Cost Benefit Analysis of Riding in the wet.

[Ghost Lemur]

As some of you will have gathered from previous posts I have made. I don't own a bike as of yet. So am left to think and dwell on every aspect of riding to the uptenth degree (would prefer to be out there just doing it).

One of the things that have struck me is the number of people who don't ride if it's raining. So I'm to gather as much infomation as possible as to why this is. Obviously there is the wet and cold (person) aspect, increased risk of accident, added gear needed, if prolonged, potential increased wear and tear on bike (rust). Anything else?

And, for those of you who do ride in the wet. How much of it is commuting necessity (bike being only transport)? How much is being obsessed with riding to the point where you have to go for a ride and weather conditions are a secondary thought? Are there any of you who conciously go riding in the wet in order to increase your bike handling skills (sort of like riding on gravel can give you a better understanding of how to recover if things start to go wrong?

[Hitcher]

Guilty as charged to going riding in the wet to see what it feels like!

The only pain with wet weather riding (on the proviso that you've got good wet weather gear) is discarding it all at your point of arrival -- particularly if the point of arrival is a cafe...

[Antallica]

Yep I know as well what it's like, seeing as my bike is my main transport I usually have to use it. As Hitcher beautifully put it, yes make sure you have waterproof gear and some very good boots.

I've had my share of accident in the wet, but those are all mainly caused by old grannies not looking properly. I won't go riding in the wet for fun, it's just too cold and absolutely no fun for me.

[FROSTY]

I used to love racing in the rain because most of the other guys slowed down heaps and I was stupid enough not to.
Crashing in the rain is different too--Ya seem to slide soo much further.
:doobey:

[Two Smoker]

Im a bikeaholic that has to ride everyday, im addicted to riding to the extreme, i mean i went for an hour ride on my bike and a 3 hour ride on my work bike..... AND I HAVE A CAR :mellow: ..... Good gear is the key to wet riding.... it makes it more pleasant knowing you arent getting wet..... Also riding like a granny in the wet is another key.....

[pete376403]

Commuting in the wet can be fun - given how a bit of rain slows down the cars even more than usual, you can splash past grinning at the thought of the extra pissed off BDCs in your wake

[SpankMe]

It's pissing down today and I have been out once today and am about to go out again. Not just for a ride but because I have places to go and things to do. I don't usually go out just for a ride when it's raining, but I will tomorrow for the Ronnie Run.

I certainly wouldn't go to the movies or restaurant if it's raining because of the hassle of getting out of and what to do with wet weather gear.

It's it's just wet and only lightly raining, then leather jacket and jeans is fine if ya don't have too far to go.

[MikeL]

Daily commute in Auckland means inevitably a good deal of riding in the wet. I can't say it's fun but with good gear it's tolerable. On longer rides you have to take particular care to keep dry and warm (boots, gloves, supposedly waterproof jacket will all get wet eventually) with liners and plastic over-clothes etc., otherwise you risk hypothermia. Not long after I got my bike I rode to Whangarei but miscalculated the weather for the return and had to ride home in pouring rain in just my leathers. Boots full of water, gloves sopping wet, jacket and pants soaked through. Never again. Last year coming back from Wlg it rained steadily all the way from Napier to Auckland, but with better gear I was a lot more comfortable.

[MrMelon]

My tyres turn into big blocks of ice as soon as it gets a little bit wet, so I slide all over the place.. so I try not to ride anywhere that has good twisty bits if i really have to go out in the wet :/

[Jackrat]

There was a time that I rode in the rain around Hamilton city streets because I enjoyed going side ways around corners.It was a real buzz spining it up in the rain but now I avoid it if I can.
The biggist draw back apart from being wet is having to clean the bike afterward.
The plus is knowing your bike a bit better.

[KATWYN]

Riding in all types of conditions are a good thing for
experience, as there will be times when you could be
caught out with unpredictable weather on a ride and
have no choice but to ride in it, so having ridden in bad
weather prior will be a good thing.

[Ms Piggy]

I've only riden in a serious down pour once and I didn't mind it. Although it was about a 40min ride return but I just took it slow. Even though my gear is supposed to be water proof I was pretty soaked by the time I got home. I ride almost everyday - only means of transport but I also love riding so I haven't been put off by rain so far.

[Firefight]

Ride in rain, yes,

I do as I comute, but also like today, as It is good to practice handling/ride skills in different enviro conditons, learn more about what bike will and won't do.


Firefight.

