In the UK that would be the same as not riding all winter. We haven't had rain for days now but the roads are still wet from very high humidity in the air, dew/condensation, and poor drainage.
I used to commute to for 22 miles a day, before Covid. All year round. This prepares you for all weathers, for sure! Mudguards, puncture resistant tyres, overshoes and a waterproof pannier bag to store a change of clothes was essential
I literally am about to do this length a day at the end of the month. I am new to cycling. How often do punctures happen? Am I expecting it monthly, 6 monthly? I've got no idea what to expect in this regard
I cycle regularly in rain. The first thing I'll say is to get a visored helmet or some good eye wear to keep the rain out of your eyes. The second is mudguards/fenders. Then it's just about a decent jacket and boots/socks. I find I don't even need to bother with rainproof pants. Can't say it's preferable to dry, but it's certainly not an inconvenience if you're prepared for it.
Interesting! In the old days they used to say a bespectacled guy could not win the Tour de France, because when glasses are wet you can't see a thing. How times have changed.
Riding in the rain isn’t ideal but my best memories riding in a group are in rain/freak hailstorm. It makes it fun on a long, >50 miles, rides. Just adds to the “story” of long rides. Thanks!
Yes, happened with us few years ago. It was around 80 plus kilometer ride, started with a beautiful sunny afternoon near the Canadian Rockies and ended up with a nice thunderstorm and everyone of us were wet and shivering, looking for going back to the parking lot ASAP. Luckily we all had change of clothes and a coffee shop nearby. ✌🏾
My main issue with riding in the rain is that it gets sand and mud from the road very easily in all the gears, bearings and chain. That then is hard to remove for the next dry ride. That's what I hate most about it.
Wax your chain, dirt will barely stick to it. After a wet ride, suspend the chain in hot wax (I DIY-ed a frying basket of sorts). Dirt will just fall off.
A high quality set of mudguards (eg. Berthoud, Velo Orange, Honjo) and a mud flap eliminates this but not all bikes are suitable and fitting is a faff.
Properly rinse and dry your bike after every such ride. In late fall, winter and early spring, I advise against "drying" your bike in a damp cold shed (because there's no such thing), so I place mine inside on a simple stand at room temperature for at least 24 hrs so I'm sure there's no more water between the chain links
- Bung up the unused cleat-screw slots/holes in your shoe-soles with silicone. - Put a rain cover over your plastic hat. Maybe get a helmet with a magnetic visor that'll go on over it. - If you have to ride over a level crossing or anything else slippery make sure the bike is upright and stay in a straight line. - Don't use such piddling little lights, motorists have to see them through mucky, steamed-up windscreens so get something really in-your-face they can't miss. - And wear something easily visible, none of that head-to-toe black stuff even if your bike does look like a prawn cocktail on a bid for freedom. Why wear your own mourning? - If you use traditional brakes, check the rims for wear or use rims with tell-tales. Clean brake-blocks/pads after every ride. - Look after your chain.
Riding in Ireland, so learning to read the local rainfall radar has been a huge benefit. Don't trust the weather symbols! just look at the radar, look at the wind direction and you're golden.
Yes. Even as an amateur, I am more attuned to reading the radar and understanding the likely rainfall in my local area, than the verbiage that AI spits out. When I travel, not-so-much.
Agree. I have started riding on 30+ degree weather and ended up riding in 10 degree weather during a thunderstorm. Rain does bring the temperature down FAST. You can end up hypothermic in a matter of minutes. Recommend that you seek and get under cover as quickly as possible.
My tip for the rain is, Always ride with clips. On my mountainbike i don't have clips and it is sometime pretty scary. If your shoe gets wet you will probaly have your shoe slipping away.
I’ve only been watching GCN for the past few years, but as a resident of the arid Southern California, but winter always bring a series of content that is unrelatable 😅 - but it is eye opening on how passionate other cyclist around the world are.
I moved from Pacific Northwest to SoCal. I legitimately miss the rain and want more of it. Perhaps not downpours, but 20-40min rides in sprinkles is very pleasant.
I recommend bringing a second neck gaiter in a bag to keep it dry. Makes a big difference putting on a warm, dry gaiter half way through your ride. And I also highly recommend riding in the rain, my favorite, give it a try!
My tip is to wear a plastic cover over your helmet, it will keep your head warmer and drier, it stops the cold wind and the rain going through the air vents in your helmet. I have a lumious yellow plastic cover over my helmet which also helps with visiblity. Also wear a cycling cap under your helmet so that the peak of the cap can deflect some rain.
All very good advice. One thing not mentioned is wheel and tire width. I moved over from a late 2000s Shimano Ultegra wheelset to HED Ardennes LT+ (since rebranded as the HED Ardennes RA Pro) and this meant internal rim width going up from just over 13mm to just over 21mm. On my late aughts rim brake Cannondale bike this required me to get new long reach brake calipers to fit the wheels (Shimano 105 5800 to replace the original Cannondale own brand part), but it was worth it because the cornering in two specific conditions -- wet, and dry/dusty -- improved so much. The generally more stable handling, better ride and reduction in tire pressure from 120psi to 80 were all nice too; with a 32-35mm set of tires you might be able to get it below 70psi though my Cannondale won't fit such wide tires; I pretty much have to keep things to a 25 in Michelin and 28 in other brands though I could possibly see sneaking a 30mm Continental in there. This will obviously not be a problem on newer bikes but it shows what's possible even on a fairly traditional rim brake bike.
If you have to ride through a puddle that may be hiding a pot hole, I tend to try and pick a line that car wheels don't regularly drive. Less likely to have a deep hole there. Slowing down helps too!
A good, breathable rain jacket helps soooo much. A low heat shoe dryer. If you put the shoes on before your ride, you start with toasty feet, and use it to dry them thoroughly after the ride of course.
Good advice here! I ride in the rain quite often, and totally agree that mudguards (fenders) are absolutely crucial. I would never even consider not having them on any road bike in winter. I also agree with the advice about overshoes; wet feet can be pretty miserable. This probably isn't necessary to mention since everyone has them on their road bikes now anyway, but disc brakes work a LOT better in the wet than rim brakes, especially if you have carbon wheels.
I ride an mtb, so I am used to muddy wet conditions. My tip. Wet or dry. I turn my front light on strobe every time I get to a road. Every little helps the car driver to see you.
