Filed under: bicycling, bike transportation, commute biking | Tags: bicycling in the rain
I’ve begun preparing for colder and wetter weather. Here in the southern end of the Bay Area, weather is fairly mild year-round. We’ll have some cold mornings and evenings, sure, but not frosty. We’ll have rain, yes, but not the constant wet pavement of, say, the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, where I grew up. Because the weather is fairly mild even in the heart of winter and the most inclement weather I can expect is heavy rains (usually with fair warning from the weather professionals), I tend to focus on finding clothing that is wind and water RESISTANT not wind and waterPROOF. Why not go with waterproof if it is available at the same cost? Because despite the garment-makers’ claims that the article is “breathable”, I find that this is rarely true for me. With water resistant clothing I usually have the coverage I need to get me through the 10 mile ride to work or back (40 to 45 minutes).
Here’s what I’ve found works pretty well in the past for water resistance. I have some Adidas track pants with knee-to-ankle side zippers and reflectors that have decent water resistance but are very breathable. The disadvantage here is that they are not narrow and can catch in the chainwheel. Another disadvantage is that unless I strap off the ends, water enters up my leg when riding in wet conditions. I also have a pair of Schoeller dry-skin pants with articulated knees that are water resistant in light rain. They have a better design for riding (stretchier, narrower leg, velcro strap at bottom of pant leg, ankle zipper) and they look fine as pants for work, meaning I often do not need to change clothes when I get to work. For me that’s a real bonus because I don’t like changing in the tiny toilet stall in the men’s bathroom. Lastly, I have a pair of Ex Officio convertible, lightweight travel pants that I have sprayed with some kind of waterproofing spray. This worked pretty well, in fact, and does not seem to harm the fabric. On the other hand, the pants did become rather thin and rip in one part. I can’t recall if this was before or after spraying them. This is a consideration: waterproofing spray may damage or at least increase the fragility of synthetic fabrics. Unfortunately for me, these pants, which I use most often for hiking, are not appropriate for work so if I use them I need to change into other pants once I arrive at work. But there are a lot of decent-looking synthetic pants on the market these days, some of them even come with water resistant or waterproof spray on them. I’ve seen many pants of this sort for sale on Sierra Trading for less than $45 a pair and am considering purchasing one pair for this rainy season. Another option, and one that I’ve seen many 4 season commute riders choose, is to get a pair of fitness/running pants and either apply some kind of weatherproofing spray, or have a weatherproof shell handy for one it really pours. I’m considering doing something like that. I’ve been looking for running pants/tights that have some kind of water/wind resistance on them. I did purchase a pair of Illuminate thermal tights from Bike Nashbar. They seem cheaply constructed and feel like plastic. I’m also afraid they are simply too warm. What looks good about them is the illuminating properties, the slim leg design, and the ankle zippers (the leg is so slim that there is really no way to get them on or off with unzipping). I’ve also been looking at a pair of rain pants made for cycling. Novara has one that interests me called the “Express” pant. It is categorized as “very water resistant” and has reflectors, ankle zippers, velcro at the leg bottom, and reinforced fabric on the inside cuff. These are all important features for a cyclist, I believe. What worries me about these pants and the reason why I haven’t decided yet whether or not to get them is the description “very” water resistant: I’m worried they will be too sweaty and clammy inside. But I do need SOMETHING for when it really pours hard. Another option I’m considering is a cycle cape/poncho. I don’t know much about these and have never seen one personally. I also don’t know anyone who uses one. I wonder if they are awkward to bike in or if the wind blows them this way and that, letting water in. In any case, a poncho won’t protect me from all the water and mud coming up from off the street, pedals, and chainwheel, so it won’t solve the pants issue. I’m thinking that if I get wool long underwear I can get away with just water resistant pants (regular pants, track pants, or fitness/running pants) even in a downpour. If I get a lightweight wool (I can also get microweight wool underwear), the wool will absorb whatever water gets through the clothes and keep me warm. Once I get to work I just whip out the dry pants from my bag and strip off the pants and long underwear and let it dry. The question is, will a very lightweight wool long underwear dry in time for my commute home? How will it be to pull on semi-wet long underwear for the return commute? What about the water-resistant pants that got soaked? (Typically, these types of fabrics dry very quickly. My Ex Officio’s do, as do the Schoeller Dryskins and the Adidas track pants).