[madandy]

If I planned to go for a pleasureble blat and woke up to miserable rain I'd probably stay at home and do something else...if wheather turns bad part way through a ride I just slow down a bit and enjoy the slips & slides as safely as possible(ride like a nana)
Riding everyday to work and home means I take whatever the wheather throws at me.I have a Dririder one piece rain suit that keeps me and my gear dry.
Rode into town this morning in the pissing down rain to have a new rear tyre fitted....What a difference.People say be carefull with that new tyre 'cause it's got a slippery silicone coating I just did a big burn out at the shop to scrub it in a bit and she was sweet as to ride home on...then spent rest of the day in the garage working on shazukis gixxer. :banana: watching the miserable rain continue to ruin my riding plans...

[SPman]

If I have to go somewhere - town, Wellington, whatever and its raining....ce le vie! Just put on the wet weather gear and go riding. Just have to allow for it...longer stopping distances, less grip, etc, ride smoother!

[Zed]

As some of you will have gathered from previous posts I have made. I don't own a bike as of yet. So am left to think and dwell on every aspect of riding to the uptenth degree (would prefer to be out there just doing it).
So what's holding you back from getting on two wheels? "Just doing it" would be the best learning curve for you bud! :niceone:

I have never enjoyed riding in the wet, but ever since I rode from Wellington to Taupo in 4 hours of torrential downpour my perspective has changed somewhat and I don't mind it so much as I used to.

My main gripe is when the visor fogs up and rain dribbles down the inside impairing my vision :wacko: - only happens in heavy rain though.


Zed

[Ghost Lemur]

So what's holding you back from getting on two wheels? "Just doing it" would be the best learning curve for you bud! :niceone:

The sole thing holding me back is finances. I've even been offered a damn good price on an 89 cbr 250 hurricane, but I'm at least a couple of months off having the money.

[wkid_one]

Ride in the rain?? Only if I got caught out in it mid ride - which is more annoying as I don't generally have 'wet' gear with me.

Never really rode in the rain - as I didn't really ride to get from A-B so the need or enjoyment to ride in the rain wasn't there as I couldn't ride like I wanted.

In saying that - when I have ridden in the rain it doesn't really bother me.

The only time I am super cautious in the wet is when it starts raining and lifts all the oil and shit (say first 10-15mins) - or it is only light rain and leaves the road greasy. If it fair pissing down - I find grip is still fine - not quite as good as dry obviously - but not as bad as you would think. Unless there is standing water.....but by that stage....my bike is rugged up with a cup of hot choccie in front of the fire where all good bikes should be.

[Motu]

As a young fulla I used to go out when it rained so I could slide,and I spent a couple of decades riding a bike everyday,rain or shine.Gravel roads offer more grip in the wet,like a speedway track,so I like to ride them wet.These days? weeellll,I prefer it dry and sunny,but if I WANT a ride....I ride.

We ride trials in all weathers,even storms,practicaly nothing stops us.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Smoother is definitely the key. I own a bike and dont own a car(only have access to one). Thus I use the bike a lot (almost exclusively unless I have to take passengers - I dont know any passengers with a helmet). Done maybe 4000km in under 2 months so far. I commute in all weathers and I look on riding like tramping. No matter what you wear (almost) you will get wet. So I just accept it. Wear proper protective gear and try not to get cold, but wet is wet. I have spent a few lectures at Uni in soaking wet jeans and shoes cos I thought maybe it wouldnt rain and I couldnt be bothered carrying more waterproof stuff. I got a little wet going to work in the waitaks this morning, but thats ok, it was dry in 20 mins of getting to work anyway, and I got more wet going outside for 5 mins at lunchtime to check the weather station.

Remember, its only the getting wet thats uncomfortable - the water slowly going down your neck or your pants. Once you are wet its no big deal. So theoretically if you just wore not waterproof stuff and just got as wet as possible as soon as possible it would be more comfortable. I take it easy in the wet cos I dont want to drop the bike and I cant feel as well what the bike is doing. That and the first time I binned was cos it was wet.

[laRIKin]

I'll Always ride in the wet on my trail bike as there is no dust and lots of mud :yeah: .
I use to ride in the wet all the time when I was younger, as all I had was a bike and thought nothing of it.
I don't really mind riding in the wet on the street and if I'm going on a long
trip and I will still take the bike.
But now I can't be bothered putting on the wets for a short trip and I will take
the van.
I can get wet enough at work sometimes so I'm use to it, but don't volunteer
for it any more.
If I'm on my way home and it rains I some time can not be bothered to stop
to put the wets on and just keep rideing.
I have more than once be in the shower fully dressed (with out leathers on)
being totaly wet and as cold as can be trying to get warm :cold: , or running from the garage and leaving all my wet gear on the garage floor :gob: .

