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.

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View Comments

ChrisO says:

Jun 23 2012 at 12:41 am

On HRMs I would agree it is not fun and not in the spirit of the Velominati is to literally ride by the numbers - doing x minutes at y zone etc - when you are riding with other people. On the other hand if you are training and on your own it is good for achieving specific goals, like intervals at 95% etc.

The benefit when in a group or a race/event is that once you have some experience and context it gives you an early warning about how long you can maintain an effort or keep up with a group etc. If you don't care about blowing up totally then fine, but that's not always the case and you need to know when to conserve your energy.

For example we are now riding in temperatures going up to 45C - it does weird things to your heart rate, and your capacity. I've blown up on rides which are well within my normal abilities. So when I see that having come off the front of the group my HR is not actually going down when I get back on the wheels, I know it is time to worry. I could do it by feel but a road in the middle of the desert is not where you want to have a total bonk and the HR allows a more exact calculation of how much is left in the tank.

In fact I would go so far as to say that in extreme conditions it is stupid, possibly dangerous, to choose to not to ride with a HRM if you have one.
the Engine says:

Jun 23 2012 at 1:42 am

@xyxax

@RedRanger

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

That's an Aeroperu 727 actually...
RedRanger says:

Jun 23 2012 at 5:47 am

@the Engine

@xyxax

@RedRanger

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

That's an Aeroperu 727 actually...

Right you are. It's pretty much gutted but hydrolics do work with ground power turned on. We have another 727 out side that is pretty much fully operational. All 3 engines work and so do most of the cockpit instruments.

In that picture we were getting ready to jack that plane up off the ground.
scaler911 says:

Jun 23 2012 at 5:58 am

@frank

@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 53Ã—17. 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!"

Oh for fucks sake. THAT'S all I have to do to go faster? By Merckx, I'm going to give that a go today! I learn something new every time I come to this site.
the Engine says:

Jun 23 2012 at 8:20 am

@RedRanger

@the Engine

@xyxax

@RedRanger

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

That's an Aeroperu 727 actually...

Right you are. It's pretty much gutted but hydrolics do work with ground power turned on. We have another 727 out side that is pretty much fully operational. All 3 engines work and so do most of the cockpit instruments.

In that picture we were getting ready to jack that plane up off the ground.

Cool
frank says:

Jun 23 2012 at 8:37 am

@scaler911

Yes, it is that simple! Glad to help!

@ChrisO

On HRMs I would agree it is not fun and not in the spirit of the Velominati is to literally ride by the numbers - doing x minutes at y zone etc - when you are riding with other people. On the other hand if you are training and on your own it is good for achieving specific goals, like intervals at 95% etc.

The benefit when in a group or a race/event is that once you have some experience and context it gives you an early warning about how long you can maintain an effort or keep up with a group etc. If you don't care about blowing up totally then fine, but that's not always the case and you need to know when to conserve your energy.

For example we are now riding in temperatures going up to 45C - it does weird things to your heart rate, and your capacity. I've blown up on rides which are well within my normal abilities. So when I see that having come off the front of the group my HR is not actually going down when I get back on the wheels, I know it is time to worry. I could do it by feel but a road in the middle of the desert is not where you want to have a total bonk and the HR allows a more exact calculation of how much is left in the tank.

In fact I would go so far as to say that in extreme conditions it is stupid, possibly dangerous, to choose to not to ride with a HRM if you have one.

I'd agree with this; I'd also say that for anyone to understand their body, they should spend loads of time training/raching with one. Same with cadence sensors. You need the data to understand your body.

Once you have done it long enough to understand you body, you can ease off on the data and ride on feel. But I would reserve this for the very experienced riders.
tessar says:

Jun 23 2012 at 9:00 am

I never cared for HRMs, because all I could do was estimate what these numbers meant. 103, 140, 165, 188bpm - what does that mean to me?

So I did a Lactate Threshold + VO2Max test combined. Now I know exactly where my zones are and what they mean. I know my potential (it's shit), I could work with a powermeter or a stationary ergometer. I know that when the money's on the table - a wheel I can't afford to lose miles from home or a race - I can go a few beats above my usual limits, but I also know I'll pay a price for them later. I know that while my threshold is high (87% of max HR), the overall capacity is nowhere near the pros.

Better yet, now that I've trained with heart-rate for a few months, I can correlate the numbers to the way I felt during that effort, which made my "ride on feel" so much more precise.

Also, anyone who wants a lesson in stationary hardness should do a VO2Max test. I actually quit after 45 minutes of it not because I couldn't push the pedals any harder, but because I had sweat pouring into my lungs from the breathing-mask and couldn't drink to replenish what I sweated away.
the Engine says:

Jun 23 2012 at 4:49 pm

@the Engine

@frank

@The Engine

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

Several options:

1. Buy a decent phone.

2. Ride with a V-Meter.

3. Meditate heavily on Rule #5.

My Cateye wireless dofer has a habit of randomly turning itself into a V-Meter for no apparent reason. One minute all is well and then the screen lights up every liquid crystal, then it switches off, then it asks for units and then it goes back to the factory default anything from 10 minutes to three days later. Both my Cateyes do this and it isn't the batteries so from time to time a big V decal is all there is.

I always meditate on Rule #5 - I side effect of sciatica (I'm slowly getting better thanks for asking) is that it demands Rule #5 compliance 24Ã—7.

Tomorrow I am going out with gleaming white bar tape, a correctly placed hat and properly tensioned shoes and I will not return until I have communed with the Man With The Hammer.

And I did - bar tape is grimy again, hat was covered in road crap but my shoes were just so. 100km's of wind, rain and hills - met the man with the hammer after around 5km's and squeezed a gel shot all over myself at 80k's but I kept going and had an awesome evening with friends and a hoppy beverage.

Couldn't have done it without you guys - thanks and goodnight.
malc says:

Jun 24 2012 at 9:08 am

re: Rain Bike. This is the rain bike. Also town bike. work bike etc. It has one gear so I get on it point it up the rod and grind.

In the winter it gets to wear lights to help prevent me getting squashed. Yes - the bars are wooden but waterproofed....and the stem has been slammed. I recommend as few gears as possible. It concentrates the mind.
K says:

Jul 28 2012 at 5:16 am

My rain bike is a fuji tourer with mudguards

Don't hold that against me, I am still a badass