Re: riding in the wet: Bikefanclub.com

I'm a pretty conservative (read: scaredy-cat) cornerer in the best of conditions, and I definitely take 'em even slower when the rains come, as they have with a vengeance here in the Pacific NW. I've laid the bike down turning into the unexpected patch of wet grass clippings and, well, once bitten twice shy, I guess. Cautionary tale: the week before last a friend's husband was cruising downhill fast & the bike edged out onto a recently-rained-on reflective road stripe & he went down hard: knocked out cold, broken hip & collarbone.

Yesterday's commute saw what is usually the bike path I follow turned into a series of small lakes, complete with families of ducks paddling about. Not having the heart or sense to backtrack, and not truly believing that the water could be more than an inch or two deep over the path, I forged ahead--plowing into water that was over my bottom bracket & up over my wheel hubs before I was through. Oops. I should note that this is my hearty commuter, with Veloce/Mirage bits, not my Record/Chorus Calfee, that I put through this trauma.

My usual cleaning routine after a wet commute would probably make my LBS wrenches wince: I hose the whole thing down with a low-pressure stream of water, then give a high-pressure blast to the rims & brake pads. Dry off the chain with a rag, and then that's about it. If I've got time (and at least once a week during the wet winters) I clean the rims & brakepads more thoroughly by hand. Thoroughly clean & grease the chain, too (I found a lube, called A.T.B.--"Absolutely The Best"--that sheds grime & endures pretty well through repeated rains & rinses).

All that said, and back to the original question, I actually do prefer to ride the Calfee on wet roads over the Bianchi commuter ("San Remo" - a light tourer w/fenders & rack). Handling is so much surer with the Luna. But I don't like to subject it to too much road grit. Got some strap-on Race Blade fenders for when I just can't say no to the Luna.

Haven't changed tires for the season, nor run at lower pressure, but I did just get some Panaracer Stradius Pro's 'cause they're cheap at Performance right now & they're good in the wet without sacrificing much in terms of suppleness or weight.

Didn't realize I had so much to say about riding in the wet. Final word(s): GORE-TEX SOCKS!

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