Re: riding in the wet: Bikefanclub.com

Wheelwing, I could have written your post. We think alike.

I rode a OCLV with fenders, flaps. It is a tight fit but it works. I rides 23c tires only because I can't get anything bigger under the fenders. I pump them up to 100-110 psi.

I definitely take corners easier. Just last Saturday, raining gently, wet road and the corner had a patch of grass clippings, I had zero traction so I finally got the bike stopped and had to restart. I've gone down on wet corners.With leaves, manhole covers, all kinds of schtuff on the road that's hard to see when it's wet, it just is not worth goin down hard. So I think you guys who don't lay off in the wet are a little crazy. It's not like you're being paid zillion bucks to lay it on the line. Not to mention, if one in the group goes down, likely so does everyone behind you. Not cool!

I ride with a group of 20 or more on weekends and if you don't show up with fenders and flaps you aren't really accepted. Strap on's are not acceptable on a group ride!

I also hose the bike off gently after each rain ride and also hit the rims hard. Then I bounce the big drops off, go clean myself up and then come out to lube the drivetrain with Bullshot.

Then I towel any other muck off. I like to keep the frame waxed every month or so because it really aids clean-up. I do a complete bike and hub overhaul at least once a year or more if I put a ton of rain miles on in one year. Better to put some money and time into maintenance then to come out for a ride and your Record hubs are frozen and trashed. (Yeah, I admit that happened to me...though only because I had just had it in the shop, I thought they had repacked the hubs and they hadn't. Expensive mistake.)

Any ride in the rain is a bonus ride as far as I'm concerned. One of the best was with Gasman 2 winters ago. Temperature about 32-34 deg and raining. We got 35 miles in and a lot of wonderous looks from drivers. Gotta love it!

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