"Get yourself an Ass Saver, maybe even a GCN one...this will protect the spray from your backside." Sounds like sound advice to Discovery+, right there. Maybe get a GCN addition to add to your lineup to protect your backside from the negative spray you'll be getting coming December 19. Watching until the very end.
I just like cycling in the rain. It's harder to go out when it's already raining but if it starts later then it's more bearable. But I'm a bad example I also like to run in the rain.
Ass savers are great. Nice and light and very easy to take on and off. Also much lighter than full on mud guards. Portland Design Works makes a nice clip on guard for the down tube. Again easy to take on and off and much lighter. I actually cut my PDW front guard down to be a bit narrower. Both of these are made of thin but durable plastic, and can easily slip in to a small frame bag. Shoe covers do work, but I rode many very long wet days in Scotland with Endura's waterproof socks (Showers Pass make some too). They actually work and are nice and warm for really cold rainy days. Light neoprene kayaking gloves for long, wet cold days are a Godsend. Get the ones with the fingers already pre-curved. They also work for kayaking - of course.
I use an ass-saver on the down tube of my gravel bike, to keep some dirt and dust off my water bottle. You may need a hole punch and zip ties to modify/fasten it.
Really useful video Manon and no excuses for not riding in all weather now. You covered them but neoprene boot covers and mudguards are my essentials. Wet feet and arse are miserable.
Riding in the rain also means CLEAN YOUR BIKE when the ride is over. Leaving muck on wheels/drivetrain/frame will mean more costly maintenance later on. 😮
Love the video!! I find the thought of rain much worse than the reality. Had some great wet rides. Biggest thing for me is having a really breathable water-resistant jersey/jacket for changeable/damp/light rain, and a highly breathable packable rain jacket if it gets heavy. Much better than cheap jackets that don’t breathe!!
Never been a fan of riding in the rain. On bike tours, I am prepared for wet weather (helmet cover, rain jacket, layers, tights, gloves, put my glasses in my handlebar bag, rain covers for the HB bag and panniers), and continue riding but will sometimes hide out, under an available canopy if available, for a while. Or find lodging earlier than planned. Since I need to wear glasses, rain is a hassle with those.
I can't fit mudguards on my bike - but found by accident that installing a pannier rack on the back does exactly the same job - in fact - I can't remember last time I had a wet bum!!
I'm quite picky as for the weather so on my rides it rarely rains and when it does it is usually showers. If there's a place to hide I hide and wait. When it's warm there's a high chance that I just ride through it without putting any rain protection on. I rode maybe over 6000 km in high mountains and it rained only about 5x and it was nearly always a shower (soaking wet only 2x). As for winter rides, conditions are often humid. Clothing with basic water protection is a must. Temperatures are lower and keeping your hands and feet dry and warm is absolutely essential. So my number one rule is try to keep your hands and feet dry and warm especially when it's cold.
I have no issue wet weather riding when I am fully prepared. As long as the wind isn't too strong, they can be enjoyable. I also wear a casquette peak down over my glasses which helps keep the worst of the rain from blocking my view.
Rode my Trek Domane SL6 w/Schwalbe Pro One All Around tires (700X35mm) on Nov. 2nd of this year in snowy and 25 degrees f in Yellowstone Nat. Pk. Wore a Castelli Marino LS base layer, a med weight Pearl Izumi jacket and a water proof rain jacket over all those. Also a packable REI rain pants and Fizik Gore Tex boots w/PI water proof over boot covers. Stayed nice and dry with no inter-jacket condensation the whole 40+ miles that we rode that day. Winter riding .
Replacement dry suit rubber cuffs upside down on your ankles and over the tops of your boots. Stops the water getting in there. About a tenner off ebay
I love riding in the rain! As long as it's a warmish rain. Rain jacket, cycling cap, quick-drying shorts, and sandals that won't get waterlogged (I ride with pedal straps rather than clipless), and I'm good to go. Cold rain isn't as fun, but, you know, I've still gotta get groceries. The only weather I don't have a solution for is hail... Luckily hail usually passes in 15 minutes or so.
Such a helpful & delightfully entertaining video Manon! Love this content! The CanBike safety instructor is screaming "YES, YES, YES!" to avoiding hidden puddle/ pothole dangers, grates, white lines (road snakes too, those tar repair lines), and LIGHTS for daytime use too. I have totally converted to fenders/ mudguards for my adventures and I love 'partypace' so rain rides are chill too. Speaking of which, the only bit I would add is good (unfortunately expensive, but worth it) rain kit. Jacket/pants for commuting. Love the humour in your videos and love that I now know the Welsh for rainbow! I had to chuckle when you used 'eh?' Did Maghalie have an influence? We'll make you an honourary Canadian yet! Although I don't usually watch the Tech channel, I'll head on over and see if Alex has any fender tips. Please keep making these awesome videos!
Since I commute by bike, I've often GOT to ride in the rain. I've got a good waterproof rain jacket from Chrome Industries. I also wear waterproof shoe covers and thick, winter cycling gloves.
Thanks Manon, some good tips. Let me add a few from recent experience. In the autumn, trees shead leaves and also their fruit/seeds. Recently I came on a sharp bend under a beech tree. Fresh beech mast is like marbles. Wet white line have nothing on fresh beech mast. Also in autumn the wind blows. In a strong cross wind, passing a gap in the hedge can tend to throw you across the road, particularly with those nice deep section rims. Also the wind brings down bits of tree and, of course, all those leaves. Bits of branch, say an inch in diameter, can hide in those leaves and act like mini and mobile train lines and easily have you over. Cross over the grass in the middle of the little lane and fall on the ridge just to avoid that pot hole (I nearly did that in summer to avoid the brambles). As a point of information, those steel plates you call drains are actually access hole covers (manhole covers). The drains have slots in them to let the water down and they, the drain covers that is, can have even more issues depending on the orientation of the slits. Connected to this issue is a wet cattle grid, ride across at your peril because they have all the aforementioned problems and come with a broken ankle if you have to put your foot down suddenly. The by-pass route for horses/ walkers is to be preferred. Call me a "Karren" if you like but unnecessary injuries can really ruin your ride programme so better safe than sorry. Nice video, Manon, and good to see that you have got over your prejudice against useful "Gubbins".
