Quote:
Originally Posted by Feyd
On a side note though, I've nearly convinced myself that I should have a "foul weather" bike for rainy days... LOL.
Just can't decide if I want an aluminum cx bike with some all weather tires, or if I just want to go big and get a fat bike. I'd really like to have both, but that'll take a lot of convincing with the wife.
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You don't need anything special for riding in the rain. If you have a steel bike, just pull the seat tube after the ride, drain any water that got in and let it dry out before your next ride. You don't need special tires either, even fully slick road tires grip just fine in the wet, even in pouring rain, the pros use slicks in the rain, even at 40+mph descents. I wouldn't talk you out of a good cx bike though, they're a lot of fun, both on the road and off road.
As for pedals, if you're riding more than 40 or 50 miles, a stiff sole makes a big difference, and a low q-factor, the distance from your foot to the center of the pedal spindle, will feel more natural too. I run Speedplays, but any road pedal will work well, and mtb pedals and shoes will work fine for casual purposes, but are more prone to causing hot spots and other foot pain issues. Rigid carbon soles are priceless for power transfer, and I usually have mine off within seconds of getting home, I keep a pair of flip flops on the porch. If you live in an apartment, just get a $10 pair of flip flops and leave them under your car, or under a bush when you leave.