Road bike, slickks, rain, will i die?

[ED209]

I need to do about 15 miles soon to go and collect the mrs car, mainly on quietish country roads but some decent climbs/descents.

Its raining quite heavy and i have never ridden on slicks in the rain before. will i die?

Or would i be better off on my full suss mtb which will be slow but safer.

[Jimbo.]

No. You'll be fine

[anonymous-user]

As above.

Ride on the drops on the descents. Cover the brakes, and use little and often if conditions are sketchy.

[Rolls]

Just ride slightly more slowly than usual!

[ED209]

Rolls said:

Just ride slightly more slowly than usual!

for me that will be very slow then!

[SuperNiceBig]

Bit late but avoid metal man hole covers, lethal.

[itsnotarace]

SuperNiceBig said:

Bit late but avoid metal man hole covers, lethal.

This, and painted lines too

[XitUp]

If it's heavy rain, use lights and ride very defensively. Rain makes cyclists even more invisibly to st drivers than usual.

[dkturbo]

You'll be amazed at how much grip the skinny tyres have!

DK Turbo

[BliarOut]

Except Gatorskins

[okgo]

It's not the width, tread pattern, or many other things that makes a tyre grippy, it's the compound really. I've got some slicks that are utter ste in the wet because they're hard compound and are designed to last ages. On the flip side the compound on some Ultremo tyres is very soft - loads of grip but wear quick.

[superkartracer]

Grab some Pro 4's

[dkturbo]

You'll get a flat with Pro4's! Continental 4000S, 5000 miles a year, all year round including 30 races. 1 puncture and no crashes casued by wet weather. Have a look at any road race and look at what tyres everyone (who is good) is using. It will be 4000S'!

[jackh707]

Tread pattern only has function if you are actually aquaplaning. Up to that point as said before compound is what determines your grip level.

It's pretty hard to make a road bike aquaplane due to weight/contact patch ratio and tyre profile.

Just be gentle and predictable on your brakes, avoid locking up and don't hoon round bends.

[dkturbo]

Agree that Gatorskins are a little bit less grippy.

[superkartracer]

dkturbo said:

You'll get a flat with Pro4's! Continental 4000S, 5000 miles a year, all year round including 30 races. 1 puncture and no crashes casued by wet weather. Have a look at any road race and look at what tyres everyone (who is good) is using. It will be 4000S'!

Pro 3 yes, but these 4's are great and not one flat so far ( training/racing in storms the lot )

[TonyHetherington]

dkturbo said:

Agree that Gatorskins are a little bit less grippy.

For what essentially is a commuting tyre, this surprised me. I got Gatorskins to go through the winter commute and they didn't half surprise me!

Good to hear the GP4000S are good in the wet though - I have new wheels with them on and was warey about using them on the crap cycle paths and wet commute that I do.

[louiebaby]

In reply to the OP, you'll be fine but avoid man hole covers and painted lines. Your brakes will be significantly less effective too, and you'll be less visible to cars.

In respect to the GP4000S tyres, I put a set on before LEJOG, and they got cut to ribbons. I can't say I massively rate them. I'll try the Gatorskins soon enough as that is what is going on the bike for commuting.

[okgo]

Hmmm, I got around 3k miles out of my last set and they did look a bit knackered by the end, but only flatted twice I think.

As with everything though, the weight of the rider, and the standard of road makes a difference, I know you're a big guy so perhaps it had an effect.

[louiebaby]

okgo said:

As with everything though, the weight of the rider, and the standard of road makes a difference, I know you're a big guy so perhaps it had an effect.

I'm sure it did, but I'm not as big as I was. I felt the weight of some very nice wheels my mate has at the weekend. I'd turn them inside out in a week though. Amazing what they can make these days...