Riding Tips for Rain...Dorothy need to get home..

[Biker Dad]

Well, since part of the deal for getting the bike with the Mrs was to ride it to work everyday, I have been doing so and loving it.. Well, today the ride in was cloudy but fine.. I am now at work looking out my window and its raining and has been for about 30 -60 minutes.. No real hard but consistent...

Now I have been taught that when the rain first starts to fall, depending on how hard it is, to pull over and wait till it either stops or rains enought to get the oil out of the road.. Then if it is still raining, I can proceed, of course using ALOT caution with no sudden moves or abrupt manuevering and take my time.. Now I ride everyday and always carry my rain gear, gloves, shaps, full face helmet etc..

Just want to make sure my first ride in the rain (40 miles to home) is not my last...

Any tips or experiences to help Dorothy and Toto get home safely?

[FL Vulcan Rider]

I take it the speed limit if not under a little bit. I make more space between me and the car in front of me. I brake very carefully and I brake earlier when I approach a red light or stop sign. I never ride in the right lane because of people that come onto the road. I always ride in the left or center. I take it at 5 mph or slower on right hand turns so I dont wipe out. I hated the rain before but now I pretty much enjoy it since it was every day for 2 months it rained.

Oh! And get a full face helmet for rain. Even drizzles are hard on your face. Good luck.

[KFROST06]

click your heels together and repeat, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home."

[Biker Dad]

Originally Posted by KFROST06

click your heels together and repeat, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home."

Lost my slippers.. Gonna have to do it the ole fashioned way..

[Deeppurple52]

+1 Florida V..... Riding in the rain really isn't a problem. I like a larger bubble around me and stay off the rear brake. If you haven't yet, invest in some rain gear. I have Nelson Rigg. It is very (A good thing!) and easy to get on and off. It is also relatively inexpensive for a quality product. We purchased ours at JC Whitney for about $75. We have used it numerous times and it has performed well.
Traction issues are not much different than with your car. Ride sanely and keep a safe distance and you will be fine. Oh, a windshield and full face helmet will significantly improve the quality of the ride during adverse conditions. Enjoy it and be sure to share the experience with your partner so she understands it is safe out there.

[cmptrmn.1]

Do NOT ride in the middle of the lane if at all possible. That's where most oil is. Slow and easy on everything. Throttle and brakes. And of course everything else as stated above.

[Biker Dad]

Originally Posted by FL Vulcan Rider

I take it the speed limit if not under a little bit. I make more space between me and the car in front of me. I brake very carefully and I brake earlier when I approach a red light or stop sign. I never ride in the right lane because of people that come onto the road. I always ride in the left or center. I take it at 5 mph or slower on right hand turns so I dont wipe out. I hated the rain before but now I pretty much enjoy it since it was every day for 2 months it rained.

Oh! And get a full face helmet for rain. Even drizzles are hard on your face. Good luck.

Thanks.. Excellent tips..and I do ride with a full face helmet..

[azwiley1]

Leave yourself pleanty of room from the vehicle in front of you, stay in the right lane if you have one, avoid at all costs the center of the lane you are in, light to no rear brake, no sudden moves, go at the spped limit or under, avoid running water on the road.

What did I miss?

[jukief]

Good tips from everyone.

On Wednesday, we rode over a couple of mountain passes and through a twisty river canyon in a downpour. I did pretty much what everyone here suggested and had no problems. I lowered my usual speed by about 10-15mph, especially on the tight curves.

[azwiley1]

Here is one for you all, something that I haven't figured out yet. When you put on your gear, if you need to wear the hood on the jacket, do you put the hood on under or over the helmet?

[Cranky CJ]

Go practice locking up the back wheel a couple times and letting off so you know how the bike is going to react and so you know how your going to react. Practice it in the parking lot a couple times before heading out.

[MFolks]

When I rode the freeways in San Diego and it started to rain my aprehension level rose in relation to how much rain was falling. The first 15-20 minutes were the worst for traction as it seldom rained with any regularity so the oil,bits of rubber,and dirt mixed and became to me like taking a sheet of glass,coating it with some 10w40 and throwing a handful of bb's on it and driving.

[jeffs99vulcan]

I don't think anyone missed anything... so all I can throw is is my first experience was a REAL bad rain storm that came from NO WHERE, and there was no hiding spot... no overpasses, long straight stretch of exposed highway... I decided that stopping would only get me wetter and I plowed through it. It went on for an hour, some of the hardest rain I've EVER seen, but I can honestly say when it was over that WORRYING about it was far worse than actually LIVING through it.

