i know what its like to get wet now!

[soc_monki]

on the ride to work this morning the sky was clear and a very pretty blue. it was all the way until i got off work...as soon as i walked outside i noticed "oh boy...it really looks dark!" thunder, lightning, wind picking up. i knew it was going to rain...all because i took the bike instead of the car!

good thing my textile gear is waterproof! at least i hoped it was...

so me and a buddy decide to go to lunch. i suit up, say bye to everyone and am having a smoke with one of the girls who works there. rain drops start falling, so i finish and put on my helmet and gloves and start up the bike. on my way out of the parking lot i can see the rain coming down the road and decide when i hit the eatery im going to stay put until it blows over, or at least until the rain washes some of the oil off the road.

so we eat, the rain comes down, my bike gets its much deserved wash. it stops when we decide to leave. i hop on my bike and do just fine on the way home. no loss of traction, save for one spot where there was a lot of oil, but it was under trees so it didnt get as much rain as the rest of the road. no problem, i stayed to the side and only noticed a little wiggle, nothing major. would have sucked in a turn though!

all in all...riding in the wet isnt that bad. i didnt think it would be, but i was extra cautious because i know people around here cant drive in the rain (they drive just like it is dry! i dont wanna talk about how many people ive seen get rear ended because no one understands the concept of increased braking distance because of decreased traction!)

so yay...im not a rain virgin anymore!

[DammitMike]

Very nice man! I actually had my first rain experience on my 3rd day of riding my bike. I was out for a ride and turned back towards home because it got very dark very quickly. It started to sprinkle and within two miles of my house it just opened up like a hurricane(or at least it felt like it). It was raining so hard and the wind was blowing with such force it felt like my front tire was being pushed sideways across the street as I was riding. I crept home hanging on for dear life and I finally made it into my garage. Leather jacket:soaked, leather gloves: soaked, jeans: completely soaked including my boxers underneath, shoes and socks: you get the idea. But my helmet kept my head nice and dry! It was pretty scary but I really thought the bike would have less traction in the rain than it did, so it was actually a bit of a confidence boost for future rides in the rain.

[keyda81]

It was nice and sunny when I left for work on the bike, there was a chance for a scattered thunderstorm, meh, shrugged it off. Then around 5pm(I go in at 3pm)It was pouring, and I mean pouring! I thought well my bike is gonna be soaked, then I remembered hubby got out at 5pm! Oh boy, he tried to wait it out, but everyone else was leaving, offering a ride in the process, but he managed to make it home, soaked, water running off him. I snickered a little bit at him. I went out about 9pm, dried off the bike, and the inside of my helmet was soaked, I lock it to the back of the bike. So I had to ask my boss if I could bring it out on the production floor, and stick it in front of the fan. By the time 11pm rolled around it was dry. The roads were still wet on the way home, and it was foggy, but I took my time and avoided the painted lines, sewer covers, etc. and got home just fine. I'm glad I didn't get caught in the down pour. I probably would have tried to wait it out, if that don't work hubby will come get me and the bike with my truck. But if you think about it, we'd all be soaked, me, him and the bike, by the time we get it into the truck and strapped in, might as well just get me and the bike wet, and ride home! Glad no one had any troubles, ride safe!

[murtasma]

I've ridden in the rain several times already it dosen't bother me unless it's raining so bad that I can't manage to see out of my helmet. One time I had my textile pants on (for dirt bikes) the crotch has a mesh over it that isn't water proof. When I got home everything was try excpet my crotch. It looked like a totally ****ed all over myself. My dog gave me a strange look when I took my textiles off.

Dog: Geez maybe you need to go outside and finish peeing on yourself.

[soc_monki]

yea...im not concerned about rain riding anymore. and thankfully all my gear is textile...no mesh crotch! i still have my motocross pants though...but it probably wouldnt look too cool wearing them around...they dont match my other gear!

bad thing is...rain didnt wash all the crud off my bike. gonna have to get out the hose and soap and go to town on it this weekend...if it doesnt decide to rain!

[fitbmxseries1]

usualy riding in the rain makes your bike horribly dirty.... not to mention the rider! I have a rain suit in the back seat but im always riding when it starts raining and i dont want to stop and get soaked while i put on the gear.

[soc_monki]

i know...my bike has some junk on it now! i wanted to go wash it, but then i started getting bunches of phone calls. why is it that when i want to go do something i always get interrupted?

maybe tomorrow!