Scared of the rain!

**Ragingrob** · 12th February 2008, 13:21

Originally Posted by Drider87

Don't know really, just meet up and cruise. Piha is tempting, it's only 45 min out and 45 back in I think. Or silverdale on the shore or something maybe. Or maybe henderson, has some nice twisties out there.....*trails off* if your keen georgie.

I think he was meaning to ride home from work!!!

. But yeah tomorrow Piha sounds pretty good ay, like that ride we did first a few months ago when we met.

**ital916** · 12th February 2008, 13:23

Drove through a big patch of diesel in newmarket today, saw it well in time *after my last encounter with it*, straightened up and rolled of the throttle, the rear still slid a little though..that stuff is scary. How the hell do we get to piha though? I can't remember for the life of me lol

**YellowDog** · 12th February 2008, 13:23

ABS is good for when it rains.

BUT as has already been said, take it easier and give yourself more time to react.

**GSVR** · 12th February 2008, 13:27

No one likes riding in the rain. Avoid it if you can but if you have to then just take it easy the more you ride in the wet the more comfortable you will get with it. Cars don't tend to slow down as much as most bikers do becuase a slide to them isn't as serious a problem.

Try to stay in car tracks not in the middle of the lane. Two reasons in big cities where cars sit in traffic they can leak oil there and its bad news braking coming up to lights. And by not being directly behind the car in front of you you only have to swerve half as far to avoid it if it stops suddenly. You should be at increased distance as well. Usually the right hand tracks are the ones I take as its easier for the car driver to see you. Cars tracks have less water there as well. One last thing is never sit in a cars blind spot (applys to two lane highways) for any length of time or they will forget you are there and turn onto you.

Just tips some are just as useful for the dry.

**georgie** · 12th February 2008, 13:28

Originally Posted by fireball

if you need an escort home in the rain im keen to help. maybe you should come play with AWNMR or kittys monday nights help you gain confidence. plus the only way to learn is to do it!

Your right! I think we have only had about 3 days of rain in since I've had the bike, and I've left him at home all those days. Haha, I guess i gotta do it sometime aye?

**Ixion** · 12th February 2008, 13:30

I like riding in the rain. So long as I don't have to stop.

**trump-lady** · 12th February 2008, 13:31

I too apon moving to auckland was a rain riding biiiaatch. If you live in Auckland you soon wont have a choice lol. The other option is to tell GI JOE and then go ride with him. He will say "just a little ride" nd youll go cross country and through gravel for 10ks (another fear of mine)

Just take it slow, dont let other cars bully you into going faster than you feel comfortable.

Auckland plus riding= rain so just get out there

**GSVR** · 12th February 2008, 13:35

Originally Posted by Ixion

I like riding in the rain. So long as I don't have to stop.

Yeah but you like gravel and mud as well right?

Maybe I should have said prefers. I don't mind the rain but would take a dry clean road anyday.

Forgot to mention always ride with your headlight on rain or not..

**georgie** · 12th February 2008, 13:36

I'm heading from Eden Terrace to Kohi... Thinking i'll probably pootle home along the waterfront - It's always slow moving around there. Thank you for all your advice and offers of help. If anyone sees a VERY slow red RG looking scared, that'll be me hehe!

**ital916** · 12th February 2008, 13:52

Take the twisty route! lol Go down symonds, then through the domain then through rem till you hit the roundabout where if you go right you go to kohi. Go left to mission bay then after mission bay turn right to kohi.....i think

I don't need no stinkin map lol

**Ixion** · 12th February 2008, 13:53

Originally Posted by GSVR

Yeah but you like gravel and mud as well right?

Maybe I should have said prefers. I don't mind the rain but would take a dry clean road anyday.

Forgot to mention always ride with your headlight on rain or not..

And wind. One of the best rides I ever did was in a tropical cyclone. Gravel roads are actually easier and faster in the rain.

**mstriumph** · 12th February 2008, 14:01

Originally Posted by magicfairy

And make sure you have good tyres and check the pressures regularly. Good rubber is even more important in the wet I reckon.

tyres have less grip in the wet - you can offset this by riding smoother to limit the amount of grip you are asking for - also, if you move your bum and your weight to the inside of the bike on corners you don't have to lean so much so more rubber stays in contact with the road ..... theoretically

**johnnyflash** · 12th February 2008, 14:28

Originally Posted by georgie

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain

... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather - and it makes me really nervous. Advice anyone? Should i bring my sleeping bag to work on days like today so that I can stay here and avoid the rain altogether ?

As with most things practice makes perfect, if you feel insecure in the rain, deal to it head on, next time it rains head out somewhere reasonably quiet and at low speeds try various stops on various tarmac surfaces, learn to scan the road, try stopping over these various shaded surfaces, so you can get a feel for the grip, try a little harder braking on the next run over same patch.. if patches shine or reflect it needs special attention,

**Maha** · 12th February 2008, 14:34

Originally Posted by georgie

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain

... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather - and it makes me really nervous. Advice anyone? Should i bring my sleeping bag to work on days like today so that I can stay here and avoid the rain altogether ?

Nothing to be that worried about, feel the fear and hit it head on!
Couple of years ago, i was in the predicament of ....Riding in the rain at night two up and with a tinted visor, an hour from home. Everything was a 1st for me, except the visor thing, i swapped with my Pillion who had a clear one. Wasn't a good feeling starting off but 10 mins into it...yeah no worries.