Transporting in the Rain

[Speedmerchant]

I transport my two bikes on a hitch rack on my truck. Wondering if it will do any damage to the bikes if it’s pouring rain? I’m in Florida and can guarantee it will rain most every day in the summer. Can’t use a cover because it obstructs the tail lights. Any thoughts?

 

[Brockrock]

My Aventon Level is designed and certified to the IPX4 water-resistance standard which means that moisture exposure in the form of rain and puddle splashing is supposedly OK, while submersion and forced water spray is not approved.

If your bike is certified to this same standard, I would say that transporting outside of a vehicle could result in a forced water spray event at vehicle speeds exceeding maybe 35 MPH or so in rain. If you were able to come up with a system that worked involving covering the handlebar area - monitor, throttle (if applicable), and brake cutoffs - you would be much better protected from this forced spray. The lower portions of the bike should be fairly well protected from forced spray by the rear of the vehicle.

I would think that those heavy duty 'contractor's' trash bags could be a solution. You could cut one down to 18 or so inches and place it over the handlebars and secure it with twine or bungees.

 

[Art Deco]

Search "rain" in titles ... any reason not to use one of the existing ones?

Anybody else a bit reluctant to ride their eBike in the rain?

I used to love riding my bike in the rain on hot summer days...you know...those steamy days when you can actually smell the street. We have had several of those type days recently here in southern New England - with more on the way - and even though my Aventon Level is designed and certified to...

electricbikereview.com

Can An EBike Travel On A Bike Rack In The Rain?

I reached out to Biktrix but never got a response. I was traveling and came upon big thunderstorms. As I could not find the answer I covered the bike with a cover but it acted like a parachute and killed my gas mileage. Was this unnecessary?

electricbikereview.com

 

[john peck]

I transport my two bikes on a hitch rack on my truck. Wondering if it will do any damage to the bikes if it’s pouring rain? I’m in Florida and can guarantee it will rain most every day in the summer. Can’t use a cover because it obstructs the tail lights. Any thoughts?

Ride in rain here all the time. When transporting, I keep battery in the vehicle & duck tape over the
exposed connector. No issues so far.

 

[kahn]

Ride in rain here all the time. When transporting, I keep battery in the vehicle & duck tape over the
exposed connector. No issues so far.

But some of our Specialized e-bikes have internal batteries that cannot be removed during transport. I have to hope that Specialized designed these things to get a certain amount of drenching.

 

[fauconnier]

Formosa offer translucent ends covers.

Dual Bike Rack Cover For Transport (Fits 1-2 Bicycles) Large Translucent Ends NOW with License Plate Holder

Completely encloses the bikes and seals at the hitch so you can rest easy knowing rain, road debris, and inclement weather will not wear on your bikes. Reflective semi transparent panels allow car tail lights to shine through and reflect light off the material for safe driving when transporting...

formosacovers.com

 

[skipcooney]

The 1up USA hitch rack has a light bar and plate holder accessory that mounts on the back of the rack. This allows you see brake lights and license plate when you cover your bikes in transport. Pricy but effective.

LED Light Bar & License Plate Holder

www.1up-usa.com

 

[Dallant]

What truck? Know of anyone with a taller topper that would fit your truck? This can also have the added benefit of better security.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

If you bought an e-bike that can't be rained on you basically threw away your money.

Wrap the display and the battery terminals and you should be bombproof.

 

[kahn]

The 1up USA hitch rack has a light bar and plate holder accessory that mounts on the back of the rack. This allows you see brake lights and license plate when you cover your bikes in transport. Pricy but effective.

LED Light Bar & License Plate Holder

www.1up-usa.com

I thought about trailer's that use the car's wiring to provide lights at the end. But you'd have to tap into the wires for braking/signals and that I don't know about. I guess one should have included that when having a hitch installed.

 

[Dallant]

If you bought an e-bike that can't be rained on you basically threw away your money.

Wrap the display and the battery terminals and you should be bombproof.

To me it’s a matter of keeping water and grit from being blown into every crack and crevice at 70+ mph. In addition, it’s a way to keep things a bit more secure. Folks don’t see them in there, and have to get through an outer layer of metal & fiberglass before they get other measures.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

To me it’s a matter of keeping water and grit from being blown into every crack and crevice at 70+ mph. In addition, it’s a way to keep things a bit more secure. Folks don’t see them in there, and have to get through an outer layer of metal & fiberglass before they get other measures.

Agreed, I'd be more concerned about dust and bugs than water.

But I get tired of this question turning up seemingly every other day. C'mon, you just spent a four-digit quantity of money on something that is meant to be used outdoors. If it can't handle a little rain you made a mistake.

 

[Dallant]

Agreed, I'd be more concerned about dust and bugs than water.

But I get tired of this question turning up seemingly every other day. C'mon, you just spent a four-digit quantity of money on something that is meant to be used outdoors. If it can't handle a little rain you made a mistake.

If it wasn’t being blown at 70+ mph, I’d agree. Maybe you haven’t driven by a big number of semis at 70+ in heavy rain lately, say, across the country on an interstate. Even an uncovered bed of a pickup would be better than a hitch rack at keeping things from invading. Plus your tail lights aren’t covered!

 

[Brockrock]

Agreed, I'd be more concerned about dust and bugs than water.

But I get tired of this question turning up seemingly every other day. C'mon, you just spent a four-digit quantity of money on something that is meant to be used outdoors. If it can't handle a little rain you made a mistake.

Next time it's raining and you're driving 60 or so MPH, stick your hand outside the window broadside to the wind. That's what the OP was thinking. Will these little bullets that slip laterally through my fingers do any possible damage to my bike's electronics, and yes, they can, even to a $10,000 bike. And the worst part is, that damage may not show for a month or so after moisture exposure due to corrosion, so I think it's a good question and concern.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Next time it's raining and you're driving 60 or so MPH, stick your hand outside the window broadside to the wind. That's what the OP was thinking. Will these little bullets that slip laterally through my fingers do any possible damage to my bike's electronics, and yes, they can, even to a $10,000 bike. And the worst part is, that damage may not show for a month or so after moisture exposure due to corrosion, so I think it's a good question and concern.

I suppose...

On the other hand, I routinely ride in horridly dusty conditions, and that dust penetrates everywhere on me and the bike. I often ride extended distances in rainy weather, and on descents can reach 45mph and all too often do.. While I reserve the possibility that my bike may catastrophically fail due to all of this abuse so far it has held out just fine for over 10000 miles.

In October 2018 I hauled three e-bikes mountain-bike style in the back of a rented pickup from Crescent City, CA to Seattle, WA. In the rain. All of the bikes survived with only minimal help. And that help was more about making sure the bikes didn't bounce into each other and scratch each other up than about keeping them dry.

 

[6zfshdb]

I cover my bar ends with these:

They are heavy canvas fruit picker sleeves with elastic on one end and snaps on the other.

Amazon.com

I tried using plastic coverings but they trap moisture & condensation which causes the display to fog. The cotton canvas fabric breathes and allows moisture to escape. It's amazing how dirty they get from bugs and debris that could foul the control cables. I just throw them in the washer when they get too gross looking.

 

[Brockrock]

I cover my bar ends with these:

View attachment 93096 View attachment 93098

They are heavy canvas fruit picker sleeves with elastic on one end and snaps on the other.

Amazon.com

I tried using plastic coverings but they trap moisture & condensation which causes the display to fog. The cotton canvas fabric breathes and allows moisture to escape. It's amazing how dirty they get from bugs and debris that could foul the control cables. I just throw them in the washer when they get too gross looking.

Yeah Man! Best post so far in this thread. Perfect solution.