[MikeL]

Remember, its only the getting wet thats uncomfortable - the water slowly going down your neck or your pants. Once you are wet its no big deal. So theoretically if you just wore not waterproof stuff and just got as wet as possible as soon as possible it would be more comfortable.

That would be true if it weren't for the chill factor. Even in mild ambient temperatures, riding at 100 kph soaked to the skin can result in uncomfortable body cooling, and the difference between feeling uncomfortable and being affected by hypothermia is not all that great.

[riffer]

My bike is my main transport (the wife has the car) so I tend to ride no matter what the conditions. After all, I spent over a grand on all weather gear so I might as well use it.

I've been riding over 20 years. When I was a teenager I used to enjoy the rain as I could be a bit of a hoon but nowadays its just a bit of a pain, but necessary.

I don't ride too fast so I don't tend to change my riding too much with the wet, just go a bit smoother into corners and brake a bit earlier and lighter.

For all the bitching about the Sportmax tyres they are bloody good in the wet and my bike being quite heavy doesn't get too skittery, even when I lock the back tyre changing down too many gears at once.

It's a bit of a bitch with the visor getting covered with rain but you can wipe it off - I also find if I duck my head down the wind tends to blow the raindrops off the visor too.

So, to sum up, wet is okay. Just keep dry and warm and you are sweet.

[BritStorm]

There are a lot more hazrds in the wet but this should not put you off. Accept that you'll get wet, ride like a Nana and you'll be OK.

In particular, leave a bigger gap between you and vehicle in front - the road code says go from two to four seconds. Not only does this cut down the amount of crap you are showered with, it gives you vital extra stopping time.

While I break 90/10% front and back break in the dry, I'm more 50/50 in the wet. The front is better for breaking in all circumstnaces but the front tire has more to do when it's shifting water as well as trying to stop you so the point at which you may loose the front end relative the how hard you're breaking is lower.

Also you'll need to pay a lot more attention to the road surface. White lines and manhole covers are like ice when they are wet, and if you are anywhere near a railway line with wooden board or sleepers to ride over be mega careful even looking at wet wood can make you crash. Wet leaves and cow shit will also have you off. Luckly though, the rain makes diesel spills easier to spot.

In shot just take it real easy, don't hammer the front break and leave a much bigger gap.

The worst weather to ride in is strong winds. Stong winds can throw you all over the road and can really stuff you up when cornering. While you can compensate for the rain, you really should think twice before riding in strong winds.

[erik]

I mostly use the bike to commute to uni, so if it rains, I haven't got much choice but to ride in it.
I've been relatively lucky so far this year, I haven't had to ride in much rain at all. But that luck is starting to change; yesterday I was caught in some fairly heavy rain on the way back home. I think if my gear was waterproof, I wouldn't mind riding in the rain. But it's not, even though it's supposed to be. The jacket is mostly waterproof, I think a bit of water gets through the sleeves. But my pants are pretty useless when it comes to keeping me dry, even after treating them with Gecko Guard water repellent stuff. I guess what they need is some sort of water proofer. I think I'll have to go and see if I can find a cheap pair of waterproof overpants to wear over my riding pants.

[riffer]

you really should think twice before riding in strong winds.


The wind! Don't get me bloody started on the wind!

Seriously, I've had many a moment being caught out on the motorway going north going just past the Golden Bay cement silos at Aotea Quay.

The win can catch you in just the right way to make you get soooooooooooooo close to the armco.

Damn scarey sometimes. Foxton straights and the Rimutakas have some beauty winds sometimes too.

STAY AWAY FROM THE WIND!!!! Or remember to bring a change of underwear...

[Two Smoker]

Oooohhhhh wind *shudders* ive done some pretty scray stuff (including crashing) and i think that wind is the scariest, light to medium wind is ok, but strong wind is scary........ i remember a few time i was on the bridge and nearly crossed 2 lanes... (just from the wind gusts) best thinng to do is hold on tight, dont over compensate (because the gust can drop and you will fly the other way) and lie on the bike (as if you were flying down the back straight at Puke) to make youself a smaller target :niceone:

[riffer]

Interesting to hear you say hold on tight...

I've always found that if you actually loosen your grip on the bars a lot the bike will tend to find its own equilibrium. If I hold on tight I find I fight the bike and make it move a lot more. By letting go it moves a bit but settles quicker.

