Rain riding

[slofox]

I think I'm getting to like riding in the rain - 'specially the pissisting down type of rain. Apart from getting the rain gear on over the top of the cow suit to start with...but once you're in there its pretty cool really as long as the gung ho is restrained a little. Would have to say modern tyres help too...
Oh and the Pinlock insert has helped with vision. But leaving the visor open a smidgen to defog the specs can lead to rain getting inside the visor - after which the vision is fucked an' ya may as well go home...

[CookMySock]

Yeah its cool ay!

I love the misty/spectacular/nature feel to it. I got heated jacket and grips, and good gear, so I'm completely dry and toasty warm.

Michelin PR2 tyres just never complain in the wet!



Steve

[javawocky]

yeah, the rain doesn't bother me too much now days. I try to find new fun things to do, find new grip limits without falling off etc.

Why just this morning I wanted to see if I could generate a little power slide. So on a slow up hill part which is renown for being very slippery, I positioned the bike in a way I could control it then progressively opened her up. To my confusion the back just bit in and pulled a power wheelie in stead. Felt a bit bad as she was still a bit cold and gave it more gas than I expected.

[megageoff76]

There is nothing wrong with riding in the rain, so long as you gear up before you head out.

Whats worse is being caught in a downpour with the wrong stuff on and getting soaked down to your undies - thats not fun.

[jamiey]

I finally sacrificed the comfort of having a spare cage on the drive (sold it), so now its just me and the bike no matter what, so even if i don't like it i'll have to get used to it. Rain never really bothers me, more when it comes woth gale force winds esp when going over the bridge. Something to look forward to.....................

[Jizah]

I've always found the anticipation of riding in the rain is worse than the actual act.

[Aaron_newrider]

I don't do rain, or facebook.

[Maha]

I would rather it rain than ride on wet roads after the rain has stopped, thats just a pain. I remember a few years ago, someone posted that they (and others) turned around and headed home when it started to rain. I asked the question '' why didn't you just keep riding, theres a very good chance that you'll ride through it''...rain clouds have a beginning and an end.

There was a time when I got caught out...had to ride in the rain at night two-up with a tinted visor on a bike I had owned for about 8 days. Everything was a first for me that night. But I did swap helmets with the co-pilot so I could see.

[slofox]

Whats worse is being caught in a downpour with the wrong stuff on and getting soaked down to your undies - thats not fun.

Some months ago I went out one morning when there were clouds threatening but no actual rain. I debated whether or not to put on the rain gear and decided against it. Had it all in the seat bag if needed.
All was well for a bit, but as I headed south, a huge black cloud came drifting in from the west. So I turned east and ran down before the front, managing to stay in front of it for some 50km or so.
BUT. Then came time to beat back west to get home. I thought I might just beat it since I had come back north quite a way, so pressed on without putting on the wets.
Bad move. I was about ten minutes out from home when this wall of solid water just came up the road to meet me. No time to don the wets, just pressed on through it. Heaviest bloody rain I had seen for a bit. Within 30 seconds it was running down into the boots, into the gloves and into the leathers. By the time I got home I was totally drenched. Tipped about a gallon of water from the boots and gloves and had to hang everything else out to dry. Took days for all to dry out. Shoulda taken the time to gear up before I left...

[Blackshear]

Slightly related, but with the local area having the inorganic collections, I've noticed they leave a shit-tonne of oily residue and in some cases what looks to be transmission oil on the road. Almost bit the traffic light up eskdale when coming to a slow at the intersection, when suddenly, OIL, HUNDREDS OF IT!

TL;DR, shit's slippery, yo.

[saltydog]

I don't do rain, or facebook.

I definitley like it pissing down rather than the sprinkle/semi-moist/little-bit-of-wet type of rain riding. That makes not much sence, but I think its psychological as the road doesnt seem as.....slippery?

[steve_t]

I definitley like it pissing down rather than the sprinkle/semi-moist/little-bit-of-wet type of rain riding. That makes not much sence, but I think its psychological as the road doesnt seem as.....slippery?

It's not psychological... a light shower will leave the road wet but greasy with dirt, oil, rubber etc. A heavy downpour will wash most of this stuff away. More grip after a heavy rain.... as long as you're not aquaplaning

[saltydog]

Yeah that was my logical instinctual answer as well. But to tell the truth my bike doesnt go out in the rain.
She only gets wet onroute.
(gee I left that one 'wide' open didnt I?!!!)

[CookMySock]

Tyres make a massive difference in the rain. My learner young fella had a scary slide in torrential rain on his shinkos. My battleaxes werent a lot better, but the michelins are positively a revelation.

And warm riding gear.

Steve