Categories: Accessories and GearEtiquetteLa Vie VelominatusTechnologyThe Bikes

The Reflective Bike of Authority

Black reflective tape on the Rain Bike

Everyone knows you need at least three road bikes – two if you’re absolutely determined to make a point about minimalism. Bike Number One is reserved for good weather and events, and the Rain Bike for inclement weather. Just like our guns need to be pampered and rubbed down whenever we’re off the bike, any time Bike Number One isn’t being used as a weapon of Mass V-struction, it should be pampered and polished lovingly. Best to leave the dirty work of training in Rule #9 conditions to a dedicated, loyal workhorse with less expensive componentry. It isn’t so much that a bike can’t handle getting wet – don’t be ridiculous – but rather that everything wears more quickly; road grit gets into the drivetrain, water seeps into bearings, and brake pads and rims wear like butter on a grindstone.

I find myself in the enviable position of having my repaired Cervélo R3 holding rank as my current Rain Bike. Having such a steed at hand any time the rain falls makes riding in bad weather all the more enjoyable. I did make some modifications to it, however. For starters, the cassette and chain are both Veloce instead of Record; not only are the less expensive, they appear to be more durable as well. As for hoops, a pair of Mavic Open Pros can’t be beat for durability and reliability.

But perhaps the most important modification centers around making the bike elegantly hi-vis. In addition to Lezyne flashers front and back for visibility, I have also applied strips of black 3M reflective tape to the chain stays, seat post, crank arms, down tube, and head tube. When a light isn’t shining on the tape, you can’t even see its there, but under the shine of a car’s headlights, the bike springs to life.

Riding in bad weather is all about durability and safety; the bike should be outfitted with reliable parts, and the rider should take care to be safe and visible. So whenver you’re riding in Rule #9 conditions, remember these safety tips:

Assume the cars around you do not appreciate the dangers of being on a bicycle in the rain. If you find yourself being followed by a car at a point where it is unsafe for them to pass, either be assertive and take the lane to prevent them making a move that could put you at risk, or pull off the road completely to allow them to pass.
Ride with confidence and make predictable movements. Always signal clearly when making turns. Make eye contact with drivers at intersections and clearly indicate your intended direction of travel.
Always assume cars around you do not see you. Use flashers in any low light situations and give plenty of room to allow for increased stopping distance.
When riding at night, the use of both a helmet mounted light and handlebar mounted light helps drivers realize you are a bicycle and not a motorcycle. I’m not sure why this is, but experience has proven this to be the case.
Avoid riding through puddles, especially ones you can’t see the bottom of; potholes can be bigger than they appear or hidden completely by standing water.

Riding in bad weather means you’re a badass, but it also means cars are less likely to see you or expect to find you out on the road. In accordance with two of the V Tenets of the Velominati, we are to Look Fantastic at All Times, and Return Home Safely To Ride Again Tomorrow. My Reflective Bike of Authority plays nicely in both respects.

Vive la Vie Velominatus.

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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frank says:

Apr 1 2014 at 1:52 pm

@therealpeel

Thought for a moment this was a posting for April fools day- reasonable, well thought out, encouraging function over form/appearance and without hyperbole. Alas, I checked the date and has to concede that it was just a decent thoughtful article.

If there is an April Fools aspect to this, it is those Camo kits.

I do occasionally give in to reason. But I have thankfully manage to keep it to a minimum.
unversio says:

Apr 1 2014 at 2:29 pm

@frank

@therealpeel

Thought for a moment this was a posting for April fools day- reasonable, well thought out, encouraging function over form/appearance and without hyperbole. Alas, I checked the date and has to concede that it was just a decent thoughtful article.

If there is an April Fools aspect to this, it is those Camo kits.

I do occasionally give in to reason. But I have thankfully manage to keep it to a minimum.

My Giro DND Green Camo/Gum gloves are retired.
cyclebrarian says:

Apr 1 2014 at 2:34 pm

@frank

@ChrisO, @Mikael Liddy

@ChrisO

@Frank It's been a while since I've had my pedant hat on but I don't think you meant "In accordance with two of The V Tenants of the Velominati..." unless it was a deliberate error, which to all intensive porpoises it could be.

