We love the occasional rainy ride for two reasons: First, it reminds us to be grateful for the sunny days and gorgeous rides that we do, and second, a rainy ride creates a certain aura of toughness, of being out there, just you and your bike against the elements. It feels more primitive, more survivalist, more—let’s just call it what it is—badass. It reminds you that you can do hard things. And nothing feels quite as good as coming home to a warm shower and meal, maybe with a well-earned glass of wine or cold beer, as you brag to your friends and family about how you toughed it out on the road today. Sure, you could stay inside and ride the trainer—we love a trainer ride when the weather gets really bad—but for the days where you want to get out and ride in the rain?
We have five rules to follow:
Prepare for rain even if there’s minimal chance
When you’re checking the forecast, especially during this time of year where the weather can change from minute to minute and rain can cause a big drop in temperature, look for any chance of rain and take it seriously. It’s always better to have a raincoat stuffed in your jersey pocket or bar bag and not need it versus deciding to skip it and ending up soaked.
Change up your gear
A good raincoat should be a staple in every cyclist’s wardrobe (we like the Rain Shell one from Q36.5, which packs down into a pocket when not needed, and provides the ultimate protection from rain while maintaining breathability). But in addition to a raincoat, a clip-on rear fender for your bike can make a big difference in comfort on a rainy day, while clear lenses for your cycling glasses can make it possible to see even when it’s raining sideways. Gloves are also a must, since your grip on the handlebars can be impaired once your hands are wet. For days that are a bit cooler, consider taking a tip from cyclocross racers and smearing a little bit of embrocation on your legs for a feeling of heat. If you’re serious about riding in the rain frequently, you may want to invest in a full rainproof kit, complete with pants, shoe covers, cap and gloves from Q36.5—well worth it if you avoid the trainer at all costs.
Use a chain lube designed for rain
On rainy days, you’re going to kick up a lot of grime—mud, oil, water—into your chain as you ride. You can avoid the worst of the chain-wrecking grit by using a chain lube designed for wet conditions. Look for a chain lube labeled ‘Wet’ and keep it in stock for those rainy days. (Don’t use it all the time, though: It’s thicker and stickier than a dry condition lube, so it will attract road dust and dirt on dry days.)
Wipe down your bike post-ride
We have a how-to video and article from inGamba’s pro mechanics right here detailing the best way to clean a bike post-ride, but if you don’t have time for a full clean, at least give it a 60-second bout of TLC when you roll into the garage. Use an old towel and wipe down the whole bike, using an old rag to get the worst of the grit off of the drivetrain before giving it a fresh coat of chain lube.
Have fun
It’s easy to start to feel grumpy thanks to the rain in your eyes or the thought of your chain being caked with grime when you get home. It’s easy to feel like this workout is hard and you’re tired and cold and wet. But get into the mindset of a six year old when you’re out on your next rainy ride. A six year old wouldn’t be mad at the rain: They’d be laughing hysterically, aiming their bike at the deepest puddles in order to try to kick up the biggest spray of water. They’d shout with glee when a torrent of rain hit them, and giggle about their shoes feeling squishy. We ride because we love it, even when the elements are conspiring against us.
PHOTOS BY JAMES STARTT
