7 Things You Should Do After Every Rainy Ride

The rain doesn't have to keep you off your bike, or wreck your gear.


Bicycling Staff |

The rain doesn’t have to keep you off your bike, or wreck your gear.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ONEPOINTFOUR/FLICKR
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ONEPOINTFOUR/FLICKR

Riding in the rain can be a blast: You feel like a little kid as you gleefully skid through puddles, while also feeling like a badass because while everyone else is inside, you’re out getting your miles in. It’s fun on all levels, really—that is, until you get home and have to clean up. To avoid a serious mess, a broken bike, or stained clothes, follow these rules for taking care of business after a rainy ride.

Clean Your Bike, Right Now   

There’s a reason that cyclocross pit mechanics immediately sprint for the washer after a race: Leaving a bike muddy just means more work later. While your bike is wet, at least spray it down to get any mud and grit off the frame, tires, chain, and derailleur before it dries and hardens. “It makes it easier to do a more thorough bike wash later on if you’re not washing your bike right away,” explains Sue Grandjean, a former pro mountain biker who currently represents the US in the World MountainBike Orienteering Championships. Even if you’ve been riding the road, hose your bike down—it’s probably got a pretty hefty amount of grime on it. “A garden hose is fine, but resist the urge to use a power washer,” says Showers Pass president and rainy-ride expert Kyle Ranson. “In the wrong hands this can cause all sorts of damage to bearings and more. Those of you with toddlers will relate: My bike often gets a wipe down with Kirkland baby wipes. A bike as clean as a baby’s bum, as they say.” Bonus: Clean your bike immediately, and avoid getting yelled at for tracking dirt into the house.

Get Out of Your Clothes ASAP 

Rainy days might be fun, but a wet chamois is not. Between the rain, the chamois cream, and the sweat, you’ve created a bacterial breeding ground in your shorts, and you want to distance yourself from it as soon as possible. (If you find yourself riding in the rain a lot, keeping a pair of swim trunks near your bike wash station to change into right after your ride is a smart move.) Keeping your undercarriage (as well as your bike’s!) clean and dry is the easiest way to prevent saddle sores, and no one wants those.

Hit Your Clothes with the Hose, Too

“I like to lightly rinse off my outerwear when I’m rinsing off my bike,” says Grandjean. “This way, I’m getting the bigger mud and grime off before putting my clothing in the washing machine. Dirt is an abrasive and I want to make sure it’s rinsed before throwing anything in the washing machine, to avoid the mud damaging the DWR [Durable Water Repellent] on my rainwear.” The same goes for your shorts and jersey—road grime is hard to get out, but spraying it before you bother with stain removers can go a long way.

Pre-Treat, Pre-Treat, Pre-Treat

Getting a black stain out of your white jersey can be tricky, and once it sets, it’s likely stuck. So after spraying it down, pre-treat it immediately with a mild liquid detergent and let that treatment sink in before you toss it in the machine. “Try not to let the mud dry on, that’s when the staining occurs,” suggests Kyle Ranson, the president of Showers Pass.

Wash It Right 

Washing your cycling gear—especially rain gear—correctly can extend the life and usefulness of a jacket or pants by a lot, so pay attention to care instructions. “Always machine-wash waterproof cycling gear with seam tape on cold and hang to dry,” says Grandjean; exposure to heat can melt the seam tape and damage the waterproof membrane. If your rain jacket isn’t too dirty, you can skip the machine altogether and just hit it with the hose to avoid using the spin cycle.

Give Your Chain Some Love

Of all the parts on your bike, your chain arguably takes the biggest beating in a rainy ride, so give it some attention. After you’ve sprayed it down, take a minute to at least quickly brush the bushings and pins to get some of the grime off, then wipe everything down so it doesn’t rust. Before you head out on your next ride, make sure you lube the chain so it’s good to go!

Dry Out the Little Stuff

Now that your bike and kit are taken care of, don’t forget the smaller stuff: your shoes and your helmet. Spray down shoes with the hose if they’ve gotten grimy, and give them a quick wipe down. Again, it’s easier to clean while they’re wet versus waiting until they’ve dried. “Find a good hanging spot over a heating vent or radiator to dry shoes and clothes,” says Ranson. Stuff them with newspaper and put them in a warm spot so they dry faster. As for your helmet, make sure the pads inside are clean, and leave it somewhere warm where the pads and straps can dry out. It’s a minor thing, but it’s pretty darn unpleasant to put on a cold, soggy helmet next time you head out to ride. If you ride in the rain a lot, a boot dryer might also be a worthwhile investment.

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