Just rode through France during Chestnut season. Chestnuts are probably worse than beech. They always seem to fall preferentially on sharp corners on descents too.
I hate the feeling (and noise!) of rain pants and shoe covers, but if you're biking for more than an hour they'll keep your lower half nice and dry. For the top half, its touch and go with waterproofed items, they can be super plasticky and staticky, so sometimes its better to just get rained on. For safety reasons and comfort reasons, a decent pair of waterproofed gloves will keep your hands comfortable and capable on the handlebars--otherwise make sure your bar tape is . One of the biggest things when riding in the wet is to remember to wipe your bike down when you're finally home.
"It hasn't been that bad because it's for work." Haha. All joking aside. Thank you for making a video on this topic, and sharing tips and knowledge with everyone about riding in the rain.
I slipped under the rain a week ago, been struggling with an infected rash in my thigh and some sore muscles but finally managed to get up and ride again. Rain sucks but what sucks more is slipping when it is raining. Always use proper rain tyres and don't ride in a rush.
Get a decent city/commuter bike with proper mudguard that you can also use for a short training ride. That will also likely have a bit grippier tires and you don't care so much about dirt in the drivetrain. Get a water proof cell phone. I did greenland roll training in the kayak (with lots of exits unter water), having forgotten my cell phone: No problem.
Got a Dutch bike recently, all bolts and bare metal covered by plastic. Best thing is drum brakes tho, I remember trying steel rim brakes and having 0 stopping power.
Hard pass for me. I'm firmly in the fair weather camp. All the gear and the bike, even though they are waterproof, just costs too much for the accelerated wear and tear from foul weather riding. Plus those painted lines on the road have already left their mark on my left hip and elbow... LOL!! Great video though and best of luck to all of you hard-core riders out there!!
Since a ride in the rain resulted in a broken collar-bone I avoid rain, as the risk of a crash and the currently constant fear reduces the joy of a ride I avoid riding in the rain. Low temperatures are no problem to me, as I have the right equipement/clothes, but a wet surface i currently a no-go.
A point about phones -- touchscreens (at least on my Samsung A33) are prone to ghost calling or dialling 999 if they get "moist" from rain or bumping about in a sweaty jersey pocket. They'll also lock up due to "too many unlock attempts." Sandwich bags don't eliminate that problem. And as far as I can find, Samsung doesn''t allow you to turn off the emergency call setting due to legal reasons. (Apple iPhones may be different) My solution was to buy a Rapha Essentials Pouch (other pouches are available), which is waterproof enough to stop the screen from activating. If you ride in the rain or hot and humid conditions (Southeast Asia), a phone pouch makes a big difference. And you've got somewhere safe to put your keys, money and/or cards. Cheers
Cycling in the rain sucks when it's less then 15 °c. Did a cyclo ride 200K starting off with about 30 others last month, it rained almost constantly (mild to intense) and only 5 to 10 °c. Had three pair of gloves with me, covered with thin plastic ones (as used by veterinarians to check up cows) , an extra t shirt, thin sweater and socks. Halfway through changed upper clothes, totally wet even with a rather thick rain jacket with a fixed cap on it. Gloves also got totally wet inside, as my shoes even with water proof over shoes. The new socks remained dry for quite a long time as i had plastic bags to put my feet in. So made it in 9 hours. And if one has a gravel bike it's better to take that one as having a puncture when it's wet and cold is really annoying.
I got caught out lol. No problem.took a coffe break lol. Dried up in 17 degrees weather after it stopped. Pretty cool 100km ride . The hardning of a cyclist 🍺🚲🍺❤
Just happy I invested in an indoor smart trainer for winter times. Happily sipping coffee in a warm and cozy room while I let others convince themselves riding outside in the cold makes them stronger.
Phones are waterproof but not vapor/air proof. The worst thing is to have your phone in a pocket in the wet. Your body heat makes it all steamy in the pocket and that water filled air gets into the phone and ruins it. And your warranty won't cover it. Ask me how I know...
Just a thought - I know black looks really cool, but don't you think in poor light poor visibility conditions you should recommend something fractionally brighter. No?
I would add….bright clothing and old or cheapish audax bike with full fitted mudguards and either slime tubes and fairly puncture resistant tyres or really both. I got a kinesis frame with 15 year old campag groupset and wheels. Out on it today and went past a farmer trimming hedgerow. Held my breath as i rode over the thorns and sticks in the road but lived to fight another day. Rim brakes…. Not ideal, just need to brake earlier
When light rain starts, layer up immediately with a waterproof. It may or may not pass and if it develops further, you are already half way to being wet.
I started to get used to riding in the rain myself at one stage. Then, one day, I hit a pot hole hidden in water. In decades of cycling, it is the biggest crash I have had. After riding home 30 miles, bleeding with a damaged mech, I now avoid riding in the rain. It is very hard to distinguish a shallow puddle from a deep puddle hiding a pothole.
I got caught in a 1h rain last weekend @55*F, I did have a helmet cover and cape that did wonders but my full fingered gloves and aero shoe covers failed after @20 minutes. Water seems to go down my calf into the shoe so I will use a tighter neoprene shoe cover next time....still not sure on gloves for rain proofness. I find if I could keep head/torso, feet and hands comfortable, the lower body is fine with cold & wet.
@@t.w.5282 I made a trip to REI & did some shopping. So, in the kayak section I picked up some 0.5mm neoprene socks that go about as high as my booties. Cold dry ride in 40’s today & first time I can say my feet have EVER been hot. No other socks just wore these in my Castilli booties. Second, I bought GoreTex over mitts which I’ll use next cold rain. Those neoprene socks work so well by themselves I’m going to get a couple more pairs!
My two tips for wet weather riding supplemental to what Manon said: 1 never ride through a puddle where you can't see the road below the water surface. It can easily be hiding a pothole, especially if the water is murky. And of course if you do see a pothole, avoid it. 2. watch out for road repairs where there is exposed tar at the join (overbanding as it is called). That stuff is slippier than white lines. Bonus tip: Ass-Savers are, in my experience, a waste of time. They have to be very well aligned to protect you, which means they mustn't move, and they don't protect riders behind you.
