1st rain ride

[Occitiger]

Well All be dipped. After riding motorcycles for almost 5 years now I got my first rain ride in on Saturday. I've ridden in a light rain, very light, and on wet roads before. It's not like I was avoiding the rain, but in California the situation just never popped up.

So we went on the halfway run to Fresno this weekend. It had been raining and was a little cloudy when we left, but right before Livingston is dumped on us for about 20 miles or so.

What did I learn?

#1) zippers are not water proof
#2) what will puddle up on any fold in your jacket
#3) that puddle of water will eventually find the zipper
#4) boots waterproof, socks absorbent, sweats absorbent, jeans absobent, feet wet
#5) those 100 gloves that are waterproof, windproof, and have the squeegee are AWESOME!!!
#6) in a down poor f*&k the sqeegee, just use your whole damn hand
#7) $300 is not to much to pay for a set of custom chaps (and now that your pants are wet, I'm betting you wished you'd bought them)
# WINDSHIELD!!!
#9) DONT, I REPEAT DONT ride behind a sport bike
#10) there is something extremely calming about the sound and feel of water hitting you.


We arrived healthy, and had a good time.

[windsurfdog]

Originally Posted by Occitiger

#7) $300 is not to much to pay for a set of custom chaps (and now that your pants are wet, I'm betting you wished you'd bought them)

+1 on the chaps...especially to keep your feet dry. I wear mine under my Frog Toggs. The Toggs have a tendency to ride up since there is no "spat" strap so the chaps take care of covering the boot top and preventing water from entering...works like a charm.

Can't say enough good about the Frog Toggs "Road Toad" suit...especially the hood that fits very nicely under my FF...no water down the neck!

[Occitiger]

Originally Posted by windsurfdog

+1 on the chaps...especially to keep your feet dry. I wear mine under my Frog Toggs. The Toggs have a tendency to ride up since there is no "spat" strap so the chaps take care of covering the boot top and preventing water from entering...works like a charm.

Can't say enough good about the Frog Toggs "Road Toad" suit...especially the hood that fits very nicely under my FF...no water down the neck!

Fortonuately my head is so friggin big that the helmet go much further away from my neck.

[jcb]

Originally Posted by Occitiger

#6) in a down poor f*&k the sqeegee, just use your whole damn hand

Rain-x works for that too. All you have to do is turn your head a little and your visor clears.

[NewRoadie]

I also got my feet wet this weekend and found out that my rain gear sucked, but held up long enough to get me through the 100 miles of rain storms.

Definitely need better rain gear and wet weather gloves, but my feet were toasty warm . . .

[Spaceprobe]

A lesson we all have to learn there is no substitute for good quality gear

[Sam_Adams]

Oh, and there is nothing like standing water/puddles to ruin your day while riding in wet weather.

You can be lightly wet and be OK with it, but as soon as you hit that water it will just shoot up your pant legs and soak your balls, pants, socks and boots. It REALLY takes the fun out of biking