To Be Continued: what will I do about ankles and feet in the rain? How about torso, arms, head and face?
When you buy a car, no matter how old or cheap, you can be sure it will come with front and rear lights, rear view and side mirrors, a horn, a trunk, windshield wipers, bumpers, and some kind of internal temperature control and ventilation system, if not air conditioning. You can expect that the car will also have a key that locks the doors, providing some protection from theft.
When you buy a bike, new or used, it is rare that it comes with lights, lock, rack, horn or bell, mirror, fenders, mud flap, and certainly not wipers. You’re guaranteed a nice ventilation system, however!
Of course, there are some good reasons why bikes are generally not offered with any of these added conveniences and accessories. But there are some bad reasons, too. Eventually, I’ll get around to discussing both kinds of reasons.
Bicycle manufacturers, distributors and dealers do market bikes that they call “commuter” or “commute bikes”. These bikes are generally not suitable, however, for someone interested in bicycling for transportation. First of all, most of these “commute bikes” are made with inferior components and are simply not very reliable for everyday use. Secondly, although these bikes may have some nice bells and whistles appropriate for bicycle transportation, such as a chain guard, rack, bell, in some cases even lights, the bikes are often not equipped in an ideal manner for more than occasional, 20 minute rides. Here are a few of the things I’ve noticed about the so-called “commuter bikes” on the market.
- they are often heavy and slow, when the frames are steel, or light in ways that don’t handle well the bumps of the road when the frame is aluminum
- the saddles are often big and padded, designed to appeal to the rider seeking “comfort”. However, most riders who intend to stay in the saddle for more than 20 minutes per ride, twice a day, will find that these bigger, fatter, padded saddles are in fact LESS comfortable than a slimmer, harder seat. Furthermore, I’ve noticed that some of the cushioned saddles soak up water like a sponge when it rains. Can you imagine hopping on to your bike to ride home from work in the afternoon and being unpleasantly reminded of the fact that it rained for 2 hours between 1 and 3 pm that day.
- The upright position of many of the bikes that get the label “commute” is generally a good thing, I think. Being more upright allows you to be more alert to what’s going on around you on the road: other cars, obstacles on the road in front of you , etc. It’s a less aerodynamic position, but it also seems to be more relaxing for many riders than the drop bars of a traditional road bike. Moreover, rarely have I seen urban commuters actually use the lower portion of their drop bars while riding for transportation. In part this is because the more upright position of flat bars and other types of bars (moustache, for example) often allows easier and quicker access to the brakes, absolutely essential when riding in an urban or suburban context. For this reason, I think, most commute bikers that I see with traditional drop bars have their brakes hiked up high on the bars and ride the brake pads on top of the bars, ready at any moment to hit the brakes. This is how I rode for many years.
- Although I like the idea of a chain guard and some of the other built-in amenities of the fancier “commute bikes”, it seems that the disadvantage often is that one does not have easy access for repairs. Sort of like the new cars with their built-in computer systems, home (or on-the-road) repairs can be more difficult with a chain guard, a built-in light system or some of fancy gear and brake system that come with some of these bikes. On the other hand, it may be true that less is likely to go wrong and therefore less maintenance and repairs are needed.