I find my gravel bike collects a lot less water than my road bike off the tyres so can stay much drier. And slow down, avoid puddles and go the longer way home to avoid any busy roads
My tip - Ride on small ring only. Keeps speed down and cadence high, and more importantly, you’ll be riding slower over the slippy slidey roads that UK is proud of.
Wear a cap under your helmet. It prevents rain (and with rain hairgel and sweat) from getting in your eyes and on your glasses. For me it makes all the difference. And wear something visible. Compared to cars we are a bit fragile.
Love riding in the rain just hate having to clean my bike after the ride 😩. Big believer in lights day and night and hi vis clothes - unlike GCN presenters who love wearing black.
If you must ride in the rain during the winter, I'd suggest leaving your expensive bike indoors, and popping to Decathlon or Halfords and investing in a cheap gravel bike.
Use a lube meant for cycling in wet weather and wear dark clothing as the bike will splatter oil and muck on you. Maybe lower your tire pressure a tad to improve traction. I hate cleaning the muck and road oil from my bike and bikewear after the ride so I avoid it as best I can.
I'm broadly like the Wicked Witch of the West with my aversion to riding in the rain, however if I have to, I've found the gravel bike is a lot less sketchy on Australian roads in the wet. Because I'm Australian, I don't have mud guards 🤣 Because most of our wet weather is in the summer, it's quite hard to layer properly, as you'll be as wet with a gillet or rain jacket, as if you hadn't put one on. And of course, the post ride clean is a bit miserable.
This is what I love most about riding a velomobile. I stay warm In the cold and dry in the rain. No need for mudguards or fancy raincoats. None of my gear gets dirty. I ride year-round in all weather. I don’t even use my bike trainer anymore because I just ride outside every day.
@@gcn already watched it twice. Hardly a fair race though, with the moped limited to 30mph. Would have been fun to see speed and power data from the Streamliner riders. A streamliner May not be very practical for daily riding like a velomobile, but it sure is fast.
To dry your shoes for the next ride, stuff them with crumpled up newspaper. It'll get them dry by morning and you won't risk hurting them with heaters.
The last time I intentionally rode in the rain, in March, I got showered by hail, which packed in my helmet, and I got a bad case of hypothermia. No thanks. Although, by all means, keep up these masters of the obvious video tips!
It's a funny one but I've been caught out in some horrible storms in Summer and you have to get home so you suck it up, in Winter you look out, see drizzle and it's "nope, not today". Also, similar to keeping your phone dry, ensure your home alarm key fob keeps dry. £100 for a replacement the time I didn't. How Mrs S laughed (not).
"Raining cats and donkeys"? What, not cats and dogs? 😮 Special rain in Bath, maybe! 😊 Nice vid- my solution is to move to gravel/mtb/cx over winter, then you're moving slower on a grippier (?!! 🤔) surface- certainly softer when you deck it! 😜
Mud guards are brilliant and if your bike has mounts for full length mud guards you, and more or less all of your bike, will benefit enormously by not getting covered in road spray, mud, muck and road kill.
After being in the UK for 3 months I’m quite surprised by how utterly horrible the roads are 😮 Even after 3-4 mm of rain the roads were covered with water and big puddles and close to unrideable… In some ways I’m surprised that road bikes even is a thing in the UK 😮 I’m so glad to be back in Denmark with nice smooth and wider roads 😊
What are your tips for riding in the rain? ☔
Use mudguard make sure the non waterproof items do not get wet!!!
Ride with mates on a Audax to cheer you up
take the car
I put the clear lenses into my cycling glasses as they keep the rain out of my eyes so I have clear vision.
Wear enough clothes+some sort of rain coat. If it's really bad go for a run instead.
My tip for riding in the rain is to wait for it to stop before riding and let the roads dry out.
Scientists call this „NOT riding in the rain“
@@martindirkzimmer😂
In the UK that would be the same as not riding all winter. We haven't had rain for days now but the roads are still wet from very high humidity in the air, dew/condensation, and poor drainage.
Indoor training? 👀
I took up cycling recently and was beautifully naive that the cost of an entry level bike would be my only major spend. So sweet.
I used to commute to for 22 miles a day, before Covid. All year round. This prepares you for all weathers, for sure! Mudguards, puncture resistant tyres, overshoes and a waterproof pannier bag to store a change of clothes was essential
Breathable waterproofs too,
I can't abide a bike without mudguards
And maybe front and rear lights as it tends to get dark when it rains.
I literally am about to do this length a day at the end of the month. I am new to cycling. How often do punctures happen? Am I expecting it monthly, 6 monthly?
I've got no idea what to expect in this regard
@@damo_cbe careful what you ride over. It’s just best to keep a repair kit on or have puncture resistant tires to be prepared
I cycle regularly in rain. The first thing I'll say is to get a visored helmet or some good eye wear to keep the rain out of your eyes. The second is mudguards/fenders. Then it's just about a decent jacket and boots/socks. I find I don't even need to bother with rainproof pants.
Can't say it's preferable to dry, but it's certainly not an inconvenience if you're prepared for it.
Interesting! In the old days they used to say a bespectacled guy could not win the Tour de France, because when glasses are wet you can't see a thing. How times have changed.
Riding in the rain isn’t ideal but my best memories riding in a group are in rain/freak hailstorm. It makes it fun on a long, >50 miles, rides. Just adds to the “story” of long rides. Thanks!
Yes, happened with us few years ago. It was around 80 plus kilometer ride, started with a beautiful sunny afternoon near the Canadian Rockies and ended up with a nice thunderstorm and everyone of us were wet and shivering, looking for going back to the parking lot ASAP. Luckily we all had change of clothes and a coffee shop nearby. ✌🏾
Hahahaha each to their own... we prefer out long rides nice and dry 😂 You're right though, it's all part of the journey 🙌
@@gcn has Manon broken a lot of hearts in her time?
My main issue with riding in the rain is that it gets sand and mud from the road very easily in all the gears, bearings and chain. That then is hard to remove for the next dry ride. That's what I hate most about it.
Wax your chain, dirt will barely stick to it. After a wet ride, suspend the chain in hot wax (I DIY-ed a frying basket of sorts). Dirt will just fall off.
A high quality set of mudguards (eg. Berthoud, Velo Orange, Honjo) and a mud flap eliminates this but not all bikes are suitable and fitting is a faff.