You're right about presenting a smaller profile to the wind though.

Of course, with an FZR750 you present a hell of a large profile to the wind (these bikes are large - as big or bigger than a modern 1000) and the fairing really catches the wind. Of course I've not ridden too many new bikes so it could be that the lighter the bike the less stable it is.

Anyway, don't be put off riding by us. Borrow a bike if you can - get out there and ride - if you are really lucky you will experience that zen moment when you and the bike become one - you don't even feel the bike moving - it just goes where you point it - and then you forget everything else except the moment.

It's kind of hard to describe unless its happened to you. But you never forget that moment. And once it happens - you can't go back.

At least its that way for me...

[Her_C4]

And, for those of you who do ride in the wet. How much of it is commuting necessity (bike being only transport)? How much is being obsessed with riding to the point where you have to go for a ride and weather conditions are a secondary thought? Are there any of you who conciously go riding in the wet in order to increase your bike handling skills (sort of like riding on gravel can give you a better understanding of how to recover if things start to go wrong?

I have just got home from my first night time ride in the wet.... I admit that I hestitated this morning when it started to rain, and deliberated over whether to take the car or the bike - knowing that I would be back late. :argh:

I am rapt that I decided to go on the bike, although I admit to being a little nervous and adjusted my riding to deal with that - I learnt a lot from this ride, both about myself and the bike, and won't hesitate next time. :done:

Everyone has pretty much said it all really - ride like a nana - leave plenty of room in front - brake sooner and gently. The biggest :brick: for me was getting blinded by the lights of the oncoming cars through a blurred visor. In fact, coming up to intersections I ended up lifting my visor so that I could see better, figuring that rain in my eyes was better than a fence post in my........... thigh:)

The wind??? The wind is a totally different story...... THAT I am finding really difficult to contend with...... :Oops:

[SPman]

..but by that stage....my bike is rugged up with a cup of hot choccie in front of the fire where all good bikes should be.
As opposed to unwrapped snugly in bed, where all bad bikes should be :laugh:

[Skyryder]

Just have not had time to read all the posts so if I sound off like someone before me well like I said time and all. Riding in the wet is inherently more dangerous due to the conditions. I tend to ride for personal enjoyment not out of necessity. So if it is raining I tend to stay off the saddle. Secondly a bike ridden in the wet is going to take a lot more time to clean as against the dry so to speak. So for myself time does play an important role. Now having said that I do believe that the occasional trips in the rain are good. It not only sorts out your riding skills but also allows you to test your riding gear in case you are caught out in bad weather. For exaample do your gloves stand up to the increased cold and are your fingers and hands numb from the cold. How does your body stand up in cold weather are you making small errors due to fatigue etc. Not to sure if you have a full face helmut but one of things I learnt real fast is to carry a small bottle of glass cleaner and a small rag. Get bugs on your visor coupled with water and caught in the dark with headlights coming at you and you will be riding blind. If you have no way to clean up:::problems big time. In other words riding in the wet prepares you for that unexpected downpoor when you are some distance from home. Just a little bit of self preperation will go a long way to self preservation.

Skyryder

[wkid_one]

best thinng to do is hold on tight,
Actually - it is most probably the worst thing to do

[laRIKin]

Is this what you do wkid_one when its cold and wet out side?

[wkid_one]

Yes - but I prefer the left side of the bed

[James Deuce]

Don't mind the wet. Had to go in to work yesterday and today and Saturday at 3am it was raining fairly hard. I take the bike when I'm on call, because I have to miss my customary weekend ride.

The only cost is cleaning it. I'm a little bit anal when it comes to having a dirty bike.

[laRIKin]

Yes - but I prefer the left side of the bed


Just like a bike to boss you around.
I bet that you have to sleep in the oil spot as well. :argh:

[jrandom]

Don't mind the wet.

Yeah. What is it with all these people moaning about getting wet? Waterproof plastic to go over leathers isn't expensive, if you don't already have a goretex suit. Bit of nice cool water in the air just makes things bracing IMHO although going into restaurants etc post-ride can indeed be off the cards as pointed out by Spanky.



The only cost is cleaning it. I'm a little bit anal when it comes to having a dirty bike.

What is this 'clean'?

I think I washed the FXR once. That was sometime last year. Anyway, the crud stops things from falling off.

[Two Smoker]

Actually - it is most probably the worst thing to do
My bad, i generally grip the tank slightly more in the wind, not the bars..... sorry for not elaborating :wacko:

[merv]

Yes - but I prefer the left side of the bed

... and you still haven't told us what bike you are going to bed with these days.