- I must go back, however, to my first point: many of these bikes are just not very quick. I and just about everyone I’ve talked to who uses a bike for transportation more than, say 8 miles a day, appreciates being able to get some speed, accelerate quickly, and move along at a good clip. Most transportation bikers, I gather, want the exercise and the speed. They are generally not stopping to smell the roses while riding home from work, hungry and tired on a dark, wet autumn evening or hustling to get to a class or appointment 35 minutes away with a little extra time to towel off or change clothes where they arrive. This is, I believe, one of the main reasons why most bikes labeled as “commuters” are not appropriate to actual commuters. Yes, having the rack is nice, if not essential, but it is always possible to put a rack on any other kind of bike, even a racing bike without eyelets on the frame to attach a rack (my Bianchi Alfana road bike does not have anywhere to attach a rack except the seat post. For four years I transported every day a great many books, laptop, extra clothes and lunch on panniers attached to Topeak rack attached only to my seat post. Although not ideal, it certainly can work.)
The problem becomes clearer when we consider the alternatives to these so-called “commute bikes”. Currently, the market offers mostly aluminum frame bikes (of all sorts) mixed in with some steel frames and a great many high-performance carbon frames. We have mountain bikes of all levels and kinds, hybrid bikes (often similar to the “commute” bikes), entry-level road bikes and super high performance road bikes. I’ve even seen Raleigh make an attempt now to meet the growing fashion of “fixie” bikes by offering something between the kind of typical fixed-gear bike one sees on the streets of San Francisco and a bike set up for moderate-to-light transportation use. There are bikes for serious sport riders, for trail riders, for Sunday-in-the-park-with-the-family riders, for occasional errands (the “commute” bikes) and short, weekend rides on bike paths (the hybrids). There are what Craigslist sellers call “campus bikes”, cheap wheels that will get you from your dorm to the gym while carrying a backpack. The cyclocross bikes are apparently designed to be used on trails like mountain bikes as well as asphalt like a road bike. Then there are the single speeds and fixed gears that are often used by serious transportation bikers as well as bike-crazy recreationists and even as a simple, clean minimalist townie bike. I don’t want to forget the touring bikes: frames that are ready to take lots of weight and carry it over long hauls, keeping the rider fairly comfortable in the saddle over long distances and loaded-down.
Lots of bikes for lots of uses. What I don’t see, however, is a group of bikes ideally set up for serious day-to-day, year-round transportation: the bike that can replace the car in American urban and suburban life. Where is the bike that is fast, compact and dynamic, yet ready to take the kinds of loads and abuse of a touring bike? Quick yet stable, softening the bumps of the road? Designed for comfort over a period of 15 to 1.5 hours in the saddle several times a day? Designed to take full-size of groceries home at night, but quickly? Not so expensive that you would shed a tear when the frame gets scraped while riding the train or bus? Not so expensive that its glitter catches the eye of thieves like the smell of carrion for hyenas? Not so cheap that everyday use will push your luck and soon you will find yourself on the side of the road in the rain because some ridiculously cheap Made-in-China component has failed? Where is the frame that has clearance for fenders AND toe clips; designed to hold a sturdy rack and heavy bags AND reach high velocity; takes fat commute tires without sacrificing speed and agility?
In other words, the question that keeps coming up is: Why haven’t bicycle manufacturers and dealers responded to the need for good transportation bikes? Why do they make it so difficult for someone to get the essentials together for safe, comfortable but fast and firm transportation?
I’ll begin with a confession. Although I have been commuting by bike daily for over five years now, I still don’t know much about bikes. I’m determined, however, to get a better grasp on bicycle maintenance, understand better how bikes work, explore my options in terms of gear, clothing, and other accessories that may make year-round transportation biking safer, more convenient, comfortable, and efficient. Admittedly, I have a lot more questions than I do answers at this point. Hopefully there are folks out there who will notice this blog and weigh in. This blog is also my attempt to get more involved in biking transportation as a civic engagement, to understand what I can do as a citizen to improve the conditions for transportation biking and bikers, in my community of Sunnyvale, CA, or anywhere else for that matter.
