I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken -- You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
How about a new motivation to stay dry? 🙂
I think you ought to take things a bit easier in the rain as there would seem to be an increased chance of going down.
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
Was there wind? A tail wind could easily add 1-2mph to your ride. Maybe just the desire to get it over with quickly....
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
Was there wind? A tail wind could easily add 1-2mph to your ride. Maybe just the desire to get it over with quickly....
There was no wind, or very little, as in hardly enough to notice. Perhaps the wanting to get it over is part of the reason, but it did SEEM easier to spin.
Ken -- You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
In article <[email hidden]>, kencmjr- [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
If anything, the water on the road should slow you down.
-- Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped. -- Elbert Hubbard
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
mike said:
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
Was there wind? A tail wind could easily add 1-2mph to your ride. Maybe just the desire to get it over with quickly....
There was no wind, or very little, as in hardly enough to notice. Perhaps the wanting to get it over is part of the reason, but it did SEEM easier to spin.
Some times you don't even notice a tailwind...if the rain isn't coming straight down there's a wind about.
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Well, water is a lubricant, under certain circumstances....
"dB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, kencmjr- [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster?
If anything, the water on the road should slow you down.
I nearly always ride slower in the rain. Part of it is that I make up for my lousy hillclimbing with fast descents; if it's raining, I'm more cautious on the downhills.
Speaking of rain, I don't know why I had such a splendid ride home on Friday after work. It ranged from a regular rain to sprinkling the whole way, and a relatively strong wind from the south. Usually I find that sort of crosswind on the bridge, combined with rain, to be unpleasant, but for some odd reason I had a smile on my face. There were really cool patterns of rain and wind on lake surface, too.
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
According to Chuck Berry, only Fords go faster in the rain.
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Guess 1: You don't stop or slow down to look at the scenery in the rain. Less lolly-gagging => faster average speed.
Guess 2: Free sweat. You can generate more heat via exercise when your body is being cooled by the rain, so you go faster with less perceived effort.
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Water vapor is nearly 40% less dense than dry air, with a proportionate reduction in aerodynamic forces. However the effect in normal atmospheric conditions is not more than one percent or so, as I understand it.
<[email hidden]> wrote: Water vapor is nearly 40% less dense than dry air, with a proportionate reduction in aerodynamic forces. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ But, but, but....rain is not water vapor. Every time a drop of water hits you or the bike, it has to be accelerated to the speed of the bike. Besides that, all the energy that goes into the spray emanating from your tires comes from your pedalling. It's like running a small pump--the harder it rains, the more volume you are pumping. I can't see any way that can make you faster.
Rain normally occurs in air which is fully saturated with water vapor.
100% humidity at 00C 32F is 0.5% water vapor 100% humidity at 10C 50F is 1% water vapor 100% humidity at 20C 68F is 2% water vapor 100% humidity at 30C 86F is 4% water vapor 100% humidity at 40C 104F is 7% water vapor
On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 08:24:21 -0500, "Ken C. M." <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
I've felt that.
As others suggested, more motivation and better cooling. As for the tailwind factor, what I've learned is that if you don't feel yourself pounding into the wind, that means you've got a tailwind. That's the case here in Tampa anyway.
After all that I forgot to look at atmospheric pressure. This is a much larger factor, varying up to 25 percent (in world-record extremes). That, of course, translates into density and drag variations.
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster?
I always go slower in the rain - to the tune of 5-10%. The tires have added drag even with just a film of water on the road. If you go faster in the rain than on dry roads, it must be some other factor, as others have implied. My guess is your effort increases more than you realize or you've got a tailwind.
"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I have noticed that when riding in the rain, I seem to be faster! Is this just an illusion in my mind, backed up by my cyclo-computer, or is there some real reason why riding a bike in the rain is easier / faster? Perhaps water in the chain making it easier to spin? I noticed on my commute home last night in the rain I was about 1-2 mph faster than my average.
Ken
At the race track, there's a condition called "wet fast." It occurs when there's some water on the dirt, but not enough to make it muddy or choppy. Wet fast times are faster than hard or good conditions. Something to do with friction I'm sure.
