Singin' in the Rain . . . Part I
Nov 07 '01
The Bottom Line Rain - not reason not to ride, just make like a Boy Scout and "Be Prepared!"
Well, at almost 7,000 miles, with about 6,000 of them in the rain, I think I'm learning a little about riding wet! In my first month of riding, only three days were NOT rainy. In fact, I've come up with a slogan - "Hilo Riders have Bigger Rooster Tails!" But it also is pretty rainy on the highways and over our Saddle Road, which reaches an elevation of about 8,000 feet and can add fog and clouds to driving rain.
Ideally, if it is raining hard, you will phone your buddies, cancel the run, and stay home with a warm cup of cocoa and your sweetie (Not having a sweetie, I'm trying to find a way to get my bike up my three flights of stairs so I can work on it in my kitchen).
HOWEVER - those of us for whom a bike is our only transportation often find that foregoing the ride will mean foregoing the paycheck - not an option if we want something to happen when we pick up the phone or flip on the light switch.
In Part I, I will discuss some things I've learned about riding wet on the highway. Part two will deal with riding wet in town.
When it starts raining, you lose two important things:
1) Visibility
2) Traction
The harder it rains, the harder it is for you to see - especially since most bikes and/or helmets don't have windshield wipers. And, it is harder for other motorists to see you. So, it becomes even MORE important to make sure your lights all are working well, and that you are wearing at least reflective, and preferably retroreflective, garments.
Also, remember that in situations of reduced visibility, you need to slow down to avoid driving faster than you can see ahead.
You may want to review NightRider Parts I & II for tips on making yourself visible.
Although the fancy rainsuits are really nifty and look pretty cool, they are far out of my budget. I find that an inexpensive screaming yellow rain slicker to which I have applied a big triangle of red and silver reflective tape keeps me just as dry - for under $15 as opposed to $38, $160, and $350 for the various suits I have looked at.
Not only will this jacket keep you dry (I cut off the attached hood as my helmet keeps my head dry), but it significantly increases your visibility.
Speaking of keeping dry, I was reading the magazine "Woman Rider," and picked up the following tip: Purchase a large pair of bright yellow dish-washing gloves and pull them on over your riding gloves. Not only do they increase your visibility (most motoring gloves are black - a bit hard to see at night and in the rain!), but they will keep your nice leather gloves dry - good for the gloves, and your hands don't turn black!
Now on to traction - if you don't pay attention to the fact that in rain you don't have much, you will soon end up needing the other kind of traction.
Not only do you need to slow down in the rain because of reduced visibility, but also because of the reduced traction. You can't stop as fast or turn as sharply on a wet road.
The danger everyone talks about - the rain mixes with road-oil presenting a slippery surface - is not the only one.
Another problem with rain is that it makes it difficult to see road hazards. Pot holes may fill with water and present a surface similar to the rest of the road. Usually there will be some kind of rippling at the edges, but not always, especialy if it is raining hard enough that the entire surface of the road is "dancing" with raindrops.
Rain also may hide the lines on the road, presenting two dangers - inability to see the lanes, and covering up that icy-slick paint.
Rumble strips and center-line bumps can become deadly in the rain.
Low spots may have streams rushing acoss them at surprising speeds. With the coating of oil that collects in such places, it is easy for your tires to be swep out from under you.
Mud slicks, slides, rocks, lawn clippings, and other traction-reducing challenges are often depositied in a layer acoss the road.
How to ride through such challenges? Smoooooooooothly! Planning ahead, gentle yet firm braking, smooth acceleration, proper turning techniqe.
On the highway, few drivers are sensible enough to slow down for rain. With the reduced visibility, this means that you have a far greater chance of getting smacked from behind by a driver who "didn't see" you. This is where my screaming yellow jacket is handy. I also flash my brakelights when I see headlights in my mirrors.
Plan extra time for your trip. Not only will you be traveling more slowly, but on a longer trip the added stress will be more tiring and you should take more frequent rest breaks. Use the time to warm up, dry out, drink water, and freshen the anti-fog on your visor.
Some handy things to pack (I keep them in plastic freezer-bags):
Extra-
socks
gloves
undies
plastic bags (for stashing wet stuff)
Two hand towels (two towels are handier than one big one)
Waterproof flashlight
If you have not yet done so, I STRONGLY recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCourse. In it you will learn techniques which could literally save your life.
E nihi ka hele!
Hula Rider
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hularider
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Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 69
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
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