V tenants would imply they were temporarily renting space, whereas V Tenets would mean they were fundamental principles.

delightfully done.

Indeed. Corrected. Gives you an idea the kind of work our Editors had on their hands. Its a miracle the book got printed at all.

@Dr C

Blimey, due reverence to rain bikes - dismantled my rain bike last weekend, and was overcome with guilt and expense as every fourth bolt I released snapped off, leaving me with two banjaxed derailleurs and a cahin that makes a circle in two separate planes!

This despite regular degreasing and dry lubing - I'll not describe the state of the headset bearings for fear of a lifetime ban

That said, I'm flogging the frame (giant Defy Aluxx) as I just hate riding it, and am swapping in a new Canyon Aluminium Ultimate AL SLX frame - can't wait - plan is I will want to take the long route home, where the white Defy (actually my wife's bike which I have pinched) is just too much like a busted sofa to make me want to ride it anywhere further than a crow's line home - anyway, it certainly owes me nothing, but I owe the LBS a few quid more than I thought I would - seems like a mothly full overhaul for the #2 next winter is in order

Just wait till you pull your BB. You will say to yourself, "I thought these were sealed?.."

I can't overstate how important it is to have a good rain bike and that its one you enjoy riding. It doesn't have to be an R3, for fucks sake - that just happened through stable attrition - but you have to be comfortable on it. First, you are in a riskier situation, so comfort and dependability is criticial, but also you'll ride it as much or more than your #1, so its worth the extra care to get it right.

I will tell the VMH that Frank says I need to get another bike so I can make my current #1 my rain bike. That will go over well.
scaler911 says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:21 pm

@Nik

Can a rain bike be called a Nine Bike?

Sitting in my office taking to your dad. Surreal. He wondered what "nine bike" meant. Ha!
wiscot says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:27 pm

@frank Thanks for the ruling on helmet lights. I have one but was worried that they may succumb to the masturbation principle. It's barely a step up from a beanie with a propeller on top, but a tad more effective at stopping you from getting an SUV up the ass.
wiscot says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:27 pm

@KW

BTW, nice to see the Wisconsinites hijack the thread (sorry @frank!).

Where's @The Oracle??

Hey, we're in the Final Four too, so it's all good.
cyclebrarian says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:57 pm

@wiscot

Of the teams that are left, I'm pulling for Wisconsin.
RedRanger says:

Apr 1 2014 at 4:00 pm

@wiscot

@KW

@wiscot

You boys need to come and ride with me in my part of SE Wisconsin. Seriously, I have maybe 2-3 encounters with asshole drivers a year here. And we have big trucks - this is serious hunting country. Most drivers are extremely polite - wait to pass, wave at me unbidden. Of course, I try to be overly polite too.

Now when I lived in Indiana, it was a whole lot of the opposite . . .

That's cause you live up there in the middle of nowhere. You need to come down here and ride in the city more often!

Seriously though, I find that the drivers in the near suburbs are worse. They're soooo important, and I'm just in the way.

I'll try and get a WI cogal set up for this summer. It'll be on the good roads in Washington, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac and possibly Ozaukee counties. Well away from the burbs . . . unless you count Kewaskum as a burb of West Bend . . .

Keep me informed. I have no idea where those places are but I cant be all that far from them. Also Im signed up for the second annual Bear 100(100k in my case) Its north of here about 80 miles.
Optimiste says:

Apr 1 2014 at 4:51 pm

@Teocalli

@wiscot There British broadcaster/writer Frank Muir and in his autobiography wrote that he was driving down a country road in an open top sport car, a woman going the other way yelled "PIG" as they passed. He was just thinking that was a bit rude when he crested a hill and hit a pig that was just over the brow.

That is an awesome story. And while yours does have the added advantage of being true, it does remind me of one my grandma used to tell about two hobos on top of a train. As they approach a tunnel, one yells "duck!" The other replies "duck nothin', thems geese." I sense a collective groan from my children even now, but it still makes me smile.
G'rilla says:

Apr 1 2014 at 5:46 pm

A whole family just rode by this bus stop on foldable bikes.