How to Train in the rain
Hello All,
I wanted to get some advice from everyone about how to bike in the rain. Yup, I know, slow down and try to predict stops far in advanced. But what else? Do you have to change the way you eat? Should you adjust the workout?
I am trying to plan for the future. Because it is April and we get lots of rain. I am trying to be prepared for any potential for future race days.
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In racing I will ride my watts and push as hard as I'm suppose to. My nutrition plan will remain the same as in training. Train like you race therefore race like you have trained executing
like you are taught.
In the rain, I will ride hard with the exception of cornering, I will slow down with just enough speed to navigate the turn as required and slow before the turn NOT hitting my front brake as this may cause a low side fall. I will not ride across metal grated bridges that are wet. I will walk over them.
My 2 cent.
Jonathan,
In the rain visibility is lower. I always use flashing lights but my wife said they were not that good with my dark jacket that I had on one time. Choose bright colours and ensure that you will be warm enough or get one of those reflective vests.
On the nutrition side rain usually mean cooler and thus I tend to drink a little less. Ensure your get in you calorie requirements and sometimes this means forcing yourself to drink. I also tend to do short loops back to my car and to be able to remove add clothes if needed.
I usually try to get out in the rain a couple times a year and at least once in an old set of race tires to see/remember how they corner/handle in the rain.
Make sure if you use bars, solid nutrition or salt tabs they are in plastic bags or unopened. Keep the cell in a double bag just in case.
Finally riding in the rain add in some additional time to keep the bike maintenance up lube and clean chain and gears to prolong life. You might also want to get the headset and bottom bracket cleaned after the rainy season.
Gordon
-clear lenses.
-watch for gravel that has washed up on corners with greater vigilance.
-always assume a 4 inch deep pothole lies beneath a innoculous-looking puddle.
-you're now playing 'heads up ball' with drivers more than ever.
-if you can make your ride a multi-loop back to your car/homebase, it's helpful to use loop 1 to gauge if you need more clothes (toes covers, windproof gloves, etc). I find that it's the wet plus wind that's the real devil, but it's hard to really appreciate it until well into the ride.
-plan extra time asap after the ride for a thorough cleaning of your bike. The drivetrain will need extra TLC. I also remove the seatpost and let the bike rest upside down to make sure it fully drains.
-spray down your cleats to remove grit. Particularly true if you use speedplays, as you will otherwise power-sand the plastic pedal body down as your grind in the grit over subsequent uses.
Key point:
-practice your "Harley Nod" for when you see another rider in the rain. This is the smug acknowledgement that you and s/he share which denotes while everyone else took the day off, we're riding.
Second, safety. Feathering the brakes, slow down and don't brake in turns. A tri bike is not the best idea, a road bike with fenders is preferred. Flats are more common when the road is wet, make sure to find the puncture site in the tire before reinflating the new tube.
Third, shorter rides. An hour is tolerable, but six hours in the rain ... That's water-boarding..
Is a helmet cover recommended or is there any reason not to use one?
http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Accessories-Ski-Goggle-Wipe/dp/B005CK3S2A
Great product for skiing, though when it comes to riding in the rain, I'm just a big wimp. I use the trainer...
For warmth only; remember, warm and wet or cold and wet.
Other maxims: "after all, we're already 55% water anyway"; "Hey, I don't have to shower now!" and my favorite, "I just love the way my hair feels after a gentle rain rinse."
For running I will go in any weather other than severe thunderstorms. I actually don't mind the rain at all when running.