Seems like every time I look at the weather forecast this week all I see is rain today, thunderstorms tomorrow, rain Thursday, blah, blah, blah. I am so sick of rain I can’t see straight. I also know that things could be worse. That rain that we are getting right now could be snow and that would be even worse. But, life moves on rain and all. I have been teaching a weeknight motorcycle safety class this week and rain is one of the biggest fears of many riders, experienced or inexperienced. So, I thought that I would drop a few quick tips on you. I have struggled the past 24 hours to think of a topic for the post today and it has been in front of me the whole time. Go figure!
Being prepared is the first step to riding in the rain, and what I mean by being prepared is to have your choice of rain gear with you. Some people seem not to mind getting caught in the rain in pants and a t-shirt. The problem is that the longer you ride in that condition, the more apt you are to grow frustrated and uncomfortable. So we prepare ourselves for riding in the rain by having raingear available. There are different types of raingear and all different materials. You can purchase a one or two piece suit. It is advisable to choose gear that fits over your normal riding gear. Look for suits that have retro-reflective piping or patches built in for visibility (remember our earlier post on See and Be Seen?). It should also have elastic around the ankles and wrists for a snug, waterproof fit and rain flaps that cover all zippered areas. Some riders also choose to purchase a special type of glove for wet weather riding.
After our gear, we should make sure that our motorcycle is safe to ride in the rain which mostly entails insuring that we have a good set of tires that are not overly worn. Lack of sufficient tread will not allow the tire to disperse the rain correctly and could cause hydroplaning. That is one butt puckering situation that I don’t want to find myself in! We should also have good brakes but there are issues with that that we will discuss further here shortly.
Now it comes to the riding. The first point to make here is that if you are out and it just starts to rain, you should pull off the road and wait out about the first fifteen minutes. During daily highway travel, our friendly automobiles and trucks are leaking oil and it deposits itself on the roadway, usually down the center. During the first minutes of the rain, those oils and antifreeze rise to the top and make the surface slick. The slick stuff will eventually work itself to the side of the road and allow for safer riding. Basically, there is one action that we, as riders, can take in any situation that poses a hazard and that is to simply slow down. When riding in the rain, back off the throttle and don’t be in any big hurry. You also do not want to make any sudden moves such as a quick press of the handgrips to quickly change lanes. Make it a gradual, smooth press and keep as upright as possible on the slick surface.
If your motorcycle is equipped with disc brakes, you must allow for a greater stopping distance. When the discs are wet your stopping distance will double or triple at least. Keep this in mind. And finally, relax. Do not get in the panic mode and stiff arm the handlebars. You must ride with the gentleness and finesse that you do in other weather. Stiff arming the motorcycle will just make it more difficult to maneuver and stress you out even more. If you feel stress during the rain dance, park the motorcycle and wait the rain out.
Gotta Go
It is raining and I gotta ride!
Ride Safe
HarleyMac1 and the MC Nation