I remember back that my training and MSF course stuff kicked in, I stayed alert, watched speed, distance and stopping room, and made every effort to avoid a situation what would require a sudden move, and all was well. Don't practice locking up the FRONT wheel! LOL

Like I said, worrying was worse than doing... stop looking out the window, and ENJOY YOUR FIRST RAIN RIDE!!!

Oh, and Larry, the MSF course teacher said to wear the hood OVER the helmet but she wasn't the most gifted teacher I've ever met either. I can't fathom how it could possible stay on in the wind. I can see wearing it UNDER would be uncomfortable, and I don't wear one at all. I've ridden in enough rain to know that it still doesn't come in, even without the hood...

Experiment! What's the worst that can happen?!

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by azwiley1

stay in the right lane if you have one

May I ask, why would anyone want to ride in the right hand lane on a multi-lane road?

This is EXTREMELY dangerous. I dont know where everyone else is from, but in Florida, we have like the 3rd larger population state in the US with tons of crazy traffic and old people.

If you are in the right hand lane:

1. The biggest change to clip a car trying to peek out into the road.
2. Have a bigger chance to get hit by a car that didn't look.
3. People are pulling out all the time onto the roads.
4. In addition people are always stopping abruptly to turn into a business or restaurant.

I always try to be in the left lane on every road because:

1. There is a divided median on most roads protecting you.
2. Cars in the very right lane may chang to the middle lane because of a car stopping to turn.
3. There is no one pulling out from a business.

[Biker Dad]

Well, I had to go out for lunch today .. It had just stopped raining so the roads were very wet.. All went well ... It was good to get an idea of what it would feel like.. thanks all for your tips.. I havent yet taken the MSF course yet ( but planning to, we have one here in Utah that is taught by the Utah Highway patrol MC unit ) and there manual did really say much about alot of the things you riders brought up here.. Excellent advise all... Dorothy will make it home and enjoy doing so..

[azwiley1]

I can't speak for anywhere else obviously, but here is why I stay in the right lane here when it rains..

Road are not level and I have seen the water pool in the middle leaving the right lane dry(er).

I ride to the far inside part of the right lane, increasing my exposure to the creepiers coming out.

People here do not slow down, actually they drive faster and worse when it rains, so in the right lane I am out of their way and not holding them up when I need to slow down, break sooner, slower, etc.

Creepers are not too bad here when it rains because road junctions tend ot flood, forcing them to not come out like they normally would.

With the exception of the interstate, most of the roads here, at least that I travel are only two lanes each side and we do not have the concrete center divider like you reference unless it is a newly resurfaced road.

Ultimately, ride where you feel the most comfortable. I will change lanes as needed, wet or dry.

[182RG]

+1 on the other advice.

Also, be careful at railroad crossings. I watched a riding buddy fishtail and almost lose the bike while crossing over the rails at about 45 MPH. The tracks crossed the road at a slight curve. The center section between the two rails is EXTREMELY slippery. I don't know if it was asphalt or metal, but it was slick as ice.

Greg

[Classic]

Originally Posted by azwiley1

Here is one for you all, something that I haven't figured out yet. When you put on your gear, if you need to wear the hood on the jacket, do you put the hood on under or over the helmet?

I always wear the hood under the helmet otherwise, you'd have gaps where the helmet stopped near your cheek bones that would act like rain scoops. I draw the hood tight then put on the helmet and have no problems. Worst part of riding in the rain is being able to see and sometimes you just have to pull over. If you're leading a ride in the rain you have to stay mindful of the other riders experience level.

[jbsmd]

Don't wash your bike, that will always make it rain. Being prepared for rain should keep the sun shining. Most car drivers don't care, wet or dry it's all the same as you know. Can't believe you have to ride no matter how bad it gets. But that's up to you...or your wife. Just have to be more alert than usual, and ride a little slower.

[kws9999]

Originally Posted by Biker Dad

Well, since part of the deal for getting the bike with the Mrs was to ride it to work everyday, I have been doing so and loving it.. Well, today the ride in was cloudy but fine.. I am now at work looking out my window and its raining and has been for about 30 -60 minutes.. No real hard but consistent...

Now I have been taught that when the rain first starts to fall, depending on how hard it is, to pull over and wait till it either stops or rains enought to get the oil out of the road.. Then if it is still raining, I can proceed, of course using ALOT caution with no sudden moves or abrupt manuevering and take my time.. Now I ride everyday and always carry my rain gear, gloves, shaps, full face helmet etc..

Just want to make sure my first ride in the rain (40 miles to home) is not my last...

Any tips or experiences to help Dorothy and Toto get home safely?

Also, be careful to avoid painted surfaces on the road way. They tend to be very slick when wet.