Are road bikes noticably slower in the wet?

[Greenwich Ross]

Up until this morning I have, more or less, been a fair weather cyclist. I don't mind a little H20, it's more due to limited changing facilities at work (I commute about eight miles each way). So anyway, this morning I got up and said "fk it", headed out into the pissing rain but kept my normal pace into work. Other than needing to pack a couple of other bits to change into, it was easy.

However, one thing that really stuck out this morning was a lack of road bikes whizzing past me (I ride a hybrid, so not the fastest thing on the road). Instead I seemed to be keeping up with them, even overtaking a few of them). Admittedly, I myself had a lot less grip in the rain (very evident when a Royal Mail van tried to wipe me out - two wheel lock up - wheeee!) but do these conditions really effect road bikes or were all the fast riders still in bed?

[ewenm]

I suspect it was because the roadies are a bit precious about their bikes so didn't want to get them covered in spray/grime and took alternative routes to work.

Seriously though, there's no reason a road bike would be impeded significantly more by wet weather than hybrids/mtbs. Everyone loses a bit of grip and the caliper brakes on a road bike won't work so well as disc brakes but I'd be surprised if it made a huge difference to overall pace.

[Davel]

I tend to ride slower in the wet mainly because the roads look slippery.

In reality, the bike has a lot more grip than I think that it has, so I guess it's down to the rider rather than the ability of the bike.

[Greenwich Ross]

I guess it could be the combination of the wet and the dreadful road surface. A decent percentage of my route (Greenwich to Holborn via Waterloo Bridge) has cycle lanes on the road but you could literally disappear down some of the potholes.

[dubbs]

Sounds like you take the same route I do when working in the City:

Greenwich one way then through down Rotherhithe road to Rotherhithe tunnel, up past Bermondsey tube to Tower bridge?

Not a bad route that one, always wind in your face on the way back but aside from that wide buslanes to keep the traffic away and the pace up

There are a couple of places where the bike is bunny hopped over holes... quite funnny watching someone following you only to hear the "oof" as they didn't realise you lifted your wheel to soften the bump

[hullbilly]

I rode in this morning and was the only person on my route, normally there is a good few cyclist.

They are just a bunch of wimps and dont want to get wet! :P

Diesel spills and bicycle tyres dont mix well though

[Greenwich Ross]

dubbs said:

Sounds like you take the same route I do when working in the City:

Greenwich one way then through down Rotherhithe road to Rotherhithe tunnel, up past Bermondsey tube to Tower bridge?

Not a bad route that one, always wind in your face on the way back but aside from that wide buslanes to keep the traffic away and the pace up

There are a couple of places where the bike is bunny hopped over holes... quite funnny watching someone following you only to hear the "oof" as they didn't realise you lifted your wheel to soften the bump

More or less. Creek Road --> Lower Road --> Jamaica --> Tooley etc. It's probably the quickest route into town (especially if the traffic lights are with you).

I *was* considering getting a proper road bike but I'm not sure my derrière and gentleman's vegetables would appreciate getting walloped over those bumps and holes twice a day.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I find my 700c wheels are quicker in wet , as water seems to "lubricate" some roads making them a bit quicker

BUT

They can be lethal, my MTB slicks were ok in wet, but slick 700C wheels can be lethal on some services, manhole covers are worse than black ice, hence I slow down at times. No matter how experienced you are you can still get caught out

I would agree though, most cyclists, esp those with the best kit are fair weather'd cyclists,, the slightest chance of rain they will stay in. Some of us love the buzz of all year round whatever the weather.

[Marcellus]

Having slipped on the wet and landed very badly on my hip (off bike for 3 months and still have the pain) I wimp out on wet days with the Road Bike!

[BliarOut]

TwistingMyMelon said:

I find my 700c wheels are quicker in wet , as water seems to "lubricate" some roads making them a bit quicker

BUT

They can be lethal, my MTB slicks were ok in wet, but slick 700C wheels can be lethal on some services, manhole covers are worse than black ice, hence I slow down at times. No matter how experienced you are you can still get caught out

I would agree though, most cyclists, esp those with the best kit are fair weather'd cyclists,, the slightest chance of rain they will stay in. Some of us love the buzz of all year round whatever the weather.

My MTB with slicks lost the front at the first sign of a corner this morning, grip? what's that

[itsnotarace]

Slick tyres and manhole covers, or painted lines on the road are not a good combination.

[BliarOut]

And leaves, don't forget wet leaves.

[Greenwich Ross]

Not forgetting banana skins.

[louiebaby]

Combine less grip, especially on painted lines and manhole covers, with roads greasy after a few dry days and diesel spills and it can get a bit hairy.

The reduced visibility for me, and other road users, and the dificulty of guessing if a puddle will cause a splash or 2 days of bk ache and a new pair of wheels also puts me off commuting in London in the rain.

I do it if I need to get the bike home that night, but it's just as quick and a lot easier to get the tube. If I commuted on a mountain bike, I'd be happy to get wet, as we have a shower at work...

[jodypress]

TwistingMyMelon said:

I would agree though, most cyclists, esp those with the best kit are fair weather'd cyclists,, the slightest chance of rain they will stay in. Some of us love the buzz of all year round whatever the weather.

Yeap, totally agree, although the snow and ice this winter did scupper me a couple of times.

[BliarOut]

jodypress said:

TwistingMyMelon said:

I would agree though, most cyclists, esp those with the best kit are fair weather'd cyclists,, the slightest chance of rain they will stay in. Some of us love the buzz of all year round whatever the weather.

Yeap, totally agree, although the snow and ice this winter did scupper me a couple of times.

Pfft, drop your pressures and enjoy. My MTB was easier to get about on than on foot or in the BM!