Tips for Riding Your Electric Bike in the Rain

As September arrives, the scorching sensation from the summer sun fades, and the sudden downpours of rain become less frequent—summer is officially over. In its place comes the crisp, refreshing autumn air. However, due to the monsoon season, rain showers are still frequent.

Imagine it is a Friday afternoon and you’re having lunch with your friends at La Taqueria on Mission Street in San Francisco. The fog is just beginning to lift, letting in some warm autumn sunlight as your TST electric bike is locked up nearby.

Just as your carne asada burrito and chips with guacamole arrive at the table, the weather turns, and a light drizzle starts to fall. The soft patter of rain against the window sets a cozy mood. After lunch, with the gentle rain continuing, you have to consider if it is OK to ride in the rain with your e-bike.

Rain isn’t going to stop you. This is especially true if you have taken time to prepare your electric bike, yourself, and your gear for rainy rides before clouds appear.

Can you ride an ebike in the rain?

First things first: Yes you can use an electric bike while it’s raining. The International Electrotechnical Commission defines the Ingress Protection code (“IP rating”), regarding the degree of protection electronic devices have against water, dust, and accidental contact. Most electric bikes have an IP rating of 65. This means that you are fully protected against dust and solid objects. And as far as the water tightness, you are protected against jets of water, which is why you are fine to wash your bike with a hose. And you are also protected when riding through a shallow stream.

Riding in the rain, however, does require a few more things to consider than fair-weather rides, which we’ll cover here. Do this and you should be able to avoid getting cold, wet, chaffed, or worst of all broken.

1. Use Fenders

Fenders play a crucial role, especially in the rain. While electric bikes are largely waterproof—the drivetrain and motor can withstand heavy splashes, and the battery won’t fail from getting wet—adding fenders helps reduce the likelihood of mud and debris entering the internal components. As an added benefit, fenders also help keep your pants clean and dry. Cold liquid can become quite heavy and start drawing heat away from your body.

2. Wind and Rain Protection Gear

There’s a Scandinavian saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing (or gear!).” The basics are that you need to stay warm and dry. Try wearing a rain jacket with nylon cuffs to keep a waterproof seal around your wrists. Rain pants are also essential; it’s best to wear them in a larger size so they don’t ride up and let water spill into your ankles when you’re pedaling. However, don’t go too oversized, as there’s a risk of the fabric getting caught in the drivetrain.

One of the most important items you can wear is a bicycle helmet. A brim will keep the rain out of your eyes, so you can still see where you’re going. Next, you’ll need gloves. Look for high-quality waterproof gloves to keep your hands warm and dry. If possible, a pair of waterproof shoes will keep your ride comfortable.

3. Seeing and Being Seen

Each traveler is also dealing with the challenges of driving, riding, or otherwise getting around in the rain. Among these challenges is visibility and having lights will help. Make sure you check that they’re both clean, functional, visible, and secure before each ride. To maximize your safety, consider applying additional reflective items to your ebike. To further enhance your safety, consider adding extra reflective items to your electric bike.

Wearing bright, attention-grabbing clothing, such as a fluorescent jacket or a bright helmet, can also help make you more noticeable. Drivers naturally notice movement on the road, and when you pedal, your legs move. With this in mind, having reflective material on your lower half gives you a better chance of standing out.

4. Adjust Your Riding Style

It might be the cool droplets on your skin, or perhaps you instinctively understand that riding harder and faster will actually make you warmer. In any case, you should avoid riding too fast in the rain. Wet roads and reduced visibility mean you might not have enough time to react. Especially when turning, slowing down can help you avoid excessive leaning, allowing your tires to maintain better contact with the ground and ensuring sufficient traction.

In addition to reducing your speed, you should also allow more time for braking when riding in the rain. Braking early enables you to slow down gradually, maintaining traction throughout the process. Delaying braking on slippery surfaces can lead to skidding and potentially losing control of the bike. Be especially cautious of known hazard areas, such as metal manhole covers in the middle of the road, metal grates at the roadside, and painted lines at intersections. These can become very slippery in the rain and may cause a collision before you have a chance to react.

5. Avoid Submerging the Motor and Battery

Do not ride through water that will submerge your motor and battery. Your battery in particular is susceptible to shorting out if submerged for any length of time. Something to be avoided :). Like any vehicle though, avoid riding through flooded water if you can, particularly fast-moving water.

We also recommend that you don’t leave your ebike outside in the weather for any length of time. This includes storing it in a dry place at home.

6. Cleaning After Riding in the Rain

If your bike hasn’t gotten dirty, you might not need to clean it after riding in the rain, but you should wipe off any excess moisture.

If your e-bike does get dirty during the ride, say you ran through a muddy section, we suggests cleaning off parts that move such as the chain and brakes. However, the first rule of bike maintenance in wet weather is not cleaning the bike, but rather keeping the chain lubricated. Whether you purchase a budget brand or a high-quality version, bike chain lube is essential to keeping your bike parts running smoothly so it should be applied after riding in the rain or after washing your bike.

Conclusion

Rain shouldn’t stop you from riding. As long as you are prepared, wear the right gear, and adjust your riding style, you can still enjoy riding an e-bike in the rain.

Want to ride rain or shine? Click here to learn more about our TST e-bikes.