Any suggestions on what to use to cover your bike during transition or is this a waste of time. I have a Felt DA and have to drop my bike off tonight in transition for a race in the morning. This is mandatory and we have thunder showers all day and night. I haven’t been in a race before where this was mandatory before so I’m a little concerned about leaving my bike in the rain all night.
gonna be wet as soon as your ass touches it anyway
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Waste of time… add some extra lubricant to the drive train in transition tonight and you are good to go.
I get that but I was concerned if there was an issue with the head set being rained on all night but thats probably more of an issue with sweat and the salt in it. Just not use to leaving my bike in the rain all night, seems wrong. Rather leave my kids in the rain all night before I would do that to my bike.
Thanks, I will do that.
I would be more concerned about tire pressure if you use latex tubes.
When I used tubulars (Vittoria) with latex, they would drop pretty quickly. Now I use clinchers with latex tubes (also Vittoria) and they seem to hold air much better. I would still probably add a few psi.
I get that but I was concerned if there was an issue with the head set being rained on all night but thats probably more of an issue with sweat and the salt in it. Just not use to leaving my bike in the rain all night, seems wrong. Rather leave my kids in the rain all night before I would do that to my bike.
Maybe you could leave your kids in transition holding a tarp over the bike until morning?
John
Cover up the bike computer or take it off the bike for the night. That’s all that I would do if they forcast heavy rain the night before.
I was thinking that as well since we are unable to bring a pump into transition and they transport you to transition as well. Apparently they will have a bike mechanic in transition so I would think he would have a pump if necessary.
I get that but I was concerned if there was an issue with the head set being rained on all night but thats probably more of an issue with sweat and the salt in it. Just not use to leaving my bike in the rain all night, seems wrong. Rather leave my kids in the rain all night before I would do that to my bike.
Maybe you could leave your kids in transition holding a tarp over the bike until morning?
John
See, know that is the feedback I was looking for. Problem solved. This would lead to another question though. We are not allowed to leave food on our bikes overnight due to wildlife in the area. Would the kids be considered food.
Plastic garbage bags work fine. You can cover your bars and drivetrain quite easily. Just tape it on so it doesn’t fly around in the night.
Pump the tires again in the morning if you have latex tubes. You have to check your bike regardless, add your computer and nutrition.
I get that but I was concerned if there was an issue with the head set being rained on all night but thats probably more of an issue with sweat and the salt in it. Just not use to leaving my bike in the rain all night, seems wrong. Rather leave my kids in the rain all night before I would do that to my bike.
Maybe you could leave your kids in transition holding a tarp over the bike until morning?
John
See, know that is the feedback I was looking for. Problem solved. This would lead to another question though. We are not allowed to leave food on our bikes overnight due to wildlife in the area. Would the kids be considered food.
Depends on the wildlife, I suppose. A little nibble would teach them fortitude.
John
Any suggestions on what to use to cover your bike during transition or is this a waste of time.
i have always covered my bike, where allowed, if there is day-before check-in and rain predicted. i used to bring two large plastic bags and masking tape and that covered the things i wanted covered (drive train, headset, computer), and often the whole bike. a couple of years ago i was in the 99 cent store after christmas and they had huge plastic bags called bike gift bags (for a child’s christmas gift bike), now two for 99 cents. i loaded up. so far, i am still using the first, and i’m very happy with the whole thing.
once, when there was a lot of rain during the night, i took off the bike bag and then put it on the ground under my towel (upon which my post-swim race items sat) and was pretty happy with that plan, too.
i’m not sure the rain-on-the-bike thing matters much in the long run, and i certainly don’t worry about it (hurting my bike) if it rains during the bike leg of a race. the cover during the night is just my personal preference and it’s gone well for me.
peggy
Beach umbrella taped to the seat.
Plastic garbage bags work fine. You can cover your bars and drivetrain quite easily. Just tape it on so it doesn’t fly around in the night.
This is or those plastic bags from the grocery store. I’ve just draped them over my bars and tied them up and then just rip them off race morning.
I was thinking that as well since we are unable to bring a pump into transition and they transport you to transition as well. Apparently they will have a bike mechanic in transition so I would think he would have a pump if necessary.[/quote
A Topeak Road Morph G pump in a good investment for situations like this. Will fit easily into your morning clothes bag, and has fold out foot peg, handle and built-in gauge (though it’s TINY).
Lube the chain and leave the bike. Covering is wasteful of time and resources.
Just use the Bike Bikini™ for aero bars roof rack cover and the saddle and cockpit will have waterproof protection in the transition area as well. See here: www.anaerobiczone.com
At Rev3 Cedar Point last year they sold some bike bags in the expo to cover your bike as they were calling for rain. Not sure who made them though.
I now use a plastic cover actually made for bikes that I found on Amazon - got it to protect my bikes during renovations to my apartment but also happened to work well for overnight rain in transition.