLATE MILK!!!!"

Or meatloaf?

http://youtu.be/1bMs04JK0BQ
scaler911 says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:25 pm

@Steampunk

@Nate

@scaler911

@frank

@Nate

I was getting to a point where my pace on certain climbs was driven by what I thought the numbers were telling me rather than what my body was telling me.

Which is precisely the pitfall with riding with numbers. Especially for folks who fixate on HR. Stop when your legs say stop, not your computer.

So here's a case where I'd disagree. Knowing what my max HR is can help me measure a peak effort over a longer distance without blowing up. "The Ridge" would be an example of where I did that. I was certainly in 'the tunnel' but glanced down once or twice to see if I had more beats to give. I didn't. But without the HRM, I can gauge it pretty close.

I can see the use on that. I used to ride with an HRM. It definitely helped me learn what being in the red zone felt like. Now that I have more experience I prefer to ride on feel.

We had this chat awhile ago. Was it Marcus who watched the rest of the breakaway leave him behind because his HRM told him he was already at his limit? Or was it Marcus who lambasted some poor buffoon who made this excuse? How often do you think JENS looks at his HRM? And is it at or beyond threshold that he shouts "shut up legs."? Just asking...

Well, I suppose thats a subjective issue. Myself, I use it more as a way to conserve matches on a long ride or race. I learned a long time ago how to use it, and it works for me. That said, I have gone "red" on occasion when I didn't think I could for longer than I could. On the Seattle Cogal last weekend, when we were ascending the last big climb (Ames Lake I think), I was maxed, and watched as 3 guys slowly rode away from me. Then I gunned it, passed Frank for about 100M, then he came around and they all rode away. I figured WTH at that point and went harder, way over what I thought my limit was, got a bit of ground back. So who knows if my conservation earlier in the day helped, or just "being in the moment" changed how hard I thought I could go.
frank says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:54 pm

@scaler911

@frank

@Nate

I was getting to a point where my pace on certain climbs was driven by what I thought the numbers were telling me rather than what my body was telling me.

Which is precisely the pitfall with riding with numbers. Especially for folks who fixate on HR. Stop when your legs say stop, not your computer.

So here's a case where I'd disagree. Knowing what my max HR is can help me measure a peak effort over a longer distance without blowing up. "The Ridge" would be an example of where I did that. I was certainly in 'the tunnel' but glanced down once or twice to see if I had more beats to give. I didn't. But without the HRM, I can gauge it pretty close.

Been there. I used to race my XC skis with an HR; 2.5 hours pegged at the HR I knew I could do. Never chasing anyone, always letting them go, knowing they'd blow and I'd come back to them. Then I realized it wasn't any fucking fun racing that way. What's fun is seeing if you can pull it off.

Also, the only time your approach works - which in theory does very well - is when you really, truly, know your max HR and your zones. But as your fitness and health change - even if you have a sniffle - your max will be different and you're pegging to a false number.

I believe the HRM is a super useful tool, but for the vast majority of athletes (i.e. those not being cared for by a full-time staff of doctors), they are artificial in realtime.
frank says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:58 pm

@Scilly Suffolk

@Frank

One last point: this is not twitter. If you have something to say, take the time to say it; don't use a hashtag. For instance, in the case of your example, it would be better for you to say something along the lines of, "You can kiss my white ass, you stupid Dutch fuck."

Apologies, but I wasn't being as rude or disrespectful as you think: on this side of the pond, "my arse" is tagged on the end of sentences to express incredulity, as in "A dope free TDF? My arse!"

You are, however, more than welcome to kiss my arse should the occasion arise, but bearing in mind the biblical weather we're having, a brisk rub-down with a damp copy of the Sporting Life would be prefered!

I'm glad you made it back around. I'll gladly kiss your white ass when I'm in Scotland next. Stick around, we're full of shit, but we have fun. Cheers.

@scaler911

@Steampunk

@Nate

@scaler911

@frank

@Nate

I was getting to a point where my pace on certain climbs was driven by what I thought the numbers were telling me rather than what my body was telling me.

Which is precisely the pitfall with riding with numbers. Especially for folks who fixate on HR. Stop when your legs say stop, not your computer.

So here's a case where I'd disagree. Knowing what my max HR is can help me measure a peak effort over a longer distance without blowing up. "The Ridge" would be an example of where I did that. I was certainly in 'the tunnel' but glanced down once or twice to see if I had more beats to give. I didn't. But without the HRM, I can gauge it pretty close.

I can see the use on that. I used to ride with an HRM. It definitely helped me learn what being in the red zone felt like. Now that I have more experience I prefer to ride on feel.

We had this chat awhile ago. Was it Marcus who watched the rest of the breakaway leave him behind because his HRM told him he was already at his limit? Or was it Marcus who lambasted some poor buffoon who made this excuse? How often do you think JENS looks at his HRM? And is it at or beyond threshold that he shouts "shut up legs."? Just asking...

Well, I suppose thats a subjective issue. Myself, I use it more as a way to conserve matches on a long ride or race. I learned a long time ago how to use it, and it works for me. That said, I have gone "red" on occasion when I didn't think I could for longer than I could. On the Seattle Cogal last weekend, when we were ascending the last big climb (Ames Lake I think), I was maxed, and watched as 3 guys slowly rode away from me. Then I gunned it, passed Frank for about 100M, then he came around and they all rode away. I figured WTH at that point and went harder, way over what I thought my limit was, got a bit of ground back. So who knows if my conservation earlier in the day helped, or just "being in the moment" changed how hard I thought I could go.

You forgot to mention how I was in the 53x17. That's why I was going faster. You see, you go faster when you push on the pedals harder. Very confusing.

Or, as Keeper Jim's son says whenever he gets on his trike - "Push pedals, go faster!"