Properly rinse and dry your bike after every such ride. In late fall, winter and early spring, I advise against "drying" your bike in a damp cold shed (because there's no such thing), so I place mine inside on a simple stand at room temperature for at least 24 hrs so I'm sure there's no more water between the chain links
I moved from Seattle to Phoenix, that helped a lot
- Bung up the unused cleat-screw slots/holes in your shoe-soles with silicone.
- Put a rain cover over your plastic hat. Maybe get a helmet with a magnetic visor that'll go on over it.
- If you have to ride over a level crossing or anything else slippery make sure the bike is upright and stay in a straight line.
- Don't use such piddling little lights, motorists have to see them through mucky, steamed-up windscreens so get something really in-your-face they can't miss.
- And wear something easily visible, none of that head-to-toe black stuff even if your bike does look like a prawn cocktail on a bid for freedom. Why wear your own mourning?
- If you use traditional brakes, check the rims for wear or use rims with tell-tales. Clean brake-blocks/pads after every ride.
- Look after your chain.
they arent great role models wearing this full black gear with a dim light
I actually enjoying walking in winter but cycling moves to indoors. Respect to those of you who brave it
I feel the same most of the time, walking in the bad weather doesn't feel as bad as ploughing through it at 20km/h+
Indoor cycling a blessing! 🙌 Systems like Zwift just make it that bit more enjoyable
Studded tires are the reason I can ride in winter. Without those it's miserable. They are kinda expensive but worth every penny.
@@gcn shamefully I have a peleton, I'm going to covert it to swift!
@@cruachan1191 100%, it's easy to wrap up, I do 10 miles a day with my dog out in the hills, and never feel cold or wet!
Riding in Ireland, so learning to read the local rainfall radar has been a huge benefit. Don't trust the weather symbols! just look at the radar, look at the wind direction and you're golden.
Interesting! What a great skill to have 🙌
Yes. Even as an amateur, I am more attuned to reading the radar and understanding the likely rainfall in my local area, than the verbiage that AI spits out. When I travel, not-so-much.
How do you do it, im from Ireland too
Agreed! I use the weather app “Windy” for the radar updates. It helps a lot for me.
If you're a real cyclist, a crash means, "how's my bike?" Rain storm means, "oh no, my bike."
Rain is never really an issue. It's the cold (which will also be amplified if it happens to also be raining)
Agree. I have started riding on 30+ degree weather and ended up riding in 10 degree weather during a thunderstorm. Rain does bring the temperature down FAST. You can end up hypothermic in a matter of minutes. Recommend that you seek and get under cover as quickly as possible.
Cold and wet... no thankyou! 👀
@@gcnthat special “damp cold” we get in the UK winter, that is so much worse than any Canadian winter 😅
My tip for the rain is, Always ride with clips. On my mountainbike i don't have clips and it is sometime pretty scary. If your shoe gets wet you will probaly have your shoe slipping away.
I’ve only been watching GCN for the past few years, but as a resident of the arid Southern California, but winter always bring a series of content that is unrelatable 😅 - but it is eye opening on how passionate other cyclist around the world are.
I moved from Pacific Northwest to SoCal.
I legitimately miss the rain and want more of it. Perhaps not downpours, but 20-40min rides in sprinkles is very pleasant.
I recommend bringing a second neck gaiter in a bag to keep it dry. Makes a big difference putting on a warm, dry gaiter half way through your ride. And I also highly recommend riding in the rain, my favorite, give it a try!
My tip is to wear a plastic cover over your helmet, it will keep your head warmer and drier, it stops the cold wind and the rain going through the air vents in your helmet. I have a lumious yellow plastic cover over my helmet which also helps with visiblity.
Also wear a cycling cap under your helmet so that the peak of the cap can deflect some rain.
All very good advice. One thing not mentioned is wheel and tire width. I moved over from a late 2000s Shimano Ultegra wheelset to HED Ardennes LT+ (since rebranded as the HED Ardennes RA Pro) and this meant internal rim width going up from just over 13mm to just over 21mm. On my late aughts rim brake Cannondale bike this required me to get new long reach brake calipers to fit the wheels (Shimano 105 5800 to replace the original Cannondale own brand part), but it was worth it because the cornering in two specific conditions -- wet, and dry/dusty -- improved so much. The generally more stable handling, better ride and reduction in tire pressure from 120psi to 80 were all nice too; with a 32-35mm set of tires you might be able to get it below 70psi though my Cannondale won't fit such wide tires; I pretty much have to keep things to a 25 in Michelin and 28 in other brands though I could possibly see sneaking a 30mm Continental in there. This will obviously not be a problem on newer bikes but it shows what's possible even on a fairly traditional rim brake bike.
If you have to ride through a puddle that may be hiding a pot hole, I tend to try and pick a line that car wheels don't regularly drive. Less likely to have a deep hole there. Slowing down helps too!
I have enjoyed this in summer months, when its colder though, its a sufferfest and that's why I set up indoor training stuff! :)
Rain and cold is a pretty horrible mix 👀
For the shoes part, I just wear Crocs in wet days. Easy washable after you got home.
A good, breathable rain jacket helps soooo much.
A low heat shoe dryer. If you put the shoes on before your ride, you start with toasty feet, and use it to dry them thoroughly after the ride of course.
Good advice here! I ride in the rain quite often, and totally agree that mudguards (fenders) are absolutely crucial. I would never even consider not having them on any road bike in winter. I also agree with the advice about overshoes; wet feet can be pretty miserable.
This probably isn't necessary to mention since everyone has them on their road bikes now anyway, but disc brakes work a LOT better in the wet than rim brakes, especially if you have carbon wheels.
If you ride fixed gear you will look forward to riding in the rain. The loss of traction on the rear wheel makes for more fun in the wet.
I ride an mtb, so I am used to muddy wet conditions. My tip. Wet or dry. I turn my front light on strobe every time I get to a road. Every little helps the car driver to see you.
"Get yourself an Ass Saver, maybe even a GCN one...this will protect the spray from your backside."
Sounds like sound advice to Discovery+, right there. Maybe get a GCN addition to add to your lineup to protect your backside from the negative spray you'll be getting coming December 19. Watching until the very end.
If you wear glasses, and can't wear contact lenses. Cycling in the rain really isn't an option.
YES!
It can be a real struggle 👀 Have you tried using a cap to keep the spray away ?
