10 Tips For Bicycling In The Rain

Ethel with her bike Diwata, taking a selfie in the rain.

There is one ride that I always look forward to, and that is Tiklop Society of the Philippines' annual Tomb to Womb Ride, a yearly tribute to our National Hero Jose Rizal where we ride from his place of execution by the Spaniards at Luneta, to his place of birth in Calamba some 60 kilometers away. Held every June 12, Independence Day, this ride is almost always blessed with a period of rain at some point. This year's ride had more rain than usual, it practically rained from start to end. was it miserable? Heck no. We traveled a bit slower, but we made less rest stops because we weren't tired. The rain and cool weather conspired to keep our bodies from overheating and it actually made for a pleasant ride. 

Riding in the rain is fun, it harkens you back to the time when you were a kid, and it is something that every cyclist should get used to since we cannot possibly hope for sunny days all the time.

RAIN RIDING TIPS:

1. Make Sure Your Gear is Protected. Put your electronic gear, clothes and everything else in waterproof plastic bags and seal it well. I recommend using dry sacks, which are basically roll-up sealing waterproof stuff sacks, and they come in all sizes and colors, available in your favorite outdoor shops. It is best to waterproof in layers, that is to put your items in a small ziplock bag, and then put everything in a larger plastic bag or dry bag, If you are fond of getting caught in the rain (and if you bike long distances, sooner or later you will), invest in waterproof gear - watch, phone, camera. They cost more but are worth it.

2. Go Slow. First off, brakes are much less efficient when wet, so it will take you longer to stop. The road is going to be slippery as well, more so during the initial downpour as the rain lifts the film of oil left by motor vehicles off the road surface. You might be careful and predictable, but other road users may not be as visibility plummets. Also, potholes and road cracks lurk under those puddles, and you will use your knees or nose as a brake if you hit one at speed.  Get into the habit of memorizing potholes and other road imperfections on your favorite routes. 

3. Be Visible. Wear light colored clothing - neon colors in particular pierce the mist and announce themselves. If you have blinkers and lights, turn them on. This will alert motorists that you are out there. Wear a reflective vest if you have it.

4. Fender Up! When it rains, you can easily tell who a cyclist is by the stripe on his back. This stripe is composed of road grit and grime thrown up by the whirling wheels, coaxing the dirt from the wet road onto your back, and sometimes your front too. This grit will also mess up your bike. especially that bottom bracket cluster area that is so hard to clean.   Solve this by installing fenders on your bike, and go for the robust full-coverage ones like those made by SKS for maximum protection. 

5. Don Raingear or Not? This is a matter of choice. Here in the tropics, I prefer not to wear raingear, allowing myself to get drenched with my ordinary attire. Wearing a raincoat just traps the sweat you generate and you get soaked in it anyway. During rest stops, I wear a light windbreaker to keep my core temperature stable, and I take it off when I ride again. It is important to keep your core temperature high to ward off sickness. While biking, this is kept high through muscular activity, but this will plummet when you rest. So have a light jacket ready to wear during those stops.
         There are times though when wearing a raincoat is ideal, such as when the temperature is low and cold and if you are not exerting too much effort that your elevated body heat is not enough to dispel the cold. Those cheap light disposable raincoats are alright in an emergency but some are so flimsy that they tear easily, resulting in unnecessary landfill. This is not an environmentally sound practice. Most of these coats though do not have vents at all, and may result in getting you wet from your own sweat as it cannot evaporate away from your skin. What you need is a coat that is waterproof, and has some sort of venting feature such as a front zipper and a vent at the back or a somewhat loose tail. This will eject moisture laden air away from your body and keep you cool and dry. Consider using a poncho, as this allows air circulation and a big plus is that you can wear your bag under it and keep it dry.

6. Deflate Your Tires a Bit.  A softer tire has more contact with the road. The larger contact patch gives you a bit more traction. Deflating your tires by 5 to 10 psi from the normal pressure gives you a bit more control but less speed. Hey you shouldn't be going fast anyway.

7. Rinse Your Bike. Your bike will accumulate road grit for sure. It will cake and harden when it dries up, so rinse it out while it is easy to take off. Bounce your bike on its wheels to shed off excess water.

8. Medication/Supplements.  To ward off sickness and increase resistance after a ride I take 2 Vitamin C capsules of 500 mgs each. This works for me as it wards off colds and other respiratory ailments. If you pass through dirty floodwaters and especially if you have an open wound, some doctors recommend taking a 200 mg tablet of Doxycycline, to help prevent the onset of leptospirosis, which is a nasty condition that you would not want to get. It is a bacterial infection borne by floods as it contacts animal waste. Taking this single dose will protect you up to a week, even if taken post-exposure.

9. Change Thy Clothes. When you get to your destination, towel down quickly(a microfleece towel is handy here) or take a quick shower and change to clean dry clothes. 

10. Things To Watch Out For:
Rainbows - not in the sky, but on the road surface. This indicates that there is a thin layer of oil there, and it might be slippery.
Your Brake Pads - Wet weather stirs up road grit, and they get everywhere, inside your shirt, at your back, on your bike frame, and where it does the most damage, your brake pads. When you brake the grit acts like sandpaper, wearing down your pads and rims. Water these from time to time to get rid of grit, and cleanse after the ride.
Painted Lines - Those road markings are slippery when wet. Try not to bike on them.
Metal and Brick Surfaces - Are likewise slippery. When you cross grates, manhole covers, train tracks, keep your handlebars straight.
Your Chain - Use a heavier chain lube, as the lighter ones get washed away quickly, making your chain easier to rust.
Your Braking - It takes a longer distance to brake, so anticipate and brake earlier.

11. The Rain Bike. If you ride regularly in the rain, consider getting a rain bike. This is a beater bike that you don't mind getting wet most of the time, and this will spare your fancier bikes from grit and rain.


Riding in the rain is a necessary skill for those who bike a lot. It is also an overwhelming experience, as one submits totally to the elements, pummeled by cold and dampness and misery. It is during these times that I oddly feel so alive and much more appreciative of sunny days. Besides, we are human beings, and are designed to get wet once in a while. Have fun and be safe everyone!

About the bikes: Ethel used 'Diwata' (Goddess), her Tern Verge P18 that has 20 inch wheels. I used 'Teacher Tortuga'  a Bickerton Pilot 1407 Country that has 16 inch wheels. Both are joys to bike, with quick and responsive steering and covered the 60 kilometer ride easily. Having full fenders and a rear rack makes commuting a breeze. On the way back to Manila, we took the bus and these bikes folded up compactly and snuggled easily into the cargo bay of the bus.