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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ChrisO says:

Mar 31 2014 at 10:26 pm

@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.
Mikael Liddy says:

Mar 31 2014 at 11:38 pm

@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.
anthony says:

Mar 31 2014 at 11:47 pm

Cycling in LA county is often harrowing enough without water falling from the sky. That being said, I get pretty damn excited when it does (I miss Portland), but it turns it to total shit storm of vehicular mayhem, but I am starting to find routes that are not outwardly cycling hostile, even when rains, and even if that rain only happens 5 times a year.

Cheers, Ride Safe, Go fast
piwakawaka says:

Apr 1 2014 at 12:27 am

@Giles

@DerHoggz Surely an April 1st joke?

Shirley the whole fuckin' post!?!
Overijse says:

Apr 1 2014 at 1:32 am

@frank

Yes it basically evolved into a semi-MTB 9 speed drivetrain with STI but didn't start that way.

The bike came with a 50x34 front and an 11-32 rear 9 speed (with Tiagra STI) but that just didn't cut it for me on thick gravel and 20% grades of the hills of Hermann MO (good training ground for the DK200). So I changed the rear to an 11-34 9 speed and the front to a 38x26 SLX. I swapped the rear derailleur to an XT long cage just because the original Deore LX was destroyed when I took a dive riding home from work on one of those rainy, dark 3 degree C nights trying to avoid a jogger on the bike path.

I can tell you the set-up for me is perfect, I am most comfortable at high cadence (90-100 rpm) so with a 38x11 I usually top out at about 50-55 km / h on a downhill. For me it is worth it for the low end climbing Belgian hills with a 10kg backpack full of cloths and computers.

From what I understand, the STI road shifter cable pull ratio is the same as 9 speed Shimano MTB components but when they changed to the Dyna-Sys 10 speed the shifter ratio changed so it no longer works with STI.

Hope this helps!
Overijse says:

Apr 1 2014 at 1:34 am

@frank

@Overijse

What was supposed to be the bike to ride the 2011 Dirty Kanza 200, turned into my work commuter when I was transferred to Belgium before the race. I tried riding my number 1 to work but the 'tank' aka Salsa steel (heavier than $hit) is much better suited. While Belgium has 1,000s of kms of bike lanes, they aren't exactly awesome for a road bike. So a 700Ã—50 Schwalbe Big Ben tire gobbles up the path.

I know this bike has many rule violations but it is damn comfortable, especially when it is 5 deg C and raining and dark while riding to work both ways.

Looks like a perfect bike for Heck of the North. Interesting gearing; what do you have rigged? Is that a MTB drivetrain on STI? And what are the front ratios? Marko is looking at building a Fat Bike with drop bars for the Aerohead 135 and is wondering about gear combinations.

I know its a different scenario but I top out my 46Ã—12 on my CX bike on fast bits of trail, so having a single ring seems too limiting, but a double might be good enough.

@frank

Yes it basically evolved into a semi-MTB 9 speed drivetrain with STI but didn't start that way.

The bike came with a 50Ã—34 front and an 11-32 rear 9 speed (with Tiagra STI) but that just didn't cut it for me on thick gravel and 20% grades of the hills of Hermann MO (good training ground for the DK200). So I changed the rear to an 11-34 9 speed and the front to a 38Ã—26 SLX. I swapped the rear derailleur to an XT long cage just because the original Deore LX was destroyed when I took a dive riding home from work on one of those rainy, dark 3 degree C nights trying to avoid a jogger on the bike path.

I can tell you the set-up for me is perfect, I am most comfortable at high cadence (90-100 rpm) so with a 38Ã—11 I usually top out at about 50-55 km / h on a downhill. For me it is worth it for the low end climbing Belgian hills with a 10kg backpack full of cloths and computers.

From what I understand, the STI road shifter cable pull ratio is the same as 9 speed Shimano MTB components but when they changed to the Dyna-Sys 10 speed the shifter ratio changed so it no longer works with STI.

Hope this helps!
Dr C says:

Apr 1 2014 at 2:44 am

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
Kupepe says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:10 am

@Frank Being blessed to live in the best country for riding a bike ... Greece (with just 30 days of mild rain at worse a year, mild weather during the winters ok to handle hot days during summer) I don't really own a winter bike becaue I do not need it. So after my modern carbon bike I applied the n+1 rule for the number of bikes a man can own and I made a modern build of a 1972 Colnago Super. Boy ... I love steel now. So ... here comes a new savings account for the next target of the bunch ... a full custom geometry Pegoretti or Speedvagen ( I am still pondering on aesthetics).

Here comes the question : If you do not own bikes depending on weather conditions but on aesthetics and the hip they create on your heart and the n+1 rule applies to you in continuum, how do you decide which bike you ride, which bike is for what and most importantly : Do you ever sell a bicycle that you got attached with when u climbed mountains at audaxes and kept thinking " Why did I come here ? Why did i do the same mistake again?", since you may not ride it for months but you still love it when you use it again ?
Teocalli says:

Apr 1 2014 at 3:39 am

@Dr C I'm flogging the frame (giant Defy Aluxx) as I just hate riding it

Nice sales pitch!

@Kupepe a full custom geometry Pegoretti

Yeah I'll second that, my savings account too or a Feather......
Ron says:

Apr 1 2014 at 6:20 am

Great fucking article, Frank! And wow, I never even knew about black reflective tape. Great idea!

I use a Planet Bike rear helmet light for commuting, but it swivels and that breaks the Silence when doing road riding. I'm eager to try out the Lezyne Zecto, haven't grabbed one yet. Since we're talking lights...the Serfas Thunderbolt is an awesome tail light for road bikes. It secures almost anywhere with rubber straps, thus useful when you have many road bikes AND since you don't need a mount, doesn't clutter up the N.1. I use one on the seatpost or seat stay, then a PB SuperFlash as well. Oh, and the Thunderbolt is usb rechargeable. Those two, paired with a rear helmet light makes you bright as.

Excellent riding tips for bad weather! Instead of yelling or arguing with drivers, I've been more and more assertive lately. Taking a lane when necessary, putting out a hand as in "don't even think about passing me here, I can see further up the road than you...and I don't have a metal cage" and the like. I find out it works pretty darn well. Most people chill the fuck out for a minute and the wackos who don't, well, they're fucked already.

Nice timing, as spring showers welcome in the new season.