[Posh Tourer :P]

I may have put people a little wrong before, I agree that cold is bad and wet makes cold, but essentially my point is dont be anal about keeping dry, cos its next to impossible in heavy rain...
Jim2 - I have now not only rain marks on my bike, I now have clay splatters as well. Luckily riding home in the rain washed about half that off.... So there you go. If its really dirty ride it in the rain first :P

Note to people who ride scenic drive after rain: Not only is there wetness on the road for a long time after the rain stops, especially in tree shadows, there is also gravel across the road, washed out of ppls driveways, not to mention the slip this morning, which they did a very good job of washing completely off the road, clay and all

[Lou Girardin]

I lost a lot of confidence in the wet when I binned it last year. It's coming back though, amazing what a few power slides can do. Makes you feel like McCoy, only he does it in the dry.
Lou

[Coldkiwi]

ayy.. power slides is fun!! (can't believe this burnout shagged rear diablo corsa has more grip in the wet when its cold than my D207u had in the dry)

If you're worried about the wet, don't be! Enjoy it for the difference it is. you can find out lots about what ever you're riding and it'll make you smoother (and hence faster in the dry)

Get good gear ($125ish for an impervious one piece rain suit, $130ish for some water proof gloves and half ways decent lid/visor and you'll be able to enjoy the experience)

One of my most memorable rides was in the pouring rain down to Tokoroa to drop my zX6R off to a buyer when it was fitted with a semi slick supercorsa front. After I stopped panicking about loosing grip on the front, i relaxed, got much smoother and surprised myself with how quick I could go without any scares.

Wet gear is a pain though. no two ways around it

[Big Dog]

One of the things that have struck me is the number of people who don't ride if it's raining. So I'm to gather as much infomation as possible as to why this is. Obviously there is the wet and cold (person) aspect, increased risk of accident, added gear needed, if prolonged, potential increased wear and tear on bike (rust). Anything else?

And, for those of you who do ride in the wet. How much of it is commuting necessity (bike being only transport)? How much is being obsessed with riding to the point where you have to go for a ride and weather conditions are a secondary thought? Are there any of you who conciously go riding in the wet in order to increase your bike handling skills (sort of like riding on gravel can give you a better understanding of how to recover if things start to go wrong?

I am obssesed ergo I chose to buy a bike before a car. :whistle:
Wet weather might stop me going for a long pleasure ride but not from going to work/movies/dinner/mates house.

Somethimes I go out just because it is raining on the weekend.... no I am not insane... but if you practice you traction control, emergency braking etc in the wet your skills will exceed their demand in the dry.

Also there is this whole Zen thing you only get riding in the wet.

It is not as dangerous as people make out if you let it rain for 1/2 an hour or so before you go to wash the street clean (this is why so many cagers crash on motorways in the first ten minutes after the sky opens up.)

In fact if you are on suitable tyres your traction one hour in will be better than after a long dry spell (unless you meet Mr Metalplateinstalledrightontheapexofthecorner).

Yes it will be cold if you wear the wrong gear, yes you will get wet even if you wear the best gear but, If you love it enough it won't matter. :wacko:

[dhunt]

I don't mind riding in the rain. Do it all the time but it an't fun trying to pass big trucks that are spraying up water ever where so you can't see pass them. :(

Also rain without wind = ok
rain+wind = not so fun

[jrandom]

unless you meet Mr Metalplateinstalledrightontheapexofthecorner

Met him. Touched my arse to the ground shortly thereafter. He tends to have that effect.

[wkid_one]

Met him. Touched my arse to the ground shortly thereafter. He tends to have that effect.Either that or you end up pulling over to remove the covering of the seat from 6 inches up your rectum (darn near killed 'm)

it is like the right hander not long after the stretch road where the sprints are held on the East West Access road heading towards Martinborough. There is a patch on the apex of the corner where all the chip has come of and it is dead smooth asphalt. I went over that, lent over, at what were not entirely legal speeds (I was slowing down from an indicated 299) and promptly puckered my arsehole as the bike shifted rather smartly to the outside of the corner.

Late at the Flying Fish I was talking to Mangell - who politely informed me he knew it was there - so avoided it....thanks for the warning.

The other one is cow shit. The wicked downhill left corner after the T intersection to Martinborough after leaving Featherston is a doozy for this. Two of us, both on R1's decided to see how fast we could take that corner. All was going well until we got to the bottom and saw a lovely brown residue on the road......not a nice thing to see with your knee gliding mm from it.....