Visored helmet makes it work - not too pricey to get a polycarbonate one
@@challacustica9049 Do visors have wipers?
@@luciustarquiniuspriscus1408 they do not, but I've found i can wipe the rain away easily enough at stoplights.
Love to ride when it's wet 💯👍
I just like cycling in the rain. It's harder to go out when it's already raining but if it starts later then it's more bearable. But I'm a bad example I also like to run in the rain.
She forgot to mention decent-length 'mudflaps' should be attached to muguards.😊
Ass savers are great. Nice and light and very easy to take on and off. Also much lighter than full on mud guards. Portland Design Works makes a nice clip on guard for the down tube. Again easy to take on and off and much lighter. I actually cut my PDW front guard down to be a bit narrower. Both of these are made of thin but durable plastic, and can easily slip in to a small frame bag. Shoe covers do work, but I rode many very long wet days in Scotland with Endura's waterproof socks (Showers Pass make some too). They actually work and are nice and warm for really cold rainy days. Light neoprene kayaking gloves for long, wet cold days are a Godsend. Get the ones with the fingers already pre-curved. They also work for kayaking - of course.
I use an ass-saver on the down tube of my gravel bike, to keep some dirt and dust off my water bottle. You may need a hole punch and zip ties to modify/fasten it.
Really useful video Manon and no excuses for not riding in all weather now. You covered them but neoprene boot covers and mudguards are my essentials. Wet feet and arse are miserable.
Speak for yourself. Some of us don't have disposable income to spend on extra gear.
Neoprene for cold days, rubber for wet days.
@@johndoiron9615 wiggle’s boot covers were cheap and mudguards are super cheap.
@@bikeman123Money
Riding in the rain also means CLEAN YOUR BIKE when the ride is over. Leaving muck on wheels/drivetrain/frame will mean more costly maintenance later on. 😮
Love the video!!
I find the thought of rain much worse than the reality. Had some great wet rides.
Biggest thing for me is having a really breathable water-resistant jersey/jacket for changeable/damp/light rain, and a highly breathable packable rain jacket if it gets heavy.
Much better than cheap jackets that don’t breathe!!
It's always worse than you initially think - getting out in in osme good waterproofing should do the job nicely
Hi Viz clothing is something you should be promoting. Bright yellow with reflective stripes. Even in the summer but especially on dull days.
Loved the tips O Queen of the Welsh Dragons. All of a sudden mudguards are cool??? Felix's vid is quite good btw.
Never been a fan of riding in the rain. On bike tours, I am prepared for wet weather (helmet cover, rain jacket, layers, tights, gloves, put my glasses in my handlebar bag, rain covers for the HB bag and panniers), and continue riding but will sometimes hide out, under an available canopy if available, for a while. Or find lodging earlier than planned. Since I need to wear glasses, rain is a hassle with those.
I can't fit mudguards on my bike - but found by accident that installing a pannier rack on the back does exactly the same job - in fact - I can't remember last time I had a wet bum!!
I'm quite picky as for the weather so on my rides it rarely rains and when it does it is usually showers. If there's a place to hide I hide and wait. When it's warm there's a high chance that I just ride through it without putting any rain protection on. I rode maybe over 6000 km in high mountains and it rained only about 5x and it was nearly always a shower (soaking wet only 2x). As for winter rides, conditions are often humid. Clothing with basic water protection is a must. Temperatures are lower and keeping your hands and feet dry and warm is absolutely essential. So my number one rule is try to keep your hands and feet dry and warm especially when it's cold.
Winter rain riding is a headset distroyer good full front mudguard essential protecting you & your bike from dirt/grit & salt
I have no issue wet weather riding when I am fully prepared. As long as the wind isn't too strong, they can be enjoyable. I also wear a casquette peak down over my glasses which helps keep the worst of the rain from blocking my view.
Rode my Trek Domane SL6 w/Schwalbe Pro One All Around tires (700X35mm) on Nov. 2nd of this year in snowy and 25 degrees f in Yellowstone Nat. Pk. Wore a Castelli Marino LS base layer, a med weight Pearl Izumi jacket and a water proof rain jacket over all those. Also a packable REI rain pants and Fizik Gore Tex boots w/PI water proof over boot covers. Stayed nice and dry with no inter-jacket condensation the whole 40+ miles that we rode that day. Winter riding .
Replacement dry suit rubber cuffs upside down on your ankles and over the tops of your boots. Stops the water getting in there. About a tenner off ebay
I love riding in the rain! As long as it's a warmish rain. Rain jacket, cycling cap, quick-drying shorts, and sandals that won't get waterlogged (I ride with pedal straps rather than clipless), and I'm good to go. Cold rain isn't as fun, but, you know, I've still gotta get groceries. The only weather I don't have a solution for is hail... Luckily hail usually passes in 15 minutes or so.
Hmm sounds like I need some mudguards for Christmas, hopefully I'm on Santa's good list? 😂
Such a helpful & delightfully entertaining video Manon! Love this content! The CanBike safety instructor is screaming "YES, YES, YES!" to avoiding hidden puddle/ pothole dangers, grates, white lines (road snakes too, those tar repair lines), and LIGHTS for daytime use too. I have totally converted to fenders/ mudguards for my adventures and I love 'partypace' so rain rides are chill too. Speaking of which, the only bit I would add is good (unfortunately expensive, but worth it) rain kit. Jacket/pants for commuting. Love the humour in your videos and love that I now know the Welsh for rainbow! I had to chuckle when you used 'eh?' Did Maghalie have an influence? We'll make you an honourary Canadian yet! Although I don't usually watch the Tech channel, I'll head on over and see if Alex has any fender tips. Please keep making these awesome videos!
Since I commute by bike, I've often GOT to ride in the rain. I've got a good waterproof rain jacket from Chrome Industries. I also wear waterproof shoe covers and thick, winter cycling gloves.
Thanks Manon, some good tips.
Let me add a few from recent experience. In the autumn, trees shead leaves and also their fruit/seeds. Recently I came on a sharp bend under a beech tree. Fresh beech mast is like marbles. Wet white line have nothing on fresh beech mast. Also in autumn the wind blows. In a strong cross wind, passing a gap in the hedge can tend to throw you across the road, particularly with those nice deep section rims. Also the wind brings down bits of tree and, of course, all those leaves. Bits of branch, say an inch in diameter, can hide in those leaves and act like mini and mobile train lines and easily have you over.
