{"id":11622,"date":"2021-10-25T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T09:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/?p=11622"},"modified":"2023-02-14T13:51:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T13:51:44","slug":"how-to-dry-bike-after-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/how-to-dry-bike-after-rain\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Dry Your Bike After Rain [Quick + Easy Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Drying your bicycle before you dry yourself or your clothes might not be seen as a high priority. Unless you\u2019re wearing a sou\u2019wester, or you can slink between the raindrops, you will want to dry yourself first before thinking about your ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It definitely makes sense to make sure you are dry and warm but please don\u2019t neglect your machine. Paying attention to ensuring your bicycle is dry is a good way to reduce maintenance and longer term bills and replacing parts over time. You also want to make sure it’s available to ride without seizing up the next time you hop on.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Can Rain Damage Your Bike?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Think about the condition of your car or even your clothes after being caught in the rain. They attract dirt, oil or road-spray even though they might look clean on the surface. The moving parts of your bicycle and its gearing and brakes will be damaged by rain if not handled carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you commute in the rain<\/a>, small particles of salt, grit and dust from the road gather together in the drops. These then attach themselves to your bicycle after making contact with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ride in the countryside, you risk collecting mud and the run-off from fields and meadows. Or other such agricultural detritus. If you ride a mountain bike<\/a>, fat bike or gravel bike off road, multiply this muck again and again if it\u2019s raining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This dust, grit, or sludge will remain attached to your frame and moving parts. Especially parts that have a sticky layer of lubrication already acting like flypaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your chain, brake pads, rims and frame will all hold this dirt if you simply rely on air-drying your ride. If you have steel components on your bicycle, the attraction of the water may also cause low-level rusting. If you leave it too long, you may not be able to remove the rust. And even if you can scrub rust away, you will have affected the performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some parts of your bicycle are deliberately sealed. Parts that rely on lubrication to ensure the smooth running of the machine. Parts which usually turn at between 75 to 110 times per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riding with mudguards \/ fenders helps if the roads are wet from rain by channeling it away from most of the moving parts of the bicycle but they cannot protect your chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best type of bicycle that the author can think of for rain-proofing is the Dutch-style which offers mudguards \/ fenders and a chain guard to help keep the showers away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Need to Dry Your Bike?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should be fine after a light shower which darkens the surface of the road and you avoid any puddles that build up. A quick wipe with a towel when you return to base is recommended. Cleaning may or may not be necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything like a shower or heavier<\/a> suggests taking moisture off the rims, brakes and chain at the very least. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you benefit from a warm enough sun to allow your bicycle to air-dry in less than ten minutes, this would be fine. Don\u2019t just leave your bicycle without checking whether it needs lubrication or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a computer or lights that are wet following a ride, then these should be wiped down. Carbon-fibre is resistant to rust but steel is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electric bikes<\/a> are manufactured in order that they pass safety standards which ensure neither you, pedestrians or other road users are unaffected if your ride is rained on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liquids which find their way into the smallest of nooks can be flushed out with repellants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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