[jase]

I ride in the wet , but as long as you have got good rubber and wet weather gear, and adapt to the conditions everything should be fine. :ride:

[rodgerd]

And, for those of you who do ride in the wet. How much of it is commuting necessity (bike being only transport)? How much is being obsessed with riding to the point where you have to go for a ride and weather conditions are a secondary thought?


The hassle of taking the car or bus (the number 14 runs fine on good days, but doesn't stop on bad days because it's already full by the time it gets to my stop...) exceeds the extra hassle of riding in the wet.

I rode trail bikes for a good ten years, including time working of farms, and have ridden on wet hard pack clay, which is at least as slippery as road markings, so I'm not especially bothered by the road surface. Slow down, increase folllowing distance...

[NC]

Apparently I don't ride in the rain cause I don't have a pack rack..:mellow:

[scroter]

i ride in the rain more than i care to. the only things i dont like about it is the gettin wet part and the cleaning up afterwards. however ive noticed that if your tyre is getting close to needing replacement it gets buggered pretty quick in the rain. come to think of it maybe it does that in the dry, cant remember. adapting to the conditons is important, i used to find it quite hard to relax in the rain but now its easy.

[Holy Roller]

must be :crazy: but if I get wet riding to work at least I have 12 hours to dry out and by then the rain may have stopped. Some guys will not wear the yellow red shed rainwear but its cheap and works. Used my oilskin duster coat for the ride to Taupo, while it looked cool the water still seeped through. Get some yellow gear 3 sizes too big if you can, I can only get them 2 sizes bigger. Room to move and extra length in the arms and legs.
So what if thay are not a fashion statement one wants to make you stay dry even in really heavy rain. Not much good for summer rain as you sweat too much in the heat but one usually dries out in a couple of minutes riding after a shower. I take wet weather gear if it is going to be heavy rain for a significant part of the journey.

[ZorsT]

if you are really lucky you will experience that zen moment when you and the bike become one - you don't even feel the bike moving - it just goes where you point it - and then you forget everything else except the moment.

It's kind of hard to describe unless its happened to you. But you never forget that moment. And once it happens - you can't go back.

At least its that way for me...

happened to me aswell, when i was learning to fly gliders... I no longer had to think about what i wanted to do, and how to do it, it just happened, and i was able to enjoy the scenery. Great feeling

[crashe]

well that is if I am out and about and it starts to rain.... :sunny:

I got caught once coming back from Ruakaka in pissing down heavy rain.....
Man that was so uncomfortable... my leather jackets was drenched throu.... as the wet weather jacket and pants didnt do their job....
Riding in wet pants and wet boots ... all I can say is YUK.
Trying to peel it all off when I got home was very horrible.... and to top it off I was so busting to go to the lou about 10 minutes from home....
The thought did cross my mind as that would warm the tush up.... but nope I didnt. :whocares:
It took 3 solid days of sunny weather to dry my leather jacket out after that ride. :devil2:

What I do thou is when I get home when its been raining and when I put the bike into the garage I have towels in there to dry her all off and then she looks all sparkling clean... helps keep the rust a bit more at bay..... :rolleyes:

Only once did I not like riding in the wind...... that I had to stop on the motorway to get my nerves all back together.... that was the first time..... but now if its really windy I will take the longer way rather than go on the motorways.... :not:

I also carry lightweight wet weather pants attached to the back of the bike behind the pillion seat.... fits in there real snug..... just in case there is a light to medium rain. In winter my heavier wet weatherpants go with me all the time.

But like what the others say above ^^^..... go slow, dont speed and watch your braking and watch those white lines on the roads... and ride carefully in the wet. Keep your distance from the car ahead.... but also watch out for the vehicle following behind you....

[tassle]

just do it. I commute on my bike,rain ,hail ,shine ,dont like riding in the rain at night rode back from Tauranga other night way to many shiney corners, thats when super slow gran takes over.I think the most important thing is to be smooth and relax ,it will rain somewhere sometime when you are out on your bike ,so just do it. you can wear a polyprop under your wet weather gear over a t shirt and if it gets wet you wont get so cold as they insulate well even wet. I ve got good riding gear and the best thing I brought lately are waterproof riding boots man its good to have warm dry feet.anyway stop eating food turn the power off and save save save for that bike.

[zooter]

Do you know why dogs hang their heads out the window with silly grin on face? Get a bike and find out! Rain is a pain, you either suck it up and take it easy or carry on like normal and crash. :rockon: