Bike Talk v.009 🚲

Neither before, during, or after my e-bike build did I ever bother to ponder the question if riding an electric bike in the rain was safe or even possible. I mean FFS, it's 2020. I figured we've come a long way from fifty years ago when people would refrain from talking on the phone during a rainstorm for fear of being electrocuted. The sad part about that statement, people still believe that to be true. Much has changed in fifty years; we no longer get our phone call through telephone poles. Haven't they ever heard about fiberoptics? Once again, I digress.

Yet, questions about riding in the rain are still asked quite frequently and the answer to that question is, does a bear go pooh in the woods? Of course, it's possible and can be safe if the rider takes proper precautions and that's what I’ll talk about in this blog.

Generally, e-bikes are resistant to rain. The drivetrain, nor the battery won't die if splashed or hit with a few drops of liquid. Of course, we don’t want to dump buckets of water and debris over the electrical components, that would be foolish. To avoid having a puddle drown your important components, fenders are your electric bike's best friend.

Before We Leave Home

I've learned as a regular bike rider, it’s good practice to have a routine. For example, when I know I'm going to ride I perform a quick maintenance check. I'm checking for tire pressure, F.Y.I. by adjusting the tire pressure to match road conditions, by at least 10 psi's you'll greatly improve road traction.

Lower tire pressure allows more of the tire to come into contact with the road, thereby, giving your electric bike a better grip.

I also check lights and blinkers battery life, mirror position, and if any loose parts are moving that should not be.

But these are just basic things that a rider can do regularly, however; during in-climate weather, one must do things a bit differently. In rainy weather, waterproofing is the rider's top priority, waterproofing yourself and your stuff.

Waterproofing yourself, think of what your body requires to stay warm from head to toe. The most obvious beginning would be to wear a hat. If you have a helmet without a brim, then you'll probably need a hat that has one instead. In colder weather, a wool hat will work much better and if you can snag one with flaps, well you're winning!

Next up for me is my neck, I don't like the feel of cold water droplets hitting my skin in cold weather. The water rolling down my back might as well be ice cubes. So, to avoid the neck shower I like to use a scarf, or handkerchief but, what works the best is a gator neck.

Then I think about my fingers, of all my body parts that get coldest it's my feet and fingers. Yet, nothing a pair of thermally insulated gloves, that are water-resistant won't cure. When your hands are kept warm and dry, the riding experience is much more enjoyable no matter the weather. Popular materials that work well for water resistance are Gore-tex.

A riding coat is an extremely helpful solution. In the summer I wear a motorcycle jacket that is well ventilated and has padding sewn in on the arms, shoulders, and back. During the rainy season, a warmer coat accompanied with elbow padding is useful but not as effective as a padded coat. You can buy waterproof riding suites online, and you can also consider layering with fleece, wool, polyester. You can also layer with more breathable materials such as bamboo-based viscose fabrics.

Lastly, rain pants or waterproof suites as I already mentioned, and shoes that resist water as well as have great traction for slippery peddles.

Weatherproof Your Stuff, if you happen to lack a bag that repels water the next best choice would be to store your electronics and important items in Ziploc bags before storing them in backpacks or messenger bags. If you have the funds to buy a seam-sealed waterproof pannier bag, backpack, or shoulder bag, problem solved. Very last resort when wanting to work with what you may already have, you can cover your backpacks or shoulder bag with rain-resistant nylon.

Clean Your Electric Bike, after a rainy ride takes a few minutes to clean and dry your electric bike. Again, maintenance is the most important role in safety. Taking the time to clean and dry your ride after a wet ride can significantly increase its longevity. If you keep your beloved bike in the house just as I do, you don't want to drag the dirt in behind you.

While On The Ride

Visibility, speed, caution, cognition, and remaining alert. I'll explain, using lights help with visibility, in many places, the law requires you to have lights on your electric bike the especially in the rain. Forward-facing bright white lights are perfect allowing visibility up to 500 feet away. Taillights are essential as well, red lights are identifiable due to automobile. Ideally, you'll want to be seen from 500 or 600 feet and blinkers on your helmet, rack, handlebars, or pannier bags.

Monitor your speed and slow down! I talked about speed in our last volume 008 E-Bike Speed Limits. Choppy visibility means less time to react. Bikes with pedal-assist and power-on-demand capabilities have the potential to maintain higher average speeds in all weather conditions. This is why you should always consciously calculate your braking distance.

Braking early, by slowing down gradually. Most electric bikes and hub motors have good braking systems but the systems can be a distinct advantage over some conventional bikes in the rain. On the flip side, many electric bikes are fitted with disc brakes rather than rim brakes. Disc brakes have great performance in the rain.