I don't think I'm still confident enough to ride my bike in raining conditions, but this tutorial had a few greats tips I will surely put in practice.
Thanks for sharing!
I don't think I'm still confident enough to ride my bike in raining conditions, but this tutorial had a few greats tips I will surely put in practice.
Thanks for sharing!
I thought the video was good, but there are some more tips to consider...
- As he wrote, get the right gear. I think when he was saying to not worry about motorcycle specific gear, he was talking about the layers under your riding gear. You have the most opportunity to fall in wet or cold conditions, so you'll want riding gear with the right pads in the elbows, hips, knees and back...plus the skid resistance so you don't end up with road rash.
- Use RainX on your visor. I can't remember the last time I used the built in wiper on my glove. I have a bottle of RainX at both home and work so I can refresh the coating if I find it not working properly. Yes, I know the helmet manufacturers say to not use it. I've been using it now for about 86,000 miles in Seattle riding and have yet to see it do anything harmful to my visor. Of course as always, YMMV. The important thing is to make sure you can see.
- Liquid dishwashing soap works wonders in cutting down the fog on the inside of the visor. Smear a bit on the inside, let it dry, then buff it off with a clean rag. The glycerin in the dishwashing soap that cuts grease on your dishes, is the same chemical ingredient that is used in the expensive fog products.
- Ride in the summer looking for the hazards you'll encounter when it rains. This works especially good if you're a commuter, because you ride the same roads day in and day out. For instance, on the final turn into work, there are two metal manhole covers right in the turn. In the summer, you can run over them with impunity. In the rain, they'll be like they've been greased and you'll go down. So even on dry days, I avoid them and get used to picking your route between them.
- Watch out for things like the white painted lines at crosswalks, lane dividers, etc. Metal is hazardous too. Railroad tracks. Manhole covers, the metal plate they put over areas when under construction. See them, remember them...and avoid them at all times. If you do this, it'll become habit, and one less thing you'll need to concentrate on when the rain comes.
- Remember you can't see well...and either can the car drivers around you. Do what you can to make yourself visible. I put reflective tape on my bikes because the ground is grey. The sky is grey. The cars are grey. And the road spray that covers it all is grey. I also wear "don't hit me" hi-vis yellow riding gear, instead of "run me over" black.
- Position yourself to occupy your lane. I noticed he stayed in the left tire track for much of the ride, which was next to the grass median. That invites someone to use the open area to your right. I would've stayed in the right tire track. You'll be more visible to anyone checking their driver's door mirror and keep someone from using the open 2/3 of the lane you're not occupying. Get used to changing the side of the lane you ride in based on where the threat is most likely to come from.
As one rider on another forum said, if you don't ride in the rain in Seattle...you don't ride. If you take the right precautions, it can be just as fun as riding in the summer. I wouldn't let rain put you off. Thunder and lightning, yes. When I went through the MSC, the instructor said you have about 80% of the traction in the rain as you have in the dry.
Chris
I thought the video was good, but there are some more tips to consider...
- Liquid dishwashing soap works wonders in cutting down the fog on the inside of the visor. Smear a bit on the inside, let it dry, then buff it off with a clean rag. The glycerin in the dishwashing soap that cuts grease on your dishes, is the same chemical ingredient that is used in the expensive fog products.