Cross over the grass in the middle of the little lane and fall on the ridge just to avoid that pot hole (I nearly did that in summer to avoid the brambles).
As a point of information, those steel plates you call drains are actually access hole covers (manhole covers). The drains have slots in them to let the water down and they, the drain covers that is, can have even more issues depending on the orientation of the slits. Connected to this issue is a wet cattle grid, ride across at your peril because they have all the aforementioned problems and come with a broken ankle if you have to put your foot down suddenly. The by-pass route for horses/ walkers is to be preferred.
Call me a "Karren" if you like but unnecessary injuries can really ruin your ride programme so better safe than sorry.
Nice video, Manon, and good to see that you have got over your prejudice against useful "Gubbins".
Just rode through France during Chestnut season. Chestnuts are probably worse than beech. They always seem to fall preferentially on sharp corners on descents too.
You should do a video like this for commuting when wet
I hate the feeling (and noise!) of rain pants and shoe covers, but if you're biking for more than an hour they'll keep your lower half nice and dry. For the top half, its touch and go with waterproofed items, they can be super plasticky and staticky, so sometimes its better to just get rained on. For safety reasons and comfort reasons, a decent pair of waterproofed gloves will keep your hands comfortable and capable on the handlebars--otherwise make sure your bar tape is . One of the biggest things when riding in the wet is to remember to wipe your bike down when you're finally home.
"It hasn't been that bad because it's for work." Haha.
All joking aside. Thank you for making a video on this topic, and sharing tips and knowledge with everyone about riding in the rain.
I slipped under the rain a week ago, been struggling with an infected rash in my thigh and some sore muscles but finally managed to get up and ride again. Rain sucks but what sucks more is slipping when it is raining. Always use proper rain tyres and don't ride in a rush.
Very useful info. I must get out on my road bike more this winter instead of being too scared to get it dirty!
Go for it! What sort of distance will you be riding?
Get a decent city/commuter bike with proper mudguard that you can also use for a short training ride. That will also likely have a bit grippier tires and you don't care so much about dirt in the drivetrain. Get a water proof cell phone. I did greenland roll training in the kayak (with lots of exits unter water), having forgotten my cell phone: No problem.
Got a Dutch bike recently, all bolts and bare metal covered by plastic. Best thing is drum brakes tho, I remember trying steel rim brakes and having 0 stopping power.
Hard pass for me. I'm firmly in the fair weather camp. All the gear and the bike, even though they are waterproof, just costs too much for the accelerated wear and tear from foul weather riding. Plus those painted lines on the road have already left their mark on my left hip and elbow... LOL!! Great video though and best of luck to all of you hard-core riders out there!!
Since a ride in the rain resulted in a broken collar-bone I avoid rain, as the risk of a crash and the currently constant fear reduces the joy of a ride I avoid riding in the rain. Low temperatures are no problem to me, as I have the right equipement/clothes, but a wet surface i currently a no-go.
Everything's better with Manon.
A point about phones -- touchscreens (at least on my Samsung A33) are prone to ghost calling or dialling 999 if they get "moist" from rain or bumping about in a sweaty jersey pocket. They'll also lock up due to "too many unlock attempts."
Sandwich bags don't eliminate that problem. And as far as I can find, Samsung doesn''t allow you to turn off the emergency call setting due to legal reasons. (Apple iPhones may be different)
My solution was to buy a Rapha Essentials Pouch (other pouches are available), which is waterproof enough to stop the screen from activating.
If you ride in the rain or hot and humid conditions (Southeast Asia), a phone pouch makes a big difference. And you've got somewhere safe to put your keys, money and/or cards.
Cheers
Cycling in the rain sucks when it's less then 15 °c.
Did a cyclo ride 200K starting off with about 30 others last month, it rained almost constantly (mild to intense) and only 5 to 10 °c.
Had three pair of gloves with me, covered with thin plastic ones (as used by veterinarians to check up cows) , an extra t shirt, thin sweater and socks.
Halfway through changed upper clothes, totally wet even with a rather thick rain jacket with a fixed cap on it. Gloves also got totally wet inside, as my shoes
even with water proof over shoes. The new socks remained dry for quite a long time as i had plastic bags to put my feet in. So made it in 9 hours.
And if one has a gravel bike it's better to take that one as having a puncture when it's wet and cold is really annoying.
Riding in the rain can be a good experience but you have to be kitted out. Great advice and tips in the video, thanks a lot and keep safe 😊
I got caught out lol. No problem.took a coffe break lol. Dried up in 17 degrees weather after it stopped. Pretty cool 100km ride . The hardning of a cyclist 🍺🚲🍺❤
Just happy I invested in an indoor smart trainer for winter times. Happily sipping coffee in a warm and cozy room while I let others convince themselves riding outside in the cold makes them stronger.
Indoor trainers are a great alternative, will you be doing Zwift academy?
Here in Cornwall our potholes occasionally have some road in between
Worst part isn’t even getting wet, it’s your bike getting destroyed 😅
That rainjacket looks really good on Manon.
Rain builds character.
I love riding in a light rain
Phones are waterproof but not vapor/air proof. The worst thing is to have your phone in a pocket in the wet. Your body heat makes it all steamy in the pocket and that water filled air gets into the phone and ruins it. And your warranty won't cover it. Ask me how I know...
Eeek! Good to know, another point for bar bags 😉
Sandwich bag works fine
Just a thought - I know black looks really cool, but don't you think in poor light poor visibility conditions you should recommend something fractionally brighter. No?
I would add….bright clothing and old or cheapish audax bike with full fitted mudguards and either slime tubes and fairly puncture resistant tyres or really both. I got a kinesis frame with 15 year old campag groupset and wheels. Out on it today and went past a farmer trimming hedgerow. Held my breath as i rode over the thorns and sticks in the road but lived to fight another day. Rim brakes…. Not ideal, just need to brake earlier
When light rain starts, layer up immediately with a waterproof. It may or may not pass and if it develops further, you are already half way to being wet.
I started to get used to riding in the rain myself at one stage. Then, one day, I hit a pot hole hidden in water. In decades of cycling, it is the biggest crash I have had. After riding home 30 miles, bleeding with a damaged mech, I now avoid riding in the rain. It is very hard to distinguish a shallow puddle from a deep puddle hiding a pothole.
