Madrid
Adjunct
Reged: 06/23/09
Posts: 504
Loc: York, PA, USA
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Quote:
ended up riding one handed to block the needles from my face. it sucked.
Been there. That does suck.
1. Slow down
2. Road paint is slick.
3. Maintain extra distance from cagers
4. Rain Gear
5. More frequent stops/breaks
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2005 Speedmaster, Tornado Red, AI removed, Uni Pods, JCW 19" turnouts
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Gurdy
Adjunct
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 576
Loc: New Paltz NY
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Always carry raingear on trips. Frogg toggs fold to near nothing & keep me 80% dry.
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"Got the wind in my face the road goes on for miles...."
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Keith
Stickman Yogi
Reged: 03/21/09
Posts: 11610
Loc: BC, Canada
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Not wanting to start a tire thread but just saying... as for riding in the rain, tires can really make a difference. My Trophy came to me with Metzler Sportec M3s front and rear and they stay glued to the road in rain. I rode my bike home from the far away dealership in torrential downpours... the kind that makes the backdrop a solid wall of blue-gray wetness. The kind of rain that floods the road and causes huge wet-outs with oncoming traffic. The kind of rain that made me the ONLY bike on the road. I was in this stuff for 5 hours. The whole time I cruised at 70 MPH through mountain passes and the bike stayed planted to the road the whole time.
So yeah, tires make a HUGE difference. Mind you, sticky tires don't last too long... but the rider tends to outlive the tires over and over again. If rain is a considerable part of your riding experience, consider a sticky tire such as the Metzler Sportec M3. One critic said this of the M3s...
"The M-3's compound is called "DuraSil", and contains a lot more silica than the compound of its predecessor. The silica works to enhance wet weather performance in the Sportec M3."
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Live to love, love to live.
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ATriumphGoddess
Learned Hand
Reged: 09/24/06
Posts: 1192
Loc: Massachusetts
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Quote:
But I'm still on the look out for a good finger wiper blade to clear my goggles when I need it.
http://ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1628
Love these.
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"Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
****** sure better than rain."
-ABB
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Keith
Stickman Yogi
Reged: 03/21/09
Posts: 11610
Loc: BC, Canada
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Quote:
Quote:
But I'm still on the look out for a good finger wiper blade to clear my goggles when I need it.
http://ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1628
Love these.
There we go. Thank you Paula!!
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Live to love, love to live.
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rideOn
Complete Newb
Reged: 08/20/10
Posts: 10
Loc: SC
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since moving to the south and into (almost) year-round warm weather and selling the van, i ride my bike about 99% of the time. our only car is wifey's and she keeps it.
when school is wide open, i ride about 30 miles round trip to my afternoon class and have to ride in the rain occasionally. my tips are just to keep an eye on the weather.
if there is a chance of precip, i carry my rain gear. staying dry makes a rainy day comfortable, which helps keep a good mindset. you don't have to feel rushed to get in out of the rain. i increase following distance, slow down overall and i STAY OFF painted lines as much as possible. when i make turns on the lines, i plan them so i can stay upright.
of course, this is a routine drive and i have these spots memorized. i doubt i would take off into 'unchartered' territory in the rain.
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...and on the eighth day, God said "Let's ride!"
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moe
Bearing Changer
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 9816
Loc: Merritt Island, Fl
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Quote:
... i doubt i would take off into 'unchartered' territory in the rain.
A good rule of thumb is to pretend you don't have any brakes (increases reaction time) and a really slow throttle. (A good wack on the throttle and you'll know why a slow throttle is good).  Stay away from puddles as how deep are they really? Stay in the fast lane as the outside lanes hold water. And yes those painted lines, rr tracks, and steel surfaces are as slick as a gnats rear end. Beware of cages splashing you too. Other than that 'unchartered' territory is easy peasy.
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Blowing gravel off rural roads
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adaptivradar
Complete Newb
Reged: 10/07/10
Posts: 2
Loc: USA
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A mixture of road grit and water turns out to be the fastest method to erode rubber brake pads. Pads that last a full season in the dry will run metal to metal on the rims in a month of wet-weather training rides. Also, most rims require a full revolution before the brake pads squeegee the water from the braking surface and begin stopping. Plan ahead and brake early.
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Radar Detectors For Bikes
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locopony
Loquacious
Reged: 09/01/10
Posts: 4300
Loc: Texas, Houston
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onces I was on my way home from Littlerock Arkansas. The weather was great until I got about half way through Texas. I ran in to a rain storm on 59 in the middle of nowhere. It rained so hard and so sudden it was freaky. I couldnt see more that a few feet in front of me. finally I found an old car wash and pulled in until it stoped. thats the worst rain story I don't carry rain gear so when it rains I try to pull over, its not always possible. some times you have to tough it out. You got it all right slow down watch for hazards such as paint, puddles, and pot holes. more than all that watch the idiots in cars they are tuned out, turned off, and dont care. I cant count the number of near misses because of some jack a$$(usually a woman in a car) with a cell phone, or chatting up some one in the other seat.
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Bopin in the bad shine, with a bota bag of fried wine.
http://locoponys.com/
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uncleroyhobbs
Greenhorn
Reged: 10/01/10
Posts: 38
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It's good to know I'm not the only one who is nervous or doesn't like to ride in the rain! My first time was during a rain/hail/lightning...will never forget it or repeat it!
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