Riding in the rain can be dangerous - We hope this video will show people how to do it safely. That said, indoor riding can
be great in winter
Tip for drying shoes, stuff them with cheap microfibre cloths or tea towels from the supermarket.
Effective and reusable.
Brilliant idea! Nothing worse than wet shoes when riding🥶
enjoying rain is easy - just ride at -13° with 20cm snow around and as soon as its warm enough to rain you´ll love it :p
Oh! An 'Arse Saver' !! I was googling 'Ar Sabre' until I rewound !
I got caught in a 1h rain last weekend @55*F, I did have a helmet cover and cape that did wonders but my full fingered gloves and aero shoe covers failed after @20 minutes. Water seems to go down my calf into the shoe so I will use a tighter neoprene shoe cover next time....still not sure on gloves for rain proofness. I find if I could keep head/torso, feet and hands comfortable, the lower body is fine with cold & wet.
Maybe some medical gloves can be useful. (Under the wet ones.)
@@t.w.5282 I think some SCUBA gloves might work too.
@@t.w.5282 I made a trip to REI & did some shopping. So, in the kayak section I picked up some 0.5mm neoprene socks that go about as high as my booties. Cold dry ride in 40’s today & first time I can say my feet have EVER been hot. No other socks just wore these in my Castilli booties. Second, I bought GoreTex over mitts which I’ll use next cold rain. Those neoprene socks work so well by themselves I’m going to get a couple more pairs!
My two tips for wet weather riding supplemental to what Manon said:
1 never ride through a puddle where you can't see the road below the water surface. It can easily be hiding a pothole, especially if the water is murky. And of course if you do see a pothole, avoid it.
2. watch out for road repairs where there is exposed tar at the join (overbanding as it is called). That stuff is slippier than white lines.
Bonus tip: Ass-Savers are, in my experience, a waste of time. They have to be very well aligned to protect you, which means they mustn't move, and they don't protect riders behind you.
Seems to me that the Steve Jones footwear solution for riding in wet is still the best one. Flat pedals and Wellies.
I find my gravel bike collects a lot less water than my road bike off the tyres so can stay much drier. And slow down, avoid puddles and go the longer way home to avoid any busy roads
Nice green screen rainbow. Really subtle.
My tip - Ride on small ring only. Keeps speed down and cadence high, and more importantly, you’ll be riding slower over the slippy slidey roads that UK is proud of.
Great point! Do you enjoy riding in the winter weather?🥶
Thanks Manon, awesome video.
Wear a cap under your helmet. It prevents rain (and with rain hairgel and sweat) from getting in your eyes and on your glasses. For me it makes all the difference. And wear something visible. Compared to cars we are a bit fragile.
Love riding in the rain just hate having to clean my bike after the ride 😩. Big believer in lights day and night and hi vis clothes - unlike GCN presenters who love wearing black.
If you must ride in the rain during the winter, I'd suggest leaving your expensive bike indoors, and popping to Decathlon or Halfords and investing in a cheap gravel bike.
the pacific north west is in the non-stop downpour season. Everyone is on Zwift!
Use a lube meant for cycling in wet weather and wear dark clothing as the bike will splatter oil and muck on you. Maybe lower your tire pressure a tad to improve traction. I hate cleaning the muck and road oil from my bike and bikewear after the ride so I avoid it as best I can.
Thanks DS Manon and crew....ok , cats and donkeys ?? That's awesome !
I'm broadly like the Wicked Witch of the West with my aversion to riding in the rain, however if I have to, I've found the gravel bike is a lot less sketchy on Australian roads in the wet. Because I'm Australian, I don't have mud guards 🤣
Because most of our wet weather is in the summer, it's quite hard to layer properly, as you'll be as wet with a gillet or rain jacket, as if you hadn't put one on.
And of course, the post ride clean is a bit miserable.
Manon in a wet top, yes please. 😊
I thought you would give tips on clothing. Looking for a rain-proof vest. To remain dry even riding in the rain for a few hours.
Yep hit a pothole hit the ground hard in the rain! it's not much fun 😞
This is what I love most about riding a velomobile. I stay warm
In the cold and dry in the rain. No need for mudguards or fancy raincoats. None of my gear gets dirty. I ride year-round in all weather. I don’t even use my bike trainer anymore because I just ride outside every day.
what about racing a moped with your velomobile?👉ruclips.net/video/st57tiKsstk/видео.html
@@gcn already watched it twice. Hardly a fair race though, with the moped limited to 30mph. Would have been fun to see speed and power data from the Streamliner riders. A streamliner May not be very practical for daily riding like a velomobile, but it sure is fast.
To dry your shoes for the next ride, stuff them with crumpled up newspaper. It'll get them dry by morning and you won't risk hurting them with heaters.
That's what I always do 👍🚴
The last time I intentionally rode in the rain, in March, I got showered by hail, which packed in my helmet, and I got a bad case of hypothermia. No thanks. Although, by all means, keep up these masters of the obvious video tips!
It's a funny one but I've been caught out in some horrible storms in Summer and you have to get home so you suck it up, in Winter you look out, see drizzle and it's "nope, not today".
Also, similar to keeping your phone dry, ensure your home alarm key fob keeps dry. £100 for a replacement the time I didn't. How Mrs S laughed (not).
"Raining cats and donkeys"? What, not cats and dogs? 😮 Special rain in Bath, maybe! 😊 Nice vid- my solution is to move to gravel/mtb/cx over winter, then you're moving slower on a grippier (?!! 🤔) surface- certainly softer when you deck it! 😜
Mud guards are brilliant and if your bike has mounts for full length mud guards you, and more or less all of your bike, will benefit enormously by not getting covered in road spray, mud, muck and road kill.
Say it louder for those at the back! 📣
After being in the UK for 3 months I’m quite surprised by how utterly horrible the roads are 😮 Even after 3-4 mm of rain the roads were covered with water and big puddles and close to unrideable… In some ways I’m surprised that road bikes even is a thing in the UK 😮
I’m so glad to be back in Denmark with nice smooth and wider roads 😊
Proper mudguards? Ones that go all the way from behind your bottom bracket to the back of your wheel? Check.